Awaken Your Senses in Tanzania and Rwanda

Attend a blessing ceremony led by village elders as they invite you to experience a sense of community and reveal some of their ancient heritage. Take that cultural connection further and join a Maasai guide to learn about age-old survival skills. Or delve deeper into the stories that run through the land during a bush dining experience beneath an ancient baobab.

Embrace a slow safari philosophy on a silent walk that allows you to connect with your surroundings. Or head out on a sunrise hill walk with a Maasai guide, where the emphasis is on mental and spiritual renewal. You might also choose to begin the day with a wild yoga session outdoors, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the bush.

You’ll find various community and conservation projects that you can learn more about and even get involved with. Some of the programmes include sunflower farming and beekeeping as well as initiatives around the protection of Lake Burunge. This offers you the unique opportunity to move beyond traditional tourism and gain a profound, hands-on understanding of local sustainability efforts.

A special way to experience the region is on a walking safari, away from the hum of vehicles. Tune into the silence of the savannah. Together with your expert guide, you’ll take your time looking for animal tracks, identifying plants and keeping a lookout for the smaller creatures that call the bush home.

Spend an incredible night out under the inky black skies, strewn with twinkling stars. A fly camping experience is an optional extra that can add an immersive depth to you trip. Connect with nature and the night sky in a memorable way.

Bring a day of wilderness exploring to a contemplative close around the campfire, connecting with your fellow adventurers and your guides through storytelling.

Experience reforestation and conservation first hand as you have the opportunity to plant trees. Through this project, you can directly contribute to helping to conserve the gorillas’ habitat. It’s a change to connect to something greater than yourself and give back in a meaningful way.

Spend some time connecting with the local communities, either by visiting nearby villages or simply sharing stories with your guides and lodge staff. You could also choose to enjoy an afternoon with a local artist or crafter and learn about how the natural environment inspires them. Or spend some time with the seamstresses who create the beautiful embroidered flowers you find on furniture around Wilderness Bisate Lodge.

The Sanctuary, a dedicated wellness haven offers you a heated saltwater pool with  views of the volcanic highlands and meditation pods for stillness and solitude. Around the Sanctuary and lodge itself, you’ll find plenty of areas designed for you to reconnect with nature. Enjoy sound baths, take a dip in an ice pool, admire the flowers along winding pathways and go on tree planting walks.