Luxury Gorilla Safari Lodges in Uganda And Rwanda
Luxury Gorilla Safari Lodges in Uganda And Rwanda
Mountain gorillas: Sadly, a trekking safari to observe these gorgeous primates is a once-in-a-lifetime event due to their highly endangered status and a low natural population of less than 1,000. The good news is that most of the money made from gorilla trekking tourism is invested directly back into efforts to protect the gorillas and their rainforest habitat, and those funds are growing as more and more charming lodges draw even more charming trekkers (like you!). Check out this page if you want to know which nation is best for your gorilla safari. However, this one focuses on the best gorilla safari lodges to stay at while on a gorilla trekking safari. Check out our favorites below…
Gorilla Safari Lodge Uganda
The Gorilla Safari Lodges in Uganda And Rwanda
Being one metre away from a silverback gorilla is a really humbling experience. Humbling, if you had to endure it following a night slumber in a wet, mosquito-infested, four-star plywood shack. You will be judged by gorillas because they have standards.
The good news is that we are no longer living in an era where gorilla trekking was reserved for extreme adventurers and those who were willing to sleep on bunk beds with a nervous tic and a hook for a hand. Soak in your jacuzzi in your Architectural Digest–inspired room after a day of getting dirty and marvelling at one of nature’s greatest gifts—the gorilla—rather than the hitch-hiker who’s still following you.
In fact, this is the place to stay if you want to have fun while trekking with gorillas.
1. Wilderness Sabyinyo Lodge
Staying at Wilderness Sabyinyo Lodge is like seeing an old friend because it is a staple on the gorilla trekking circuit in Rwanda. The terracotta chalets are cozy, warm, and gaze out over a scene straight out of “Gorillas in the Mist,” complete with undulating hills and lulling fog. Your gorilla trek will take place against the stunning backdrop of the ever-present Virunga Mountains. A delicious meal and morning coffee (excellent for the energy levels!) may be enjoyed before hiking as the lodge is only a short distance from the entrance to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the beginning site of the walk.
2. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Clouds is unquestionably a fitting name for this cozy lodge, which is located 2,000 meters above sea level and offers the kind of breathtaking views that will make you halt in your tracks. Eight stone cottages overlook the swooping forests and soaring treetops of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to almost 330 mountain gorillas—roughly half of the species’ remaining population. And the main attraction here—aside from the scenery—is the gorillas. Treks to the spectacular Nkuringo family start just a few meters from the main area, giving you plenty of time to prepare bacon and eggs the Ugandan way before your once-in-a-lifetime adventure. That truly is luxury.
3. Singita Kwitonda Lodge
With Singita Kwitonda Lodge, which just debuted in August 2019, explore the depths of Rwanda’s beautiful rainforest and take in a breathtaking experience. This sanctuary is devoted to Kwitonda, a renowned 40-year-old silverback gorilla who touched the lives of those who had the honor of meeting him at Volcanoes National Park. Trek with passionate guides on exhilarating treks at Singita Kwitonda Camp while contributing to sustainability and conservation.
4. Bisate Lodge
The 2017 opening of Bisate is, in fact, when this whole drama starts. It is the original Rwandan luxury. Everything changed when Bisate arrived from Wilderness. All of a sudden, getting your breakfast while gorilla trekking didn’t require a tetanus booster. As a day lodge, Bisate Kwanda has improved the already respectable lodge, which is the one that prompted everyone else to step up their game.
To me, it’s also about giving the Wilderness brand a new lease on life. The design is so stunning that it served as a model for sustainable development, which they have now applied to their other properties, most notably in Botswana. With just six homes, each set in a thatched pod atop an extinct volcanic cone, the distance between each unit is small enough that you won’t even notice your neighbours. Plus, the breathtaking scenery is a big plus; instead of staring at a concrete parking lot or the backyard patio of the next resort, you’re staring directly at hazy volcanoes and dense emerald forest.
5. One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
The One&Only Gorilla’s Nest is unlike any of the other options here with its 21 rooms and suites. Yes, the amenities are really extravagant, and yes, it is incredibly remarkable, particularly when you keep in mind that you are in Rwanda. However, the issue lies precisely in that.
All the fun of staying in a safari resort is taken away by this. If your lodge had a McDonald’s as its flagship restaurant, it would be the same. Vegas is where I would go if I wanted this degree of high-end everything—the seemingly limitless restaurants, the seemingly endless facilities, the sensation that I could go anywhere in the world. Guests have stayed here and said it was great, therefore it must be good. It has more rooms than Bisate Reserve, Kwitonda, and Bisate combined, yet I still think it’s too much.
6. Singita Kataza House
Kataza House is a stunning detached villa with four bedrooms; it shares the grounds with Kwitonda Lodge but is completely independent. Feel free to get some food or drinks at Kwitonda if you’re in the mood to mingle, but it’s by no means required. Despite this, we did so since the cuisine was superb. Enjoy your vacation with loved ones in one of four spacious suites, complete with a personal chef, spa treatment room, gym, two jacuzzis, and plenty of room to spread out. In other words, you are under no obligation to see them. There’s no better way to travel with a large party than this. If you find them annoying, at least you’re getting closer to answering the most pressing philosophical question of our time: would you risk your own family to settle the 100 men vs. gorilla debate?