6 Best Hotels in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

The cottages at Buhoma Lodge, located within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, rise up on stilts out of the hillside, ensuring that views from the highest rooms—long, sweeping vistas down the mist-clad valley—are some of the best this side of the forest. Inside the rooms, cream walls and bedspreads offset Congolese masks and woven basket decor; the kitenge (African print) robes and paper-bead curtain ties add an authentic local touch. Bathtubs have been added to some of the en suites, which are much appreciated after a hard day's gorilla tracking. Charcoal braziers are lit every night as waiters serve up tasty four-course dinners in the cozy lounge and open-air dining room. Uganda Exclusive Camps’ lodges have set the bar high: few others meet their responsible tourism standards; lodge operations focus on low environmental impact; a craft shop supports a local women's group. Full board includes house drinks and a complimentary massage. We suggest you ask for cottage 2 or 4 to guarantee the panoramas, but be prepared for steps.

Regarded by many as Bwindi's most exclusive lodge, Clouds also has one of the greatest views in Uganda: high on a ridge in Nkuringo, verdant hills tumble away to a valley below, under distant volcanic peaks. At dawn, when mist sits low in the valleys, they really do look like islands in the clouds. Each cottage is crafted, grotto-like, from lumps of igneous rock. Inside, the effect is light and airy by day and cozy by night: vast picture windows frame the landscape; contemporary Ugandan art adorns the walls; and plump cream couches face onto a two-way hearth, its flames stoked by your personal butler. With a spa, library, and gift shop—and traditional dance performance, on request—there are plenty of reasons to stay another day. What's more, the lodge is a shining example of community conservation—10% of the nightly rate goes to a Nkuringo Community Conservation Development Foundation in a partnership among local people, the lodge operator, International Gorilla Conservation Project, and African Wildlife Foundation. So you can feel pampered and worthy.

Owner Barrie and his father came to Buhoma to track the gorillas and fell in love with Bwindi; their resulting creation—Mahogany Springs—features extensively refurbished, large thatched en suite bandas set in mature gardens, furnished with hardwood furniture and walk-in showers; some also have baths. A panoramic terrace—perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea—takes in views of the river and dense rain forest beyond. The cavernous reception area is filled with souvenirs and knick-knacks; portable DVD players and a film library are available and a warming fire is lit every night in the living and dining area, next to the well-stocked bar. The food is tasty and of a good standard, and the staff are friendly and attentive; special occasions may elicit a song or two from the staff.

This lodge has graduated from humble beginnings to become an award-winning property offering a range of high-end rooming options from en suite forest suites to garden cottages painstakingly constructed using local materials. Intricately folded banana palms line the roof; bright cushions and fleece-lined kitenge bathrobes bring warmth and color. Choose from jaw-dropping, floor-to-ceiling views of the forest (or volcanoes) from the wooden deck that surrounds the spacious Mylica Bar and Rafiki Lounge at the lodge's highest point. Massages are available at the lodge spa. Nkuringo works with Gorilla Junction Organization to build the skills of local young people. Two cottages have rooms with balconies that overlook the distant Virunga volcanoes; ask for Nyiragongo or Nyamuragira cottages. On the other side of the lodge's hilltop location are floor-to-ceiling views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

A standout property in Buhoma, northern Bwindi, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp delivers impeccable service in a classic forest setting. Ten canvas tents on dark-wood platforms occupy their own private clearings inside the impenetrable forest itself. Cow-horn and glass-bead decorated cushions adorn twin queen beds; matching white robes and a hair dryer (a rare find in Bwindi) hang in the en suite bathroom. Walkie-talkies make it all too easy to order up drinks without leaving your tent; and the candelit bathtub offering forest views and complimentary Africology bathcare products is delightful. If that doesn't help you unwind, the mini-spa will: facials, mani/pedis, and various massages are offered in a secluded room. The main lounge and restaurant offer superlative fare, with a popular high tea station offering hot drinks and fruit smoothies every afternoon.

This award-winning eco-lodge has the grandest vantage point of Bwindi in its own reserve of secondary forest, creating a 50-acre gorilla-friendly buffer zone. On occasion guests are lucky enough to observe the Rushegura group of gorillas within the lodge grounds. The ten thatched luxury bandas (named after local gorillas) are the epitome of sophisticated Afrochic: for 25 years, Volcanoes Safaris has been at the forefront of developing and promoting primate tourism in Rwanda and Uganda and they continue to "reimagine" their gorgeous lodge interiors. The two deluxe bandas (complete with fireplace, day bed, and heart-stopping forest view) are Buhoma's best and perfect for honeymooners. Each guest is entitled to a complimentary massage, conducted in the charming Humula Forest Spa. Your personal butler (and staff who dance out of the kitchen to serve you dinner) make Bwindi Lodge unforgettable. One of Uganda's most environmentally committed luxury lodge providers, Volcanoes invests in sustainable community projects through its Partnership Trust. The community-run Bwindi Bar is a must-visit. For fans of Volcanoes Safaris’ Afrochic in magnificent settings, Mount Gahinga Lodge is a more intimate destination for tracking gorillas (and golden monkeys) and learning about the Batwa, the original forest-dwelling tribe. Mt Gahinga is the only high-end property that serves the volcanic landscape of the pocket handkerchief-sized Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.