Gorilla Safari Lodge is an upmarket chalet lodge in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, owned and managed by Crystal Lodges Uganda. It sits on the forest edge about a five minute walk from the Rushaga briefing point, which makes it one of the closest lodges to a trailhead anywhere in the park. Rooms are standalone log cabin style chalets with private wooden balconies, several of them with fireplaces.
Gorilla Safari Lodge Location in the Rushaga Sector
The lodge stands at the edge of the park in Rushaga, the southern sector on the Kisoro side of Bwindi. Its own location page puts it a five minute walk from the park, which it describes as the starting and briefing point for both gorilla trekking and the habituation experience. Few lodges in Bwindi can match that, and it means a relaxed breakfast on trek morning instead of a dawn drive.
The name causes confusion. Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge is a separate property on the eastern ridge, several hours away by road. Check which one your itinerary names, and make sure your permit matches it.
Permits are issued for one sector, so Gorilla Safari Lodge only makes sense with a Rushaga gorilla trekking permit. Rushaga has more habituated families than any other sector, so permits here are often easier to find when other sectors are full.
Chalets and Rooms at Gorilla Safari Lodge
Every room is a deluxe chalet: a standalone timber unit among the trees, reached by cobbled paths with wooden bannisters, with a private balcony looking over the forest. Each chalet is named after a gorilla or a gorilla family. The lodge’s pages disagree on the count, giving 21 chalets in one place and 18 rooms including three interleading rooms in another, so ask which figure is current.
Lighting is solar powered and the plug points take UK style three pin plugs. Bring an adapter and a power bank for the trek.
Meals, Spa and Lodge Facilities
The main lodge holds a dining room, a bar, a tea and coffee station and a relaxation lounge stepping down from the dining area. A small spa room offers massages and treatments on request, and a curio shop sells basic goods.
Two meal plans are sold. Full board covers all meals, tea, coffee and drinking water. Fully inclusive adds local drinks, transport to and from the trek, laundry and a short massage. Wi Fi reaches the main area rather than the chalets, and laundry is available on site.
The lodge calls itself child friendly and offers babysitting, which helps families because children under 15 cannot trek.
Gorilla Trekking and Habituation From the Lodge
Your day starts with the walk down to the Rushaga briefing. Rangers assign groups of up to eight to one family each; Rushaga families include Nshongi, Mishaya, Bweza, Kahungye and Busingye, along with newer groups. Read about the Mishaya group, or see every family on our Bwindi gorilla families page.
The lodge says treks last from about three hours to a full day depending on the family, with one hour once you reach the gorillas. Keep about 10 metres away and follow the ranger. Porters at the gate are worth every shilling on Rushaga’s steep, muddy slopes, and our packing list covers the kit.
For the gorilla habituation experience, a full day in the forest with up to four hours beside a family still being habituated, the short walk back to a hot shower is a real advantage. Our main gorilla trekking in Uganda guide explains both options.
Other Activities Around the Lodge
Beyond the gorillas, the lodge lists Batwa cultural visits, mountain biking, guided community walks and forest walks to Bayenda Falls. Read about the Batwa people before a visit, and see our Bwindi birding guide if you want an early morning with a bird guide.
Getting to Gorilla Safari Lodge
By road, Kampala or Entebbe to Rushaga takes nine to ten hours via Kabale, usually split with a night at Lake Mburo or Lake Bunyonyi. Kabale to Rushaga is two to three hours on hill roads. The faster option is a morning flight to Kisoro airstrip, then a one to two hour transfer. From Kigali, allow four and a half to six hours via the Cyanika border. Our getting to Bwindi guide sets out every route.
How It Compares With Other Rushaga Lodges
Gorilla Safari Lodge is one of the established top options in the sector, and its walking distance to the briefing point is the strongest reason to choose it. Gorilla Leisure Lodge is similarly close with stone cottages and a family unit, Gorilla Valley Lodge is a midrange choice near the ranger post, and Bweza Gorilla Lodge is a small five cabin option. For budget stays, Nshongi Camp sits beside the gate. Our Bwindi lodges guide compares every sector.
Gorilla Safari Lodge FAQ
Where is Gorilla Safari Lodge?
In the Rushaga sector of southern Bwindi, about a five minute walk from the briefing point. It is a different lodge from Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge.
How much does Gorilla Safari Lodge cost per night?
The lodge’s published rack rates, at the latest check, run from about US$250 per person per night full board in a chalet in the low season months of March, April, May and November, to about US$375 in high season. Fully inclusive rates are roughly US$580 to US$700 per person, and the honeymoon suite costs more. Confirm current rates with the lodge or your operator. The gorilla permit is extra: US$800 for foreign non residents, US$700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens.
Can I walk from the lodge to gorilla trekking?
Yes. The lodge describes the briefing point as about five minutes on foot.
Is Gorilla Safari Lodge good for families?
It offers three bed family rooms, interleading rooms and babysitting. Children under 15 cannot trek, so plan for one adult to stay behind or use the babysitting service.
Do the chalets have fireplaces and Wi Fi?
A few chalets have an indoor coal fireplace; ask for one when booking. Wi Fi covers the main area rather than the rooms.
How many rooms does Gorilla Safari Lodge have?
The lodge gives 21 chalets on its accommodation page and 18 rooms on its facilities page. Confirm the current figure and your room type before you travel.
