Budget lodges and campsites in Bwindi

Travelling budget to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park must be coupled with booking accommodation that suits your plan. Most of the budget lodges in Bwindi impenetrable National park offer services with limitation and majority provide shared facilities like bathrooms, washrooms, food center and much more. While on ground, you may upgrade to another facility in case you are not comfortable but you receive no refund from the lodge.

A common character of most budget lodges in Africa is that they offer bed and breakfast services mainly. Those with a campsite you have to hire the tent and sleeping bag for your nights in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. it’s an adventurous experience.

How Important Is Book Accommodation For Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi

Accommodation is very important when planning to do gorilla trekking in Uganda. Gorilla trekking can be done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as well as Mgahinga National Park. There several budget accommodation facilities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in form of Lodges and campsites.

 If you are budget traveler, you definitely need a lodge or campsite that will accommodate what you are planning to spend while on an African Safari to Bwindi. In this article, we look at the different budget accommodation options currently in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

Please note that in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there are four gorilla trailheads and each region has its own accommodation so before you book your gorilla permit. It is very important that you also first look at the accommodation options available in each region.

After booking your gorilla trekking permit to Bwindi Impenetrable National park, you need to reserve accommodation in an area where your permit is booked. Bwindi Is divided into four areas that is Buhoma area, Ruhijah area, Rushaga area and Nkuringo area. Each has its list of gorilla trekking accommodations but you must book one close or within the area where your permit is booked.

 This is to avoid waking up very early morning to catch up with briefing at the ranger station of another gorilla trekking area. Sometimes the roads are impassable or blocked by huge logs or the car may get a mechanical condition. All these may sum up to you not participating in gorilla trekking, which is painful.

It is best to book a vehicle with 4×4 wheel drive in case you are doing self drive top Bwindi Impenetrable National park ( not recommended for first timers). This is because of the nature of the terrain of this area. The roads from one area to another are impassable at times. This is one of the major reasons for one to overnight closer to the area where their gorilla permit is booked. Just in case you get stuck on the road in the night trying to cross to where your permit is booked, it may be quite challenging to get help even from the local community.

At times the trees fall and cut off access to the road, which requires you to drive using others, routes to get to the briefing point on your gorilla permit.

Budget Camps and Lodges in Buhoma.

Buhoma gorilla trekking area being the prime area of the park has variety of accommodation options compared to others. Overtime, this area has attracted many investors to set up accommodation facilities that support tourists who visit Bwindi impenetrable National Park for various reasons.

We start with budget options in Buhoma Region. Buhoma remains the main touristic region in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park due to the fact that it was the first place where tourists were able to trek habituated gorillas.

Mubare gorilla family opened its doors to the first tourists in 1993 and from then other families like Habinyanja family, Rushegura family were habituated. Some of these were breakaway gorilla families as a result of family disagreements or attacks from other wild  gorilla families or loss of the dominant silverback.

As tourism takes high gears in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, many budget lodges and camps are being constructed but must blend with the environment of this area. A great number of budget accommodations here actually offer good services and have both self contained and non self contained rooms. Some of them include Buhoma community Rest camp and Bandas, Conservation through public health Campsite and Bwindi View Canteen. These have tested services and you can check their reviews on trip advisor. Gorilla families that can be trekked from hear include Mubare, habinyanja and Rushegura.

Buhoma Community Rest site

This is a community run project where proceed accrued from selling those who book overnight in Buhoma community Rest site are used for communal support through Buhoma Mukono Community Development Association ( BMCDA). The funds are used for supporting children in school, providing gravitation water to the community, improving medical facilities in the area, supporting empowering women projects and much more. The lodge lies a few meters from the entrance of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The rest site has runs 6 self-contained safari tents, 3 cottages self-contained, 2 nonself contained twin cottages a dormitory and campsite. Some of the services offered here include rooms, restaurant and bar, airstrip pickup, massage and others.

Bwindi View Bandas

Bwindi view Bandas are strategically positioned in front of Bwindi Forest. The bandas overlook the dense Bwindi canopy. The lodge provides mainly bed and breakfast but runs a restaurant for meals. Here, you can order a variety of cuisines that is local and international cuisines.

Lodge provides other services like internet, Bar, laundry and much more. The lodge also operates single, double and family bandas.

CPTH Gorilla Conservation Camp

This lodge is located at the periphery of Bwindi Impenetrable National park in Buhoma sector. This standard facility is a comfortable rustic environment and budget friendly. Self-contained single double in a guesthouse and furnished tent. The lodge provides breakfast, lunch and dinner and wifi.

Budget Camps and Lodges in Ruhija

Ruhija region is located on the eastern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and this can be accessed through Kabale town or Buhoma as well. In Ruhija, there four habituated gorilla families, which include Mukisa family, Oruzogo family, Bitukura family, as well as Kyaguriro family.

The most preferred budget accommodation in this region is Broadbill camp, which has ensuite tents and is closer to the gorilla starting point. If one prefers to have a night before gorilla trekking, then budget options are available at Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale. These include Crater Bay cottages, Bushara Island Camp, Bunyonyi Overland Camp and Bunyonyi Backpackers Hostel.

If you stay in this place, you will have to drive for approximately one hour to Ruhija for your gorilla trek. Bunyonyi is very ideal because of other activities like hill climbing, canoeing and bird watching which can be done here.

Broad Bill Forest Camp

On the eastern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Broad Bill Forest Camp. It is the closest to the starting point of Ruhijah gorilla trekking area. This campsite operates  6 tents with a dining room, bar, fireplace and much more.

From Buhoma area the main administrative area for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Broad Bill Forest Camp is about 3 km. its position gives ornithologists chance to spot a number of birds including Albertine endemics from there room balcony.

Ruhijah Rest Camp

This budget facility lies in Ruhijah area operating a family cabin, double rooms, single rooms, shared rooms, tents, camping grounds for Backpackers. The lodge operates a restaurant where different cuisines are served upon request.

At the camping ground, one cam pitch a tent or hire at tent and a fireplace can be set upon request. On gorilla trekking day, tourists can hire a walking stick from the lodge at a slightly small fee for extra support while in the jungle.

Bakiga Lodge

Bakiga lodge is a typical mix of African and western architecture. It’s one of the lodges with great service at an affordable price in Ruhijah area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. it’s a non-profit venture.

Budget Lodges in Rushaga

Rushaga and Nkuringo are located in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that has Nshongi, Bussingye, Bweza, Nkuringo, Mishaya, Kahungye and so much more. Its in this region that people who fail to get permits for Ruhija and Buhoma can obtain one. Lodges that provide Budget accommodation include Nshongi Campsite, Gorilla Valley Lodge as well as Kisoro Travellers rest hotel, which is located in Kisoro town and you need to drive about two hours to reach Nkuringo or Rushaga.

Please note that people keep on constructing new campsites and lodges and this is not to say that the above are the only budget accommodation options available. You can contact us and we will advise accordingly.

Nshongi campsite

Nshongi Camp is a budget accommodation facility in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Pak. From the main the main briefing point of Uganda Wildlife Authority, Nshongi campsite is just in a walking distance. The campsite operates 4 bandas and but operates 3 meal plan that is breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The lodge bandas have private bathroom and double beds.  From the compound of the campsite, you enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. From the Bandas, you can visit 5 gorilla families that is Nshongi, Mishaya Kahugye, Busingye and Bweza.

Gorilla Valley Lodge

This is located at the slopes overlooking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest it’s a perfect lodge to book in case you wish to have a quick access t the Rushaga Uganda Wildlife Authority briefing point. It has 12 ensuite rooms each with a private bathroom. The lodge occassionary receives visiting mountain gorillas. This eco lodge uses solar for water heating and provides comfortable twin beds for each room the lodge offer rates from bed and breakfast to half board to full board.

Waking up while at this lodge, you hear the calls of the jungle as day breaks in.

Kisoro Traveller’s Rest Hotel

This is one of the oldest accommodation facility with colonial architecture in this area. The hotel was built by Walter Baumgartner in 1955 and renovated in 1999 but still has some colonial architectural buildings. Its unique history makes it a go too accommodation facility for many tourists. Its like overnighting in the past life.

The hotel operates 12 specious rooms. From the lodge compound, you can enjoy the beautiful view of Volcanoes Virunga Mountains. The hotel operates a restaurant, which serves 4 course meals most of which is food from grown in the area. It has a bar too built in Congolese style. To get to the briefing point, you need to drive some 2 hours’ distance.

Budget Accommodations In Nkuringo

Nkuringo gorilla trekking area has about 3 gorilla families that is Christmas family, Bushaho family and Nkuringo gorilla family. Posho gorilla family is not yet open for gorilla trekking because its still under habituation. some of the lodges you may get to select include

Mutanda Eco Community Center

This eco center has about 4 bandas that can be used by atleat 10 visitors. It has a campsite with a platform that can where you can pitch tents and in case it rains, the platform is raised away from the ground. The platform is raised with a rooftop to protect the tents from rain that falls regularly.  The center lights with solar power supply in order to protect the environment. It has a dormitory that can accommodate atleasst 4 visitors.

Backpacker’s lodge Bwindi

This lodge facility can be used by tourists visiting Nkuringo and Rushaga gorilla trekking families. This budget accommodation has camping area, rooms with shared bathrooms, self-contained rooms and cottages.’

Karungi Camp

This budget accommodation facility offers affordable prices for visitors to the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The camp offers spacious accommodation in Rubuguri. The lodge offers bed and Breakfast arrangement but operates a restaurant where continental meals are served including lunch and dinner.

Karungi Camp also has 5 cottages that can be booked in advance that is Robin Chat cottage, Regal sunbird cottage, blue flycatcher cottage, Cisticola cottage and crane cottage.

Contact us for more information.