Buhoma Lodge is an upmarket lodge of ten wooden chalets on the forest edge in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a short walk from the briefing point for Buhoma gorilla trekking. It stands where the original Buhoma Homestead once stood, and it is open today under the Wild Frontiers group. Most guests book it through a safari operator alongside their gorilla permit.
From Buhoma Homestead to Buhoma Lodge: The Name Behind Your Safari
Older guidebooks and this page’s own earlier version called the property Buhoma Homestead, a small cottage camp with solar lighting and a campfire. That homestead was replaced by the current lodge, built on the same hillside from local timber and stone. The name changed; the setting did not.
Today the lodge belongs to the Wild Frontiers collection, a group based in Entebbe that also runs Ishasha Wilderness Camp in Queen Elizabeth National Park and camps in the Serengeti. You will see it listed under both Wild Frontiers and Uganda Exclusive Camps. Same lodge.
Location for Buhoma Gorilla Trekking
The lodge sits on a slope above the Munyaga River, right at the forest edge. Its own pages describe it both as on the edge of the park and as one of only two lodges inside the boundary, the other being Gorilla Forest Lodge. In practice the trees start beside your veranda, and the walk to the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices at Buhoma takes a few minutes.
That short walk is the lodge’s main draw. You finish breakfast, stroll to the briefing and are with your ranger group before guests from lodges further out have parked. Gorillas sometimes feed on the slopes near the lodge too, though that is luck rather than a promise.
Habituated families in Buhoma include Mubare, the first group opened to visitors in Uganda, along with Habinyanja and Rushegura.
Chalets and Rooms at the Lodge for Your Gorilla Trip
The ten chalets are spread along the hillside, raised on timber with wide windows and a private veranda over the forest canopy. One guest likened the rooms to a tree house, which is about right. Each has a private bathroom with hot shower and flush toilet, and some have a bathtub. Rooms are insect proofed and have a safe.
One chalet is set up as a family or honeymoon suite with more space. Twin and double layouts cover the rest, so groups of friends are easy to place.
Meals, Lounge and Facilities on a Bwindi Safari
The central building holds an open lounge, the bar and the dining area, with fireplaces lit each evening. Meals are several courses made from local produce, much of it bought from farms around Buhoma, and the kitchen packs a lunch for trek day. Coffee and tea are on hand through the day.
Electricity comes from solar panels and water is gravity fed from the hills. There is free Wi Fi in the main area and a charging point for cameras and phones. Massages are offered at the lodge, and several guests mention a short massage after the trek as the best hour of the day. Staff clean muddy boots overnight, and reviewers mention daypacks, gloves, gaiters and walking poles available to borrow, which is worth checking when you book.
Most staff come from Buhoma itself, and many have worked at the lodge for years. Reviewers mention them by name more often than any feature of the building.
Gorilla Trekking Day from Buhoma Lodge
On the morning of your Buhoma gorilla trek, you walk down to the briefing, where rangers split permit holders into groups of up to eight. Treks can last one hour or most of the day, over steep and often muddy ground.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority rules are the same for every lodge: one hour with the gorillas once found, at least 10 metres away, a minimum age of 15, and no trekking with a cold or cough. Hire a porter. Bring gardening gloves for the nettles and a proper rain jacket; our gorilla trekking packing list covers the rest. Travellers who want longer with a family can book the four hour gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga, in the south of the park.
Forest Walks and Village Tours from the Lodge
Spare days fill easily. Guided forest walks with UWA rangers head to the Munyaga waterfall and along the forest edge, where primates and forest birds are common, and birders can work the lodge grounds at dawn; see our guide to birding in Bwindi.
Outside the park, the Buhoma community walk visits farms, a traditional healer and banana beer brewers. You can also visit the Bwindi Community Hospital, a local school or the Batwa community, whose families lived in the forest before it became a park. Craft shops in the village sell baskets and carvings.
Who Buhoma Lodge Suits on a Gorilla Safari
It suits travellers who want the shortest possible walk to the trek and a proper lodge without paying top luxury rates. Couples like the honeymoon suite. Families have the family chalet, and children of any age may stay, though only those aged 15 and over can trek.
It suits less well if you want spa suites and butler service, or if paths with steps are a struggle. Budget travellers will find better value at the community camps by the same gate.
Nearby Buhoma Lodges Compared for Your Safari
| Lodge | Tier | To the gate |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Camp | Budget | At the gate |
| Engagi Lodge | Midrange | Few minutes |
| Buhoma Lodge | Upmarket | Short walk |
| Bwindi Lodge | Luxury | About 500 m |
| Gorilla Forest | Luxury | Inside park |
If you want more luxury, Bwindi Lodge by Volcanoes Safaris and Gorilla Forest Lodge are both a short walk away. Engagi Lodge costs less and has eight stone and thatch cottages above the river. The Buhoma Community Rest Camp is the budget choice right at the gate. Our guide to Bwindi lodges by sector compares every area of the park.
Booking Buhoma Lodge Through a Safari Operator
Most guests book the lodge as part of a package from a licensed tour company, which bundles the room, the gorilla permit, a vehicle and driver guide. Specialist Uganda safaris operators know the lodge well and can hold rooms while they secure permits. Make sure the permit is for Buhoma. A permit for Rushaga or Nkuringo means a long drive before dawn and undoes the point of staying here.
Book early for June to September and December to February; the quieter months are covered in our guide to the best time for gorilla trekking. The lodge suggests at least two nights, ideally three. Many trips continue to Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park for the tree climbing lions, and some fly on to the Masai Mara or the Serengeti for a gorillas and migration trip.
Getting to Buhoma Lodge for Your Trek
Daily scheduled flights from Entebbe land at Kihihi airstrip, and the lodge arranges the transfer, about 90 minutes to two hours by road depending on the weather. By road, Buhoma is a full day from Kampala or Entebbe, two to three hours from Ishasha and six to seven hours from Lake Mburo. See our guide on how to get to Bwindi for every route.
Buhoma Lodge FAQ
Is Buhoma Homestead the same as Buhoma Lodge?
Yes. Buhoma Homestead was the original lodge on this hillside, and the current Buhoma Lodge was built in its place. It is open and run by Wild Frontiers.
How much does Buhoma Lodge cost, and is the permit included?
Current listings show full board rates of about US$380 per person per night in April, May and November, US$455 in March, June and October, and US$535 in the peak months. The gorilla permit is extra: US$800 for foreign non residents, US$700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens, with a US$600 low season rate announced for April, May and November. Permits are paid in full at booking. Confirm with your operator.
Is Buhoma Lodge inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
It sits on the park boundary, and its own pages call it one of only two lodges inside the park. Either way, the forest starts at the chalets and the briefing point is a few minutes’ walk.
Can families with children stay at Buhoma Lodge?
Yes. There is a family suite and children of all ages are welcome at the lodge. Only those aged 15 or older can join the gorilla trek, so younger children need a sitter or another activity.
Does Buhoma Lodge have Wi Fi?
Yes, free Wi Fi in the main area, plus a charging point. The signal can weaken in heavy rain.
How difficult is gorilla trekking from Buhoma?
It varies by family and by day. Some groups are found within an hour of the gate, others after several hours of steep, muddy climbing. A porter and walking pole make it manageable for most reasonably fit adults.
