Popular Destinations

About

Our Content

Travelling Safely

When to Go

Best time to Go

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Covered in thick tropical rainforest and often shrouded in mist, Bwindi provides a perfect habitat for mountain gorillas.

Spread over a series of steep ridges and valleys it certainly looks the part and having survived the last ice age is considered one of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa. The birding here is big and colourful, the forest dark and inviting and the sense of adventure palpable.

Dominant male mountain gorilla in the grass, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda — Mountain gorilla, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

A little more about Bwindi

Bwindi is considered one of the world’s most biologically diverse areas and recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The national park has over 90 species of mammal, including 11 primates, including chimpanzees (rarely seen) and the black and white colobus (always seen!). The forest birding ranks with the best in Uganda including the colourful turaco, Africa green broadbill and flycatcher, with 23 highly localised Albertine Rift endemics present.

Gorilla cleaning his teeth, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda — Bwindi Impenetrable National Par, Uganda

Why visit Bwindi

Come face to face with mountain gorillas
Search for dazzling turaco’s and black and white colobus monkeys
Visit the local Bwindi community hospital
Follow forest walks to waterfalls and traditional villages
Join gorilla vet researchers in the forest on our unique Gorilla Doctor tour, or take up the challenge and hike from one side of Bwindi to the other, walking between lodges…

Experiences

A selection of activities and experiences you could consider including in your holiday to Uganda.

Gorilla family in wild, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

Gorilla Trekking

Trek in search of the mountain gorilla families of Bwindi.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Canopy Wildlife

Keep your eyes looking upwards, in search of dazzling turacos and black and white colobus monkeys.

Suggested lodge

Forest Walk

Trek across Bwindi along the Ivy Trail. Pass by waterfalls, spot colourful birdlife and even watch out for gorilla families crossing the path.

Gorilla Habituation

Help habituate a family of mountain gorillas. Spend up to four hours with them, helping them become used to the presence of humans.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Discover more experiences

Where to stay

Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.

Gorilla Forest Camp £££££

Uganda
Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Gorilla Forest Camp is a permanent luxury tented camp nestled in the mist-swathed rainforests on a mountainside in the heart of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The exclusive location makes Gorilla Forest Camp the sole property within the park boundaries and so is considered by many to be the ideal base for gorilla tracking, primate viewing and birding excursions in the park. Gorilla Forest Camp has been designed to blend seamlessly into this most atmospheric of environments, carefully pointed towards the misty valleys and looming, forest-clad mountains.

View Property

Bwindi Lodge £££££

Uganda
Safari and Wildlife Lodge

This attractive, low key lodge was one of the first to be built in the area and sits in a fantastic location, with uninterrupted views of Bwindi Forest. After a day of trekking, retreat to the lounge and discuss highlights of the day around the central fireplace, or borrow one of the lodge’s books. The lodge’s restaurant and cosy fireside bar are on raised decks, also offering great views over the forest with the large outdoor patio perfect for soaking up the sun in between treks into the forest. Gorillas have even been known to pay a visit on occasion. Each guest room has a private terrace overlooking the forest, and a personal butler service is offered to all guests at the lodge.

View Property

Buhoma Lodge £££££

Uganda
Safari and Wildlife Lodge

The warmth and welcome of this lodge are what sets it apart and the spirit of the original Buhoma Homestead built on the site shines through. Each of the eight wood and stone cottages is set across the hillside in the forest surrounding Bwindi, using simple African fabrics to add comfort and character, whilst the private decking offers sweeping views of the forests below. Most people find themselves in the bar pretty soon after arrival, where the atmospheric fireplace adds warmth to the cool evenings and the lodges raised position comes into its own. The staff, quite rightly, take huge pride in working here, speaking volumes about the effort the owners have invested in working with the surrounding community.

View Property

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge £££££

Uganda
Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Aptly named, this sturdy stone lodge sits in a commanding position, high up on the Nteko Ridge in the quieter Nkuringo region of Bwindi. Eight cottages with enormous beds and a separate sitting room are warmed by an open fire, carefully lit each night by a private butler. The imposing main stone building, built from local volcanic rock, stands guard against the mists but has a soft centre – wood-burning stoves, timber beams, overstuffed armchairs make the lounge welcoming, and the walls are adorned with huge canvases from local Ugandan artists.

View Property

Chameleon Hill Lodge £££££

Uganda
Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Looking out over the waters of Lake Mutanda, Chameleon Hill Lodge is one of the more Uganda’s more unconventional architectural accomplishments. A mishmash of square buildings is strung along a beautiful ridge, culminating in the turret-clad reception building, with its unorthodox array of window designs. Each building is painted in a different bold colour, adding a feeling of energy to this beautifully positioned lodge. Inside the rooms, the quirky style continues – they are decorated colourfully, but with care. Simple but comfortable, rooms are welcoming and bright.

View Property

More luxury accommodation

Idea

Uganda

Highlights of Uganda: Primates and Predators

Experience the diversity of Uganda, exploring three national parks on a journey that blends volcanic landscapes, endangered primates, arboreal big cats and colourful birdlife.

7 days from £4,715pp

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Uganda

Mountain Gorillas and the Masai Mara

Trek in search of gorillas in the forests of Uganda. Encounter these iconic primates, whose very existence is under threat, then fly north to the open plains of Kenya’s Masai Mara. Here, spends several days on safari, in search of the wide…

10 days from £6,925pp

Baby gorilla, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Uganda

Flying Safari from Bwindi to Lake Victoria

Explore Uganda by light aircraft, flying from one forgotten wilderness to the next. Search for gorillas in the clouds, meet dancing Karamajong tribes and hunt for the elusive shoebill stork, before relaxing on the beaches of Lake Victoria.

12 days from £10,235pp

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Uganda

Uganda – Gorilla Habituation Experience

This unique gorilla habituation experience, in Uganda, offers a fantastic opportunity to spend up to four hours amongst these remarkable primates. Rather than an all-to-brief hour in their company, observe and photograph them at a gentler pace.

4 days from £4,370pp

View Holiday Idea

Need Inspiration?
Browse our Uganda holiday ideas.

Our experts have created and curated these holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something to spark ideas for a unique adventure.

Idea

Uganda

Highlights of Uganda: Primates and Predators

Experience the diversity of Uganda, exploring three national parks on a journey that blends volcanic landscapes, endangered primates, arboreal big cats and colourful birdlife.

7 days from £4,715pp

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Uganda

Mountain Gorillas and the Masai Mara

10 days from £6,925pp

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Uganda

Flying Safari from Bwindi to Lake Victoria

12 days from £10,235pp

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Uganda

Uganda – Gorilla Habituation Experience

4 days from £4,370pp

View Holiday Idea

View all holiday ideas

Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

View Profile

Chris Johnston

Chris is the Conde Nast Traveller chosen Specialist for Africa.

25 years ago, my first trip to Africa took on a life of its own. I planned for three months, I stayed for two years. Whilst there, I was mistaken for a priest, attacked by sharks and arrested. Yet the countless, clattering journeys opened my eyes to the beauty of the landscapes and the grace of the people. My recent trips are undoubtedly more comfortable, but the welcome is as warm as ever and the best experiences are still those I never see coming.

Talk with our experts

01285 880 980

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?

More about Steppes

Featured in the press

Your Wishlist Account

Sign up and take advantage of our Wishlist if you would like to create your own holiday boards. You can click on the heart across our website and curate destinations, holidays, properties and experiences that you would like us to build your future holidays around.

Your Wishlist Account

Account Created

All you need to do now is activate this account by clicking on the link we’ve just sent you via email to the address you’ve just provided or log in below.

Reset your password

Enter your email below.

We've sent you an email to reset your password

you will receive an email from us in the next few minutes. Click in the link in the email to change your password.

if you can't see an email from us in your inbox, please check your junk mail folder as it may have been mistakenly categorised as spam or try a different email address.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

A little more about Bwindi

Why visit Bwindi