OVERVIEW:
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is an excellent option for keen gorilla trekkers, providing other exciting activities too! This property has a fabulous location on a hilltop, on the south-western side of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is owned and operated by Wild Places, having been built in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Ugandan Safari Company, and many more!
A note of caution, gorilla trekks from Clouds are some of the most physically demanding in the whole of Bwindi. However other, easier routes are also accessible from here albeit by way of a one hour drive to the departure point in Rushaga.
ACCESS & LOCATION:
The property is accessed via road transfer from Kigali International Airport, a journey of about six hours, or you can fly in to Kisoro, which is approximately two hours away.
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT CLOUDS MOUNTAIN GORILLA LODGE:
Beneath tall ceilings with large exposed wooden beams, there are lounges with comfy sofas and coffee tables, a sophisticated dining room with separate tables, and a well-stocked bar. The property also offers a dining terrace, which is perfect for tucking into a scrumptious meal while marvelling at the scenery! There’s a spa too, for those in need of a little pampering time.
Clouds’ guest accommodation consists of ten cottages, including two for families. Constructed from local volcanic stone, all boast views of the volcanoes themselves, as well as the gorgeous forest of Bwindi. The family option is effectively a double cottage, containing two bedrooms and two en-suite bathrooms. Both options have comfy beds and bedding, a large lounge area featuring overstuffed armchairs and a handwoven carpet, a cosy fireplace, and very well appointed en-suite facilities including flush toilet, twin washbasins, and walk-in shower. Artworks by some of Uganda’s most highly acclaimed artists adorn the walls of each cottage – some guests of Clouds have been so impressed by these pictures, they have commissioned new work for themselves! Finally, each cottage has a lovely private veranda, where you can relax in between activities here.
ACTIVITIES AT CLOUDS MOUNTAIN GORILLA LODGE:
Clouds offers an exhilarating range of activities – not only the gorilla treks for which Bwindi is famous, but other wildlife and cultural experiences too!
- The lodge is located just a short distance from where one gorilla-trekking trail begins, and a 45-minute drive from the start of the trail leading to the group known as the Rushaga family. Both trails are steep in parts, requiring a good level of fitness, but the reward of observing gorillas in their natural habitat is without doubt worth the effort! Trekkers are allowed to spend up to an hour in the company of the gorillas, and to approach to a point only six metres from a group. This really is a magical experience.
- We also recommend Clouds’ birding and waterfall hike too, in which you journey through the rainforest of Bwindi as far as the Munyaga Waterfall, all the while on the lookout for the region’s 350 species of bird! The beauty of the rainforest is captivating, providing lots of photo opportunities.
- And a cultural visit with the Batwa tribe takes you on another wonderful walk, this time to the Batwa settlement. Once you have arrived, you can learn all about the people, interacting with them and enjoying a musical performance.
All activities from Clouds are led by knowledgeable guides, who do their utmost to ensure you have a terrific time meeting the gorillas and exploring the area as a whole.