Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Gorilla Leisure Lodge is one of the closest lodges to the Rushaga park gate, about five minutes’ drive away, which makes it an excellent base for both standard gorilla trekking and the gorilla habituation experience, which takes place only in Rushaga.

Rooms

The lodge offers comfortable rooms with forest and hill views, a restaurant and bar, and gardens on the edge of the forest. It can arrange transfers to the Nkuringo sector and to Mgahinga for golden monkeys and volcano hikes.

Why we like it

• Very close to the Rushaga briefing point.
• Ideal for the habituation experience.
• Convenient for Mgahinga and Lake Mutanda.

Who it suits

Habituation-experience guests and travellers trekking in Rushaga.

Things to do nearby

• Gorilla trekking and the habituation experience from Rushaga.
• Batwa and community walks in the surrounding villages.
• Lake Mutanda and Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and rest days. See canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi.
• Mgahinga for golden monkeys and volcano hikes.

About the Rushaga sector

Rushaga, in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, has the largest number of habituated gorilla families of any sector, and it is the only sector offering the gorilla habituation experience. The landscape is steep and green, with farms running up to the forest edge. Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda are within easy reach for a rest day, and Kisoro airstrip is about an hour away. Read the gorilla habituation experience and Bwindi’s four gorilla sectors compared.

Gorilla permits and booking

Gorilla permits are tied to a sector and date, so we secure your permit first and then book a lodge in the same area. Uganda’s permit costs US$800 (US$600 in April, May and November 2026). Read book gorilla permits first and our gorilla trekking guide.