Mahogany Springs Lodge is set high on the sloping banks of the Munyanga River, overlooking the tropical haven that is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and the stunning Virunga Volcanoes. The lodge and 12 luxurious suites are spaced apart to allow for privacy, and offer incredible panoramic views over the grounds, river and verdant forest. Situated just a couple of minutes away from the Gorilla tracking starting point, Mahogany Springs Lodge provides guests with the incredible opportunity to visit the habituated gorillas and enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the forests and riverside. The main building features a fully stocked bar, where guests can order fabulous cocktails or a nice glass of wine, which can be taken back to your suite and enjoyed out on your private terrace while you take in the astonishing surroundings and listen to the sounds of nearby wildlife.
Mahogany Springs Lodge, Kanungu, Uganda
Mahogany Springs Lodge is situated beside the Munyanga River, offering amazing views of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the rolling volcanic hills beneath. Guests can reach Mahogany Springs Lodge by flying to the Kihihi airstrip from Entebbe, where you will be greeted by one of the lodge’s drivers.
- Just a couple of minutes from the Gorilla tracking starting point
- Overlooking the Impenetrable Forests and Virunga Volcano range
- 12 luxurious suites with river views
- Stunning natural beauty
- Gorilla tracking
- Abundant birdlife
- Restaurant and bar
- Barbeque facilities
- Library
- Complimentary wi-fi
- Eco-friendly
The Superior Suites are spacious with a selection of configurations available on request, including twin beds, a double or triple. The rooms are furnished with a dressing table/desk space, and feature generous en-suite bathrooms with an open terracotta shower. The large double doors and windows offer stunning views of the ground and river, which can be best enjoyed from the comfort of your private terrace. Power points are provided as well as mosquito nets for your safety and comfort.
The two Honeymoon Suites are similar to the superior suites but feature additional amenities such as a round jacuzzi style bathtub.
The Presidential Suite features two bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a private lounge area and a large outdoor terrace. This luxurious space offers complete privacy and is ideal for families or groups. Power points are provided in the lounge and bedroom, as well as two desks/dressing tables. The terrace is private and offers stunning views over the river, facing towards the incredible Impenetrable Forest.
Guests staying at Mahogany Spring Lodge can look forward to a new selection of a la carte meals each day, offering a huge variety of delicious meals and endless options for you to try. The chefs at Mahogany Springs cater to all pallets, with a wide range of culinary styles available. Most of the ingredients are grown on-site, meaning that they are as fresh as possible. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, all served in the Mahogany Springs Restaurant which has both indoor and outdoor seating, and guests can try a delicious cocktail from the Mahogany Springs Bar.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. The biodiverse forest is an ideal habitat for the gorillas, and guests can follow the gorilla tracking trail, the starting point of which is just a couple of minutes from the lodge, to find a group of habituated gorillas who are friendly and accustomed to human interaction. Tracking can take a number of hours, and the hike can be quite demanding, with difficult terrain, but the experience of meeting these incredible creatures is worth it. Guests can sit with the gorillas and observe how similar to us they really are, forming lasting memories of a truly unique wildlife encounter.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a haven for birdlife, and home to around 346 different bird species. The historic forest is biodiverse and features and varied selection of habitats that cater to a wide range of species, including short-tailed warblers and blue-headed sunbirds, which are both endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley. Guests are also likely to see the African emerald cuckoo, dark caped bulbul, white-tailed blue flycatchers and red-headed bluebill warbler. Enjoy their gentle melodies as these amazing bird species flit from tree to tree under a canopy of healthy green leaves.
Guests can visit the local Bwindi Plus school and meet the local children. You can also travel to Bwindi’s hospital and meet the team of international doctors who work there. Learn about the challenges that were overcome in launching and running a hospital in remote Bwindi, and discover more about the community projects that Mahogany Springs Lodge have given their support to.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has been the home of the Batwa Pygmies for a long time, until it was given the status of a National Park in 1993 and the Pygmies were relocated to nearby villages. The Batwa Pygmies thrived in the forest, using their hunting and crafting skills to gather food and build huts from their natural surroundings.
They lived in harmony with the forest and its other inhabitants, but these skills were no longer necessary once they were expelled, and they were forced to become used to a life outside of the forest. Guests participating in the Batwa Experience will be able to take the chance to view these skills, learn about the lives the Pygmies had within the forest and carry this knowledge forwards, helping to preserve it.
Enjoy calming and tranquil nature walks along the banks of the beautiful Munyanga River, and follow the meandering waters into the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Here, you will come across three breathtaking waterfalls along with a rich variety of different bird species. Guests can enjoy a cool beverage on the riverbanks and enjoy the gentle sounds of rushing water and you admire the stunning natural beauty of the area.
The guided ivy trail walk can take between 3 and 5 hours, and allows guests to explore the South side of the Impenetrable Forest, Nkuringo. While you wander through the incredible scenery and admire the wide range of tropical plants, flowers and trees, your luggage will be carried for you and you can then take the unique opportunity to sleep on both sides of the forest, experiencing completely new views and having the chance to interact with different groups of gorillas.
Mahogany Springs is involved with the local community and offers support to Bwindi Nursery and Primary School which was launched by one of the Mahogany Springs team members. The school now provides vital education for over 200 children, helping them to realise their potential and improve their employability prospects. Mahogany Springs Lodge also sponsors the Sascu orphanage in Kampala, and donate a number of essentials including clothes, stationery and more. They donate money to support football tournaments and provide footballs and kits for the children.
In addition, Mahogany Springs Lodge supports the local community by helping to source access to clean water and renewable power. The lodge installed a tap to provide clean drinking water, and are currently overseeing a hydro-power project that will supply electricity to the local area and hospital.
Ride4aWoman is a community project which was set up in order to help local widows provide for their families. The women are provided with sewing machines and taught to make a variety of products including curtains, mosquito nets, clothing, cushions and lampshades. Some of these are purchased by Mahogany Springs for decorating the lodge and suites. By passing on these skills, Ride4aWoman helps to empower women and enables widows to earn an income after losing their partners, helping to support them and their children.
Mahogany Springs Lodge runs a tree planting scheme in order to offset some of the carbon emissions generated by guests when travelling to Uganda. The General Manager gives a short talk about the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere and the impact of this before guests are taken to plant their tree. This scheme raises awareness of carbon footprints and the damage that carbon causes to the environment, as well as how people can limit their contribution through eco-friendly practices, meaning that travel does not have to be detrimental to the environment.
Mahogany Springs Lodges welcomes children of all ages, however, children must be aged 15 years or over in order to participate in Gorilla tracking.