Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge is perfectly located on the South-west of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The lodge offers stunning views over the forest as well as the mighty Virunga Volcanoes and the Great Albertine Rift Valley. Nkuringo boasts 8 individually handcrafted Garden Cottages, 3 Villas made up of 2 interconnecting Superior Cottages and 1 family Villa each offering modern comforts, the tranquillity of the rainforest, the atmosphere of a mountain chalet and warm hospitality Ugandan are known to give.

The Lodge facilities include a cosy restaurant serving homemade meals and freshly baked bread, a bar, a coffee shop with amazing views, outdoor and indoor lounges, an in-house craft shop, a massage room, an excursion desk, complimentary Wi-Fi and 24- hour security. Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge prides itself on its green conditionals and through its various initiatives, including solar energy, and rainwater harvesting proudly operates with a carbon-neutral footprint.

This is the ideal starting point for gorilla tracking as well as many other interesting activities the area has to offer. Encounter the Batwa people, the hunter-gathers, who originally lived in Bwindi forest, and learn about the local community in Nkuringo, visit schools, local markets, and coffee and tea plantations, venture across the beautiful Lake Mutandain traditional dugout canoes, Hike across Bwindi forest; and, for more active, trek the magnificent Virunga Volcanoes.

Nkuringo is situated in the heart of the Nkuringo local community and not only provides a fantastic base from which to go Mountain Gorilla Trekking and birdlife of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest but also allows its guests to experience the rich and vibrant culture of the communities that surround it.

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.