Primate Lodge - Kibale

Primate Lodge is the closest lodge to the Kanyanchu chimpanzee tracking trailhead in Kibale National Park. The lodge is located inside the National Park, giving guests prime access to exhilarating forest activities, including the captivating Chimpanzee Habituation Experience. It’s exciting for most guests that book this lodge because they get to experience sleeping in premium comfort among primates, age-old trees, and forest wildlife and wake up to the natural bird’s sound and primate calls.

Kibale is commonly known as the easiest forest in the world to watch primates. It is referred to as Africa’s primate capital because it protects the highest concentration of primate species in the world. Some of the forest’s inhabitants have been habituated for human presence, allowing travelers to experience walking in the jungle with chimpanzees’ troops. Primate Lodge is in the center of all the jungle action.

Primate Lodge’s rustic style affords beautiful views of the dense ethereal rainforest and is quietly secluded, offering an authentic experience. The main open lounge area features comfortable armchairs and sofas, making it a lovely spot to unwind after a day in the forest while listening to the red-tailed monkeys in the surrounding trees. Fires are lit on cool evenings, creating a cozy atmosphere, while colorful traditional dance performances give you a real insight into the local culture. However, the highlight of any stay here is the jungle hikes to track and spot chimpanzees in their natural setting.

The lounge has well designed chairs; soft cushions along with sofas that will make you enjoy the red-tailed monkeys in the forest. The evenings are usually enjoyed around the camp fire to give you all the warmth you need. Late in the night, you will experience the great sounds of the forest as well as the winding forest elephants.

Accommodation

Primate Lodge Kibale has 17 Rooms divided into two categories: 9 Luxury Cottages and 7 Standard Cottages that can be with either single, twin beds.

All accommodation has a private veranda and en suite bathroom with flush toilet and hot water at certain times of the day.

Superior Safari Tents  : The lodge has  8 lavish safari tents, wooden platform with a thatched roof that tends to blend well with the environment. The verandahs on each tent offers a beautiful view of the enclosed forest. They offer queen-sized beds, large windows, and African-style décor, including local stone, bamboo, and paintings. The bathrooms and toilets have a natural touch of the environment made out of local stones, wall paintings as well as bamboo.

Forest Cottages:  The lodge has  7 forest cottages that have a  friendly and homely feel and are well spaced apart to ensure privacy and uninterrupted forest views. They feature twin beds and a sitting area and are decorated with local artwork.. The rooms are big with double beds, a sitting room with an African design and standard en suite bathrooms and toilets.

Sky Tree House: Another exciting adventure is the sky tree house, where adventurous guests can stay up in a tree overlooking the elephant wallow. The Sky Tree house has a bedroom with other facilities that can enable you enjoy a nigh there. Its suited at a 10 minutes walk from the major lodge. Giving you a perfect view of the Elephant lurch. At night, all elephants gather at this point.

Dining

The lodge amenities include a spacious dining terrace, a well-stocked bar that offers a beautiful scenic view of the forest and offers complimentary room service. Meals are served in a spacious open dining room. The restaurant serves both international and local foods with hospital waitresses. The bar is next to the restaurant  and here,  guests can enjoy various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including coffee, while taking in views of the surrounding forest.

Activities and amenities

Among the activities include chimp tracking, Forest walk, bird watching,Bigodi village walk discovery of the crater Lakes, Cultural heritage, Hike at the slopes of Rwenzori  along with the Nature trail.

Bird lovers will be interested to know that there are 325 species of birds recorded in the national park. The list includes the six species endemic to the Albertine Rift region, like the black-capped Apalis, collared Apalis, purple-breasted sunbirds, blue-headed sunbirds, dusky crimson wings, and red-faced woodland warblers.

There are some lovely walks in the area, including the walk in the small Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary in hopes of meeting more primates in the east of the park. A network of trails in Sebitoli Forest provides further opportunities for viewing various primates and birds on the forest’s northern side.

Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves is a renowned cave system located near Fort Portal, around 15km from Kibale Forest, and is considered to be one of the seven wonders of Uganda and great to visit