Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

Highlights

• Ridge-top setting at 7,090 feet on the southern edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Gorilla trekking in both the Nkuringo and Rushaga sectors, with permits arranged in advance
• Cultural encounters on the Buniga Batwa Forest Trail and Nkuringo community walks
• Mist Spa with massages designed to soothe tired legs after the trek
• Uninterrupted views of the Bwindi Forest canopy and the Virunga Volcanoes from a mosquito-free altitude
• World Travel Awards winner 2024

You Should Know

• Children under 6 stay free when sharing with one or two adults, maximum two children per room
• Children aged 6 to 14 are charged the published child rate
• Guests aged 15 and over are charged as adults
• Minimum age for gorilla trekking is set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (15 years)
• Gorilla trekking permits, premium drinks, spa treatments, porters and vehicle transfers are charged separately

The Details

Location

The lodge stands on Nteko Ridge in the Nkuringo sector on the southern edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in south-western Uganda. At 7,090 feet the climate is cool and mosquito-free, and the ridge looks out across the Kashasha River Valley to the Bwindi Forest canopy on one side and the Virunga Volcano chain on the other.

Lydia and Robert founded the property as a remote ridge-top campsite in 2007. It has grown into an owner-run, carbon-neutral eco-lodge that sits within easy reach of both the Nkuringo and Rushaga trekking zones, the two gorilla sectors that make up the southern half of Bwindi.

Accommodation

Guests are housed in 13 stone-and-timber units spread across the forested gardens. Six Deluxe Garden Cottages are built of volcanic stone with African-inspired interiors and sit closest to the main lodge. Five Luxury Forest Suites perch higher on the hillside with floor-to-ceiling windows over the forest, and include a complimentary 30-minute massage, an in-room mini-bar and a tea station.

Two Two-Bedroom Family Villas accommodate three to four guests, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a shared living area looking out toward Bwindi. A separate cluster of Standard Garden Cottages and tour-leader cottages serves groups travelling with guides.

Dining

The main building houses reception, the dining room, the bar and the Mylica lounge with its dedicated volcano-viewing deck. The kitchen serves full-board African and international cuisine from 6am to 10pm, with regular coffee, tea and drinking water available throughout the day. Bush picnic lunches can be arranged for guests heading out on a long trek, and birthday or celebration cakes are baked at no extra charge.

Activities

Mountain gorilla trekking is the headline activity, with permits at 830 US dollars for a standard trek or 1,530 US dollars for the four-hour gorilla habituation experience. Beyond gorillas, guests can hike the three volcanoes of Mgahinga National Park, track golden monkeys, canoe across Lake Mutanda, walk the Kashasha or Ivy River trails through Bwindi, and join the Buniga Batwa Trail with the forest's original inhabitants. Half-day options include Nombe Pocket Forest birding, the Suma Waterfalls trail and a Nkuringo community, blacksmith and herbalist walk. The Top of the World sundowner closes the day with snacks and drinks at the lodge's highest viewpoint.

Spa

Mist Spa offers a short menu of massages designed to ease the legs and shoulders after a long day in the forest. Honeymooners receive a complimentary 30-minute massage each.

Price Includes

• Full-board accommodation
• All meals, regular coffee and tea and drinking water
• Non-premium drinks at the bar
• Sundowner
• Laundry
• Wi-Fi and in-room amenities
• Community fees and applicable government taxes
• Luxury Forest Suite guests also receive a complimentary 30-minute massage, in-room mini-bar and tea station