Bwindi Forest Lodge is a budget lodge in Buhoma, the northern gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with cottages raised on platforms facing the forest. Travellers holding Buhoma gorilla permits book it as a simple, affordable base close to the trekking briefing. It sits in Kanungu District in southwest Uganda and should not be confused with Bwindi Lodge, the upmarket Volcanoes Safaris property in the same village.
Information on this lodge is thinner than for most Bwindi properties. We could not find a working official website, so the details below come from booking platform and operator listings, compared against each other. Where they disagree or stay silent, we say so, and we suggest what to confirm before you pay.
Bwindi Forest Lodge or Bwindi Lodge: Telling the Buhoma Safari Lodges Apart
Search for this lodge and half the results are about somewhere else. Buhoma has three properties with very similar names, and mixing them up is the most common mistake people make when they book a Buhoma gorilla safari.
The price gap between them is wide. If a quote looks far higher than you expected for a budget stay, check which property the operator has actually booked.
Location and Access to the Buhoma Gorilla Trekking Briefing
The lodge is in Buhoma, the village at the northern gate of Bwindi and the oldest trekking sector in Uganda. It was here that gorilla tourism in the park began in the early 1990s, and Buhoma still has the widest spread of lodges, craft shops and community projects of any sector.
Listings describe the lodge as close to the Buhoma UWA briefing point, and booking platform guests rate the location highly. No source gives a precise walking time, so ask whether you can walk to the briefing or need a short drive, especially if anyone in your group moves slowly on hills.
Buhoma lies lower than the southern sectors, so evenings are mild compared with Rushaga or Ruhija, though you will still want a warm layer after dark. Rain can fall in any month.
Permits are issued for one sector. A stay here only works with a Buhoma permit; Rushaga or Nkuringo permits would mean a drive of several hours each way. Our Buhoma gorilla trekking guide explains the sector in detail.
Cottages and Rooms at This Budget Safari Lodge
Listings agree on the basics: more than ten cottages raised on platforms, each looking toward the forest, in single, double, twin, triple and family configurations. Triple and family rooms make it one of the easier Buhoma options for groups of friends or families travelling together on a tight budget.
Rooms are plain rather than plush. Each has a private bathroom with a flush toilet and hot and cold shower, mosquito nets, toiletries, slippers, bottled water, a small sitting area and a balcony. Some listings add carpeted floors and a rack for drying clothes, which is more useful than it sounds in a rainforest where nothing dries overnight.
Bring a head torch. Paths between cottages on Bwindi hillsides are often unlit or dimly lit, and the generator may not run all night.
Accessibility is not described anywhere. Raised cottages usually mean steps. If you need level access, ask the lodge directly or through your operator before booking, and see our guide to gorilla trekking with special needs.
Food, Bar, Electricity and Wifi at the Lodge
The restaurant serves local and continental food. Listings describe breakfast in the room or the garden, lunch, and a three course dinner indoors or outside, and booking platform guests regularly mention the food and the staff. Whether meals are included depends on how you book, so check if your rate is bed and breakfast or full board, and ask for a packed lunch on your trek day.
There is a stocked bar and a shared lounge with terraces facing the forest. Some listings mention an outdoor dining area with a fireplace.
Mains electricity in Buhoma can drop, and the lodge has a standby generator. Wifi is offered, at no charge according to one listing. Speeds in rural Kanungu are modest, fine for messages and slow for uploads.
Other services listed are laundry, daily housekeeping, free parking, a tour desk, 24 hour security and airport or airstrip pick ups. Listings on booking platforms also mention a garden and a children’s playground.
Who This Buhoma Safari Lodge Suits
It suits travellers spending their money on permits rather than on the room: backpackers, volunteers, small groups and families who want a private bathroom and hot water without upmarket prices.
It suits less well anyone who wants polish, a spa or a guaranteed view from the bed. And because there is no official website, travellers who like to book directly have a harder time; an operator or a major booking platform is the safer route.
The lodge does not publish a child policy, although family rooms and a playground suggest children are welcome. Children under 15 cannot join a gorilla trek, so plan for one adult to stay behind or ask the lodge about supervision.
Gorilla Trekking in Buhoma From Bwindi Forest Lodge
Your Buhoma gorilla trek starts with an early briefing at the UWA headquarters at the park gate. Rangers split visitors into groups of up to eight, one group per gorilla family. Buhoma families include Mubare, the first family habituated for tourism in Uganda, along with Habinyanja and Rushegura.
Buhoma treks vary. Some families are found within an hour, others mean a long, steep climb, and several trek reports mention a stiff walk up through the village before the forest even starts. Hire a porter. They carry your bag, steady you on the mud, and earn a fair day’s income.
With the gorillas you have one hour, at a distance of about 10 metres as UWA asks, with masks worn when the ranger requests them. Sightings are very likely on a standard trek but never guaranteed. Gloves for the nettles, gaiters and a waterproof jacket come up again and again in trekkers’ advice; our gorilla trekking packing list has the full kit.
Batwa Visits, Waterfall Walks and the ALICE Community Tour
Listing text that appears to come from the lodge describes it as the driving force behind ALICE, the Albertine Indigenous Communities Empowerment project, which aims to bring families affected by conservation and urban growth into steady work. Visitors can see the project’s Bwindi hub and the Bakiga Batwa skills institute linked to it. We could not confirm the project independently, so treat it as a lodge claim and ask what a visit involves.
The Batwa cultural tour in Buhoma, led by Batwa guides, shows how the community lived in the forest before the park was created. Our page on the Batwa people gives the background.
Buhoma is also the best sector for nature walks. The waterfall trail along the Munyaga River is a half day favourite, and guided walks with UWA rangers run on several other trails; see our Bwindi nature walk guide. Birders should read our Bwindi birding guide, as the forest edge around Buhoma is good for early morning birding trips.
The Buhoma community walk through farms, a traditional healer’s home and a banana beer brewery fills a rest afternoon well.
Getting to Bwindi Forest Lodge for Your Safari
By road from Kampala or Entebbe the trip is roughly 480 km and nine to ten hours, usually via Mbarara, Kabale or Rukungiri and Kihihi. Many itineraries come the other way, from Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector, which turns the drive into a game drive with a chance of tree climbing lions.
Flying saves a day. Domestic flights run from Entebbe or Kajjansi to the Kihihi airstrip, roughly an hour to an hour and a half by road from Buhoma. Our getting to Bwindi guide compares routes, and the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda covers the seasons.
Other Buhoma Lodges to Compare
Buhoma has the broadest choice of any sector. At the budget end, the Buhoma Community Bandas and Campsite and the CTPH Gorilla Conservation Camp are close rivals, both with a community or conservation angle. A step up, Engagi Lodge and Gorilla Forest Camp offer more comfort. Our Bwindi lodges guide covers every sector.
Bwindi Forest Lodge FAQ
Is Bwindi Forest Lodge the same as Bwindi Lodge?
No. Bwindi Forest Lodge is a budget property in Buhoma. Bwindi Lodge is a luxury lodge run by Volcanoes Safaris in the same village. Check the exact name on any quote.
How much does Bwindi Forest Lodge cost per night?
Listings have quoted from about US$120 to US$150 per person per night and upward, with higher prices in peak months. Rates on booking platforms change often and may or may not include meals, so confirm the meal plan and the total before paying.
What does a Buhoma gorilla trekking permit cost?
Uganda charges US$800 for foreign non residents, US$700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for East Africans, with a low season rate of US$600 announced for April, May and November. Permits are paid in full at booking; see our gorilla permit guide.
Does Bwindi Forest Lodge have an official website?
We could not find one that works. The lodge is listed on major booking platforms and by Uganda tour operators, which are the safer ways to book.
Can I walk from the lodge to the Buhoma gorilla briefing?
Listings place it close to the tracking point, but none gives a walking time. Ask when you book, and arrange a lift if the path is steep or the morning is wet.
Is the lodge suitable for families?
Family and triple rooms make it workable for families on a budget. Children under 15 cannot trek gorillas, so one adult may need to stay behind with younger children.
Is there wifi and electricity at Bwindi Forest Lodge?
Yes, according to listings, with a standby generator for cuts. Expect slow speeds and carry a charged battery pack on the trek.
