Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge has grown from a former campsite to a respectable lodge in the last few years. The lodge is basically part of the Nkuringo village and is situated close to the local school.

Nkuringo Lodge offers 5 Standard Garden Cottages, 6 Deluxe Garden Cottages, 4 Forest Suites (2 of which are Honeymoon Suites) and 2 Two-bedroom Family Villas. Each cottage/suite has an outside balcony, is solar-powered with a gas water heater, and can offer single, twin or double beds. Most rooms look deep down into a valley and are accessible only by steep stairs.

Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge is located on Nteko Ridge near the village of Nkuringo at an altitude of 2,160m. From Kisoro airstrip a bumpy gravel road leads along Lake Mutanda to the lodge. The lodge recommends combining this journey with a boat trip on Lake Mutanda.

Travel time from Entebbe to Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge would be a good 10 hours, too far for a single day's drive. Flights from Entebbe take 1 hour 15 minutes to Kisoro Airstrip. The road transfer from the airstrip to the lodge is just over an hour.

The dense vegetation of Bwindi National Park is difficult to access and provides the perfect retreat for some 400 mountain gorillas. In addition to the endangered mountain gorillas, seven other primate species live here, including chimpanzees and the rare and beautiful L'Hoest monkeys. In total, Bwindi offers shelter to additional 80 mammals, some of which are very rare, such as forest elephants, bushbok, wild hog or the shy golden cat. Together with more than 560 bird species Bwindi is clearly a biologically highly varied region.

Three gorilla families live in the immediate vicinity of the lodge: Nkuringo, Bushaho and Christmas. The rangers headquarter is very close and most treks to these groups start right from the headquarter. The Nkuringo trek drops down into a valley, past some farmers fields to the primary forest where the gorillas normally hang around. Climbing back uphill to the headquarter is naturally a bit harder but doable.

Seven more gorilla groups live in the Rushaga sector which is about an hour drive away: the families are called Mishaya, Kahungye, Shongi, Busingye, Bikingi, Bweza and Kutu.

Gorilla trekking, guided forest walks, visit to surrounding villages and the Batwa pygmies, boat trips on Lake Mutanda, bird watching.

Gorilla trekking starts in the morning and can take as little as two hours or as much as six hours, depending on where the gorillas are. Only 8 guests are allowed per gorilla group and the maximum time spent with the gorillas is strictly 1 hour. The walk may include trekking through dense forest, sometimes including steeper climbs and guests need a bit of endurance and good footgear but will be rewarded with a life changing experience. Minimum age for Gorilla Trekking is 15 years.

The mountains of Uganda are considered more difficult to trek than their counterparts in Rwanda. If you are looking for an easier trek in the south of Bwindi, the Rushaga sector is your choice, as some gorilla groups tend to stay in areas where access is easier.

SwissAfrican Travel Service
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8702 Zollikon
Zurich, Switzerland


Telephone: +41 (0)44 451 40 51