Buhoma Community Rest Camp: Budget Bandas and Campsite at Bwindi’s Gate

Buhoma Community Rest Camp is a budget camp of bandas, safari tents and camping pitches at the park gate in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, owned by the local community. It is still open, and travellers book it directly or through a tour operator as the low cost base for a gorilla trekking safari. Opened in 1993, it puts its income into village projects and sits a couple of minutes on foot from the briefing point.

Two things trip people up. The camp has been rebuilt and extended over the years, so older descriptions of six bandas with four beds each no longer match what is there. And many operator websites confuse it with Haven Lodge, a separate and more expensive property owned by the same association. More on that below.

Where the Rest Camp Sits for Buhoma Gorilla Trekking

Location is the camp’s great strength. It stands right at the entrance to the park, on the edge of the forest above the Munyaga River, a short walk from the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices where every Buhoma trek begins. On trek morning you can finish breakfast and walk to the briefing, while guests at some luxury lodges further out are already in a vehicle.

Buhoma was where gorilla trekking in Uganda started. The sector’s habituated families include Mubare, the first group opened to visitors, along with Habinyanja and Rushegura. Rangers assign families at the briefing, and every permit holder walks with the same rangers whether they sleep in a tent or a villa.

Gorillas sometimes pass along the forest edge close to the camp, and monkeys and forest birds are common in the trees. Treat a gorilla sighting from camp as luck, never a plan.

Bandas, Tents and Rooms for a Budget Gorilla Safari

The camp has grown from a ring of round bandas into a mix of room types. Recent listings agree on this layout, though exact numbers shift as units are refurbished, so confirm when booking:

Rooms are simple and clean, with mosquito nets and hot showers. Electricity comes mainly from solar panels and is strongest in the evenings, and backup lighting is provided, so pack a head torch. Charging is easiest in the main building. Mobile signal on MTN is usually decent, while Wi Fi, where it works, is limited.

Meals, Facilities and What Is Included at the Camp

The restaurant serves a mix of Ugandan and international dishes made with local produce, and the bar is well stocked with beer and soft drinks. Rooms can be booked with full board or bed and breakfast, and campers can eat in the restaurant. On trek day the kitchen packs a lunch box, which matters because a trek can last from one hour to most of the day.

Laundry is available for a small fee, which is worth using after a muddy trek. A craft shop on site sells baskets, woven bags, carvings and local fabric made in the village. Some evenings bring traditional dance and drama from local groups.

What is not included: the gorilla permit, porters, community walks and drinks, unless your operator’s package covers them. Ask for a clear breakdown before you pay.

Gorilla Trekking Day from the Community Camp

Trek day is simple from here. Breakfast is early, the walk to the briefing takes minutes, and rangers sort trekkers into groups of up to eight. The Uganda Wildlife Authority rules are the same for every visitor: one hour with the gorillas once you reach them, a distance of at least 10 metres, and a minimum age of 15. Anyone with a cold or cough should not trek. Sightings are very likely but never guaranteed.

Hire a porter. They carry your bag, help on slippery slopes, and the fee supports the same community that owns the camp. Long sleeves, gardening gloves for the nettles, rain gear and broken in boots make a big difference; our gorilla trekking packing list has the full list.

Community Walks and Village Tours Around Buhoma

Staying here makes it easy to spend a spare afternoon in the village. The Buhoma community walk visits homesteads, a traditional healer, banana beer and gin brewing, and local dance groups, with a community guide. A Batwa cultural visit introduces the forest people who lived in Bwindi before it became a park.

Inside the park, the Munyaga River waterfall walk is a gentle half day nature walk with a UWA ranger, good for primates and butterflies. Birders can work the forest edge from the camp itself; Buhoma is one of the easiest spots for birding in Bwindi. The association also supports local schools and orphan care, and staff can explain where camp income goes.

Rest Camp or Haven Lodge: Choosing a Community Stay on Your Safari

The same community association owns a second property, Haven Lodge, sometimes listed as Buhoma Community Haven Lodge. It is a midrange lodge of self contained cottages on higher ground above Buhoma village, a few minutes’ drive from the main road, and it was built to serve travellers wanting more comfort than the rest camp. Both put their profits back into the community.

Several operator pages describe the rest camp as “also known as Haven Lodge” and mix up their locations. They are separate. If you want to walk to the briefing, ask for the rest camp at the gate. If you want a proper cottage and do not mind a short drive, Haven Lodge is the step up.

Who the Rest Camp Suits on a Gorilla Trekking Trip

The camp suits backpackers, overland travellers, self drivers, volunteers and anyone saving money for a second permit or the gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga. It also suits travellers who want their spending to stay in the village.

Those who want butler service, fireplaces or a quiet spa should look at the luxury lodges nearby. Expect simple comforts and the odd gap in the electricity.

Nearby Buhoma Alternatives for Your Gorilla Safari

The CTPH Gorilla Conservation Camp is the other popular budget choice, run by a gorilla health charity. Engagi Lodge is a good midrange step up. At the top end, Bwindi Lodge by Volcanoes Safaris and Gorilla Forest Lodge are both a short walk from the gate. Our guide to Bwindi lodges by sector covers every option.

Booking the Rest Camp and Getting to Buhoma

Many independent travellers contact the camp directly, while most package travellers have it booked by their operator alongside the gorilla permit. Either way, make sure the permit is for Buhoma: the southern sectors are three hours or more away by road. Book well ahead for June to September and December to February; see the best time for gorilla trekking for the quieter months.

From Kampala, Buhoma is eight to ten hours by road, and buses and shared taxis run as far as Butogota, with a motorbike taxi or car for the last stretch. Flying to Kihihi airstrip cuts that to about an hour in the air plus one to one and a half hours by road. Full routes are in our guide on how to get to Bwindi.

Buhoma Community Rest Camp FAQ