Rating: Mid-range
Primate Lodge is located in the heart of Kibale Forest National Park, and is named after the 13 species of primate found in the park. It is a comfortable lodge with two styles of cottage, a romantic two-storey banda and a tree house deep in the forest. The cottages and banda are en-suite and have private decks with views of the forest, while the treehouse is high in the canopy for those with a sense of adventure!
The restaurant serves both local and international cuisine and the adjacent bar and lounge areas are excellent places to relax after a day exploring the forest and its flora and fauna. The lodge is ideally placed for chimpanzee trekking but there are also opportunties for guided nature walks to see the other animal and bird life, and nocturnal walks (subject to availability). The visitor centre is very close to the lodge. You can also explore the local area with trips to the Bunyaruguru Crater Lakes region, visit nearby tea estates and go hiking in the 'Mountains of the Moon'.
Open: All year round.
Location: In the heart of the Kibale Forest National Park near the Kanyanchu Tourist Centre.
Rooms: There are nine luxury cottages with either a king size bed or two double beds, en-suite bathroom, sitting area with picture windows and a private deck. There are also seven forest cottages with either a king size bed or twin beds. en-suite bathroom and deck. In addition, the elephant banda is a two-storey structure with a downstairs living room that can take an extra bed if needed, and an upstairs bedroom with a king size bed, en-suite bathroom and veranda. The elephant banda is often used for honeymooners and couples desiring extra privacy. The tree house is in the forest about a ten minutre walk from the main lodge and has one twin bedroom and great views of passing monkeys and forest elephants.
Activities: Chimp tracking, with the starting point just five minutes from the lodge, and chimpanzee habituation; guided walks (forest, birding and nocturnal), Bigodi Swamp walk, hiking in the Rwenzori Mountains (the 'Mountains of the Moon'), village and tea estate walks, and cultural visits.
Facilities: The main lodges house a cosy lounge with comfortable chairs and a collection of reference books, a dining terrace, bar and a firepit. There is also a fire place for those chilly evenings. There is a gift shop on site.
Dining: Meals are served in the dining area and on the terrace.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome but chimp activities require an age limit of 15 years and over.
Health: This is a malarial area.
Communication: There is a limited mobile reception, no direct phone or fax and no internet.
From Murchison Falls, to wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, chimps in Kibale and gorillas in Bwindi.
Money from every person staying at this lodge goes to the Ugandan Wildlife Authority which helps conservation of the area. The lodge also helps the local community in a variety of ways.
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