Sanctuary Retreats has relaunched its Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp in Uganda after an extensive refurbishment.

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp comprises eight private luxury tents in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The camp blends in with the African mountain landscape and from there guests can enjoy gorilla trekking.

The recent refurbishments include a new thatched roof, wooden floors, furniture made from natural materials, and local artifacts in the communal areas. New electrical geysers were installed to provide hot water, a new reception area was created, as well as a camp boutique and a camp office. There’s a new kitchen and serving area, and additional improvements have been made to facilitate back-of-house.

Guest tents have undergone renovation and redecoration, including new tiled roofs and soft furnishings. Each tent has a large stone-walled bathroom with private sections, and a free-standing bathtub.

The communal area consists of a comfortable lounge with a well-stocked bar and dining area, with views over the verdant rainforest.

Meals at the camp are prepared using local ingredients, such as the traditional smoked beef in peanut sauce served with Kalo (millet bread). Candlelit dinners are available on request, served on guests’ private deck.

Spa treatments at the camps by a specialist therapist include herbal massages, hydrating facials, foot massages and manicures. Only luxury, eco-friendly products, created with natural ingredients are used. There are also yoga kits in all the tents.

Some 90% of Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp’s team come from the local communities around Biwindi, and are trained and given permanent employment. The lodge also sources supplies locally.

The camp supports Bwindi Community Hospital and Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School and has initiated the Bwindi Women’s Bike Enterprise. The bicycles can also be hired by tourists who want to take a community tour or would like to explore the area in a more adventurous way.

Guests are assured that there are never more than eight trekkers per gorilla expedition, and are accompanied by a Ugandan Wildlife Ranger, as well as a porter for each guest. Over and above the experience of encountering the gorillas, there are many other animals guests can view, such as giant wild hogs, the blue monkey and the black and white colobus, as well as rare birds, offering an alternative to Africa’s traditional safari Big Five.

Guests get the opportunity to meet the Batwa people, the oldest inhabitants of the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. More than 4 000 years ago they were described as short-statured people living near the ‘Mountains of the Moon’. Guests can witness their musical performances and demonstrations of their traditional hunting and gathering skills.