Karungi Camp is a small, affordable cottage camp in Rubuguri, Kisoro District, on the southern edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It serves gorilla trekkers with Rushaga permits, and with an earlier start those trekking from Nkuringo. Guests sleep in five named cottages or pitch a tent, and the camp is known for its breakfasts, its fire lit restaurant and small group excursions led by people from the village.
Where Karungi Camp Sits in Southern Bwindi
Karungi stands in Rubuguri, the small trading town on the hills between the Rushaga and Nkuringo trailheads. The camp’s own directions describe it as on the far side of the village when you arrive from Kisoro, with the driveway off to the right past the town sign. From the Kabale side, the turn off the main road comes about ten minutes past Muko, followed by close to an hour of dirt road.
That position is the camp’s strength. Rubuguri sits between the two southern sectors, so it works for a Rushaga gorilla trekking permit and, with an earlier departure, for Nkuringo gorilla trekking. Guest accounts put the drive to the gate at about twenty minutes, though the camp does not publish a fixed figure, so confirm on the evening before your trek.
Permits are sector specific in Uganda. A Buhoma or Ruhija permit cannot be used sensibly from here.
Cottages and Camping at Karungi
There are five cottages, each named after a bird found in the area, plus a camping area for travellers with their own tents. Tents and sleeping bags can be hired.
Cottages have mountain views and a seating area or balcony. The camp does not spell out bathroom arrangements for each cottage, so ask if a private bathroom matters to you. Guests speak of clean, spacious rooms and hot showers.
Food and Evenings at the Camp
Breakfast is the camp’s point of pride, and its website goes as far as calling it the best in Uganda. Menus change with the seasons and use local ingredients. Lunch and dinner are served in the camp restaurant with American and African dishes, dinner as three courses, and a fire is lit there in the evenings. A traditional Bakiga lunch at a nearby homestead can also be arranged.
There is a stocked bar, outdoor log seating and a fireplace for cold Kisoro nights. The camp does not publish details on Wi Fi or electricity, so bring a power bank and do not rely on a connection.
Gorilla Trekking From Karungi Camp
The camp can help secure gorilla permits, including for non guests who email in advance. On trek day you drive to the briefing, where rangers assign groups of up to eight to one family. Rushaga families include Nshongi, Mishaya, Bweza, Kahungye and Busingye; Nkuringo families include Nkuringo, Bushaho, Christmas and Posho. All are listed on our Bwindi gorilla families page.
Plan for an hour to most of a day in steep forest, then one hour with the gorillas at a distance of about 10 metres. You must be 15 or older to trek. Rushaga is also the base for the gorilla habituation experience. Our gorilla trekking packing list covers gloves, gaiters and rain gear, and the main gorilla trekking in Uganda guide explains permits and fitness.
Community Excursions and Day Trips
Karungi runs small group excursions guided by local people: hikes in the hills, meetings with artisans and community visits. Mountain biking from Kisoro can be arranged. Further afield, the camp organises day trips to Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda, and it also helps with hikes on Mount Nyiragongo across the border in Congo. Read about the Batwa people if you plan a cultural visit in the area.
Getting to Karungi Camp
The camp’s own guidance puts Kigali about three and a half hours away by private car via the Cyanika border, while our getting to Bwindi guide allows four and a half to six hours from Kigali to Rushaga. From Kampala or Entebbe, allow nine to ten hours by road via Kabale. From Kisoro the camp reckons about an hour by private car, depending on weather; Kisoro airstrip, with morning flights from Entebbe, is one to two hours from Rushaga by road. The camp offers transfers from Kisoro, Kabale, Kigali and Kampala. See also our guide to gorilla trekking from Kigali.
How Karungi Compares With Nearby Lodges
Karungi is one of the more personal budget stays in southern Bwindi. In Rubuguri itself, Nshongi Gorilla Resort and Wild Olives Lodge offer other budget and midrange choices, while Kaara Gorilla Mountain Lodge sits on a hilltop near the village. For more on keeping costs down, read our budget gorilla trekking guide, and compare every sector in our Bwindi lodges guide.
Karungi Camp FAQ
Which gorilla sector is Karungi Camp closest to?
Rushaga, with Nkuringo also reachable from Rubuguri. Guests report about twenty minutes by car to the gate; confirm with the camp for your permit.
How many rooms does Karungi Camp have?
Five cottages named after local birds, three with a queen and a double bed and two with a single queen bed, plus a camping area.
How much do meals cost at Karungi Camp?
The camp’s services page has listed lunch at about US$8 and a three course dinner at about US$15 per person. Room rates are not published online, so ask the camp for a quote. The gorilla permit is separate: US$800 for foreign non residents, US$700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens.
Can Karungi Camp arrange gorilla permits?
Yes. The camp helps with permits, even for travellers staying elsewhere, if you contact it in advance. Permits are only held once paid.
Can I camp at Karungi?
Yes. There is space for your own tent, and tents and sleeping bags can be hired for a small fee.
Do I need a 4×4 to reach Karungi Camp?
The camp says a small car can usually make it, but the hill roads around Rubuguri can be slippery or under repair. A 4×4 with a local driver is the safer choice, especially in the rains.
