Exclusive Luxury on top of the World at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Award-Winning Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge in Nkuringo – South Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is located in the Nkuringo area of Bwindi Impenetrable. Nkuringo is a quaint village in the Gorilla Highlands of Uganda. True to its name, the over 7,000 feet above sea level Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is literally in the clouds.
The Lodge has spectacular views of the brooding Virunga Volcanoes and the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The Lodge is just meters from the Nkuringo Gorilla Trailhead, where some of the most challenging Gorilla Trekking Experiences in all of Africa await you. Gentler Gorilla Trekking can be done in the nearby Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The Lodge is built of local volcanic stone, making Clouds Mountain an attractive lodge with a vast, open main building and awe-inspiring views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Virunga Volcanoes chain.
With exposed wooden beams and floor-to-ceiling windows, the lounge is full of large sofas and chairs with giant squashy cushions in shades of cream and terracotta. The dining room is adjacent to the bar with solid wood furnishings, paintings, and sculptures by renowned Ugandan Artists.
The exclusive Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge in Nkuringo
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is one of Uganda’s better-known Gorilla Luxury Lodges. The Award-winning Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge has been featured in Conde Nast Travel Magazine and others – 99% of TripAdvisor Reviews rave about this unique Lodge on top of the world in the Clouds (7500 feet) of Nkuringo at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. There are ten cottages, two of which have two bedrooms, and they all have a living room and a fireplace to add warmth during those colder Bwindi Nights.
Clouds Mountain Lodge comprises the main building with a dining area, bar, and lounge area with a fireplace to take off the chill at night.
The Lodge is made from local stone, and the eight cottages look most welcoming. Inside your house, you will be pleasantly surprised; not only is there a spacious bedroom with a bath, a living room, not just a sitting room with a fireplace for your evening comfort and where you can go to sleep to a crackling fire.
Throughout Clouds Mountain Lodge, you will find tasteful original African artwork, most of it on the walls, including the cottages. Artwork created by Ugandan Artists of high quality that will delight you as you view them
Your butler and maid attend to your needs. The level of service is incomparable – they will listen to your needs and even surprise you as your boots are returned clean and shiny after a Gorilla Trek. Most drinks are part of your lodging package; all you have to do is mention a need. One client was on a local walk with his wife, and it began to rain; a few minutes later, the faithful butler showed with two umbrellas for them – indeed an excellent level of service.
Outside each bedroom is a comfortable sitting area with a soft and unobstructed view of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest below you and the Virunga Volcanoes.
You are in an ancient Rainforest that survived the plate shift of the earth that created the volcanoes and the Western Rift Valley. Before you is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2019, CNN placed it Number One on its most beautiful places list. Half of the remaining Mountain Gorillas live in the only forest in Uganda where Gorillas and Chimpanzees live in the same area. In the distance are the Mufumbiro Mountains that Cook the Virunga Volcanoes. Enjoy a quiet time in your sitting area after a long gorilla trek.
Not only are the cottages an enjoyable part of your stay at Clouds Mountain Lodge, but so is the exquisite food served to delight your palate. Delightful dishes are presented in unique ways with the freshest fruit and vegetables; indeed, no one complains.
In the evening, you are most often entertained with traditional dancing by children from the Nkuringo Community trained by the Nkuringo Conservation and Development and Foundation. You will be amazed by their talent and skills, and they will make your evening the most special.
Things to do and see while staying at Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge:
The most thing to do is Gorilla Trekking. The Nkuringo Trailhead, where Gorilla Trekking begins, is just meters from the Lodge. Gentler Gorilla Trekking and the all-day Gorilla Habituation Experience can be done in the nearby Rushaga area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
In 2019 CNN put Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on their list of Best Hiking Trails in the world. You can hike in and through the forest to the Buhoma area of the park. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is also one of the best Birding Locations in Africa.
You can do the Buniga Batwa Forest Walk with Batwa Guides – the original people of the forest – Buniga Forest Walk with the unique People of the Forest.
There is a fabulous local village walk where you will learn the traditional ways and become acquainted with local culture and methods, including a walk to the top of the world where you are unobstructed into the Congo.
Getting to Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge:
Drive to Mgahinga Gorilla Park from Kigali-Rwanda:
Your 3-Day Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari begins as we leave your hotel in Kigali at 6:30 am or the Kigali Airport for your moderately priced Safari. The drive time to Rushaga is about 4 hours, depending on the Border Crossing.
Visa for Uganda is $50, or the East African Visa is $100 and covers entry to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Both visas must be obtained online. In addition, you will need a Yellow Fever certificate for entry into Uganda.
Usually, the border crossing is about 30 to 45 minutes, and you are in Uganda heading for the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Officials on both sides will try to ease the border crossing for Tourists.
Any inconvenience fade in the light of the shorter drive time you have before you. Please note that it takes nine to ten hours from Entebbe or Kampala to reach Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
The Route you are on from Kigali to Bwindi is one of the most scenic drives in East Africa through the rolling, terraced hills of Rwanda and Uganda.
Fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro – 90-minute scenic flight:
We will pick you up at your hotel in Entebbe at around 6:15 am for your 7:00 am departure with AeroLink Airline to Kisoro. Your flight time is 90 minutes, with a brief stopover at the Kihihi Airstrip. In Kisoro, you are met by your driver-guide, who will take you to your Lodge.
This is the quickest and most convenient way to reach the Mgahinga Gorilla Park. The Drive-Time from Kisoro to Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is about 45 minutes to the Lodge.
There is a 15 kg weight restriction for your flight. Excess baggage costs $6 additional payment, and you can leave extra luggage with us. To save on the weight of your bag, we suggest that you wear your gorilla wear for your flight, including the rain jacket and hiking boots.
Include Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge in a longer Safari with shorter Drive Times.
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge – Nkuringo – Up Close in a Video
