Our 5 Favourite Lodges for Gorilla Trekking
Mountain gorillas: critically endangered and numbering less than 1,000 in the wild, a
trekking safari to see these magnificent apes is a unique and poignant experience, and a once-
in-a-lifetime trip. The good news is that the majority of the funds collected from trekking
tourism are ploughed straight back into efforts to conserve the gorillas and their rainforest
habitat, and with a plethora of lovely lodges attracting even more lovely trekkers (you!),
those funds are ever-increasing. If you want to find out which country is best suited for your
gorilla safari have a look here. In this blog, we’re looking at which lodges you should stay to
make the most of your gorilla trekking safari. Read on for our favourites…
Wilderness Sabyinyo
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
A classic on the Rwanda gorilla trekking circuit, staying at Sabyinyo is like visiting an old
friend. Warm, welcoming and super-cosy, the terracotta chalets look over a landscape straight
out of ‘Gorillas in the mist’, complete with rolling hills and lilting fog. The ever-present
Virunga Mountains provide a magnificent backdrop and that’s exactly where you’re headed
for your gorilla trek. The lodge is only a few minutes away from the gate into
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the trek starting point, leaving you more time to
enjoy a morning coffee and a hearty breakfast (good for the energy levels!) before trekking.
Clouds Lodge
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
At 2000 metres above sea-level, there are no prizes for guessing where Clouds apt name
comes from, and the sprawling views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest will stop you in your
tracks whichever way you turn. It’s a family-run business, set up in partnership with
the African Wildlife Foundation and the local Nkuringo community, and there’s a strong
emphasis on conservation in all its forms. At the lodge itself, interiors are stylish, charming
and more than a little bit luxurious and the perfect base to return to after a day’s gorilla
trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Oh, and did we mention that there’s even
massages on offer to soothe those post-trek aches?
Singita Kwitonda
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
If you’ve travelled with Singita before, you’ll know exactly what to expect – and if you
haven’t, just know that Kwitonda is absolutely astonishing in every way. Set on 178 acres of
reforested land at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes, the lodge has eight suites with floor-to-
ceiling glass, enormous tubs and fireplaces lit at the merest hint of a chill. But what really
sets Kwitonda apart, however, is its conservation work: hundreds of thousands of indigenous
trees planted to extend the gorillas’; habitat, a community-led tree nursery on site, and an
ongoing partnership with the surrounding villages that goes well beyond the brochure.
Mahogany Springs
Bwindi Impentrable Forest
Set on the slopes above the tumbling Munyanga River, with the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
spread out in front of you, Mahogany Springs feels like a fairytale.. and even more so if
you’re lucky enough to spot a gorilla wandering through the gardens, which has been known
to happen on occasion! The stone cottages are scattered down the hillside, each with wide
double doors, big windows and a balcony peering into the trees. The food is some of the best
in Uganda, the welcome is genuinely warm, and the small touches stick with you long after
you’ve left — gorilla-themed poems on your pillow, heating pads slipped under the duvet at
bedtime, and a complimentary boot-cleaning service after a long, muddy slog through
Bwindi.
Bisate Lodge
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
An uber-funky, pod-like creation, Bisate injects a touch of glamour into the Rwanda gorilla
trekking circuit, with stylish conical chalets modelled on traditional palaces, exquisite
interiors and even more spectacular views across the brooding volcanoes. Gorilla treks take
place in Volcanoes National Park but that’s not all that’s on offer treks and guests can hike to
the nearby golden monkeys, Dian Fossey’s grave and the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera,
visit the local community and participate in the exciting reforestation programme. Now that’s
what we call a lodge!
Bonus pick: Amakoro Songa
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Yes, we know, we said five. But Amakoro Songa was simply too good to leave out. A
picture-perfect cluster of sage-green cottages tucked into the foothills of the Virungas,
Amakoro is one of very few female-owned lodges in Rwanda’s gorilla circuit. And, you can
feel the care in every detail, from the cobbled pathways through the flower-filled gardens to
the post-trek eucalyptus foot soak waiting for you in the spa. The cottages have rough-hewn
wooden beds and fireplaces of their own, while evenings unfold around an outdoor fire pit
with the leaping Intore Dance Troupe. The lodge runs its own reforestation grove (you can
plant and name a tree) and golden monkey treks, cave hikes and village storytelling sessions
are all on the doorstep.
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