Location of Gorilla Forest Lodge
Gorilla Forest Lodge sits just inside the gates of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is about a 10-minute drive from Buhoma village. The setting puts you right in the heart of one of Africa’s richest forests. Beyond the gorillas, there is plenty of wildlife to discover.
Bwindi’s dense jungle, waterfalls, valleys and steep ridges are home to more than 200 butterfly species, forest hogs, antelopes and the elusive forest elephant. 10 other primate species also live in the forest, including red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
Birding is another highlight. More than 350 bird species can be found here including 23 Albertine Rift Endemics. You can book a guided birding walk or forest nature walk to see some of them at close range.
The service
Warm, friendly and knowledgeable, the staff are always on hand without being intrusive. Before your trek, they provide walking poles, ponchos, backpacks and gaiters for extra protection on the lower legs.
For families
Children aged 6 and above are welcome at the lodge, although the minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15. Rooms can accommodate up to two extra beds, and cots are available with advance notice. High chairs, however, are not provided.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a big part of the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge.
During construction, work was deliberately delayed for a full year when heavy rains arrived. Rather than push ahead, the team waited and adapted to the conditions, allowing the buildings to fit more naturally into the landscape. The lodge also works closely with the local community.
Gorilla trekking porters are recruited locally, creating jobs while helping guests on the trail. Guest stays also support local employment and A&K’s philanthropy projects, while gorilla permit fees contribute to conservation. The staff accommodation is solar powered, with a diesel generator as a back-up when the forest receives less sunlight.
Water is double-filtered, and guests are given reusable water bottles to help reduce plastic waste.
Accessibility for those with mobility impairments
The main challenge is the stairs leading up to and down the lodge. Staff can assist by carrying guests in sedan chairs where needed. The lodge also plans to review and improve accessibility in 2026.
Anything left to mention?
A stay here is also a chance to support projects in and around Buhoma.
Guest visits help fund A&K Philanthropy initiatives, so there is a sense that your time at the lodge can benefit more than just your own experience.
In Buhoma village, Ride 4 A Woman supports women through micro-financing, skills training and domestic violence support. It also runs a café and shop.
Nearby, the Batwa Development Program offers an insight into the history and traditions of the Batwa people, who lived in the forest before being displaced in the 1990s as gorilla conservation expanded.
Just outside the park gate, about a 10-minute walk from the lodge, are Bwindi Meraki Women Beads and the Bwindi Women Bike Project. At Meraki, women turn old magazine paper into colourful beads for jewellery, table mats and other items, including pieces designed for the lodge.
Next door, the women-run bike project sells and rents bicycles, supplies spare parts and carries out repairs. The lodge contributes $10 each time a guest visits either project.
A&K Philanthropy also supports Bwindi Community Hospital, including as a major donor to its nursing hospital. More broadly, gorilla tourism helps fund conservation, with money from the $800 permits supporting ranger training and education in local schools.
