Gorilla Safari Lodge sits comfortably at the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a primaeval forest and lush jungle region in southwest Uganda. This national park is home to wild gorillas, forest elephants and 23 species of bird endemic to the area. Located a 5-minute drive from the briefing point for trekking makes it a sought after lodging for gorilla trekking.

After a long day of trekking and ploughing through thick tropical vegetation, hikers can seek solace in knowing that their lodge is just a quick drive away from the entrance to the park. Banana and guava trees cocoon the lodge, and in the distance, there are views of the forest jungle with its ancient canopy of trees decorating the lofty hills. The entrance to the Gorilla Safari Lodge is warm and welcoming. Bold colours from indigenous flora greet you upon arrival, leaving a lasting first impression.

The atmosphere is personable, and efficient staff ensure you are looked after for the duration of your stay. The main lodge area houses the dining room, a relaxation lounge, spa treatment room and a quaint nook where the bar is situated. This remote lodge comprises 21 individual units, each with private wooden balconies overlooking the wilderness and named after individual gorillas or their tribes. 3 of these units are inter-leading rooms, making them ideal for families. Another 2 rooms are joined but aren’t inter-leading.

The lodge is also well equipped for disabled guests, 2 rooms have been designed for wheelchair access with wider doors & bathrooms. The architecture and decor are simplistic yet bold, and all amenities from home are provided. Rooms have solar-powered lighting, an en-suite bathroom with hot and cold water and flush toilets. Each unit is designed to look like stand-alone log cabins that blend in with the surrounding rainforest, ensuring that the lodge does not look out of place in its wild surrounds. Cobbled paths with wooden bannisters join the well-appointed rooms, each of which have been named after individual gorillas or gorilla tribes.

About Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park,

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (or, officially, Impenetrable National Park) is an ancient, deep forest rising up along the southwestern border of Uganda. Climbing up along the slopes of a mountain range, the park consists of a series of narrow, steep valleys, deep green and cloaked in mist. The park is an old and complex ecosystem with a wealth of biodiversity and within its depths lies a rare and striking world. Due to the dense undergrowth and rugged terrain, large portions of it can only be reached on foot, preserving its primordial nature. Forest elephants, giant forest hogs, hundreds of butterfly species and several types of primate roam beneath the thick canopy of trees.

Bwindi is home to half the world’s remaining population of critically endangered mountain gorillas. Out of these, several families have become habituated to humans, allowing small groups of people to track them and spend an hour in their company. The gorillas remain wild and the interaction takes place under the careful eyes of highly trained trackers. As gorillas are susceptible to human disease, the health restrictions for visitors are stringent. Due to the rugged terrain, only those older than 15 years are allowed to track.

A day of gorilla trekking begins early, departing from your lodge with the dawn. The guides will meet and brief groups of visitors at the gathering point before setting off. The walk can be challenging, especially during Uganda’s two rainy seasons, which are from March to May and then again in November and December. Depending on where the gorillas were last seen, the trek can take anywhere between 40 minutes to six hours spent making your way through the tranquil green undergrowth that covers the mountain slopes, with several quiet encounters with the other denizens of the park en route. When the gorillas emerge from the foliage, time stands still as you enjoy their company for an hour. There is something deeply moving about being in the presence of these regal creatures.