Luxury Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Lodges & Camps

Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Bwindi Forest is home to a variety of safari lodges and camps that can accommodate a wide range of tastes and budgets. If you want to wake up to the sound of birdsong and eat gourmet meals while the rainforest comes alive, choose a deluxe choice with beautiful views of the forest. In the middle of the price range, you’ll find lodges that have comfortable rooms with fireplaces and welcoming common areas where you can exchange tales of your gorilla encounters with other travellers.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the majestic mountain gorillas, offers a diverse selection of lodges. To help you choose the perfect accommodation for your gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda, we’ve curated this list of our best selection of the finest safari lodges in Bwindi.

1. Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge (Rushaga)

There’s a vibrant African feel to the cottages at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge. Organic timber floors and woven basketwork ceilings are offset by brightly colored fabrics and draped walk-in mosquito nets. Attractively situated on green slopes, Ichumbi is one of the best-value Bwindi lodges and a great base for gorilla trekking at Rushaga. Smaller budget rooms are also available for the cost-conscious.

2. Mutanda Lake Resort (Rushaga)

Located on a forested peninsula approximately 20km/12mi to the south of Rushaga, Mutanda Lake Resort is one of the most common gorilla tracking bases. This well maintained resort is most famous for its waterfront location on the island-studded Lake Mutanda, from where guests can see the majestic Virunga Mountains’ towering volcanoes. A variety of lodging options are available, from smaller, more conventional rooms with stilts to bigger, more contemporary cottages. The lake is a great place to go swimming, canoeing, or paddleboarding, and it also has some great birdwatching.

Staying the night in Mutanda before your gorilla hike requires an early start due to the one-hour trip to Rushaga. Despite this minor drawback, the location more than makes up for it. About midway between the two national parks, Mutanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, are located. Because of this, it is an ideal starting point for trekkers who wish to see both the gorillas and the golden monkeys in the two countries.

3. Mahogany Springs Lodge (Buhoma)

One of the most well-liked and reasonably priced places to stay in Bwindi for gorilla trekking is Mahogany Springs Lodge. Its picturesque location in a gently sloping stretch of forest that slopes down to the swift-flowing Munyanga River belies its proximity to the park boundaries, around 1km/0.6mi from the headquarters in Buhoma. Each of the twelve roomy homes features a private balcony with a view of the forest and is adorned with arts and crafts created by local artisans.

4. Four Gorillas Lodge (Rushaga)

Just a short ten-minute drive from the gorilla trekking centre is Four Gorillas, the most opulent lodge in Bwindi’s Rushaga district. It has eight large cottages, each with a private balcony overlooking the forest, traditional local handicrafts as decor, and warm timber flooring and finishing. The resort is well-known for its delicious food and friendly service.

5. Buhoma Lodge (Buhoma)

If we said that Buhoma Lodge was the most convenient base for gorilla trekking in Bwindi, we would be perhaps underselling it. Its location is ideal, being just inside the park’s boundaries and a short two-minute stroll from the headquarters, where hikers meet up. But there’s also excellent animal watching right here at this five-star property. Constantly swung by are L’Hoest’s monkeys and playful black-and-white colobus, and flitting through the bush are a dizzying array of colourful woodland birds. The cottages, which are light and airy and spread out on a steep forested hill behind the elevated bar and restaurant, are lovely and cosy.

6. Engagi Lodge (Buhoma)

Located on a hillside in the woods not far from Buhoma Gate, Engagi Lodge strikes the perfect balance between economy and quality. Featuring a fireplace and furnished with intriguing historical prints, the open-fronted dining area and lounge are crafted from stone, wood, and thatch. The eight guest homes on stilts are all located in peaceful woodland areas and have solar panels that power their energy. Each cottage also has a terrace that overlooks the forest canopy. As a break from the more serious events, visitors can take a stroll along the murmuring Munyanga River, where they can listen to the birdsong and maybe even spot some monkeys.

7. Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge (Ruhija)

Among the four gorilla trekking hubs in Bwindi, Ruhija stands out as the most appealing. It provides breathtaking views over gently undulating wooded hills to the craggy peaks of the Virunga Mountains, and it’s the only one located inside the park itself, not on the border. The opening of the private Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge, located about 7km/4mi from the Ruhija trekking trailhead, changed that for many years when nothing at Ruhija could compete with the most luxurious lodges at Buhoma. Eleven roomy cabins make up this contemporary lodge. Every room features a minibar, a log fire, a jacuzzi tub, an outdoor shower, and a sliding glass door that opens to a balcony covered by a pergola and surrounded by a bamboo forest. There is a heated pool and a spa on the premises.

If you’re interested in birdwatching, Ruhija is a fantastic starting point for a walk to the wetland known as Mubwindi. Among the uncommon and hard-to-see wildlife species that might be spotted on this half-day guided walk is the Grauer’s broadbill.

8. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge (Nkuringo)

The highest lodge in Uganda, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, sits on a forested ridge at an elevation of 2,100 meters (6,890 feet). Appropriately, it resembles a grand Alpine ski chalet with an African twist. Each of the eight charming cabins at the lodge measures 80 square meters (860 square feet). In addition to a king-size bed, each cottage has a large living room with plush couches and a rustic fireplace, as well as a sleek, contemporary bathroom. In the isolated southwest Nkuringo sector of Bwindi, you won’t find a better base for hiking gorillas.

On clear days, vistas of the volcanic Virunga Mountains can be breathtaking, especially at night when active Nyiragongo glows orange. Indulge in a personal butler, relax with a foot massage after your gorilla hike, and savour delectable cuisine paired with a variety of international wines—the perfect way to round off your luxurious experience.

9. Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (Buhoma)

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is a top-tier Bwindi resort that combines the atmosphere of a private safari camp with the beauty of the rainforest. Eight chic standing tents are available, each with a private balcony, two queen-size beds and a contemporary bathroom. Located inside the park, it is just a short stroll from the gorilla trekking meeting place at the park headquarters, just like Buhoma Lodge. Even when you return to your campsite, you can continue to see wildlife. Great blue turacos and other colourful forest birds are common, monkeys swing by frequently, and even gorillas have been known to meander across the lawn.

10. Bwindi Lodge (Buhoma)

Hosted by the illustrious Volcanoes Safaris, Bwindi Lodge is one of the most astute accommodations near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is located in a section of regenerating forest that dips into the Munyaga River, not far from Buhoma Gate. Cottages are large and elegantly furnished; guests have access to individual butlers and beautiful views of the forest from their rooms. There is a little walking route on the grounds where you can view forest birds, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and even gorillas from time to time!