Nestled under a shady canopy of trees
Gorilla Safari Lodge sits comfortably at the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a primeval forest and lush jungle region in south west Uganda. This national park is home to wild gorillas, forest elephants and 23 species of bird endemic to the area.
Located a 5 minute walk from the briefing point for trekking makes the lodge a sought after lodge for gorilla tracking safaris. There are plenty of activities on offer, which include visit to the Batwa pygmies, mountain biking, guided community walks and forest walks to the Bayenda Falls.
Rooms have solar-powered lighting, en-suite bathroom with hot and cold water and flush toilets. Each unit is designed to look like stand-alone log cabins that blend in with the surrounding rain forest, ensuring that the lodge does not look out of place in its wild surrounds. Cobbled paths with wooden bannisters join the well-appointed rooms, each of which have been named after individual gorillas or gorilla tribes.
The main lodge area houses the dining room, a relaxation lounge,
spa treatment room and a quaint nook where the bar is situated.
Activities:
The safari experience is flexible, and there are plenty of activities available. The main highlight is gorilla trekking which is fully guided trek into the dense rainforest and meet the gorillas.
Women of Rushaga
The highlight here is tracking gorillas in the Bwindi Forest, but there are other activities available such as cultural tours to Batwa Pygmies, mountain biking and community visits. The Ugandan people really are a welcoming, friendly bunch. Diverse, too. As you travel around the country, the dress, food, music and dance change as often as the topography.
The Batwa Tribe
The story of the Batwa people is one of woe and sacrifice, and their historical presence is one of great significance. They were the original inhabitants of East Africa’s Great Lakes, and the guardians of the equatorial forests before they were pushed to the outskirts of Bwindi forest when it was was gazetted in 1991.
The Gorilla Habituation Experience
The Gorilla Habituation Experience is slightly different to the trekking experience. It involves the trekking and hiking part, but you become part of something bigger. You will be out for the day, heading deep into the depths of the jungle to find the gigantic wild mountain gorillas. This is an intimate experience, where you are afford the opportunity of spending up to 4 hours with the gorillas.
Guided Forest Walk to the Bayenda Falls
After breakfast hike to the pretty water falls known as the Bayenda water falls. The walk takes you through the rain forest where your guide will explain the flora and fauna along the way.
During the walk, you will hear all different melodies from singing birds,different species of birds, monkeys as they do the canopy sway from one tree to another, if lucky see the wild elephants, hear the rolling sounds of the water fall. The walk may take approximately one hour each way to and from the falls. Its a more relaxing walk in the Impenetrable Forest. Its an exciting and emotional experience.
Birding
The varied habitats of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park Uganda’s oldest natural forest means it is the ideal habitat for a variety of bird species, with over 350 bird species recorded, including 23 Albertine rift valley endemics that is 90% of all the Albertine Rift endemics such as: Short-tailed Warbler and Blue headed Sunbird as well as 7 IUCN red data listed species.
The birds that are easy to see are: African Emerald Cuckoo, Dark caped Bulbul, White-tailed Blue Flycatchers and Red-headed Bluebill.arbler and Blue-headed Sunbird as well as seven IUCN red data listed species.
