Engagi Lodge

Location

Engagi Lodge sits in the northern part of Bwindi National Park, just outside the national park headquarters. The lodge is a good base to be for a couple of days and this area has a good number of habituated gorilla groups to trek to, which have very reliable sightings. You can either fly into Kihihi airstrip (approx. a 1.5-hour drive from Bwindi) or, if you are doing other locations in Uganda, you can do a driving itinerary (for example, from Queen Elizabeth or Kibale Forest).

Layout

The lodge offers views from the main area and rooms out to the forest valley, so you feel you are in the midst of Bwindi forest. The lodge is built from local materials and is divided into three sections – the rock bar, the restaurant and a large wooden veranda. The eight rooms are to the side of the main area, and all offer comfortable accommodation.

Rooms

The 8 cottages at Engagi Lodge are basic but comfortable. Each cottage has large beds (double or twin beds), an ensuite bathroom with flushing toilets, and a private veranda for guests to enjoy their morning tea or coffee before their exciting day gorilla tracking. The lodge is run on solar-power and the materials are all locally sourced, so it is eco-friendly.

Activities

People come to Bwindi Forest for gorilla trekking in Uganda. It is an incredible experience and one which can only be described as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’. Gorilla permits have to be booked and issued beforehand and if budget and time allow, we would recommend doing two treks (taking up two days). Aside from the gorilla treks, you can walk to Bwindi town to enjoy the community projects and local life, walk down to the river to enjoy the local flora and fauna, or just relax in the lodge overlooking the stunning forest.