Best Places to Stay when Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

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Best places to Stay when Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

With more reasonably priced lodging options than its rival neighbour – Rwanda, Uganda stands out as a tourists’ preferred gorilla trekking destination. More than half of the mountain gorilla population lives in the national parks of Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga, giving Uganda an advantage in terms of gorilla protection. Therefore, you may be interested in the variety of gorilla trekking lodges available if you’re planning an adventurous gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.

Arrival at the ranger station or check-in point by 8:00am on the morning of your trek for a briefing is usually required for every regular gorilla trekking activity before setting out. Thus given the relatively early start to your trek, we recommend lodging close to the trailhead or meeting point the night before your trek.

We also recommend considering staying a second night at the same lodging given that your trek will likely take at least half the day and may take most of a full day. Most people are pretty exhausted and dirty after the trek and will want to relax. So you can then just return to your lodge, take a shower, eat, and relax for the rest of the day.

If you book a safari which includes gorilla trekking, your itinerary will most likely include an overnight stay near the trailhead/start point so you can get there in time for the early start and so does it apply to those who intend to self-drive. You can opt for a lodge as close to the ranger station as you can once you know where your hike will take place (one of the four sectors in Bwindi or in Mgahinga), reducing the amount of time you must transfer that morning. Be aware that the roads in these areas can be quite rough, so give yourself plenty of time.

Note that many of the hotels have quite similar names, usually revolving around gorillas or the name of the area. So be sure that you are choosing the right place when booking.

Accommodation near Mgahinga

Mgahinga has fewer gorilla families compared to Bwindi with fewer hikers as a result of fewer permits. As such, there are fewer accommodation options close to the meeting point as shown below.

1. Mount Gahinga Lodge

Gahinga Lodge
mount-gahinga-lodge-banda-sitting-room

This main high-end option in Mgahinga area features a spa, individual butlers, and a location right by the park trail head. The slopes of the historic Virunga Volcanoes, where Mount Gahinga Lodge is located, make it the perfect starting point for gorilla trekking. Additionally, you’ll be able to connect with the local Batwa people, who are the oldest inhabitants of the area and track the rare golden monkey. While you aren’t exploring Uganda’s rainforest, there is time to take advantage of all that Mount Gahinga has to offer, including the beautiful views of the volcanoes and the untamed African environment that can be seen from the comfort of your veranda.

2. Travellers Rest Hotel

Travellers Rest Hotel

The 12 en-suite rooms of the Travellers Rest Hotel are tastefully designed with a distinctive selection of Congo art. The expansive apartments face out into a beautiful courtyard with the mysterious Virunga volcanoes in the distance. It is a popular option in Kisoro around 45 – 60 minutes’ drive from the park entrance.

3. Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp

Amajambere

AICC is a community-owned camp that was established in 1994. It’s a budget option featuring both simple hut style accommodations as well as pre-pitched and bring your own camping. Families that were displaced when Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was being created founded the camp. It lies immediately outside the park’s main gate, 12 kilometers from Kisoro in the southwest. The camp offers impressive gorilla trekking excursions as well as stunning views of the renowned Virunga Volcanoes. It is perfectly situated to begin a hike up Muhavura, Gahinga, or Sabyinyo Volcanoes of the Virunga.

Accommodation near Buhoma Region, Bwindi

Buhoma is the original and one of the more popular gorilla trekking locations in Bwindi with perhaps the widest lodging options available and a range of amenities.

1. Buhoma Lodge

Buhoma Lodge

This popular and well-reviewed mid to high-end option in Buhoma offers comfortable ensuite chalets and an on-site restaurant. Buhoma Lodge is an intimate, endearing establishment with breath-taking, unobstructed views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. It is one of the two lodges that are located inside the park and is just a short stroll from the meeting point for gorilla tracking and other activities in the Buhoma sector. A raised central space featuring a lounge, bar, and eating area provides a cozy, comfortable setting for talking about the day’s events around the fireplaces, which add ambience and warmth in the chilly evenings.

2. Mahogany Springs

Mahogany Springs

The Mahogany Springs Lodge promises seclusion, tranquility, and the best comforts in a breath-taking natural setting on the banks of the Muyanja River, overlooking the jungle. This property attracts guests to explore the enchanted Bwindi wilderness with its exotic gardens and quiet stone walks leading to the river.

Built with locally obtained natural materials that elevate the property’s authenticity and minimalistic flair, this forest lodge offers straightforward yet attractive lodging. There are eight spacious, cozy cottage suites with private bathrooms and verandas that look out over the ancient jungle. It is close to the Buhoma gorilla trekking trailhead.

3. Gorilla Forest Camp

SANCTUARY-GORILLA-FOREST-CAMP

Gorilla Forest Lodge is the best option if you wish to enjoy genuine comforts in the northern Bwindi (Buhoma Sector) jungle. It is one of the only two safari lodges inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the other being Buhoma Lodge. The stunning jungle atmosphere is a perfect blend with the lodge. Levered over the jungle, the lodge’s lounge has an elevated viewing deck designed for open-air dining. It has luxury tented accommodation with stone-built en-suite facilities in every room and a central campfire and dining area. If you’re lucky, a gorilla family might stop by the camp’s lawn, which would be wonderful!

4. Bwindi Volcanoes Lodge

Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge

Bwindi Lodge is located in a prime gorilla tracking area (a short distance from the Buhoma start point). It provides a life-changing opportunity to engage with endangered mountain gorillas while living in the lap of luxury. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park’s beautiful surroundings contrast sharply with the lodge’s distinctive, opulent style. While taking in the splendor of Uganda’s highlands, visitors can expect to have every amenity at their disposal. The ultimate in rejuvenation is provided through treatments at the Humula Forest Spa, which are coupled with breath-taking vistas.

Eight stone and wood-glass-fronted cabins with views of the lush forest canopy make up this forest lodge. Individual rooms feature personal butler service, and there’s an on-site spa and restaurant. The lodge’s style and design are influenced by local architecture with a hint of imperial style. Sit on the open verandah and take in the sights and sounds of Bwindi Haven, including chimpanzees, monkeys jumping on treetops, and unexpected gorilla visits.

5. Buhoma Community Rest Camp / Haven Lodge

Buhoma Haven Lodge

The local community development association manages both of these properties, which are located adjacent to one another. While Haven Lodge is more of a mid-range choice, the rest camp offers more basic lodging. The start of the gorilla trek track is not far from either of them.

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Accommodation near Ruhija Gorilla Region, Bwindi

A variety of lodging choices are available in Ruhija, with a focus on budget and mid-range options. Here are some alternatives to think about.

1. Community Rest Camp

Ruhija Community

Very clean self-contained rooms with other necessary amenities are a distinct difference at Ruhija Rest Camp, which helps you escape the day’s frenetic and tiresome atmosphere from either a long drive or difficult labour. It is a good budget option which includes the choice of bringing your own tent as well as pre-pitched tent and cabins. It’s a 10 minute drive to the Ruhija trekking centre.

2. Bakiga Lodge

Bakiga Lodge

Bakiga Lodge is a fantastic place for visitors looking for a true African experience with breath-taking views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It is a top-notch African eco resort built overlooking a beautiful valley, conveniently located about 10 minutes from the Ruhija gorilla tracking meeting point in the Ruhija area of Bwindi National Park. This community-operated nonprofit eco lodge is part of the Bakiga Community Project, and funds go directly back into the community. The Lodge has ten spacious cabins with ensuite bathrooms that are completely self-contained. Private balconies in every cabin offer breath-taking views of the surrounding forest.

3. Gorilla Mist Camp

Gorilla Mist Camp

It’s a good mid-range option, about 10 minutes’ drive from the Ruhija trekking center. It has private en-suite rooms with breath-taking views. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Virunga Mountains can be seen in stunning detail from the classic African safari lodge’s landscaped gardens.

4. Gorilla Safari Lodge

Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge

This mid-range option with chalet-based accommodation and an on-site spa, restaurant, and bar is hidden beneath a lush canopy of trees. Solar-powered lighting, a private bathroom with hot and cold water, and flush toilets are all amenities in the rooms. To ensure that the lodge does not appear out of place in its natural surroundings, each unit is designed to resemble a standalone log cabin that blends in with the surrounding rain forest. The well-appointed rooms are connected by wooden banisters and cobbled walks that bear the names of individual gorillas or gorilla tribes.

Accommodation near Rushaga Gorilla Region, Bwindi

Rushaga receives quite a few visitors, even though there are numerous gorilla families to choose from. Consider the following possibilities for lodging:

1. Gorilla Hills Eco Lodge

Gorilla-Hills-Eco-Lodge

It’s a well-rated mid-range option near the Rushaga trekking center with 8 hand-crafted en-suite rooms, an on-site restaurant, bathrooms, and comfortable single or double bedrooms with breath-taking views of the community and the park.

2. Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

Rushaga Gorilla Lodge

Within walking distance of the Rushaga trekking centre, this good mid-range option has spacious cottages that are a fantastic combination of design and comfort, and they are stocked with contemporary amenities and services.

Accommodation near Nkuringo Gorilla Region, Bwindi

Although there are not many lodging alternatives in Nkuringo, there are some excellent high-end options for travelers seeking a more luxurious stay.

1. Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge
Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge

The well rated multi-award-winning 4-star Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge is a jungle-clutched luxury lodge for gorilla trekking in Uganda, perched on a ridge at a height of 7,000 feet. With enchanting views of the rugged rift valley and the entire Virunga Mountain range, its exotic forest chalets soar above the Bwindi Impenetrable canopy.

The lodge is situated south of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with the Nkuringo gorilla trekking center being 5 minutes away on foot and the Rushaga gorilla trekking point being 25 minutes away by car.

Three family villas, six garden cottages, and two private executive suites with butler service and all the bells and whistles are available through NBGL. Each cabin has a spacious bedroom, living room, en-suite bathroom, a fireplace, and a garden veranda with views of the Virunga Mountains or the misty treetops of Bwindi. From your porch, get up close to the birds and take in the great diversity of the UNESCO World Heritage jungle.

2. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Clouds Mountain G Lodge

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is an award-winning luxury lodge and the highest lodge in Uganda. It is located on a wooded ridge close to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest’s entrance. The lodge has eight spacious cabins made of volcanic stone, while spectacular views extend all the way to Rwanda’s Virunga Volcanoes and across the border into the Congo, where a clear night can reveal Nyiragongo Volcano’s glow. Each cozy cottage features a bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a separate living room. The outdoor verandas’ cozy chairs offer the ideal vantage point to take in the spectacular views of the forest below. As dusk falls, roaring fireplaces cast a cozy glow.

In front of a roaring fire in the dining room or in the privacy of your stone cottage, meals are prepared with the finest local ingredients. The trail where visitors can start their gorilla trekking adventure is conveniently located close to the lodge. Guided forest hikes and bird-watching excursions explore the area, while community visits offer a sense of traditional life.

As you can see, there are many options available in a range of price points, so maybe you’ll find something that suits your needs.

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