Table of Contents
- Option #1: Bwindi Guest House
- Option #2: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
- Option #3: Crested Crane Hotel, Bwindi
- Option #4: Bwindi Cultural Centre, Kishenyi
- Option #5: Ride For A Woman Guesthouse, Bwindi
- Recap: Budget accommodation in Bwindi
If you’re looking for budget accommodation in Bwindi, you’ve come to the right place!
Bwindi is one of Uganda’s main tourist attractions, given the fact that it’s one of only a few places in East Africa where gorilla tracking is possible.
But due to the fact that Bwindi is a bucket-list tourist destination, the price of accommodation in this sleepy corner of Uganda is extortionate – it’s not uncommon for rooms to go for $1,000 per night!
Although I live less than an hour’s drive from Bwindi, I’ve stayed in lots of hotels and guesthouses in and around the national park. I’ve also dined at some of the exclusive lodges where $1,000 per night rates are the norm, even though I’ve never stayed at any of them!
So, to help you navigate the difficulty of finding good value when staying in this gorgeous part of Uganda, I introduce you to five budget accommodation options in Bwindi.
I’ve stayed at four of them, but I’ve spent time at all of them, so I hope you find this insight helpful as you look to book affordable accommodation in Bwindi this year.
Option #1: Bwindi Guest House
Prices from $50 per night.
Pros
- Incredible value and extremely comfortable – the best value option in Bwindi by far.
- Chance to meet other tourists, volunteers, and medical staff associated with Bwindi Hospital.
- Great food and delicious coffee served up in the Banda Cafe.
- No issue with hot water or electricity – the guest house is linked to the hospital’s system and is on 24/7.
Cons
- The fact that it’s located up the steps from the hospital might put some people off, but you don’t have to visit the hospital if you don’t want to.
Overview
In my humble opinion, Bwindi Community Guest House is the best value location in Buhoma, Bwindi, by a long shot. The guest house has tastefully decorated en-suite rooms with hot water and electricity, two aspects that are not guaranteed at this price point when it comes to accommodation in Uganda!
I stayed here for a couple of months during the Covid-19 pandemic, and I got to know the staff extremely well – many of whom I now call good friends.
Still, I can’t recommend this guest house enough, particularly when you consider the price point of the other accommodation in and around Bwindi. As the name suggests, there’s a community feel to the Guest House, with travelers from different parts of the world, as well as Ugandan volunteers and staff present in the communal dining area at most times during the day.
The guest house is actually owned by the adjacent hospital, and many of the guests are medical volunteers and staff, some from Uganda and others from the US and Europe.
The team at the guest house can arrange various activities in and around the park, including a nature walk or gorilla trekking, depending on your budget.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for budget accommodation in Bwindi in 2023, it simply doesn’t get better than Bwindi Community Guest House.
Option #2: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Prices from $115 per night.
Pros
- Great location immediately next to the park entrance. This makes it ideal for people heading on early morning gorilla treks.
- Compared to the lodges in the immediate vicinity of Buhoma Community Rest Camp, the price of $115 per night is extremely reasonable.
- I found the staff to be friendly, courteous, and helpful, as is the case with most Ugandan lodges.
Cons
- The accommodation at Buhoma Community Rest Camp is a no-frills option, ideal for people on a budget, and the lodgings are slightly tired.
Overview
This community-run camp is ideally located right next to the entrance of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, making it the best option on this list as far as location is concerned.
Many of its immediate competitors are five or even ten times more expensive per night, so this really is a fantastically affordable option for people who don’t want to spend hundreds (if not thousands) of bucks for a night next to the gorillas.
While the camp could perhaps do with a little refresh, there’s still a lot to like about it. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable, the food is great, and there’s an incredible view from the dining hall.
Overall, this is one of the longest-standing accommodations in Bwindi and is a great option for travelers on a relatively tight budget.
Option #3: Crested Crane Hotel, Bwindi
Prices from $120 per night.
Pros
- Perched atop a hill, the view from the Crested Crane Hotel is unrivaled.
- The rooms are comfortable and tastefully decorated, making for a peaceful and tranquil stay in the Ugandan countryside.
- The food at the Crested Crane Hotel is delicious and one of the standout features of this accommodation!
- As the name suggests, this is the perfect place to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous crested crane – Uganda’s national bird that calls the hotel grounds home.
Cons
- The Crested Crane Hotel is not actually in Bwindi; it’s on the road to the national park and is approximately 15-20mins from the park entrance.
Overview
Given the exorbitant cost of much of the accommodation in Buhoma, the fact that the Crested Crane Hotel is approximately 20mins away from the main entrance to the park works in our favor as visitors!
It’s priced at a very reasonable $100 per night, which is great value given the comfort of the rooms and the friendliness of the staff.
The food served in the restaurant is simply delicious, and the views across the surrounding countryside are exquisite, even if you can’t see the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest from this hilltop location.
I’ve only stayed here once for a couple of nights, but I really enjoyed my time here, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other travelers looking for a good value place to stay in close proximity to Bwindi.
Option #4: Bwindi Cultural Centre, Kishenyi
Prices from $40 per night.
Pros
- Excellent value accommodation set amidst peaceful gardens.
- Friendly staff who are willing to go the extra mile to accommodate visitors and inform you about the local area.
- You can arrange local village walks, which provide you with an insight into life in this rural part of southwestern Uganda.
- The fact that you’re not in Bwindi makes everything here cheaper, including accommodation, food, and drinks!
Cons
- Like the Crested Crane Hotel, the Bwindi Cultural Centre is not actually in Bwindi. In fact, it’s in Kishenyi, which is a 45 minute drive from the park entrance.
Overview
I’ve stayed at Bwindi Cultural Centre on numerous occasions, and my longest stay was for two months. As such, I can say with confidence that it’s one of my favorite places to stay in the area, even though it’s not particularly close to Bwindi and is a good 45-minute drive from the park entrance.
But on the flip side, it’s only 30 minutes away from Queen Elizabeth National Park, so it’s a great place to stay if you want a budget-friendly option that’s practically equidistant between the two parks and doesn’t cost a fortune.
The rooms at the Bwindi Cultural Centre are relatively simple, but they have everything you need – including hot water!
You can enjoy your evening meal in the on-site restaurant that has been purpose-built before enjoying a couple of beers under the stars. The lack of light pollution offers an incredible look up into the night sky and is one of the best things about staying here.
Option #5: Ride For A Woman Guesthouse, Bwindi
Prices from $120 per night.
Pros
- The accommodation at Ride 4 a Woman is new and super comfortable.
- Ride 4 a Woman is located at the end of the trading center in Buhoma, a 5-minute drive to the park entrance, making it ideal for gorilla tracking.
- Ride 4 a Woman is a social enterprise, and there’s a great craft store (albeit a tad expensive) in which you can buy locally created products for friends and family back home.
- The restaurant rustles up delicious Ugandan cuisine.
Cons
- You need to contact Ride 4 a Woman directly to book, and they don’t publish their rates directly, meaning they’re likely to fluctuate considerably. The $120 listed here is based on a conversation with a friend who recently stayed there.
Overview
Ride 4 a Woman has attracted tourists, volunteers, and donors for several years now and is a popular hub of activity in Buhoma. Its strategic location means that it’s difficult to miss, which is why so many people end up at least visiting Ride 4 a Woman, even if they don’t stay there.
I visited a couple of months ago for dinner with friends and found that the recent work they’ve done has really paid dividends – this is a cool and trendy place to be and offers good value in and around Bwindi.
You can also get chatting with the Ride 4 a Woman team to find out more about their projects and how they support local people in different ways.
Recap: Budget accommodation in Bwindi
The reality is that budget accommodation in Bwindi is hard to come by. But as introduced in this article, it does exist if you do a little bit of research and look past the super expensive lodges that surround the national park entrance.
If you have any more questions about affordable accommodation in Bwindi or need help booking somewhere to stay for your upcoming gorilla trip, let me know in the comments below, and I’d be happy to help!
Planning a trip to Bwindi in the near future? Read our complete guide to gorilla trekking to prepare for the ultimate wildlife experience!
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