Gorilla Forest Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary (Bwindi)

A&K Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge is deep inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest impresses with a truly theatrical landscape. This is a region of volcanoes, jagged valleys, waterfalls, lakes, and dramatic mountain ranges.

Originally opened in 1993 as a mobile tented camp, Gorilla Forest Lodge plays a vital role in protecting endangered mountain gorillas from extinction. This is a key pillar of Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy, the award winning, community first philanthropic initiative. Every stay funds AKP projects which support the local community. And in turn help protect the species which depends on the conservation of this precious ecosystem.

The beating heart of the lodge is an indoor-outdoor lounge bar and restaurant space overlooking the rainforest. In the evenings, the resident musician plays traditional African folk songs on a harp. While guests drink sundowners and exchange gorilla tales around the campfire. Other facilities include a spa, a boutique selling locally made products and souvenirs, and the Explorer’s Lounge. Where you will find maps and a selection of books on the flora, fauna and culture of Bwindi and Uganda.

It’s hard to fathom that such luxury and sophistication could be available in an area as remote as this. Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge is the ideal base for tracking and meeting the gorillas that live in Bwindi. Once in a while, the gorillas even wander into the camp itself.

Why Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge

Frequently visited by gorilla families due to its unique location.
Exclusive camp with only ten tents, the perfect base for a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to track mountain gorillas.
Opportunity for community interaction, including the local Batwa Pygmies.
Specially customized sedan chairs with support and harnesses allow less able guests to be carried into the rain forest to track the gorillas.
An established philanthropy project at Bwindi Community Hospital which guests can visit.
Complimentary WiFi is available in the tents and main areas.

Skip to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge Rates or Specials and Packages

A full overview of your experience staying at A&K Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge.

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge Accommodation

Each of the 10 spacious, 41m2 (internal) elegant villas at Gorilla Forest Lodge stands alone amid the forest. The thoughtful, sustainable design takes its cues from the surrounding area. From local building techniques and materials to the organic textures and earthy palette; green, terracotta and clay of the interiors. With woven banana leaf ceilings and wooden floors. Women from nearby communities were employed to create chandeliers using beads made from recycled paper. King size four poster beds are hung with gauzy canopies. While seating areas invite post-trek downtime. Each villa has an en suite bathroom featuring a large bathtub complete with jungle views. Plus an indoor shower.

Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside in. While private verandas give the sense that you are not merely looking at the forest but immersed within it. Watch monkeys, plus rare and wonderful birds and butterflies. Sunrise is breathtaking. Pale pastel light, ethereal mist shrouding the trees, the soundtrack of the primeval forest waking up. For enhanced wildlife viewing from your veranda (and at Bwindi generally), state of the art Leica binoculars are provided for every guest on arrival. They are also available in the Explorer’s Lounge.

Every villa has a personal attendant to fulfill your every need. Each villa also has a minibar, desk, telephone and safe, plus two sculptural hanging chairs made from ribs of varnished wood. Suspended from the veranda porch and ideal for observing monkeys.

Families at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge

Kids aged 6 and over are welcome. Children aged 15 and younger are required to share with an adult. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years.

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Loge Activities

Bwindi National Park is an area of awe-inspiring biodiversity with over 200 species of birds, butterflies, and trees. But it is the elusive Mountain Gorilla that is the park’s main star. With half of the world’s population living here, Bwindi offers adventurous travelers the chance of once in a lifetime encounters with these elusive and endangered primates.

This is the ideal base for encounters with the mountain gorillas that live in Bwindi. The altitude at Bwindi is just over a mile high. Evenings can get chilly, so it is advisable to carry a sweater. A complimentary overnight laundry service is offered in the camp.

Included Activities:

Forest Walk

Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a spectacular place to visit. Birders come thousands of miles to see the more than 350 species that live within the area. There are also rare forest elephants, giant forest hogs, and about 11 kinds of primates. Such as red-tailed and blue monkeys, black and white Colobus, baboons, and chimpanzees. Also, Forest Duiker antelopes and bushbuck antelopes, and over 200 species of butterflies.

Enjoy a guided forest walk on the Munyaga waterfall trail. This trail starts from the Park office and ends at the magnificent Munyaga waterfall. The walk to and from the waterfall takes about 3 hours. It is a good way to practice or warm down before or after the Gorilla tracking.

Community Interaction

After a short 10 minute drive from camp, your guide will brief you on the communities that live in the area. Bwindi has the Bakiga community and the Batwa pygmy community. The walk takes about two hours and begins with a stroll through a small tea farming project. Here you can stop to meet the tea pickers. Perhaps even learn how to pluck tea leaves along the way.

Then learn about the camp’s philanthropy initiatives and visit the Bwindi Women’s Bicycle Enterprise and the Bead Making Project. Continue your walk to meet the Batwa People. Witness their musical goddess visitation inspired performances. Learning about their rich culture and listening to their animated stories. Complete your tour with a visit to the Ebeneezer Nursery and Primary School.

Then it’s off to the Bwindi Community Hospital and Nursing School. Learn about how the hospital was started. And the work they and the lodge do for the community.

Additional Activities:

Gorilla Tracking

The gorillas are completely wild but have become used to seeing a few humans after years of habituation. Many of the expert guides have been involved in this process since the beginning. Therefore, they can explain the complicated etiquette involved in meeting a giant Silverback. This is an opportunity afforded only to a select few. As just eight visitors are allowed to view each group every day. Tracking through dense forests with steep slopes means. This means that participants should be fairly fit to enjoy the track. Once the gorillas are located, spend a maximum of one hour with them before returning back to camp.

Please note only children aged 15 and above can track gorillas.

Birding Walks

Bwindi boasts over 350 bird species, including 24 “Albertine Rift Endemics”. The Albertine Rift highlands straddle Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo. For keen birders, a local expert can guide you on a fascinating 2-3 hour walk through the park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park drives

While staying at Gorilla Forest Lodge guests can venture out on game drives too. At Ishasha, in the south of the well known Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Ishasha Sector is most popular for its tree climbing lions. The Lions are normally lazily lying within the branches of the huge fig trees. Staring down at the numerous Uganda Kobs grazing in the open Ishasha plains. In addition, keep a lookout for savanna elephants, buffaloes, topi, hippos, various bird species, warthogs, and the occasional leopard.

This is usually a full day outing where guests are able to stop for lunch at the hippo pool. Departure is at 6:30 in the morning.

Fine dining at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge’s communal area stars a comfortable lounge with a well stocked bar and elegant dining area. Bestowing great views over the verdant rainforest. A full English and continental breakfast is available before your morning activity. Trekking gorilla’s today? The camp will pack you a scrumptious lunch including fresh fruit, and sweet and savory delights to take with you.

Once back at the camp, enjoy drinks under the stars by the roaring campfire. Swap stories of that day’s adventures accompanied by the night chorus of the forest.

The chef serves a silver service dinner with three courses each evening. Expertly prepared and promising simple flavors that showcase fresh local ingredients. You should try the traditional smoked beef in peanut sauce served with Kalo (millet bread).

Celebrating a special occasion? Romantic candlelit private dinners on your tent’s private deck can be arranged for you.

With prior notice, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge can arrange halal meals. However, please note the kitchens aren’t strictly halal and chefs are not trained in halal food preparation. Unfortunately, kosher meals are not available.

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge Spa

The mini spa at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge offers the perfect way to end a day of gorilla trekking. A chance for your mind to fully absorb the magnitude of your wonderful spiritual encounter. Allow your body and mind to blend with the natural surroundings. While recalling those magical moments in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest.

Quiet and peaceful, even the small spa breathes the spirit of the forest. Treatments by the specialist therapist, include herbal massages, hydrating facials, foot massages, and manicures. They use luxury, Eco-friendly products created with pure natural ingredients. There are also yoga kits in all the tents.

The best time to visit Gorilla Forest Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary

High in the mountains of Uganda, Bwindi has a wet, tropical climate, with temperatures averaging 24–25°C year round, and cool at night. This part of Uganda has two rainy seasons, from April to May and September to November. The two “dry” seasons (this is a rainforest), from December to February and June to August, are generally considered the best time to visit. Though the rainy months bring their own rewards.

December – February

High: 22° C / 72° F
Low: 12° C / 54° F

As one of Uganda’s “dry” seasons, this is fantastic time to visit. Particularly January and February, when relatively drier, cooler weather and clear trails make for more comfortable trekking. Book well ahead for the holiday season.

March – May

High: 22° C / 72° F
Low: 12° C / 54° F

The rainy season brings its own rewards. April is one of the wettest months of the year, when the rainforest is at its most vibrant. Though trails may be muddy and slippery, this time of year offers opportunities for gorilla trekking in a lush, verdant environment. With lower visitor numbers and more exclusive, intimate wildlife encounters.

June – September

High: 22° C / 72° F
Low: 12° C / 54° F

Prime time for gorilla trekking. Drier days and a more comfortable climate make for easier trekking conditions from June to August. While the forest is still lush enough for abundant wildlife and great photography opportunities.

October – November

High: 21° C / 70° F
Low: 12° C / 54° F

The rainforest is rejuvenated after the short rains of October and November. Cooler temperatures make the climate more comfortable. Again, fewer tourists mean excellent gorilla trekking. And it’s a great time for birding, with many species active and visible.

How to get to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge

Kihihi airstrip is the closest airstrip which is 1 hour and 15 minutes from the camp. The flying time from Entebbe is approximately 1hr 45mins. This depends on the number of stops en route.

A road transfer from Kampala to Bwindi will take approximately 10 – 11 hours! While a scenic transfer from Kigali (Rwanda) to Bwindi is about 8 hours (weather dependent).

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp Accommodation Rates

The longer you stay, the less you pay
Stay 4-6 nights & save up to 20%
Stay 7+ nights & save up to 25%

Offer can be applied to single and multi-camp stays at any of Sanctuary Retreats’ camps and lodges.
Botswana:
Baines’ Camp, Sanctuary Chief’s Camp, Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp.
Kenya:
Sanctuary Olonana, Sanctuary Tambarare
Tanzania:
Kichakani Serengeti Camp, Ngorongoro Crater Camp, Swala Camp
Namibia:
Okahirongo Elephant Lodge
Uganda:
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge
Zambia:
Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma.

There is no supplement for single occupancy of a maximum of 3 suites in low season. Further single occupancy bookings in the low season are subject to a 50% single supplement. All other single occupancy bookings are charged with a 50% single supplement.

Rates include:
All meals.
All drinks (including premium brands).
Concession fees.
Laundry services.
Emergency medical evacuation.
Community tour.

Rates exclude:
Park fees.
Gorilla Trekking permits.
Additional activities.
International and domestic flights.
Transfers to and from Kihihi airstrip and any other road transfers.
Travel insurance, boutique purchases, gratuities, and all other items of a personal nature.

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge Special Offers

Honeymoon Offer

Book at least 2 nights and one partner gets a 50% discount on accommodation. For a honeymoon safari like no other!

This special offer can be combined with the above long stay discount throughout Southern and Eastern Africa for even greater savings. Excludes Geoffrey Kent Suite at Chief’s Camp, Olonana Lodge and Private Villa at Tambarare Camp.

Valid for travel within 6 months of marriage certificate.

Valid from 1st January – 31st December every year.

Stay 5 Pay 4 in Southern or Eastern Africa

Stay 5 nights across A&K Sanctuary safari lodges and camps in Southern and Eastern Africa and receive your 5th night free.

Valid for travel from 1st January – 31st May and 1st September – 31st December every year.

Offer can be combined with long stay discount for even greater savings but no other offers. Excludes Villa at Tambarare Camp and the Geoffrey Kent Suites at Chief’s Camp and Olonana Lodge.

Fifth night is free if itinerary is five nights or more.

Single Supplement Offer

The single supplement for all Sanctuary camps and lodges across East and Southern Africa is wavered.

Valid for travel from 1st January – 31st May, and 1st September – 31st December every year.
Offer can be combined with long stay discount for even greater savings.

This is in addition to the low season single supplement that is wavered.
Excludes Geoffrey Kent Suite at Olonana Lodge, Private Villa at Tambarare Camp and Geoffrey Kent Suite at Chief’s Camp.