lodge around bwindi

Budget lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Budget lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Introduction

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has 4 sectors where gorilla trekking is done; in each sector there are a number of habituated gorilla families that are either open to trekking or gorilla habituation experience in Uganda.

However there are other areas such as Nyabaremura under Rushaga trail head. The sectors include; Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the southern parts of the mighty impenetrable equatorial forest, the only habitat where Gorillas and Chimps coexist in a natural environment.

The great apes population in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park stands at about 459 individuals living in 19 families, the rest live solitary lives according the 2019 census. The global population of gorillas stands at 1,063 including those in the Virunga mountain range in Rwanda and DRC, with Uganda having over 51.3 per cent of this global population in its Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla national parks.

Mountain gorillas can only be found in these three countries. Trekking mountain gorillas is a high end activity in itself therefore if you wish to combine it with other activities it's good that you cut your accommodation budget to be able to have more money left aside for your other activities.

Below is our list of selected low budget and some mid-range hotels and restaurants from as low as $20

Table of Contents

  • Karungi Camp Rubuguri
  • Bwindi Backpackers Lodge
  • Bwindi Guest House
  • The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel
  • Rushaga Gorilla Camp
  • Gorilla Close-up Lodge
  • Broadbill Forest Camp
  • Buhoma Community Rest Camp
  • Wagtail Eco safari camp
  • Bwindi View Bandas
  • Gift of Nature Lodge
  • Nshongi lodge
  • Ruhija Community Rest Camp
  • Trekkers Tavern Cottages
  • CPTH Gorilla Conservation Camp

Karungi Camp Rubuguri

With garden views, Karungi Camp is situated in Rubuguri town, Rubuguri town council, the lodge is 10 minutes' drive to Rushaga gate they have a restaurant, room service, bar, garden and barbecue. Free WiFi is offered. Continental and à la carte breakfast options are available each morning at the lodge.

While at the lodge you feel like at home, Amazing staff, and good hospitality.

Gorilla resting Gorilla resting

Let us plan your gorilla trekking safari

Plan a safari

Let our experts walk you through the process of planning your gorilla trekking safari step by step!

Bwindi Backpackers Lodge

Bwindi Backpackers lodge is located on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park in south western Uganda. Bwindi backpackers lodge has a number of well furnished rooms to give you a great stay.

Your booking comes with breakfast, room service, internet and parking. A restaurant and a well-stocked bar/lounge are available at the premises. They offer rooms like, Single Room Shared Bathroom, Twin Room Shared Bathroom and Double Room Shared Bathroom.

They also have a dormitory divided into four; the big dormitory, mixed dormitory, female dormitory and male dormitory, there is also ample secure space for camping if you have your own tent, No TENT? Why stay in rooms when you can access room service, Internet and parking, restaurant and bar/lounge and breakfast, this is a good kill for low budget travellers, you get similar treatment as though you were in a double room while at the dormitory, if you don't mind save your money.

Bwindi Backpackers has three spacious cottages. The cottages offer excellent room service with Internet and breakfast, good access to restaurant and bar/lounge, the cottages are divided into Twin/Double Bed Cottage, 3 Bedroom Cottage and Single Bed Cottage.

The lodge is a good place with magnificent views of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The staff is good and the service is also good. It is a nearby accommodation facility to track most of the groups of Rushaga and Nkuringo.

Bwindi Guest House

Bwindi Guest house is located in Buhoma sector north of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. It comprises of six guest houses which are owned and operated by volunteers and Bwindi hospital it exists to support and help the work of doctors working in Bwindi hospital, nursing school and Batwa community.

It provides intensive services to the visitors and tourists worldwide. All visitors at Bwindi guest house are offered a free tour to the hospital premises and the nursing school and given information of the history of the Bwindi community hospital.

Bwindi guest house provides blockier shaky house built by the late blockier in 2012 located adjacent to monkey house this is normally offered for travelers who would want privacy.

Lower gorilla guest house situated at the parks boarder this was built by Keller man and his wife in 2010 and offers a magnificent view to all Bwindi guest houses it's also a five minute walk from the Uganda Wildlife authority headquarters.

Other houses in Bwindi guest house are Paul and Barbara's house, middle gorilla guest house and upper gorilla guest house all established by volunteers continuing to Bwindi community hospital.

    Other services

  • Internet
  • Free parking space
  • Security
  • Bar and lounge
  • Camp fires
  • Laundry services
  • Free Bwindi community hospital tour

The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel

The Crested Crane Bwindi hotel is located aprox 525 kms from the capital city of Kampala and 14.7 kilometers away from the Buhoma area Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Though budget, the facility offers up to 5-star services and extra services such as banqueting, seminars, retreats, workshops, parties and business meetings.

Their superb restaurant and all the 10 rooms have panoramic views of green covered beautiful hills, valleys, forests and a dairy farm. Whether you are going for gorilla tracking, honeymoon, and getaway, you will enjoy surely your stay at this facility.

The Grey Crowned Crested Cranes pay courtesy visits and you will be sure to spot a number of bird species from the comfort of your balcony or bed any way. They have highly experienced chef to meet your appetite demands, a big enough restaurant and a well-stocked bar with super cool service men and women.

Rushaga Gorilla Camp

Rushaga Gorilla Camp is Located a few meters from Rushaga Uganda wildlife gate, Rushaga is the best place to rest while waiting to see the great apes the next day, expect to hear sounds of the mighty silver backs while at the hotel, they have ample parking space and excellent service, other services include full time Wi-Fi, swimming pool, camping space and well stacked Gym, they a crafts shop where you can buy your souvenir,

They have cozy cottages built in a modern style but with an African traditional touch. Good chef whether you want continental or alacarte, they a good management and well trained staff.

Gorilla Close up Lodge

Gorilla Close up lodge is ecologically build in harmony with nature and strategically located on southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park form the lodge you can track Mountain Gorillas from Rushaga and Nkuringo Gate.

This 40 acre accommodation facility shares the boundary with the park and is occasionally visited by the Nkuringo Gorilla groups in search for myrica, eucalyptus tree backs, fans and many other indigenous shrubs gorillas like feeding on.

Broadbill Forest Camp

Broadbill Forest Camp is positioned in Ruhija sector to the east of Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park where gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place. Ruhija sector has three habituated gorilla families namely; the Oruzogo, the Bitukura and Kyaguliro which formerly was a research group but later opened for tracking.

The Broadbill Forest Camp provides a budget accommodation arrangement without compromising quality and comfort. The accommodation is offered in tents that are placed on raided wooden floors covered by grass thatch making it ecofriendly.

Broadbill Forest Camp features 4 tents with self-contained wash rooms and they have provision for twin, double and single rooming arrangement. The Camp has the main building which houses the restaurant and the bar. The fire place is also present where the fire is lit in the evening to present a typical African night in the wilderness.

guests observing gorillas Guests Viewing Gorillas

Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Buhoma Community Rest Camp is one of the legendary accommodation facilities in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park area, having commenced operations in 1993 and presents budget / basic accommodation in the Buhoma Sector. The rest camp is constructed using local materials in a truly local touch and is owned and run by the local Community.

Accommodation options come in form of 6 en-suite safari tents, 3 en-suite cottages, 2 non-self-contained twin cottage bandas, 6 bed dormitories, and Camping space and he bedding configuration is in form of; Single, Double, Twin and Triple

Wagtail Eco safari camp

Wagtail Eco safari camp is a budget accommodation establishment located in Rubuguri town in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park presenting a rich ground for tracking Rushaga gorilla families of Nshongi, Mishaya, Bweza, Kahungye and Busingye along with Nkuringo Gorilla groups ,

The facility lies at the center of Rushaga and Nkuringo Gates all of which are about 10 kms from the facility. Wagtail Eco Safari Camp is crafted in local materials with papyrus roof along with banana fiber ceiling. The floor is tightened by local stones and impressive white cloth furniture.

The Wagtail Eco Safari Camp also has a restaurant for fine dining and a well-stocked bar where the travelers on gorilla safaris in Uganda can chill after a daylong with gorillas.

guests observing gorillas Guests Viewing Gorillas

Bwindi View Bandas

Bwindi View Bandas is located in Buhoma sector north of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park offering budget accommodation to low budget travellers. At only 100m from the park entrance Bwindi View Bandas presents an ideal accommodation for Gorilla trackers and any one travelling to Buhoma area of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

Bwindi View Bandas is located in Buhoma sector to the north of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, 10 hrs. Drive from Kampala but of course worth it, 6 hrs drive from Kigali the capital of Rwanda, about 2 hrs drive from savannah air field, hope south safaris provides such kinds of transfers and allows for personal customization.

Gift of Nature Lodge

Located in Ruhija area of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park Gift of Nature Lodge offers Budget accommodation to budget travelers on gorilla safaris in the Ruhija area. This lodge has a number of rooms that are properly furnished with some African art crafts. The rooms include double, single as well as twin.

Their beds are very comfortable and certainly will offer you a wonderful night at this lodge. The rooms are all self-contained with hot and cold water. The staff is properly trained and very hospitable to satisfy all your requirements.

Enjoy a wonderful stay at the Gift of nature lodge. Gift of Nature Lodge also has facilities like expanse lounge, restaurant and free wide-screen TV.

Nshongi lodge

Nshongi Camp is positioned in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable forest National park in the Rushaga area and offers low budget accommodation for gorilla trekkers and those intending to do any activities in the area, Nshongi is about 5 minutes' walk from Rushaga tracking point.

Nshongi Camp is fully built in a traditional style using local materials.

The facility has Four (4) grass thatched cottages and camping space at the edge of the forest you may be paid a courtesy visit by the gentle giants in the middle of the night, this should not worry you but rather bring you joy as there is enough security to keep you safe though out the night.

Ruhija Community Rest Camp

Ruhija Community Rest Camp is a budget accommodation in Ruhija region to the east of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park few meters from the park boundary. Ruhija Community Rest Camp is positioned opposite the Institute of Tropical Forests Conservation close to the Uganda Wildlife Authority Headquarters at Ruhija.

Trekkers Tavern Cottages

Trekker's tavern Cottages is positioned on top of Ruhija with breath taking views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest canopy on one side and the other side is community land, Trekkers Tavern Cottages offers basic budget accommodation. The facility boasts of 5 cottages flush toilets and hot showers. Every cottage has a Private Verandah

CPTH Gorilla Conservation Camp

It is one of Bwindi's budget options offering accommodation on the edge of the beautiful Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Located in Buhoma Village, CTPH Gorilla Conservation Camp is in close proximity to the entrance of the national park and other places to visit including the Batwa Village.

For those who don'st want to splash out on staying in one of the high end lodges and also want to give something back to a local project, CTPH Gorilla conservation camp offers rustic but comfortable accommodation for tourists, students and researchers and puts 100% of profits towards gorilla conservation.

The camp was the first to be operational in the area and owned by Kimbla and Mantana Safari Company, after Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park was opened for gorilla tourism in 1993. CTPH bought the camp in 2008 and renamed it Gorilla Conservation Camp.

The camp has shifted to a new site with a clear stunning view of the top of beautiful Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the camp is currently offering three tents with two single beds and camping facilities.

The camp is also home to CTPH's Gorilla Research Clinic, which you can visit during your stay. The clinic works in conjunction with Uganda Wildlife Authority to analyze samples from gorillas, domestic animals and sick people through a partnership with Bwindi Community Hospital and local government health centers, to help prevent the spread of disease between the local population and the gorillas, helping to conserve the endangered mountain gorilla.

Bwindi is home to half of the 880 mountain gorillas in the world and staying at CTPH Gorilla Conservation Camp you are helping to ensure their survival. The camp has a new Guest House with four self-contained rooms together with two tents based around a shaded dining area set amongst the trees.

Gorilla resting Gorilla resting

Let us plan your gorilla trekking safari

Plan a Safari

Let our experts walk you through the process of planning your gorilla trekking safari step by step!

News and Updates

Golden Mokney Mgahinga

Discover the world of golden monkey trekking in Uganda

As an avid nature lover and adventure seeker, I am always on the lookout for unique and off-the-beaten-path experiences. One such experience that has captured my heart is golden monkey trekking in Uganda. Nestled in the breathtaking Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, this activity offers a truly enchanting encounter with these fascinating creatures.

Read More

Kajura Henry

Mar 09, 2024

Close up photo of an elephant in qenp kasenyi plains

The best tourist attractions in Uganda

Are you craving an adventure unlike any other? Look no further than Uganda, a land of breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cultures, and unparalleled wildlife experiences. From thrilling safaris in world famous national parks to mesmerizing waterfalls tucked away in lush rainforests, this East African gem has it all.

Read More

Kajura Henry

Mar 07, 2024

blackback

Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking operational updates 2024

Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking have become iconic experiences for travelers seeking encounters with these fascinating primates in their natural habitats. However, to ensure a seamless and enriching experience, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest operational updates for 2024 made by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Read More

Kajura Henry

Mar 06, 2024

More blogs
gorilla

2 days gorilla trekking in Uganda

Are you in Rwanda and would wish to compare gorilla trekking on this side of Uganda? Do not worry, It only costs you a few extra dollars and a short distance. The tour takes you through the Rwanda - Uganda chyanika board to kisoro town on the Uganda side. Short as it is but its very scenic and surely rewording.

Explore idea $1205

Per person sharing

Silverback face

3 day mount Mgahinga gorilla trekking mid range tour

Our 3 Day Mgahinga gorillas will take you to Mgahinga National Park in south western Uganda. Arrival and departure will be through Kigali, Rwanda. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only park in Uganda where mountain gorillas co-exist with golden monkeys. Hence the saying, that it's where “gold meets silver”.

Explore idea $1355

Per person sharing

silverback full photo

4 day Bwindi impenetrable forest national park budget tour

The 4 day budget gorilla trekking and charitable cultural tour takes you to Lake Bunyonyi and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park. This is the forest that houses the largest number of the world's remaining wild mountain gorillas.

Explore Idea $1298

Per person sharing

More safaris
Let's chat