Gorilla leisure lodge is a luxury eco-friendly accommodation facility situated in southwestern Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park strategically located a few meters away from the starting point for gorilla trekking in the Rushaga gorilla sector.
This lodge is a perfect suit for holiday makers seeking safari adventures as well as business travelers since it’s a perfect place for relaxation and a base to capture the Park’s breathtaking views, rustling tree canopies and natural breezes.
The Gorilla leisure lodge takes the meaning of eco-friendly since it was constructed with local materials that existed at the lodge’s current location for example eucalyptus trees, rocks, volcanic ash and basket reeds that were used to thatch its ceiling.
The lodge’s architecture is inspired by the traditional Bakiga architectural style that dates back in ancient times. Gorilla leisure lodge can be accessed both be road and air transportation from Entebbe or Kampala. By road, the drive lasts for about 9 to 10 hours via Masaka-Mbarara road, Mbarara-Kabale road and then connecting to Rushaga sector in the southern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. By air transport, a domestic flight is booked from either Kajansi airstrip or Entebbe airport to Kihiihi or Kisoro airstrip and then driven for a few minutes to the lodge premises. This luxurious lodge offers the following unforgettable services and facilities;
Accommodation
Gorilla leisure lodge is made up of 12 elegant and luxury en suit rooms that range from deluxe singles, doubles as well as family cottages overlooking tree canopies as well as offering beautiful mountain views. The rooms are raised on an elevated platform furnished with modern en suit private facilities such as flushing toilets, bath showers with hot and cold water, free toiletries, driers, bedside working furniture, flat screen TV, extinguishers, complementary bottled water, white linen and pillows, closet, mosquito net to mention but a few.
All rooms have extended wooden balconies and terraces where guests can relax while capturing and enjoying the stunning views of the forest canopies and the neighboring surroundings. Well-polished wooden floors and basket reeds that were used in the rooms’ ceiling make the guest rooms so beautiful and comfortable. Just outside the guest rooms, visitors can gather around designated fire places where they have the opportunity to share memories and experiences about their safari as well as catching the warm in the nights when the place is freezing.
Restaurant
The restaurant caters for both international and local travelers. Continental and local dishes are catered for in the menu to meet the clients’ appetite. The service staffs are well trained, professional and friendly to ensure a 5 star service delivery at the lodge. Meals such as breakfast, lunch and three course dinner are served in a dining area with a spectacular atmosphere. Bush meals such as bush breakfast and bush dinners are organized at this lodge for visitors interested in capturing the golden sunrise as well as the stars in the skies respectively.
Well-stocked bar
The bar has a shared lounge with comfortable sofas and counter-side long stools where both soft and hard drinks are served. One can as well have a relaxed sip of cocktail on the bar terraces while overlooking the beautified mist forests of Bwindi as well as its surroundings.
Other amenities at Gorilla leisure lodge include;
Spa that offers a wide range of massages such as hot stone massage, Swedish massage, deep tissue, aromatherapy, prenatal and many more. A wide range of body treatments are provided, body wraps, facials and several other beauty services.
The lodge also offers car rentals and private airstrip pickups and drop-offs from Kihiihi and Kisoro airstrips. This gives one a quick and easy access to the lodge.
Free Wi-Fi internet is provided throughout the lodge premises to enable visitors keep in touch with their families and friends back home.
Laundry and housekeeping services
Security and ample parking space
Room service
Things to do while at Gorilla leisure lodge
Gorilla trekking is not only a prime safari activity in the Rushaga sector but in the entire Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This lodge is just 10 minutes away from the briefing and starting point of gorilla trekking within the Rushaga gorilla sector.
Therefore one can easily embark on a gorilla trek while at this lodge to have an ample time with the gentle giants in their natural habitat which is a perfect opportunity to learn about their social behaviors and life style.
The Gorilla leisure lodge is strategically located in a gorilla sector that houses the highest gorilla population compared to other gorilla sectors within the Park implying that there are higher chances of encountering the gorillas in a short period of time and without having strenuous treks through thick and dense forests.
The Rushaga sector also holds the pride of being the only gorilla sector in Bwindi where one can have a gorilla habituation experience implying that one can easily connect from the lodge to the Park headquarters to spend four hours with a gorilla family under habituation process.
Nature walks
For nature enthusiasts, this is a perfect place for you that will surely leave you enchanted. Well experienced Uganda wildlife ranger guides are available to lead you along your nature walk safaris in the Rushaga sector as one learns about several indigenous tree species, mammals, butterflies, birds and other wildlife species that thrive in the forests. Walking trails also lead you to magnificent waterfalls while you spot different primate types roaming the tree canopies.
At this lodge, one has the opportunity to learn about the ancient forest keepers of Bwindi forests that lived in harmony with the mountain gorillas. A local Batwa guide leads to their communities for an insight about their life style such as hunting methods to kill small animals for meat and hides, medicinal herbs, starting fire with sticks to mention but a few. You will as well be left wondering and blown away by their enthusiastic traditional dances and charming cultures.
Birdwatching
Birdwatching in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the perfect opportunity for one to get an up-close encounter with Albertine Rift endemic bird species as well as several other birds. This lodge is strategically located in a National Park that houses more than 350 bird species such as turacos, black-bee eaters, regal sunbird, mountain oriole, Kivu ground thrush, spur fowl, bush shrike, Shelley’s crimson wing to mention but a few. Early mornings and late afternoons of the day are the perfect time to head out for a birding excursion since during this time, the birds are often more active.
