In Bwindi Forest Impenetrable National Park, there are several accommodations on where to stay during your budget gorilla trek in Bwindi before and after gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Options available in Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga all inside the Bwindi impenetrable national park and there are a lot of accommodation facilities ranging from luxury, mid-range and budget accommodation in the four sectors of Bwindi as listed below.
Buhoma Area
- Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Buhoma Community Rest Camp is a wonderful budget option located within the gates of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, offering you a bed for as little as $20.
Buhoma Community Village Walk is a must, whether you stay with us or not. $15 only
Rooms and facilities
Buhoma Community Rest Camp offer 6 well-furnished and self-contained en suite safari tents, 3 self-contained cottages, and 2 non-self-contained twin cottage Banda’s.
All of our Banda’s are built with local materials and are of African architectural design. We also offer guests a 6-bed dormitory as well as several camp sites
Buhoma Community Rest Camp offers you Western and African cuisine prepared by Ugandan chefs using locally grown products.
Our set meal would, for example, consist of a fresh mushroom soup, pan-seared tilapia fish or vegetable masala, roasted potatoes, saucy mixed vegetables, crepes with honey sauce, tea/coffee and hot chocolate.
Your breakfast at Buhoma Community Rest Camp will be fresh fruits and toast accompanied by your choice of prepared eggs (scrambled, fried, boiled, poached, omelette) along with coffee/tea and juice.
For gorilla tracking we will pack for you a sandwich (egg, tomato and cheese, peanut butter/jelly, tomato, or cheese), a juice box, and two pieces of fruit, a boiled egg, and biscuits.
- Buhoma Haven Lodge
Buhoma Haven Lodge is a beautiful brand new accommodation option next to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with prices starting at $91 per person.
The lodge’s spacious site lies above Buhoma village, a 5-minute drive from the main road, and this elevated location guarantees best views across Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Rooms and facilities
Buhoma Haven Lodge currently offers 2 beautifully designed twin/double cottages and 1 family cottage, all self-contained en suite and merging simple elegance with local materials.
Buhoma Haven Lodge serves 5-course meals blending Western and African cuisine, prepared by Ugandan chefs using locally grown products.
Our set meal would, for example, consist of an egg soufflé, soup au Pistou, lamb nansama mint sauce with Swedish potatoes, lentil dhal with rice and chapati, boiled spinach and strawberries tart.
Your breakfast at Buhoma Community Haven Lodge will be cereals, fresh fruits and toast accompanied by your choice of prepared eggs (scrambled, fried, boiled, poached, omelette) along with coffee/tea and juice.
For gorilla tracking we will pack for you a sandwich (egg, tomato and cheese, peanut butter/jelly, tomato, or cheese), a piece of chicken, packed juice, an apple, a boiled egg, and biscuits.
- Buhoma Lodge
Buhoma Lodge is a top quality and intimate property, commands spectacular views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to the rare and elusive Mountain Gorillas. One of only two lodges situated within the National Park, Buhoma Lodge is a short walking distance from the meeting point for gorilla tracking and other activities in the area.
An elevated central lounge area, complete with bar, dining and spa facilities, offers a cosy, comfortable environment to discuss the day’s activities around the fireplaces which add atmosphere and warmth in the cool evenings.
Rooms and facilities
Spa treatment room is available to all overnight lodge guests whom are entitled to a complimentary massage by our trained in-house masseuse. We also offer a complimentary laundry and hiking-boot cleaning service, all valuable after a day of gorilla trekking tours in Africa, Bwindi.
Buhoma Lodge offers arrangements for special occasions; including birthday and other celebrations, private dining, cultural dancing and interaction as well as room service as required which is communicated through our in-house private telephone service available in each chalet.
Activities
Buhoma Lodge offers a walk guests with an opportunity to support the local community whilst enjoying visiting various interesting places as you follow a walking trail through the village.
Highlights include the traditional healer, banana brewery and Mukono Primary school where you may interact with the children.
A guided walk of around 1-2 hours established to provide its visitors with a better understanding of the Batwa’s early way of life whilst assisting them with additional income.
A full day Batwa experience provided by the Batwa Development Program allowing one to see, understand and participate in the lifestyle of the Batwa when they lived in the forest and depended upon their hunting and gathering skills for their daily needs.
This can be done around the lodge and walks in the forest with local qualified guides. This forest area has recorded over 350 bird species. Of particular interest are the 23 species endemic to the Albertine Rift and at least 14 recorded nowhere else in Uganda.
- Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is nestled deep inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest Uganda. This camp is one of the most remote and atmospheric in Africa.
The camp is located within Bwindi National Park; Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp offers guests an unrivalled location, including the best bird and wildlife viewing in the Bwindi area. Due to its unique location, it’s not unusual for the gorilla families to visit the camp itself.
As the only concessionaire luxury camp within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is the perfect base from which to track the park’s most famous resident to mountain gorilla.
The main area features a comfortable lounge and bar area as well as the main dining area while the mini spa offers a wide selection of treatments.
Located within the National Park, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp offers guests an unrivalled location, including the best bird and wildlife viewing in the Bwindi area.
In fact Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp often receives regular visits from the gorillas themselves.
For the lucky guests in camp at those times, they may have the chance for a gorilla encounter without even leaving Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp.
Rooms and facilities
The eight tents at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp are stylish and spacious, each featuring two queen sized beds.
In addition to the comfortable warm beds, each tent has a huge bathtub that looks straight into the jungle canopy ideal for soaking tired muscles after a day spent observing and meeting gorillas.
Observe rare forest species while soaking in the tub, followed by a cocktail on the private viewing deck served by your personal attendant.
The bar and dining cottage overlooks the rain forest and a raised natural platform is built for open air-dining. A full English and continental breakfast is served before your morning activity. All meals are à la carte and served in the bar and dining area overlooking the rain forest.
Chef Jackson serves a silver service dinner with four to five courses each evening. One of the mains might even include his favourite dish – Matoke rolled chicken with creamed spinach and ground nut sauce. Celebrating a special occasion? We are able to offer romantic private dinners.
Learn about and interact with the local Batwa People. This full day activity involves a three hour walk followed by about an hour spent with the Batwa.
The walk back to camp is two hours. The visit includes a music performance, visitation by the goddess, hunting and gathering demonstration and an opportunity to see how they live.
- Silver back Lodge
Silver back lodge is the latest addition to the Marasa Africa properties located in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in western Uganda, Silver back Lodge is only a 5 minute walk to the national park and has sweeping views of the valley and forests that surround it.
The lodge is on the top valley overlooking Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The view is absolutely stunning. Bird watching and sometimes primate viewing is possible right from the front door of your room. With 12 rooms, we are the largest lodge in the area and will remain one of the best value properties in the region, whilst keeping the Marasa Africa standards of comfort and hospitality.
Rooms and facilities
With 12 rooms, we are the largest lodge in the area and remain one of the best value properties in the region, whilst keeping the Marasa Africa standards of comfort and hospitality. 1 single room, 4 double rooms and 7 twin rooms. Each room has an en-suite bathroom (with hot water showers) and comfortable chairs on the veranda for viewing the flora and fauna that make up the surroundings in the valley.
Silver back Lodge is perched high above the valley overlooking beautiful flora and fauna. From the Summit Bar you can enjoy après – trekking cocktails with friends and family. Bird watching and primate viewing are possible right from the front door of your room.
The lodge has beautiful gardens, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the magnificent landscape of the Bwindi forest after a long day’s hike.
- Gorilla trekking
- Bird watching
- 6 varying trails for hiking
- Day and night trips to Queen Elizabeth National Park (2 hour drive to Ishasha). We recommend Mweya Safari Lodge within Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- The Batwa Trail
- Ride for a Woman Biking
- Engagi Lodge
Engagi Lodge in Bwindi is a modern lodge in a breath-taking setting offering stunning views over the forest canopy. The lodge is situated in a large tract of land contiguous to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and runs from the main road to the Park Headquarters down to the Munyaga River. The lodge is open ended at the front allowing a dramatic view of the Bwindi forest from every corner inside the building.
Rooms and facilities
The lodge consists of just 8 en-suite cottages, spaced out and hidden in the foliage. Each cottage has either double or twin beds, a bathroom with flushing toilets and hot and cold running water. All have private verandas where guests can enjoy their morning tea or coffee as they watch out over the forest canopy.
Electricity is provided by solar power with a back-up generator. Hot water is supplied by eco-friendly wood burning boilers. The main reception area has been built up near the Buhoma road and we have a large secure car-park; both of these are a good distance away from the main lodge buildings. Clients can walk around the lodge down to the river, viewing the bird life and flora of the area.
Whether it is gorilla trekking, birding, game drives, hiking, or just sightseeing, there is no shortage of activities in the Bwindi area. Below are highlights of some of the activities you may wish to include in your itinerary. Bird watching, Batwa trail, gorilla trekking and Ishasha tree climbing lions
- Mahogany Springs
Mahogany Springs offers privacy and serenity blended with optimal comfort in a spectacular setting. With some of the most luxurious accommodation in East Africa the feeling that you will experience when staying here is beyond compare.
Mahogany Springs is the perfect base from which to begin you Gorilla Tracking or Bird watching adventures. The Gorillas have been to know to the visit the lodge and coming face to face with one of these peaceful creatures is an indescribable experience.
Set back on the pristine waters of the Munyanga River and facing the Impenetrable forest the natural setting of Mahogany Springs is beyond imagination. The exotic gardens and intricately designed stone pathways leading to the river invite you to explore every corner of this magical place uncovering the various surprises along the way such as the Home grown vegetable garden.
Rooms and facilities
The Superior Suites can be Twin, Double or Triple. These suites are spacious with large double doors and beautiful windows. Each Suite has its own private exquisitely designed terrace with panoramic views of the surrounding area. There are power points in the rooms as well as a dressing table/desk. All suites have large en-suite bathrooms with a gorgeously designed open terracotta shower. For added comfort and peace of mind all the suites have an advanced mosquito net system that wraps around the entire area of the beds.
The presidential /family suite is absolute privacy mixed with complete spaciousness the Presidential Suite can be twin, Double, Triple or Quadruple. With 2 bedrooms, 2 en-suite bathrooms, spacious living room and a large private terrace that overlooks the river and faces the forest this suite is designed for guests seeking the very best. There are power points in the living room and bedrooms as well as 2 desks/dressing tables. There is also an advanced mosquito net system in both bedrooms.
The Honeymoon suite; The Huffington Post named Uganda the number 2 Most Unforgettable Honeymoon Destination in 2016 and they picked Mahogany Springs as the recommended safari lodge for Gorilla Tracking. We quickly decided to add a The Honeymoon Suite which opened in July 2016. The room has the same design and features as the Superior Suites with a few little added extras including a larger bed and a bathtub in addition to the shower.
There are many activities to keep you busy while you stay at Mahogany Springs, some can be organized by the lodge others must be booked locally which we can assist you with. Track the Gorillas; meet the Batwa tribe or plant a tree at Mahogany Springs, cultural and personal enrichment is never far away.
This experience cannot be put into words. Track the Gorillas on foot through the forest until you find them and spend around 1 hour watching them interact. This must be booked by your tour operator prior to arrival. Some of the other activities on offer include; bird watching, tree planting, various nature walks, visit the Batwa, community tour, garden tour.
