Gorilla Forest Lodge has reopened, better than ever

The location

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park dates back as far as 25,000 years, making it one of Africa’s oldest rainforests. And, today, one of the continent’s most biologically diverse. Most famously, it provides refuge to about 459 mountain gorillas.

Dominant male mountain gorilla in the grass. Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Spend time with the impressive locals. (Image: Getty/ Andrey Gudkov)

Which is why it’s one of the best places in the world to go gorilla trekking, a chance to experience a face-to-face encounter with these primates in their natural habitat.

Even beyond gorillas, it’s a fascinating place, with 400 plant species to find and more than 369 bird species to try and spot. Along with 120 species of mammals, including 14 species of primates, such as the African elephant, giant forest hogs, red-tailed, blue and colobus monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees.

The Lodge

Stay in spacious rooms when you’re not out exploring.

The lodge’s redesign celebrates Ugandan craftsmanship and honours its surrounds; from banana-fibre stools crafted in village workshops to woven ceiling panels produced by NGO Ride 4 a Woman, and textiles created by Florence Nakachwa’s Mekeka Designs, which empowers women through weaving. Papyrus thatch roofs blend into the surrounding tree canopy, while weathered Corten steel meshes with bark.

Each of the 10 suites in Gorilla Forest Lodge has been enlarged to fit floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive decks to make indoors and outdoors feel as one. The design and decor feature clay-textured plaster walls, woven banana leaf ceilings and elongated framed vistas. Even the rugs tell a story, reclaimed from agricultural waste and transformed into something beautiful. And let’s not forget the large bath for a luxe soak after searching for gorillas all day.

Sustainability has been kept top of mind with rainwater collection systems, composting, repurposed materials and building choices to ensure minimal waste and environmental footprint.

Lodge activities

Merge into your surroundings with a large balcony.

First and foremost, the Gorilla Forest lodge offers gorilla trekking. Keeping groups to a maximum of eight guests, expert rangers lead the way deep into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to see the locals, belonging to one of 12 family gorilla groups living here.

To see more of the stunning natural beauty surrounding the lodge, guests can join forest walks along the Munyaga Waterfall Trail to discover its diverse ecosystem. Or participate in a birding walk, where you’ll soak up a local expert’s knowledge as they guide you on a two-to-three-hour walk. Along the way, try to spot the African green broadbill, African emerald cuckoo and the brightly coloured African pitta.

Get to know local culture, arts and way of life on a Bwindi Community AKP Tour, visit local enterprises and workshops, or meet the Batwa community – the indigenous inhabitants of the region and traditional guardians of the forest – on the lodge’s Meet the Batwa People tour.

All of this creates the perfect excuse to finally book that once-in-a-lifetime trip to Uganda.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Uganda’s luxe gorilla trekking lodge has reopened, better than ever

Uganda’s most luxurious gorilla trekking base reopens after a complete renewal.

The location

The Lodge

Lodge activities

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