Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (Bwindi)

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is deep inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest Uganda. This eight-tent camp is one of the most remote and atmospheric in Africa.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest impresses with a truly theatrical landscape. This is a region of volcanoes, jagged valleys, waterfalls, lakes, and dramatic mountain ranges. Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is on a flat ridge in the forest.

It’s hard to fathom that such luxury and sophistication could be available in an area as remote as this. Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp is the ideal base for tracking and meeting the gorillas that live in Bwindi. Once in a while, the gorillas even wander into the camp itself. Guests can dine under the stars and relax by the roaring campfire. On cooler evenings, the central cottage provides a warm shelter.

Why Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Frequently visited by gorilla families due to its unique location
Exclusive camp with only ten tents, the perfect base for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to track mountain gorillas
Opportunity for community interaction, including the local Batwa Pygmies
Specially customized sedan chairs with support and harness allow less able guests to be carried into the rain forest to track the gorillas in their natural habitat
An established philanthropy project at Bwindi Community Hospital which guests can visit
Complimentary WiFi is available in the tents and main areas

Skip to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp Rates or Specials and Packages

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp Accommodation

The stylish comfortable canvas spaces are dressed with indigenous prints and furniture made from natural materials. Neutral-toned linens adorn the beds. And local artifacts set a scene that ensures memorable moments both inside and outside of the accommodation.

Each tent has a spacious, stone-walled en-suite bathroom with private sections and a large free-standing bath. Perfect for a relaxing soak after a day’s gorilla trekking while looking straight into the jungle canopy.

The trees around the camp light up in the morning when the sun starts shining. And thanks to there being so few tents, the camp retains an intimate, exclusive feel. Enabling you to experience Africa’s magic with the lightest of footprints. Yet with practically every mod con including hairdryer and a personal attendant to attend to guests’ every need.

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp Activities

Bwindi National Park is an area of awe-inspiring biodiversity with over 200 species of birds, butterflies, and trees. But it is the elusive Mountain Gorilla that is the park’s main star. And with half of the world’s population living here, Bwindi offers adventurous travelers the chance of once-in-a-lifetime encounters with these elusive and endangered primates.

This is the ideal base for encounters with the mountain gorillas that live in Bwindi. The altitude at Bwindi is just over a mile high. Evenings can get chilly, so it is advisable to carry a sweater. A complimentary overnight laundry service is offered in the camp.

Included Activities:

Forest Walk

Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a spectacular place to visit. Birders come thousands of miles to see the more than 350 species that live within the area. There are also rare forest elephants, giant forest hogs, and about 11 kinds of primates. Such as red-tailed and blue monkeys, black and white Colobus, baboons, and chimpanzees. Also, Forest Duiker antelopes and bush buck antelopes and over 200 species of butterflies.

Enjoy a guided forest walk on the Munyaga waterfall trail. This trail starts from the Park office and ends at the magnificent Munyaga waterfall. The walk to and from the waterfall takes about 3 hours. It is a good way to practice or warm down before, or after the Gorilla tracking.

Community Interaction

After a short 10-minute drive from camp, your guide will brief you on the communities that live in the area. Bwindi has the Bakiga community and the Batwa pygmy community. The walk takes about two hours and begins with a stroll through a small tea farming project. Here you can stop to meet the tea pickers. Perhaps even learn how to pluck tea leaves along the way.

Then learn about the camp’s philanthropy initiatives and visit the Bwindi Women’s Bicycle Enterprise and the Bead Making Project. Continue your walk to meet the Batwa People. Witness their musical goddess-visitation-inspired performances. Learning about their rich culture and listen to their animated stories. Complete your tour with a visit to the Ebeneezer Nursery and Primary School.

Then its off to the Bwindi Community Hospital and Nursing School. Learn about how the hospital was started. And the work they and the lodge do for the community.

Additional Activities:

Gorilla Tracking

The gorillas are completely wild but have become used to seeing a few humans after years of habituation. Many of the expert guides have been involved in this process since the beginning. Therefore, they are able to explain the complicated etiquette involved in meeting a giant Silver back. This is an opportunity afforded only to a select few. As just eight visitors are allowed to view each group every day. Tracking through dense forests with steep slopes means. This means that participants should be fairly fit to enjoy the track. Once the gorillas are located, spend a maximum of one hour with them before returning back to camp.

Please note only children aged 15 and above can track gorillas.

Birding Walks

Bwindi boasts over 350 bird species, including 24 “Albertine Rift Endemics”. The Albertine Rift highlands straddle Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo. For keen birders, a local expert can guide you on a fascinating 2-3 hour walk through the park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park drives

While staying at Gorilla Forest Camp guests are able to venture out on game drives too. At Ishasha, in the south of the well known Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Ishasha Sector is most popular for its tree climbing lions. The Lions are normally lazily lying within the branches of the huge fig trees. Staring down at the numerous Uganda Kobs grazing in the open Ishasha plains. In addition, keep a look out for savanna elephants, buffaloes, topi, hippos, various bird species, warthogs and the occasional leopard.

This is usually a full day outing where guests are able to stop for lunch at the hippo pool. Departure is 6:30 in the morning.

Fine dining at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp’s communal area stars a comfortable lounge with a well-stocked bar and elegant dining area. Bestowing great views over the verdant rain forest. A full English and continental breakfast is available before your morning activity. Trekking gorilla’s today? The camp will pack you a scrumptious lunch including fresh fruit, sweet and savory delights to take with you.

Once back at the camp, enjoy drinks under the stars by the roaring campfire. Swap stories of that day’s adventures accompanied by the night-chorus of the forest.

The chef serves a silver service dinner with three courses each evening. Expertly prepared and promising simple flavors that showcase fresh local ingredients. You should try the traditional smoked beef in peanut sauce served with Kalo (millet bread).

Celebrating a special occasion? Romantic candlelit private dinners on your tent’s private deck can be arranged for you.

With prior notice, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp are able to arrange halal meals. However, please note the kitchens aren’t strictly halal and chefs are not trained in halal food preparation. Unfortunately, kosher meals are not available.

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp Spa

The mini spa at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp offers the perfect way to end a day of gorilla trekking. A chance for your mind to fully absorb the magnitude of your wonderful spiritual encounter. Allow your body and mind to blend with the natural surroundings. While recalling those magical moments in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest.

Quiet and peaceful, even the small spa breaths the spirit of the forest. Treatments by the specialist therapist, include herbal massages, hydrating facials, foot massages and manicures. They use luxury, Eco-friendly products created with pure natural ingredients. There are also yoga kits in all the tents.

How to get to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Kihihi airstrip is the closest airstrip which is 1 hour and 15 minutes from the camp. The flying time from Entebbe to Kihihi airstrip is approximately 1hr 45mins. This depends on the number of stops en route.

A road transfer from Kampala to Bwindi will take approximately 10 – 11 hours! While a scenic transfer from Kigali (Rwanda) to Bwindi is about 8 hours (weather dependent).

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp Accommodation Rates

The longer you stay, the less you pay
Stay 4-6 nights & save up to 25%
Stay 7+ nights & save up to 30%

Offer can be applied to single and multi-camp stays at any of Sanctuary Retreats’ camps and lodges.
Botswana:
Baines’ Camp, Sanctuary Chief’s Camp*, Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp.
Kenya:
Sanctuary Olonana, Sanctuary Tambarare
Tanzania:
Kichakani Serengeti Camp, Kusini Camp, Ngorongoro Crater Camp, Swala Camp
Namibia:
Okahirongo Elephant Lodge, Okahirongo River Camp
Uganda:
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
Zambia:
Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma.

There is no supplement for single occupancy of a maximum of 3 suites in low season. Further single occupancy bookings in low season are subject to a 50% single supplement. All other single occupancy bookings are charged with a 50% single supplement.

Extra Adults in a Tent
An adult sharing a tent with two other adults pays 75% of the sharing rate during Low and Medium seasons, and 85% of the sharing rate in High seasons (subject to availability).

Families at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Kids aged 6 and over are welcome. Children aged 15 and younger are required to share with an adult. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years.
Child Rates are 50% of the per person sharing rate (7 – 15 years) when sharing with 2 adults. Children aged 6 years and younger stay free of charge. Triple rooms are subject to availability. When two children are staying with one adult, one child pays the standard adult sharing rate. And the second pays the child rate. In all other circumstances, children pay the applicable adult rate.

Rates include:
All meals
All drinks (excluding premium brands)
Laundry
Community walk
Concession fees

Rates exclude:
Gorilla permits.
Transfers to/from airstrips.
Scheduled or charter flights to/from camp.
Items of a personal nature.
Medical insurance.
Premium alcoholic drinks
Gratuities to driver / guides and staff
All items of a personal nature, telephone calls, and curio shop purchases.

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp Special Offers

Honeymoon Offer

Book at least 2 nights and one partner gets 50% discount on accommodation. For a honeymoon safari like no other!

This special offer can be combined with our existing long stay discount for even greater savings.

Valid for travel within 6 months of marriage certificate
Offer does not apply to GK Suite at Sanctuary Chief’s Camp and Sanctuary Olonana. Or the Private Villa at Sanctuary Tambarare

Guests celebrating their honeymoon will receive special surprises during their stay. All attempts are made to keep honeymooners separate from other guests.
Honeymoon services include:
Private dinner by the spa with a private bonfire
Bubble bath with flower petals and sparkling wine – after gorilla tracking activity
15 minute complimentary foot or hand massage

Single Supplement Offer

There is no supplement for single occupancy of a maximum of 2 tents in Low season. Further single occupancy bookings in Low season are subject to a 50% single supplement. All other single occupancy bookings are charged 50% single supplement.

Stay 3 Pay 2 in East Africa

Stay 3 nights and receive your 3rd night free.

Travel valid from 1st October 2024 – 21st December 2024

Can be combined with the long stay discount

Family / Group Travel Offer

Experience a family group safari like no other at our camps and lodges across Africa.

For groups of eight full paying guests, one guest travels free
For groups of 12 full paying guests, two guests travel free with two private vehicles

Valid for travel from 1st February – 31st May, 1st October – 21st December 2024 and 3 January 2025 – 30 April 2025
Valid for travel to all Sanctuary camps and lodges across East and Southern Africa
Groups with 6+ full paying adults. Children aged 6+ count towards the min pax
Cannot be combined with any other offers
Excludes Geoffrey Kent Suite at Sanctuary Olonana and Sanctuary Chief’s Camp. Or the Private Villa at Sanctuary Tambarare

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