Gorilla Forest Lodge
Tucked deep in the verdant heart of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Gorilla Forest Lodge, the only luxury lodge inside the gates of the park in Buhoma Sector. With around 1,060 mountain gorillas exit in the wild, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to more than half of them, making Gorilla Forest Camp a perfect luxury lodge to stay for gorilla trekking.
Reopened in June 2025 after a complete overhaul, the 10 – suite property has been beautiful and eco-consciously redesigned in harmony with its natural surroundings. Its prime location is second to none – mountain gorillas have been known to visit the grounds, and the brilliant forest rangers ensure sightings on every trek. In addition to gorilla trek, there are also guided walks through the lush and incredible biodiverse rainforest to scenic waterfalls and organic spa treatments with jungle views, all followed by sundowners around the fire and memorable dinners with the warm glow of the dining room.
Gorilla Forest Lodge plays a role in saving the endangered mountain gorillas from extinction – every stay here funds A&K Philanthropy projects which support and conserve local communities, wildlife and the Bwindi Forest itself.
Why Visitors Love Gorilla Forest Lodge
- The best – located lodge in Bwindi for gorilla trekking
- Highly experienced rangers guarantee to find the elusive mountain gorilla every time
- The re-imagined lodge is beautifully and consciously designed, setting the gold standard for eco luxury in Uganda
- Every step helps conserve the endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi’s local communities, and the forest itself.
- The Gorilla Forest Lodge family of staff are renowned for being warm, welcoming and making every guest’s experience special
- Superb spa treatments restore and revive after a day’s rainforest trekking
The Location
Gorilla Forest Lodge is the best – located luxury lodge for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The dense, mountainous, lush, breathtaking beautiful and poetically named, however, entirely impenetrable. The lodge provides the perfect point of entry into one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Africa; an area that is home to around half of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas, the great apes with whom we share 98 per cent of our DNA. Among lodges in Bwindi, it is unrivalled as the only luxury option inside the national park gates. This means morning commutes to set off on treks to see these magnificent and critically endangered creatures are measured in minutes, not half – hour or hour long drives.
Hike through farmland and foliage (it could take anything from 60 minutes to several hours to reach the gorillas, depending on the location that day) to spend an intimate hour watching their loving , complex family drama play out at your feet. While seeing the gorillas is undoubtedly a highlight of the excursion, exploring the living, breathing undergrowth of such a pristine wilderness on a vigorous hike.
Accommodation at Gorilla Forest Lodge
With a total 10 luxury suites, every suite at Gorilla Forest Lodge has a personal attendant to fulfil your very need. For enhanced wildlife experience from your veranda and at Bwindi generally, state of the art Leica binoculars are provided for every guest on arrival and are also available at the Explorer’s Lounge. Each suite also has a minibar, desk, telephone and safe, plus two sculptural hanging chairs made from ribs of varnished wood, suspended from the veranda porch and ideal for observing monkeys.
The Safari Experience at Gorilla Forest Lodge
On your stay at Gorilla Forest Lodge, enjoy French press coffee in the huge hillside suite of your Bwindi Luxury Lodge listening to the constant soundtrack of birdsong and spotting colobus monkeys scampering in the trees, before you set off through the jungle in search of mountain gorillas. A team of rangers and guides will ensure you are well kitted out; everyone gets gaiters, a backpack and sticks to help navigate the tricky terrain. The trek through dense, steep forest means a level of physical fitness is required. But all the exertion is worthwhile once you spend time with the incredible gentle giants – mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The beauty and advantage of staying at Gorilla Forest Lodge is its location inside the gates of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This means you are closer to home more than any else once you have marveled at the family dynamics of mountain gorillas, and enjoyed a post – trek picnic lunch. Return to the newly revamped lodge for a downtime, and leave your boots in the mud room to be cleaned, before a spa treatment to warm down after the morning’s exercise – the natural treatments here are accompanied by the sound of a gently burbling stream outside for maximum immersion in your surroundings. There are plenty of books for leafing through in the Explorer’s Lounge, and the Bush Boutique is stocked with African – crafted items: hand – painted T-shirts, bags in vibrant – colored fabrics echoing the kaleidoscopic local markets, and more. Locally rooted design is a core principle at Gorilla Forest Lodge, as seen in the banana – leaf wallpaper and beaded chandeliers created by women from the nearby village. Anyone keen to get back out into the forest can embark on a guided walk to Munyaga Waterfall, ticking off the abundant species along the way (from forest hogs to African emerald cuckoo), or take a short stroll to the local female – run bike shop, amongst other project set up by A&K Philanthropy. Sundowners back by the fire are a special moment, with long – time team member Wallen singing and playing a distinctive harp, followed by dinner in the softly lit restaurant. After such an active day, a soak in the round tub of your spacious and completely secluded bathroom await, with even more forest views on tap.
Meet a Mountain Gorilla Family
After a thrilling trek through the verdant forests, you will get a chance to see gorilla family dynamics play out – from hulking silverbacks to wide – eyed babies clinging to their mothers.
Hike to the Beautiful Waterfalls
This three – hour trek with a forest ranger takes in dense jungle, bamboo groves and a beautiful waterfall, plus the rare species you might encounter along the way.
Take a spin to the bike shop
A 10-minute walk from the lodge is the Bwindi Bicycle Enterprise, set by A&K Philanthropy, where local women repair bikes and provide them to the community.
Spa treatments with jungle views
The sound of a burbling stream outside the window accompanies pampering treatment using organic products made in Africa by Healing Earth.