The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel is a midrange hotel on the hills outside the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, about 14.7 km or fifteen minutes by road from the park, according to the hotel. It offers executive cottages and standard, deluxe and twin rooms, a restaurant and lounge bar, and conference space. It suits travellers with Buhoma permits who want hotel style service at a moderate price.
The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel Location
The hotel stands on an open hilltop in southwestern Uganda, with forest views and a river below. It is not at the Buhoma gate itself: the hotel puts the park about 14.7 km away, a fifteen minute drive. Its directions mention Kihihi, Kanyantorogo and Butogota as the towns on the way in, and a 10 km drive from Kayonza airstrip, which places it on the approach roads north and east of Buhoma rather than in the village.
That distance matters on trek morning. Briefings start early, so leave with your driver in good time, and allow longer after heavy rain on the murram. The hotel also points out that it is within reach of Queen Elizabeth National Park, which makes it a practical stop on a circuit that includes the tree climbing lions of Ishasha.
Your permit decides where you sleep. This hotel works with a Buhoma gorilla trekking permit. Rushaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija are too far away for a same morning trek.
Rooms and Cottages at the Crested Crane
The hotel sells four room types. Photos show a modern stone and glass main building with an orange trim and round cottages with dark pitched roofs on the hillside lawn.
Rooms come with bathrooms with showers, UK style plug sockets and bottled water, and some have a fridge, a telephone and satellite television. A honeymoon suite is offered too. The hotel does not publish its total number of rooms, so ask how many guests will be staying if you are booking for a group.
Dining, Bar and Hotel Services
The restaurant seats about 80 and serves a continental menu with oriental and local dishes, à la carte or as a banquet for groups. Breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea and dinner are all available, room service runs until late evening, and children’s menus are offered on request. Ask for a packed lunch before a trek, since the hotel does not list one by default.
The lounge bar overlooks the hills of Bwindi and stocks beers, spirits and wines. Other services include a 24 hour front desk, daily housekeeping, laundry, free Wi Fi in public areas, free parking, car hire and shuttle services. Conference rooms and an events venue make it one of the few places near Buhoma that can host a meeting or a wedding.
Gorilla Trekking From the Hotel
Buhoma is where gorilla tourism in Bwindi began. At the briefing, rangers assign groups of up to eight to one family each. Buhoma families include Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Katwe, Muyambi and Binyindo; read about Mubare, the oldest trekking family, and Rushegura, or see every group on our Bwindi gorilla families page.
Treks take from an hour to most of the day, followed by one hour with the gorillas at about 10 metres. The minimum age is 15. Buhoma’s terrain is generally gentler than the southern sectors, but porters are still worth hiring; our packing list and main gorilla trekking in Uganda guide cover the rest.
Birding, Hikes and Other Activities
The hotel lists bird watching, hiking and Bwindi tours. Buhoma is the start of the Munyaga River trail and longer nature walks to forest waterfalls, and the forest edge is excellent for birding in Bwindi. The village community walk, Batwa experiences and the craft shops near the gate fill a spare afternoon, and the Garuga golf course is nearby if you want something completely different.
Getting to The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel
By road from Kampala via Rukungiri, allow eight to nine hours to Buhoma, as our getting to Bwindi guide explains; the hotel’s own estimate is shorter. From Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park it is two to three hours, and four to five from Mweya, so see our Queen Elizabeth safari guide if you are combining the two. Flights from Entebbe land at Kihihi airstrip, about a 32 km road transfer from the hotel by its figures, and charters can use Kayonza airstrip, about 10 km away. See our fly in gorilla safari guide for schedules.
How It Compares With Other Buhoma Lodges
The Crested Crane trades a gate side location for hotel facilities and moderate prices. If you want to walk to the briefing, Bwindi Forest Lodge and the community run Buhoma Community Haven Lodge are close by at similar or lower prices, and the CTPH Gorilla Conservation Camp is a budget stay that funds gorilla health work. At the top end, Trackers Safari Lodge adds a pool. Our Bwindi lodges guide compares every sector.
The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel FAQ
How far is The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel from Buhoma?
About 14.7 km, roughly fifteen minutes by car, according to the hotel. Allow extra time on wet mornings before your briefing.
What are the room rates at The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel?
At the latest check the hotel listed its executive cottages at about US$120 single and US$140 double on bed and breakfast, rising to about US$160 and US$200 on full board, with deluxe, standard and twin rooms from about US$98 to US$100 a night. It also advertises offers on honeymoons and conferences. Confirm current rates and what each meal plan includes with the hotel. The gorilla permit is separate: US$800 for foreign non residents, US$700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens.
Which gorilla permit do I need?
A Buhoma permit. The hotel is too far from the southern sectors and Ruhija for a same morning trek.
Is the hotel good for families?
The hotel describes itself as family friendly, with four person executive cottages and children’s menus. Children under 15 cannot trek, so one adult may need to stay behind.
Does The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel have Wi Fi?
Yes, free Wi Fi is offered in public areas, and the executive cottage page also lists free internet. Expect rural speeds.
Can the hotel host a conference or wedding?
Yes. It has conference and meeting rooms, banquet catering and an events venue, which is unusual for the Buhoma area.
