Silverback Lodge sits on a forested ridge above Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in the Buhoma area. It is one of the best places to stay if you decide to visit Uganda’s premier home to the endangered mountain gorillas.
The lodge was rebuilt and reopened in 2025, and it is run by Marasa Africa, a family-renowned hospitality and luxury safari collection operating under the Madhvan Group in Uganda and Kenya. The group operates the renowned Chobe Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge and Mweya Safari Lodge.
The Silverback Lodge is the first lodge the group has redesigned, and more are coming. Most of its safari lodges look old and colonial. Silverback Lodge does not!
The owners wanted something new, with long, sharp lines that follow the hill. The idea was a building that looks like a “sliver in the mist”, so it almost disappears into the trees. Because of this, nothing blocks your view of the forest. During your stay in this remote tropical rainforest of southwestern Uganda, wherever you sit, you are looking at the evergreen rainforest.
The lodge was designed by the South African team HesseKleinloog, together with STUDIO Jana + Koos. It has a main lodge, a spa and gym called the WellNest, and twelve guest rooms called “nests”. Each nest is 47 square metres, which is a good size, so you have room to rest and sort your things.
A Lodge that Blends Nature!
Much of the Silverback Lodge was made with local stone, steel and Ugandan slate, shaped and finished by hand. The lodge construction involved lots of work with the community groups. The chairs were woven by Ride 4 A Woman, a local community-based project in Buhoma Village that aims to support women facing challenges of poverty and domestic violence.
The Milaya Project, which supports refugee women, made embroidered banners. Another community-based organization, Ceramics Uganda, made the pots and art pieces that were used to do the interior design of the lodge.
The old poachers’ snares and wires were turned into sculptures, which is a good reminder of why the mountain gorillas need to be protected. In addition to that, when you stay at the Silverback Lodge, your money supports local people who are immediate neighbors to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The rooms are calm and quiet, made for resting before a trek and recovering after it. Each one faces the forest. Deep roofs and covered walkways keep you dry when Bwindi’s heavy rain comes.
In the main lodge, there is a bar, and outside there is a deck with a fire pit where you can sit and look at the mountains at night. After a long day of walking, the WellNest spa is a good place to rest your legs.
Why Stay Here for Gorilla Trekking
The lodge is one of the best places to stay in northern Bwindi. The lodge offers quick access to the Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Therefore, you will start your gorilla trek close to where you slept. You skip the long early drive, and you easily get back to a warm room and a good meal.
Rooms in Buhoma lodges fill up quickly, just like gorilla trekking permits. Therefore, it is best to book your gorilla tour early enough. Enjoy a peaceful stay surrounded by fresh air, delicious dinners, and relaxing evenings by the campfire. It is the perfect place to unwind and recharge during your gorilla trekking safari.
Get started with planning your stay at Silverback Lodge in Buhoma, a premier location for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Southwestern Uganda. The Silverback Lodge is indeed a sliver in the Mist where you will meet the ultimate luxury yet in a remote eco-setting. At the Silverback Lodge, every detail has been designed to ensure an intimate and comfortable stay within the Impenetrable Bwindi Forest.
