Is Marriott Heading to Bwindi? Uganda’s Gorilla Country Catches a Hotel Giant’s Eye
Some stories arrive like a whisper through the canopy. This one began on the Kampala skyline, and it is now drifting, mist-wrapped, towards the forested hills of south-western Uganda, where mountain gorillas still hold court.
First, an honest word. CEO East Africa has reported that Marriott International may be eyeing Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as its next luxury safari destination. The report leans on unnamed sources, and the link between Marriott and any Bwindi project remains unconfirmed. We are telling this as a story to watch, not a done deal.
From the Kampala skyline to the forest edge
Marriott has just made its mark on the capital. The Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments opened in Nsambya in August 2026, bringing 181 rooms and 96 apartments and the debut of both brands in Uganda. That takes the group to seven properties across five brands in the country, according to Travel News and The Monitor.
Marriott’s regional leadership has spoken of growing visitor demand and investment. A city hotel is one thing, though. A lodge at the edge of an ancient forest is a different kind of story altogether.
What Uganda’s tourism chief has said
According to the CEO East Africa report, Uganda Tourism Board CEO Juliana Kagwa said on a podcast that Marriott is widening its investment to include national parks. She did not name Bwindi, a brand, a developer or a date.
Separately, the same report notes that Summit Hospitality is developing a tourism property above Bwindi. The Uganda Investment Authority has described that project without mentioning Marriott. A developer is not the same as an operator, so the dots are close together but not yet joined.
Why a hotel giant would look at gorilla country
Marriott has been quietly stitching safari camps into its African map. In Kenya it has announced a Ritz-Carlton camp in the Masai Mara and a JW Marriott camp at Mount Kenya. In Tanzania it has announced a JW Marriott lodge in the Serengeti, plus the Mapito Safari Camp. If you want to see how that world looks on the ground, read our take on the Masai Mara and the Great Migration or step inside Segera Retreat in Kenya.
Uganda has its own reasons to dream big. The country is aiming for US$5 billion in annual tourism receipts by 2030, and it wants each international leisure visitor to spend far more than they do today. Premium safari stays are one way to turn a short gorilla visit into a longer, richer journey.
Chimpanzees, photographed by Jake-Lee Coetzee.
The forest has more than one king
Gorillas steal the headlines, but Uganda’s primate story is a wider, wilder tapestry. Chimpanzee trekking in places such as Kibale Forest National Park is a highlight for many travellers, and it is a reminder that the real treasure here is the forest itself: the fruit trees, the mist, the families who live in them.
A thoughtful moment between the branches. Photo: Jake-Lee Coetzee.
That is exactly why the questions around any new lodge matter more than the ribbon-cutting.
Luxury and conservation: the questions worth asking
Will visitors stay longer and spend locally, with food, crafts and guides sourced from nearby communities?
Where will any lodge sit in relation to the park boundary, and how lightly will it tread?
Will the money reach conservation and the people who live beside the forest? The Observer has looked at how gorilla tourism is already supporting communities around Bwindi.
We unpack the bigger picture in our guide to how your safari helps protect wildlife.
Snack time in the forest. Photo: Jake-Lee Coetzee.
What this could mean for travellers
If a Marriott-branded safari lodge does arrive near Bwindi, travellers could gain another premium option close to the gorilla trails. Until anything is announced officially, it is smart to keep planning with confirmed properties and to book permits early. You can see Marriott’s current Uganda hotels on the Marriott Uganda page.
Uganda is also preparing investor-ready tourism projects ahead of the Future Hospitality Summit Africa, planned for 2 and 3 February 2027, according to CEO East Africa. That could be the moment when rumour turns into announcement.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marriott building a lodge in Bwindi?
Not confirmed. A report by CEO East Africa points to the possibility, but no Marriott project in Bwindi has been publicly announced.
Who is Summit Hospitality?
Summit Hospitality is described as a Ugandan developer and operator of upscale and boutique accommodation, and it is developing a tourism property above Bwindi.
How many Marriott properties are there in Uganda?
Marriott now has seven properties across five brands in Uganda, following the August 2026 opening of the Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments.
We will keep our eyes on the forest edge and bring you the next chapter as soon as it is real. For more stories that find the extraordinary in the mundane, wander back to the Adventure Lifestyle Magazine home page. Words by Jake-Lee Coetzee.
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