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The Jungle Gorilla Lodge

Overlooking the primeval Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and with stunning views of the forest canopy across a serene stream, Bwindi Lodge is one of Africa’s unique lodges.

The property has dramatic views of the impenetrable forest and is a great place to spot the monkeys and birds hidden in the foliage. During 2021 two new delxue bandas have opened, standard bandas have been rebuilt and upgraded, and the lounge and library have been reimagined.

The award-winning Bwindi Bar, in the high street of the village nearby is the most stylish and colourful bar in the area! Guests also enjoy informal tapas style meals inspired by Ugandan dishes. It’s the Harry’s Bar of Bwindi! Guests can make their ‘rolex’ wrap and the delicious Gorillini Cocktail, a must-have after a gorilla tracking in Bwindi! The bar was set up by Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust to train disadvantaged local young people in hospitality.

Lodge Overview

Ten elegant hand built guest bandas facing the dramatic Bwindi Forest (Two deluxe and eight standard rooms). 

Trek the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Walk along the Munyanga River Trail and to a pristine waterfall deep in the forest. 

Start your gorilla trek from the lodge with our direct private footpath to access gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. 

Exceptional hospitality and locally-inspired food. Personal butler service for all guests. Wifi throughout the lodge and all-inclusive premium drinks menus. 

Enjoy complimentary spa treatments and massages, including the famous Rungu massage at the Humula Forest Spa.

Visit Bwindi Bar and enjoy a traditional Uganda ‘Rolex’ wrap and signature Gorillini cocktail! 

Safaris

“Our stay was quite possibly the most rewarding experience we have ever enjoyed throughout our many world travels.”
“The best service we have received in Africa! Incredible gorilla experience and wonderful staff. Thank you!”
Trudie, Canada
“Should western societies globally follow by example Volcanoes Safaris conservation and community ethos, our world would be a better place. We have respect and appreciation for what you are doing. Thank you!”
Adrian, Australia
“Truly a wonderful experience! Thank you to Mariana and all the staff for making our stay in Bwindi so memorable!!”
Renata and Robin, 7-Day Kyambura & Bwindi
“This has to be one of Africa’s best lodges with a relaxing and peaceful location. The rooms are very comfortable and those with a veranda can sit and enjoy the wonderful sounds of the forest. Gorillas come to the lodge perimeter, and you will see them if you are lucky!”
John, United Kingdom
“Undivided attention from the staff, and a gin & tonic is a must after gorilla tracking. Try hanging around the main house with a camera handy in case some gorillas come passing by. I was lucky to see the group of gorillas twice during my 4-night stay.”
Judy, China
“This stunning lodge has all the comforting first world elements you may not expect from a lodge in the middle of a rain forest but still the ethnic African feel you would hope for when going on a remote vacation. Hot showers, lovely fire pits, comfortable beds and epic food!”
Caz, UAE

Booking Enquiry

To make a booking, please complete this form or click here to chat to one of our sales consultants via our live chat. Alternatively, send us an email on enquiries@volcanoessafaris.com.
To protect gorillas from disease, no children under 15 years are allowed to go gorilla tracking. For guests booking a stay at Virunga Lodge, please note that the minimum age limit for children at Virunga Lodge is 12 years.

Bwindi Lodge Fact Sheet

The Lodge

  • 10 newly renovated luxury bandas. 8 standard rooms (6 doubles and 2 twins) and 2 deluxe bandas (2 doubles). All rooms offer spectacular views of the forest. No guide/tour leader rooms available at the lodge.
  • All bandas are complete with en-suite bathrooms with flushing toilet, double vanity and shower with hot & cold running water.
  • Each banda has a private terrace overlooking the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with scenic panoramic views.
  • Personal butler service for all guests.
  • The Forest Spa Humula mw’ Ishamba opened in April 2018. This is being extended to create a larger forest spa and sauna and will open in mid-2023. One 50-minute complimentary massage per guest per stay. Extra massages are available at $50 per 50-minute massage.
  • Full board accommodation including all soft drinks and regular and premium alcoholic beverages including cocktails, cellar collection wines and single malt whiskies. Guests pay for French champagne only.
  • Complimentary laundry service.
  • Power sockets/charging facilities and hair dryer in the rooms. No air conditioners.
  • Wi-Fi is available in the main lodge and all
    guest bandas.
  • Sales Tool Kit with images, videos, rates, etc can be viewed at this link.

Safari & Lodge Activities

  • Gorilla tracking (exclusive gorilla tracking available).
  • Visit the award-winning Bwindi Bar.
  • Take a tour around the tea plantations.
  • Take a walk to the river below the lodge.
  • Waterfall walk and Munyanga River Trail.
  • Rushurra Hill/Border Trail.
  • Muzabajirro Loop Trail.
  • Visit Bwindi Community Hospital.
  • Visit Conservation Through Public Health headquarters (Dr. Gladys Kalema’s laboratory).
     

Getting to the Lodge

  • From Entebbe: 1-hour flight.
  • From Mount Gahinga Lodge (Kisoro): 15-minute flight or a 4-hour walk through the forest + 2-hour drive.
  • From Kyambura Gorge Lodge (Kasese): 15-minute flight or a 6-hour drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Seasons & Climate

  • Average daytime temperatures: 15-27 celsius, at night: 7-17 celsius.
  • Uganda is located on the equator and is an all- year- round destination. High season: 15 Dec – 28 Feb / 1 Jun – 30 Sep. Low season: 1 Oct – 14 Dec / 1 Mar – 31 May.

Useful Information

  • Lodge altitude: 1,475m. GPS coordinates: 0.9835° S, 29.6174° E.
  • Credit card payments are accepted at the lodge (Amex, Visa and MasterCard). Cash payments or cheques are not accepted.
  • Gratuities are at the discretion of the guest. For lodge staff and guides we suggest $5-10 or more per day. For park guides $5-10 and for trackers $15 per guest. All tips go directly to staff.
  • Children under 15 years of age are not permitted to track the gorillas. They are very welcome at the lodge, but please be advised we do not have childcare facilities.
  • Check out time for all guests is 11am.
Gorilla

Bwindi Lodge: Safari Activities

Gorilla Tracking

Gorilla

Tracking mountain gorillas through the dense African forests is a magical experience. Only eight visitors are allowed per gorilla group each day, and to minimize possible transmission of human diseases, visitors are asked to maintain a distance of 10m from the gorillas. Typically, tracking can take from 3 to 8 hours and requires some agility and fitness; however, all fitness levels can be accommodated and no one should feel deterred from missing this once in a lifetime experience.

Bwindi Lodge

Bwindi Lodge: Safari Activities

Waterfall Walk

Bwindi Lodge
This walk takes you through a beautiful part of the rainforest, passing between ferns and orchids before emerging to see three pristine waterfalls.

Bwindi Lodge: Safari Activities

Visit Bwindi Community Hospital

This internationally supported hospital is a beacon of hope to the local communities. Walkable from Bwindi Lodge, guests are welcome to visit the hospital and learn about the daily challenges and successes of the institution and remarkable staff.

Mountain Trekking

Bwindi Lodge: Safari Activities

Birding

Mountain Trekking

Both Uganda and Rwanda offer some of the world’s best bird watching, with a vast diversity of bird species. Uganda has over 1,000 bird species with 150 found only in Uganda. Rwanda has over 700 bird species and is home to the second highest number of Albertine endemics in the Albertine region. Each of our lodges offers the chance to see a number of different birds, with the vast majority endemic to the Region.

Kitchen Staff

Bwindi Lodge: Safari Activities

Bwindi Bar

Kitchen Staff

In 2015, the VSPT officially opened the Bwindi Bar, located near the Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge on the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The bar provides a practical training institution for local disadvantaged youths living near the Bwindi National Park in Buhoma.

The VSPT aims to provide practical experience in the tourism industry, to create more job opportunities in the region. Thanks to this programme, trainees are armed with the appropriate skills set to go on to gain successful employment in hospitality in the Bwindi area.

The trainees gain practical skills in food and service during their three month training. They are then sent for further internships at nearby lodges. Bwindi Bar serves a variety of delicious locally-inspired food and drinks, including the famous Ugandan ‘Rolex’ wrap and the signature ‘Gorillini’ cocktail!

Congratulations to Bwindi Bar on winning the 2016 PURE Community Engagement Award!

VolcanoesSafaris - Tea Farming

Bwindi Lodge: Safari Activities

Tea Demonstration and Tasting

VolcanoesSafaris - Tea Farming

In 2013 Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust began simple tea processing in partnership with the local communities, at Bwindi Lodge.

Tea is a very useful buffer crop when planted between forest areas with protected wildlife and local human communities. Animals do not eat tea so feel no need to come out of the forest to “crop raid” which is the source of much human-wildlife conflict in areas around national parks.

A tea tour is available to interested lodge guests, demonstrating how tea is grown, picked and traditionally processed in Uganda. The demonstration also shows how black, green and white teas are produced and differentiated. Guests are invited to sample the fine teas during the tour whilst looking out over the impressive forest.

Sinamatella Uganda Bwindi Forest View

Bwindi Lodge: Safari Activities

Munyanga River Trail

Sinamatella Uganda Bwindi Forest View

This short trail provides a short walk to view birds and monkeys along the forest edge.

Virunga Lodge

Mount Gahinga Lodge

Bwindi Lodge

Kyambura Lodge

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International Guest Terms

Terms Summary

  • Rates are effective on all new 2023 bookings made from 8th April 2022.
  • Rates are inclusive of current government taxes, which may be subject to change without notice.
  • The rates above include accommodation and meals, house alcoholic drinks, premium drinks (except French champagne), soft drinks, laundry services, any activities at the lodges, massage and spa treatments (subject to booking and availability).
  • All guests staying at the lodge are required to pay $50 community fees per person per night.
  • Low season rates are applicable to bookings from 1 October to 14 December and 1 March to 31 May.
  • At Gahinga, Bwindi, Kyambura children of 16 years and under staying in the same room as their
  • parents pay US $50 per child per night. Children under 5 years stay for free.
  • At Virunga children of 12 – 16 years staying in the same room as their parents pay US $100 per child per night. The minimum age limit for children is 12 years.

Offers

  • Book Bwindi Lodge and Kyambura Gorge Lodge combined for 4 nights and get the 5th night free.
  • Book 2 nights at Kyambura Gorge Lodge or Mt. Gahinga Lodge and get 50% discount on the 3rd night.
  • Special offers cannot be combined at any given time.

Map room

  • At Virunga the Dian Fossey Map Room is available for conferences, private events and other functions. Please inquire for details and cost.

Payment policy:

Standard booking (Up to 3 rooms)

  • A 20% non-refundable deposit is payable upon receipt of invoice.
  • Final balance is due 30 days prior to arrival.
  • Bookings within 30 days of arrival – full payment due upon receipt of invoice.

Group booking (4 and above rooms)

  • 35% non-refundable and non-transferable deposit is payable upon receipt of invoice in order to confirm booking.
  • Final balance of 65% is due 60 days prior to date.
  • Bookings within 60 days of arrival – full payment due upon receipt of invoice.

For full Terms and Conditions please visit our website.