Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

Nestled in amongst luscious gardens lie the Garden Cottages. They can be arranged as a double or twin room, making them perfect for couples or friends alike. Built with volcanic stone and decorated with African decor, the cottages are authentic and comfortable. The rooms are spacious and bright, with natural light filling the room through wide, wooden framed windows. Wooden bed frames, polished floors and a stone fire place, complete with surrounding wicker chairs, give the room African charm. The suite bathroom includes a large walk in shower and double basins. The veranda outside each cottage affords breathtaking views over the Bwindi forest, often covered in a magical looking mist, which will make guests feel as if they’re in the clouds.

The two bedroom villas at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge are perfect for families or a group of friends. The two bedrooms are adjoining with a shared veranda connecting them. Each bedroom comes complete with a fireplace, with cosy wicker armchairs for cooler nights, crisp, comfortable bedding and wide windows offering stunning views. Each bedroom also comes with its own ensuite bathroom. Guests will feel as if they are on top of the world as they look over the top of the Bwindi Forest from the perch of their private veranda.

Enjoy dining on creative and inspired meals, which use fresh and locally grown produce, with an astounding view over the luscious trees and mountains. Meals are inspired by Ugandan flavours and can be tailored to suit any dietary requirements. The restaurant is bright bay day and cosily warmed by the fireplace at night, and guests can relax, dine on delicious food and enjoy the intimate atmosphere.

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge also has a tea lounge, where guests can enjoy an authentic tea ceremony, delighting in a local brew whilst snacking on an African pastry.

Enjoy a creative cocktail, refreshing beer or a glass of fine wine from the Rainforest Bar before or after dinner and raise a toast to your stunning surroundings.

With easy access to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – which is home to half the world’s population of Mountain Gorilla – guests can take part in tracking the gorillas. Permits have to be purchased usually months prior to this activity however it is worth it once you have spent time with a gorilla family in the heart of the Bwindi Forest.

There is no better way to explore the surrounding area than on foot, with a knowledgable guide leading the way. Spend the day exploring Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the surrounding mountains through one of many forest trials which may take you to the top of a mountain, canoeing across lakes, through the buffer zone, to the Suma waterfalls, through thick forest and along winding rivers.

For guests who want to explore the area and are interested in the local communities and cultures, then community trials are on offer. Guests can walk to Nteko Ridge Village and spend time with the local people, visiting the school and maybe a homestead. To immerse yourself in the local culture sample local foods and enjoy dances performed by the local youth group. To see another historical local culture, guests can go on the Buniga Batwa Forest Trail and learn all about the Batwa native people.

Similarly, guests can hike on the Mgahinga Batwa Trail to explore the culture of Ugandas Twa forest people. Both the Buniga Batwa Forest Trail and the Mgahinga Batwa Trail are available at and extra cost, proceeds of which go to the respective cultures – providing them with an income.

With an expert birding guide and a pair of binoculars, an educative and interesting afternoon can be spent birding in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. With over 350 species of bird to see, guests will not leave disappointed. Some birds you may see include Short-tailed Warbler, Purple-breasted Sunbirds, Ground Thrush, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters, Common Buzzard and Carruthers’ Cisticola Red-chested Flufftails, to name just a few.

Relax and self-indulge in the Mist Spa. After long days spent exploring the forest guests can choose from a Swedish massage, aromatherapy, deep tissue massage or a wide range of treatments and massages designed to melt away any tensions, aches or pains.

In a prime location to explore the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge is also ideally located for exploration of other surrounding areas. Spend the day at Mgahinga National Park or at the Virunga Volcanoes. Explore the Buniga Forest or Nombe Forest. Or enjoy hiking trails along the Ivy or Kashasha Rivers, as well as a canoe journey on Lake Mutanda.

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge promotes responsible travel and makes sure and decisions they make reflect this responsibility. By believing that “travel should be a force for good”, the lodge works with their employees, guests and partners to help make a positive impact in their local community. Involved in many projects and programs which help to protect the environment, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge aims to raise “ecological awareness as part of the holiday experience” which guests receive.

Acutely aware of the benefits and negatives of tourism and travelling, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge helps to expose guests to the wonders of Uganda, whilst also raising the challenged which are happening environmentally and more widely in the world. The philosophy of the lodge is “In Harmony With Nature” and this runs throughout their practices, with guests leaving “emotionally rich, more informed and ecologically aware than when they arrived.” Actively partnering and working with companies who focus on sustainability of the land and natural resources, the Lodge promotes “Fair Trade in Tourism”, which ensures that the local people, animals and land will benefit from their presence.

Their responsibility to the community means their focus and promotion of community projects and sustainable practices empowers the “lives of children, women and their families.” Reaping benefits all round, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge has also found that their carbon footprint has been reduced and getting local produce has reduced their spending. They believed that participating in these initiates and projects will contribute “to the broader economy through reduction in the rural-urban migration, community empowerment and a healthy and educated population.”

Many community projects are supported at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Camp. One such project is their own Youth Organisation. Through this they help to educated children in the importance of conservation and environmental awareness, teach them sport, which helps promote teamwork and hold classes on health and development. The overall aim of this youth organisation is to empower the local youth. Nkuringo Health Centre was opened in Kokomo to help keep the local community healthy and happy.

Well-being and good health is promoted throughout local communities and families from the health centre, which receives much of its equipment, medicine and supplies form traveller donations. Another community project supported by Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge is the Nkuringo Vocational School. This provides “vocational and general life skills workshops” to children from the local area, as well as giving them “access to good education” through sponsorships and supplies from scholastic.

The community is also supported through the Pack For a Purpose project, where guests are encouraged to bring supplies which will aid the community projects and “make a priceless impact on the lives of the local children and families.”

To help develop successful and well rounded communities, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge helps to empower the local women of Nkuringo through the ‘Sewing Machine Project.’ This helps women develop their knowledge and sewing skills and holds a focus to help “uplift their self-confidence and wealth.” The products which the women create and sold and promoted through the gift shop at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge and travellers are encouraged to donate and volunteer some time with the group.

Another community project which helps ensure the benefits of responsible travel reach everyone, is the training of local people as walking safari guides. The support offered to the safari guides is extended to their family and children through the “Nkuringo Junior Stars Program” which makes sure children, especially female children can receive an education while their parents earn a “comfortable living.” Promoting and conserving local cultures is of paramount importance at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge and they have their own “Nkuringo Cultural Centre” which holds “cultural performances, habitat conservation, skill development, education and forest and community tour experiences.” In this way, the indigenous Batwa cultures are celebrated, understood and experienced.

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge holds a big emphasis on reforestation. To help these reforestation efforts they have an “indigenous tree planting initiative” which allows guests to help take part in the effort. The lodge is carbon neutral, which means that any carbon footprint the lodge does have is offset, with the help of the Uganda Carbon Bureau. A deep consciousness of the environment means that Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge promotes “action towards litter collection, waste management, water conservation, recycling and re-use of resources.”