Mount Gahinga Lodge is a luxury facility in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the only place to stay while tracking mountain gorillas (Nyakagezi gorilla family). It is one of the smallest conservation areas in Uganda covering an area of only 33.7 square kilometers in the western Uganda. It is one of the six peaks of the Virunga volcanoes that mark the southern limit of the Albertine Rift Valley and are divided between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are home to the famous mountain gorilla together with the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, popular for the primate species.
The area is covered in a series of distinctive altitudinal layers of vegetation from grass and bush to montane woodland, bamboo, montane forest to ericaceous zone which contains giant tree heathers. The most common here is the mountain gorilla and the golden monkey less rare but also a resident in the park, large mammals are present too but rarely seen they are very shy.
Mount Gahinga Lodge is the best place to stay while tracking mountain gorillas hidden in the south western corner of Uganda. Built in traditional designs and building techniques, it is one of the lodges amazing places located right outside the park, meaning you can carry out activities by conveniently taking a walk to the start point. The scenic views of the lodge are worth staying.
The lodge offers accommodation in 9 beautiful bandas with hot showers and large beds each of which has got a balcony facing Lake Mutanda, overlooking the mountain ranges and the wonderful vegetation. The lodge was constructed using local material like stone. The main lodge boasts WiFi access, a new sunroom (lounge), bar, dining area. The old lounge and a library behind the main lodge is composed of open fire logs with a similar taste of furnishings like the rest of the lodge.
While at the lodge one can participate in gorilla tracking, golden monkey tracking, guided nature walks, mountain climbing, bird watching. However, the mountain gorilla activity is not guaranteed at 100% because of the continuing mountains the primates keep migrating from volcano to volcano within the forest. The Batwa Cultural Experience is the heart of educational work that you wouldn’t like to miss. The lodge has donated some of its land to the community allowing locals to learn how to farm.
The heritage site consists of herbal gardens, traditional and small trails to demonstrate how they used to live, tell you about the forest, how they used to hunt to collect resources specially medicine. They were the original dwellers of the forest and will make you look through the forest through their eyes. They perform traditional dances performances are done weekly to integrate batwa and the local communities.
On a visit to the forest, it is advisable to wear long sleeved shirts and trousers, insect repellents, boots, waterproof covers for phones and cameras, rain gears. The park is accessible all year round but best in the dry months of late June to September and December to February. The lodge is located near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, approximately 540 square kilometers from Kampala chatter flights can be organized to Kisoro Airstrip from Entebbe.