Uganda Safaris News: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Tours, Wildlife Safari, Primates Tour

By Nakiboneka Halimah
Uganda Safaris and Travel News Reporter
Kampala Uganda

Kimbla- Mantana Uganda has announced the opening of their newest lodge” The Engagi Lodge” in Bwindi, Uganda, Africa. The old tented camp has been replaced with a modern lodge in a breathtaking setting offering stunning views over the forest canopy.  The lodge is situated in a large tract of land contiguous with the Bwindi National Park, and runs from the main Buhoma road down to the Munyaga River.  The Engagi Lodge is ideally situated to be used as a base camp for gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park. Engagi means “gorilla” in Rukiga, the language spoken in and around Bwindi.

The lodge was built using a local workforce and local materials.  All of the staff have been employed from the surrounding areas, and have been trained on site.  Joseph, who has been the assistant manager at Lake Mburo Camp for a number of years, is currently managing the Engagi Lodge to ensure that it maintains the same level of service and standards that both tour operators and our clients have enjoyed at Lake Mburo.

The Main Lodge building is divided into 3 sections: a “rock” bar, the restaurant, and a large wooden verandah with a separate outdoor viewing platform.  The lodge building is large enough to cater for sizeable groups needing banqueting tables, but still allows smaller individual groups to spread out in the various different areas for privacy.  The lodge is open ended at the front, allowing a dramatic view of the National Park forest from every corner inside the building.

The main lodge is built entirely from rocks found in and around the site and eucalyptus trees, while the roof has been thatched using banana fiber sourced from local farmers.

In terms of food and meals, the lodge prepares a variety of 3 course meals, and all requirements (such as vegetarians and vegans) are catered to by our team of experienced Kampala trained chefs.

The lodge consists of just 8 en-suite cottages, evenly spaced out and hidden in the foliage.  Each cottage has either double or twin beds (complete with hot water bottles), a bathroom with flushing toilets, hot and cold running water.  All have private verandas where guests can enjoy their morning tea or coffee as they look out over the forest canopy. Electricity is supplied by solar power, with a backup generator.  Hot water is supplied by wood burning boilers; however we intend to install solar powered heaters in the future with the wood burners as backup.

The main Reception has been built up on the Buhoma Road, and we have a large and secure roadside car-park, both of these are a good distance away from the main lodge buildings.  Drivers can be accommodated in our permanent staff buildings.

Guests will be able to enjoy a number of private walking trails around the lodge and down to the river. They may also enjoy a visit to a number of functioning tea farms inside the site which are maintained by members of the community.

The Engagi Lodge offers classic accommodations in the Bwindi area.  Tour operators are welcome to book use of the accommodations for clients in support of their travel plans.  Individuals interested in staying with us are also welcome.

The opening of this new lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has added to an increase in the lodges that are found in, near and around the park. Some of these lodges and accommodation sites include budget and camping accommodation which are mainly occupied by the budget tourists who visit the park for gorilla tracking activities an example is Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp site. The park has also got high end accommodation such as Gorilla Resort- Bwindi This is an Intimate exclusive high end safari camp with a breath-taking view of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is located at Buhoma - Bwindi Impenetrable Gorilla National Park on a Mountain side. Mantana Luxury tented Camps. This mat tented camp about 1 km outside the park boundary, faces a steep forested hill rustling with bird life. The self contained tents all have solar lighting, an eco-friendly toilet and a private veranda.

Volcanoes Bwindi Camp. This attractively low-key camp consists of several secluded self-contained standing tents, carved into individual clearings in the surrounding scrub. The restaurant and bar is on a wooden deck with a great view over the gallery forest on the park boundary. Half board accommodation costs and full board.

Gorilla Forest Camp which is owned by an up market safari operator. This fabulous tented camp is easily the plushest option at Bwindi.

Moderate accommodation sites are also there and these include Buhoma Homestead little more than a jumped-up local guest house, the Buhoma Homestead would feel extortionately priced any where else in the country at around USD 60 per person full board for a self contained single/ double with hot water. But it’s a fair compromise between cost and comfort at Bwindi with a friendly atmosphere and an attractive location within the park boundary.

Buhoma Community Bandas and Campsite:This attractive complex is set in wooded grounds in a slope facing a forest gallery immediately inside the park entrance gate. Camping is permitted at USD 3 per person. No visitation fee is needed for staying here unless you go on a walk into the park. Basic meals can be ordered for in advance at a cost of USD 3. Drinks are also available.

Bwindi Travellers Motel Butogota: Located in the middle of Butogota trading center 15 kms for Bwindi Park HQS.

Bwindi-View Bandas & Gorilla Nest Campsite:Situated directly opposite the community camp site, this private set up is considerably cheaper, with stunning views of virgin forest opposite and nestled away on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Bookings can be made through the National Park information office in Kabale.

Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite is located in a beautiful swath of the world renowned Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.