Set right in the heart of the Kibale Forest, this simple lodge will give you a real sense of adventure, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the primates and birdlife that live in the forest.
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. The highlight of any stay here, however, is heading into the jungle to track and spot chimpanzees as they swing through the trees.
OUR OPINION:
This simple but charming lodge offers comfort without any luxury frills. The location is fantastic — we loved being able to awaken to the sound of the forest, and chimpanzee tracking is a very rewarding experience.
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Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Uganda specialists
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617-223-4521617-223-4355
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Photos of Primate Lodge
Luxury cottage at Primate Lodge
The boma area, Primate Lodge Kibale
Standard room at Primate Lodge
A lounge area, Primate Lodge Kibale
The communal lounge, Primate Lodge Kibale
View from lounge at Primate Lodge
A bathroom at Primate Lodge Kibale
Cottage at Primate Lodge
A double cottage at Primate Lodge Kibale
Lounge at Primate Lodge
The dining area at Primate Lodge Kibale
Rooms
All the cottages have a homely feel, with large windows, comfortable beds and African-style decor, including local stone, bamboo and paintings. Each cottage has a private veranda and en suite bathroom with a flush toilet and hot water at certain times of the day. The rooms are spaced apart, ensuring privacy and uninterrupted views of the surrounding forest.
Location
The lodge is situated in Kibale Forest National Park, 36 kilometers from the town of Fort Portal and a two-minute walk from the park headquarters. Spanning 560 square kilometers, the forest is home to 13 different species of primate, including more than 1,000 chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, gray-cheeked mangabeys and bush babies. There are also around 325 bird species, as well as buffalo and forest elephant.
Food and drink
Meals are served in the spacious main dining room, consisting of both international and traditional African dishes. There’s also a bar located adjacent to the restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including coffee, while taking in views of the surrounding forest.
Facilities and activities
Free Wi-Fi is available in the public areas. The lodge has a fire cave where you can keep warm during cooler evenings while listening to the calls of forest animals. Cultural dances are regularly performed by locals from nearby rural villages, giving you a flavor of the area’s rich culture and traditions.
Environmental and social responsibility
To minimize its environmental impact, the lodge has been constructed using local materials and is powered by solar energy. The local community also benefits from the lodge, with many employed here and locally-grown products used in food served in the restaurant. Villagers also provide hand-made arts and crafts and engage in cultural performances at the lodge to gain an additional income.
Local excursions
A variety of forest experiences can be enjoyed with the guidance of knowledgeable rangers, including chimp tracking, educational forest walks, birdwatching trips and night walks in search of nocturnal animals. The nearby village of Bigodi gains revenue from offering Bigodi Swamp walks and village walks to learn more about the local culture.
En route from Fort Portal to the forest is the Crater Lakes region, where you can enjoy wonderful scenery, hike around Lake Nkuruba or visit Mahoma Falls, meeting local people as you go. The forest is also surrounded by green tea plantations, so you can visit tea estates to see how it is grown and processed and try some at the end.
Tour ideas in Kibale Forest National Park
Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Primate Lodge as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.
Alternative places to stay nearby
Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.
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![Main area at Ndali Lodge]()
Ndali Lodge
Kibale Forest National Park
Experiences while staying here
The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.
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Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest ![Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Uganda]()
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest
You enter the forest and following signs and chimp calls your guide leads you to the chimpanzees. Chimpanzee sightings are not guaranteed, however the odds of encountering them have greatly increased in recent years, now standing at 90% or over.
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Exploring the Crater Lakes Region ![Crater Lakes Region, Uganda]()
Exploring the Crater Lakes Region
Exploring the Crater Lakes Region
This area is characterized by rolling hills, vanilla plantations, pretty forests and of course the Crater Lakes. For some of the Crater Lakes, the views are actually best from the viewpoints, accessed by roads.
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Kibale Forest National Park and nearby places
- Semliki Wildlife Reserve 38 miles away
- Murchison Falls National Park 155 miles away
- Queen Elizabeth National Park 49 miles away
- Lake Mburo 83 miles away
- Kampala 152 miles away
- Entebbe 146 miles away
- Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary 161 miles away
- Ishasha 98 miles away
- Jinja 195 miles away
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest 113 miles away