Budget lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Introduction

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has 4 sectors where gorilla trekking is done; in each sector, there are several 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 trailhead.

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 ape population in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park stands at about 459 individuals living in 19 families, the rest live solitary lives according to the 2019 census. The global population of gorillas stands at 1,063 including those in the Virunga mountain range in Rwanda and DRC. Uganda has over 51.3 percent 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.

Karungi Camp Rubuguri

With garden views, Karungi Camp is situated in Rubuguri town, Rubuguri town council, the lodge is 10 minute's 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 at home with amazing staff and good hospitality.

Bwindi Backpackers Lodge

Bwindi Backpackers Lodge is located on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southwestern Uganda. Bwindi Backpackers Lodge has several 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 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 travelers, 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, and good access to a restaurant and bar/lounge, the cottages are divided into Twin/Double Bed Cottages, 3 Bedroom Cottages, and Single Bed Cottages.

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 the 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 the Batwa community.

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

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

Lower Gorilla Guest House situated at the border of the park was built by Keller man and his wife in 2010 and offers a magnificent view of 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

1. Internet
2. Free parking space
3. Security
4. Bar and lounge
5. Campfires
6. Laundry services
7. Free Bwindi Community Hospital tour

The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel

The Crested Crane Bwindi hotel is located approx 525 km 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 10 rooms have panoramic views of green-covered beautiful hills, valleys, forests, and a dairy farm. Whether you are going for gorilla tracking, a honeymoon, or a 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 several bird species from the comfort of your balcony or bed anyway. They have highly experienced chefs 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 the sounds of the mighty silverbacks 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 a la carte, a good management and well-trained staff.

Gorilla Close-up Lodge

Gorilla Close-up Lodge is ecologically built in harmony with nature and strategically located in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park from 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 of myrica, eucalyptus tree backs, fans, and many other indigenous shrubs gorillas like feed 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 eco-friendly.

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

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 the 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 the 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 km from the facility. Wagtail Eco Safari Camp is crafted in local materials with a papyrus roof along with a 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 travelers on gorilla safaris in Uganda can chill after a daylong with 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 ideal accommodation for Gorilla trackers and anyone travelling to the 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 the savannah air field, Musana tours and Travel 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 several rooms that are properly furnished with some African art and 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 an 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 minute's 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 through 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 breathtaking 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't 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 was 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 the 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.