Bwindi Lodge

Bwindi Lodge is one of our best-kept African secrets. Hidden deep within the dense, misted canopy of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, it’s been an easy one to keep, but now, we want to share it with you. Here, eight bandas sit looking out over verdant forest, a wide-open terrace splays out beneath star-strewn skies, a central fireplace invites you to swap stories with other travellers, a local bar mixes killer cocktails – and tracking mountain gorillas is the order of the day. It’s pure and simple luxury, set in a stunning environment, with one of the best safari experiences Uganda, indeed Africa, has on offer. Welcome to Bwindi Lodge, your very own gorilla kingdom.

Location

Arriving at Bwindi Lodge feels like arriving into a whole other world; one free of the hum of traffic, where the office can’t reach you and where gorillas are your only neighbours. But it’s also one that’s only an hour’s light aircraft flight away from Entebbe International Airport. Better still, twin Bwindi with a visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park and it’s only a 15-minute flight between the two. Who said splendid isolation had to be inaccessible?

Your Room

Each of the eight traditionally-styled bandas at Bwindi Lodge are tucked away in their own patch of lush vegetation, guaranteeing absolute privacy. Glass-fronted, with private balconies and terraces, they act as your own personal window onto the forest as you wake up to chimpanzees swinging through the branches and colourful birds flitting by. A place where luxury and eco-sensitivity go hand in hand, you can expect crisp linens and stylish ensuites alongside local handicrafts – just don’t go looking for WiFi, that’s strictly reserved for the main lodge.

Why we like it

If you’re looking for a whole new way to see Africa, then Uganda is it – and if you’re looking to make it extra special, Bwindi Lodge is a can’t-miss. It is easily one of the most unique and most luxurious lodges in Uganda, but not just for its dramatic views over the dense forest canopy, but for its neighbours. Making themselves at home in the verdant bush that surrounds the lodge, Bwindi Lodge is in the heart of gorilla country. Join an expert tracker and hike through thick undergrowth to observe these mighty animals in their natural habitat and who knows, you may even meet Wagaba or Makare, just two of the gorillas that the bandas are named after.

Images courtesy of Sinamatella for Volcanoes Safaris