Kaara Gorilla Mountain Lodge
Explore the Extraordinary
The #1 Accommodation for Gorilla Trekking In Uganda
Located in the most beautiful part of Uganda lies Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it is world renowned for its endangered inhabitants, the mountain gorillas. Kaara Gorilla Mountain Lodge, located in the national park’s southern section, provides unparalleled accommodation and a base for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
The Lodge prides itself on Sustainable Luxury, and offers spacious cottages with ensuite bathrooms, stunning decor and unbelievable 360° of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Virunga Mountain ranges, all from the comfort of your private balcony.
Wellness Enhanced
Have a full body massage after an exhilirating gorilla trekking experience, practice yoga on our expansive terraces with panoramic forest views, have a sundowner in our private dining section that’s 7000ft above sea level, indulge in our wide selection of teas, play boardgames by the fire, or just curl up in our library nook with any of our books.
Sustainable Luxury
We define Sustainable Luxury as the fusion of opulence and responsibility, reshaping the traditional notion of hospitality. Kaara Gorilla Mountain Lodge pioneers this by being 100% solar powered and eliminating diesel emissions, converting rainwater into drinking water using our state of the art UV filtration system, using local materials like volcanic rock, and much more.
Immerse Yourself in Culture
Kaara Gorilla Mountain Lodge is located in the heart of the Rushaga community. A short walk down the hill sees you ready to engage in a number of exhilirating activities, like nature walks at the edge of the forest, Batwa community experience where you interact with the indigenous People of the Forest, birdwatching some of the most elusive birds in the world, and so much more.
The Accommodations
Cottage Rates 2026
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398 ft2
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2 Guests
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1 King Bed / 2 Twin Beds
Experience the serenity of nature with the gentle mountain breeze, the melodic chirping of birds, and the ethereal sight of clouds drifting through the lodge. Your private balcony serves as a front-row seat to these unforgettable vistas, ensuring that the memories you create here will last a lifetime.
Explore the woods with our great activities
Gorilla Trekking, Bird Watching, Hiking and nature walking, Batwa Indigenous Forest People Experience, Gorilla Habituation and more
About Kaara Lodge
Cottages
We have six (6) spacious cottages of 398sqft each featuring an ensuite bathroom with vanity mirror and hot showers, large private terrace, beautiful decor and stone work, and sweeping panoramic views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Four of the cottages have king size beds while two have two twin beds.
Facilities
We have a lounge, a beautiful bar that one might be mistaken for thinking its an art gallery, large dining with floor to ceiling windows, outdoor terrace seating with a fireplace and unbeatable views, and a library nook. We also have a large firepit where we entertain you with our talented community dancers.
Fine Dining
Our rates are inclusive of full board meals which includes breakfast, lunch (a packed lunch for those going gorilla trekking) and a four-course dinner comprising of a soup, starter, main course and decadent dessert. Let our sommelier help you choose from our selection of fine wines that are curated from around the world.
Gorilla Trekking Permits
We are very instrumental in sourcing Gorilla Tracking permits for clients that wish to stay with us at Kaara Gorilla Mountain Lodge, and we respond in time to your inquiry. Each Gorilla Permit costs USD800, and we charge USD30- facilitation fee per tracking permit. We cannot make tentative bookings for tracking permits with Uganda Wildlife Authority, unless you make permit reservation with cash.
What They Say About Us
StanCVerified Magical Stay with Stunning Views This place is truly serene and magical, perched atop a hill overlooking the breathtaking Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The views are simply spectacular. Waking up each morning to the stunning valley blanketed in mist was an incredible experience that we will never forget. Our cottage was charming, clean, and comfortable. The bed was cozy, and the hot shower worked perfectly. Compared to other properties in the area, Kaara offers exceptional value while maintaining a beautiful setting and high standards throughout. The food was delicious, and the portions were generous. Every meal exceeded our expectations. Considering the quality of the accommodation, food, and service, I would say Kaara offers excellent value for money. Its convenient location, not far from the gorilla trekking starting points, is another major advantage. The team works hard to ensure every guest has a memorable stay. A special thank you to Gloria and Alex, who were incredibly warm, friendly, and attentive throughout our stay. We were especially grateful to Gloria, who cleaned our trekking shoes and somehow made them look almost brand new again after our trek. We are truly glad that we chose Kaara for our stay in Bwindi. It was a memorable experience from start to finish, and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. basule eVerified Stunning Views, Total Peace – Great Value Near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park My stay at Kaara Mountain Gorilla Lodge was exactly what I needed. The lodge sits with stunning, uninterrupted views of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Waking up to that misty forest and the mountains in the distance is unforgettable. What stood out most was the peace and quiet. The area is incredibly calm, with only the sounds of birds and nature around you. It’s the kind of place that instantly gives you relaxation and peace of mind the moment you arrive. The rooms were clean and comfortable, with hot showers, good beds, and reliable staff service. For the price, the value is excellent — you get a premium experience without overpaying. Perfect for unwinding after gorilla trekking. Highly recommend for couples, solo travelers, and anyone visiting Bwindi. I’ll definitely be back. Stayed: November 2025 Name: Paul Randy BVerified Place to be! Honestly, staying at the Kaara Gorilla Mountain Lodge was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had. Waking up to the breathtaking views of the mountains and forest every morning felt surreal, and the peaceful atmosphere made it easy to relax and unwind. What made the stay particularly special was the incredible team Everyone was so kind, genuine, attentive and welcoming, and they always made sure we felt at home. Their warmth and hospitality transformed the beautiful lodge into an unforgettable place to stay. Adam BVerified A different world Absolutely fantastic. Perched high on a ridge looking out over Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to the north and the volcanoes of Mgahinga to the south, Kaara is truly a different world. From the cottages, to the meals, to the staff, everything was perfect -- and they even somehow arranged for beautiful blue skies on the morning of gorilla tracking! Thank you, Kaara, for an experience I will never forget. JulianVerified Disappointing stay at Kaara. Style without substance. I visited Kaara as part of my 40th birthday week, having just come from a fantastic stay at another lodge nearby. While the views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are world-class, the experience was a significant disappointment. For $280 per night, the lodge is priced as a luxury retreat, but it currently functions like an amateur project. The on-site manager was reactive, arrogant, and lacked basic hospitality cues, making interactions quite uncomfortable. Arrival was confused, with doubt cast over how I might attend my pre-arranged visit to the Bwindi Forest. I was hit with an unadvertised 4% card surcharge, and billing was handled with zero transparency. My final drink tally was presented on a torn corner of a piece of paper; when I questioned the amount, I was shown a handwritten scrapbook that didn't even match the scrap of paper. While the owner later claimed to have professional "real-time" receipts, what is actually handed to guests on the ground is entirely different. The lodge is currently a construction site, and I was not informed of this prior to booking. The noise was constant throughout the day. When I raised this, the manager’s solution was to ask if I wanted him to halt all construction work entirely - a reactive gesture that unfairly placed the burden of that decision on me as the guest. Furthermore, the road is in a terrible state of repair, which caused both my vehicle and a transfer vehicle to get stuck in loose earth. Be warned: many local drivers avoid coming here. There was a major failure regarding privacy. At 7:30 am, a staff member was directly outside my window while I was dressing and showering. I was grateful to receive a cake marking my birthday, but the food did not live up to the "fine dining" advertised. The meals were actually cheap, bland, and consistently overcooked. Orders missed the mark: steak and eggs arrived well done instead of medium, the "Spanish omelette" lacked potato, and the "lemon pancakes" consisted of a single, cold, pre-made pancake with no lemon. The dining hall is oversized and soulless, and the building's own timberwork actually obscures the forest views. Aside from your room, there are no private spaces to enjoy the scenery. Off-site activities carry hidden, expensive transfer costs. The "Top of the World" walk is $30 for a 10-minute stroll to an empty table. Being asked to pay extra for drinks on top of that fee felt like a blatant attempt to extract money rather than provide a premium experience. When I provided detailed private feedback, the owner’s response was defensive rather than professional. He attempted to justify the poor value for money and disputed the billing issues despite photographic evidence. Kaara looks impressive in photos, but it lacks the soul and professional standards required at this price point. Most of the staff are friendly, but they are being let down by a management style that prioritises the "project" over the person. I would recommend looking elsewhere for a genuine, high-end Bwindi experience. Leila NVerified Breathtaking view, the kind you want to wake up to every morning I had such a beautiful beautiful experience. Waking up to the breathtaking view of the forest was my favorite part 😊. You can also see the three mountains on a clear day. The staff were warm and very helpful. I would definitely go back. The road to the lodge is rocky, so you need a four wheel drive, we did not have one but the lodge found a solution for us. It is a beautiful beautiful place. I totally loved it. Magdalena VVerified El mejor lodge Si pudiera darle nota 100 lo haría. El lugar muy limpio, vistas increíbles. La atención es lo que hace que tu estadía sea 100% la mejor que vayas a tener. Estábamos solos en el lodge, fue un grupo a bailarnos, por las noches nos preparaban la pieza con guatero (bolsas calientes), es nuestra luna de miel por lo que hicieron sentirnos especial, salieron todos los de la cocina y nos hicieron una torta y decoraron nuestra habitacion. Nos hicieron bolsos con almuerzo para llevar al trekking. Después del trekking nos esperaban con crocs para limpiarnos nuestros zapatos. Lo que diga es poco. Tienen q vivirlo. Thank you wildfred and your team. You are the best! Jennifer512Verified The Perfect Base for your Gorilla Trek! What an amazing experience! From the very first interaction, the team at Kaara bent over backwards to answer my questions and book my gorilla trek. They even changed the date for me. They sent me the permit in advance, which gave me great comfort (I know someone at a different lodge who paid for a permit but the lodge never got it). They arranged to pick us up at Kigali airport in Rwanda and their car/driver were great, He shared knowledge, stopped whenever we wanted to take a picture, etc. He walked us through the immigration process, Once we arrived at the lodge we were greeted by the warmest, most welcoming staff you could imagine. Our cottage had a spectacular view of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The bed was comfortable. They bent over backwards to make sure we were comfortable. The food and wine were great. We enjoyed every meal. They even brought out snacks while we were enjoying a bottle of wine one afternoon, They even washed our boots for us after the gorilla trek. I highly recommend Kaara Gorilla Lodge!!! 65countriesNcountingVerified Gorgeous place, good people! Nicest place I stayed in Uganda. Great food and room. It is cold at night, so bring layers. There are quite a few steps, so if you have a disability, it could be difficult. I have knee issues but I was able to handle it. The mists in the morning are like what you've seen in the movies - amazing! The road is really rough so you might think you're on the wrong route, you're not, keep going and you'll see this place almost at the top of the mountain. Big wheels and 4 wheel drive are a must. M KVerified On Top of the Hill: My Kaara Lodge Experience I spent this past weekend at Kaara Gorilla Lodge, and honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy myself that much. My first shock was the cold, Kisoro is freezing, and yet here I am, an Ugandan who had never set foot there before! Thankfully, the lodge knew exactly how to keep us warm: indoor and outdoor fires, and the coziest hot-water bottles waiting for us at bedtime. Pure bliss. The lodge sits right at the top of a hill, offering the most breathtaking views in every direction. Each misty morning felt like a quiet reminder of the power and beauty of creation, the kind of view that makes you pause and just breathe. The staff were incredibly attentive, always one step ahead, and the four-course meals were a delight. Truly nothing to complain about, except maybe that I couldn’t finish everything on the plate. Meeting the locals, wandering through the forest, and seeing the gorillas up close made the trip unforgettable. It’s one of those experiences that stays with you long after you leave.
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