New Ugandan gorilla trekking lodge to open on August 1

Luxury safari operator Asilia Africa is set to debut a new lodge in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest next month.

Opening on August 1, Erebero Hills will offer guests the chance to embark on gorilla trekking excursions in the forest. 

It will house eight suites, two of which will sleep three guests, all featuring private viewing decks over the forest.

The lodge will also include a main lounge and swimming pool, and in-room spa treatments will be available.

During construction of the property, a 111-acre former tea plantation was restored and transformed into a “forest buffer zone”, which will aid in “expanding wildlife habitats” for species including mountain gorillas.

Asilia Africa said the construction of the property also involved “restoring large tracts of indigenous vegetation” in the area, with more than 35,000 native trees planted to “support the local ecosystem”.

The design was conceptualised in collaboration with Ugandan craftspeople and includes natural materials such as bamboo.

Cai Tjeenk Willink, the operator’s head of strategic operations, said: "Erebero Hills is not just a lodge, it’s an exploration of how architecture, landscape and culture can coexist. 

“Every design decision, from the sweeping bamboo roofs to the handcrafted interiors, invites guests to experience the forest in a deeply immersive way."