Booking gorilla permits and accommodation in Bwindi

For one to be able to participate in gorilla trekking in Uganda, you need to have first purchased a gorilla permit and this is the only way you will confirm that the safari has been booked. The gorilla permit can be purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a tour operator. It is only after purchasing the permit that you should start thinking about booking the accommodation.

Most Popular Safaris

4 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Safari

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

5 Day off season Gorilla and Chimp Safari

5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Tracking Safari

16 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

5 Day Gorilla & Chimp Tracking Safari

5 Day Low season Uganda Gorilla & Chimp Safari

5 Day Uganda Gorillas & Game Safari via Kigali

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

Encounter Africa safaris will help tailor and organize your safari so that it is a memorable one. The steps that need to be taken when purchasing and booking a gorilla trek permit in Uganda include:

Contact a tour operator: Get in touch with a local registered and trusted tour operator that specializes in gorilla trekking to help with the purchase of the gorilla permit. You need to have an idea of the dates you want to trek the gorillas and they will help you in purchasing the permit on your behalf.

Your details: Provide your details to the tour operator, including the number of permits you need, the preferred dates, names, passport numbers, and other specifications that you might need or will be asked for by the tour operator.

Payment of the permit: The tour operator will then ask for full payment of the gorilla trek permit and once the payment has been confirmed, the permit will be purchased on your behalf. Before sending the payment, confirm that the details provided have no issues and are correct and that the payment should be made on the company account.

After receiving proof of purchase, start planning for the rest of your trip by booking accommodation, other safari activities, and transport.

The gorilla permit in Uganda costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents and 300, 000 UGX for East African citizens. There are no permit discounts in Uganda and a percentage of the money obtained from the permits is used to care for and conserve the gorillas and care for the locals living around the national park. Foreign residents have to show proof of residence and a work permit.

When booking a gorilla permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the sectors have to be put into consideration and these are Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Buhoma. You are supposed to track gorillas in the sectors you have been assigned to, and if you fail to do so and go to another sector, you will receive a fine of 50% of the gorilla trek permit cost.

As you plan for your gorilla trekking safari to Uganda, the first thing that comes to mind should be the type of lodges near or within the National Park that are available for your stay after gorilla trekking. Imagine arriving in Uganda and spending almost 8 to 9 hours driving to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and not getting the services that you need, like hot water in the showers, comfortable rooms, and warm meals. This is one of the reasons why accommodation is key to having a great gorilla safari in Bwindi.

Gorilla trekking is the most popular activity in Uganda, and it is carried out in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park. Bwindi is tops with many tourists visiting the National Park because it has half the mountain gorilla population in the whole world. The best/luxurious in Bwindi are all breath-taking with the best services from the staff that is always around to make sure that you have the best safari.

Best/Luxury lodges that are found in the Bwindi impenetrable National 

Park offers comfort and privacy to all their guests, giving you the best experience while gorilla trekking in Uganda. The continental cuisines, wonderful sights from the surrounding trees, and a few gorillas dropping in at some of the lodges make these luxury lodges the perfect place to stay. If you have never stayed at any of these on a safari in Uganda, let us take you there and give you a glimpse of what you should expect from the estimated prices and services offered.

Many of these lodges are found nestled right in the heart of the National Park with chalets, double rooms, single rooms, and private cottages. Even though the lodges are found in remote areas, you will find that they have the latest facilities like flush toilets, showers with hot running water, private balconies, four-course meals, and many more others to suit the guests’ needs and comfort. 

Since Bwindi receives a lot of visitors all year round, we advise that you book in advance to get the best deals. Below are some of the best lodges that you can choose from and book for your gorilla safari in Bwindi.

Buhoma lodge

Buhoma Lodge is a luxurious facility that was constructed overlooking the Bwindi Forest canopy. It is located in the Northern part of Bwindi and close to the trailhead used for tracking gorillas. 

Prices range between $740 and $1320, Buhoma lodge is located in the Northern section of Bwindi and close to the trailhead used for tracking gorillas. The staff at the lodge always go out of their way to make sure that you are extremely comfortable offering laundry services, massages after the long gorilla treks, and 24/7 reception services.

The accommodation at Buhoma is in the form of 10 chalets with each having a private veranda and large windows which offer good views of the forest around an en-suite bathroom. The size of the room is a standard one and has double or twin beds. The lodge has grass thatched rooms made out of wood and also has a family chalet that comes with two rooms. There is dining where most of the meals are served, and a bar and restaurant where dishes from different countries including local food are prepared and served.

Activities offered at Buhoma Lodge include cultural trips to the villages, guided forest walks, birding excursions, and not forgetting trekking the gorillas. Even though the lodge is not as luxurious as the rest of the luxurious facilities found around the park, it still is a place where you can receive exceptional services worth the money paid.

Volcanoes Bwindi lodge

Volcanoes Lodge in Bwindi is the epitome of luxury when it comes to accommodation in and around the National Park. The luxurious lodge overlooks the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with its 8 stone, wood, and glass chalets surrounded by the lush canopy forest. It is located in the Northern section of the National Park and due to its location, guests can easily take a five minutes’ walk to the starting point of the gorilla trek. The rooms at Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge cost $530 to 41380 per person per night. Guests get to spend some quality time enjoying a drink on the private veranda of their room and enjoy stargazing at the same time. Activities that are carried out here include a guided walk around the lodge and National Park, a visit to the local communities, massage, and gorilla tracking among others.

 Cloud Mountain Gorilla Lodge

Cloud Mountain Gorilla Lodge is located at the entrance of Bwindi and Nkuringo Safari Lodge. It has 8 spacious cottages and each guest gets to have their cottages and privacy while on their stay in Bwindi. All the cottages are decorated with some of the best art pieces that were done by the best artists in Uganda known as Cloud 9 giving each room a unique feeling.

The lodge which was constructed as a conservation project among three parties that is wild Places Safari Company, the Wildlife Foundation, and the Nkuringo community has rooms that are built using materials like wood, hand-woven carpets, and beautiful stone. 

All the meals provided at the Cloud Mountain Gorilla are prepared by a qualified chef and these consist of meals from all over the world and most importantly fresh food from the Ugandan gardens. Each guest has a personal butler who helps in making your stay comfortable like collecting laundry, food, and drinks from the dining and any other reasonable request that the guests might have. the rooms at Cloud Mountain Gorilla Lodge are $300 to $1084 per person per night.

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge

The lodge has 8 spacious, uniquely designed, canvas-built, wood thatched rooms with a raised platform each. Each room has a double or twin bed and a bathroom with a standalone bath, shower, sink, and flush toilet.

Facilities offered here include a shared bar and lounge, dining area, fire pit, and a veranda. The main lodge has low riding windows, which enable guests to have clear views of the surrounding areas. When the weather is favorable, meals are served around a fire. The estimated cost of the rooms at the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge per person per night is from $415 to $716.

Mahogany springs

Quietly and beautifully blending in with its surroundings, the lodge has 7 grass thatched cottages that overlook the Munyanga Springs. The lodge was named after the mahogany trees that are believed to be about 400 or more years old in the garden around the lodge. 

The 7 suites are each uniquely designed with floors made of hardwood, and a mosquito net system, they are spacious with double doors, open terrace showers, white linen, and private terraces overlooking the Bwindi jungle. There are stone pathways that lead to the River and the vegetable garden, where fresh vegetables are picked for the guests.

The lodge provides meals to its guests, starting with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And on request, you can enjoy a bush dinner or breakfast with meals consisting of continental meals prepared by a professional chef. To enjoy the luxurious Mahogany springs, prepare about $240 to $408 per person per night.

 Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge

Located close to the Clouds Mountain Lodge, Nkuringo is found in the Nkuringo region. The beauty about staying here is that you have access to the habituated Nkuringo gorilla families. The Nkuringo lodge was constructed at the Nteko Ridge, enabling it to have views of Bwindi National Park on one side and the Kisoro district on the other.

Nkuringo Lodge is found right in the center of the Batwa local community, where guests get to enjoy the unique culture portrayed by the people. Other activities that you can carry out while at Nkuringo Lodge include gorilla trekking, birding, Guided nature walks, and hiking. Nkuringo Lodge was awarded the leading safari lodge in Uganda from 2016 to 2018, and from the different and excellent services offered at the lodge, the award was well deserving.

The lodge has four two-bedroomed villas and 7 cottages, all surrounded by a well-maintained garden. Nkuringo’s rooms were built using local materials that is papyrus was used for the ceiling and wood was used for the floors and 15 chalet rooms are surrounded by beautifully designed gardens. The villa at Nkuringo has two bedrooms that are interconnected and can either be booked as separate or inter-connecting rooms. The dining room at Nkuringo was constructed around a tree, and it has raffia ceilings, wooden beams, and beautifully colored walls. There is a small bar, African carvings on the wall, and a stone fireplace warming up the whole place as you enjoy your meals and drinks.

 Mutanda Lake resort

Lake Mutanda Lodge is nestled along the peninsular of Mutanda overlooking the Virunga region. The lodge is about 45 minutes away from Kisoro by road and about three hours away from Kigali in Rwanda. There are 13 cottages at Mutanda, and each of these is found on raised wooden platforms overlooking the Bwindi forest. The rooms come in singles, doubles, family rooms, and triples with en-suite bathrooms, mosquito nets, decorated with African art crafts, a storage area, bedside table lamps, and a chair for the veranda. The price range for the rooms is from $155 to $315 per person per night.

You can either have your meals from the dining area or get them from the comfort of your room or veranda. The only con about staying at Mutanda is that it is a bit far away from the starting point of the trek, and you need to be up early before 7:00 am to get there on time. Activities carried out at Mutanda include:

• Gorilla trekking.
• A boat ride along Lake Mutanda.
• Golden monkey trekking.
• Hiking up the Sabinyo Mountain for physically fit guests.
• Guided nature walks.

 The Chameleon Hill Lodge

The lodge is found on the shores of Lake Mutanda between the two National Parks that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. With Virunga Mountain acting as a backdrop, the lodge has a row of structures that are hard to miss due to their bright colors. Unlike most of the accommodation facilities mentioned in this list, the Chameleon Hill Lodge is a mid-range facility with 10 chalets spread out along the ridge. Five of the ten chalets are double rooms, with the rest having twin beds.

Each of these has its own fence and they all have different bright colours. Facilities in the rooms include:

• A flush toilet.
• Thick blankets for when the weather is not favorable.
• Hot water in the showers.
• A wardrobe.
• A laundry basket.
• Bedside lighting.
• A safe.

Note that laundry here is done at an extra cost. Rooms at the lodge go for $230 to $360 per person per night and activities carried out here include golden monkey trekking, gorilla trekking, guided nature walks, hiking, and boat rides.

Contact us to book your safari accommodation in advance.