Overview
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Uganda’s most popular parks. It is located in southwestern Uganda stretching over districts like Kabale, Kisoro, and Kanungu. This park was established in 1991 as a national park after it was a forest reserve. Even before it was a forest reserve in 1932, the area of the park was divided into two blocks, the northern and southern. The northern block was named Kayonza Crown Forest Reserve and the southern block Kasatora Crown Forest Reserve. In 1942 these two blocks were added together to form one big block and named it Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve. In 1964, the forest reserve got a whole new twist as mountain gorillas an endangered species of primates were first sighted in the forest. This discovery followed many years of observing the primates and understanding if they were residents of the forest. After this confirmation, the forest reserve was elevated to a national park status and named Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 1991. The park stretches for over 321 square kilometers.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a popular and best gorilla destination in the world. This is because the park hosts the largest number of mountain gorillas in all four mountain gorilla sectors. There are over 1,065 mountain gorillas in the wild today and over 459 mountains are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These endangered primates only dwell in the Virunga conservation area. This area is well-equipped with dense tropical forests and a favorable landscape for the primates. This area covers parks in the Albertine Rift Valley area of the Western Arm of the Rift Valley. These parks include Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
Bwindi harbors the mountain gorillas in its four gorilla sectors of Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija. These sectors are well distributed in the four compass directions hence easing the location and trekking of the mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are one of the highly sought-after and anticipated tourist attractions in Uganda given their likeness to humans with over 98% of their DNA shared. This explains their living likeness to us such as their social living and engagements. Mountain gorillas live in groups known as gorilla families. Each gorilla family is protected and headed by a silverback who is the dominant male. Gorilla trekking is a rising tourist activity that has attracted visitors from across the world. Visitors get a chance to encounter these primates in their natural habitats and spend an hour watching them go by with their daily chores.
Top 5 lodges in Bwindi 2025
When planning for a safari adventure experience to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, accommodation is key. Therefore in this article, we shall be taking you through the top 5 lodges to stay in Bwindi. Accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park ranges from luxury and midrange to budget. These lodges include the following.
Mahogany Springs Safari Lodge
This lodge is located on the highland slopes in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park facing the Munyanga River. Mahogany Springs Safari Lodge is a luxury type of lodge offering an exotic style of service with incredible rooms that are big enough to allow in more natural light into the rooms. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The lodge is located in the northern part of the Buhoma gorilla sector. The lodge offers superior suites, presidential suites, honeymoon suites, and riverfront villas. These rooms come with special amenities like reading tables, shade chairs for the Bwindi views, Mosaic showers, and bed nets to mention but a few.
Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge gets its name from the gorilla sector of Nkuringo where it is located. The lodge is found on Nketo Hill overlooking the Kashasha Valley which finished off with a ground view of Virunga Mountains. Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge is a luxury lodge with unmatched cleanliness, spacious rooms, and an artistic look. The lodge offers amenities like butler services, a swimming pool, etc. The offers incredible views of the Nkuringo gorilla sector.
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
The Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is located close to the main entrance point to the park in the Buhoma gorilla sector. The lodge has a natural look with most of the furniture in the rooms being wood thus eco-friendly. The lodge is closer to the airstrip at Kihihi than another lodge in the park. The lodge was constructed with environmentally friendly materials with a large roofing canvas that fosters a feeling of staying in the wild. The camp or lodge offers many amenities including laundry services, campfires, and a private deck among others.
Four Gorillas Lodge
This enclave of luxury elegance and class between the wildernesses offers exclusive suites that mingle well with the surrounding environment to craft a traditional and exotic luxury facility. Four Gorillas Lodge is the closest lodge to the briefing center located just 10 minutes from the lodge. Therefore, the lodge boosters are the best choice for gorilla trekkers given their proximity to the briefing center. The lodge is a luxury type with incredible amenities like 24-hour electricity and en-suite bathrooms among others.
Buhoma Lodge
If you are looking for an elegant yet adventurous lodge to relax reflect and retreat from the busy schedules of work and a place to suit your vacation objectives, Buhoma Lodge is the best option. The lodge is located in the popular Buhoma gorilla sector, a hotspot for hosting the endangered mountain gorilla primates. The lodge is crafted on a hill using locally searched materials that reinforce the lodge and combine it with nature to make it your home away from home. The chilling sounds of the birds, as they echo across the lodge, mix well with the chants from primates to satisfy your longing for nature. The lodge offers inspiring amenities like airstrip pick-ups, free wifi, and an open bar to mention but a few. The comfort and cozy 10 chalets suit the client’s wish to stay in the wild. The lodge is a viable option, especially for visitors trekking gorillas in the Buhoma gorilla sector since it is located within a walkable distance from the briefing center.
