Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Clouds is elegant, cosy and very welcoming – think English country house in the wildest of settings! The main lounge is home to plenty of squashy sofas and a roaring fire whilst soaring ceilings and pale furnishings keep things light and fresh. Meals are served inside or out, depending on the weather, and are delicious and filling. And those views - gaze at the misty mountain-scapes from the pretty gardens, veranda or straight from your armchair, cup of tea in hand.

In keeping with the rest of the lodge, the eight cottages are pretty stone builds, dotted around the gardens. Each has a bedroom (the family cottages have two), linked by a very welcome fireplace to the lounge area, and an ensuite bathroom. You’ll find over-stuffed and incredibly comfortable armchairs, enormous beds draped in cosy duvets, private patios and floor to ceiling windows to make sure you never miss out on the view. And the ultimate luxury? A personal butler to look after your every need.

Clouds is focused around gorilla trekking and the friendly Nkuringo family are the furry primates of choice. Trekking starts almost straight from the door but the hikes are definitely some of the hardest of all the gorilla trekking areas with steep slopes and lots of jungle ferns to navigate. However if you’re fit and healthy (and like a bit of a challenge), the experience at the end of the climb is worth every last breath. There are also village visits, forest walks and bird-watching and photography tours to get stuck into.