Papaya Lake Lodge

Kibale Forest

Papaya Lake Lodge Near Kibale Forest

Rating: Mid-range

Nestled in the lush, evergreen landscapes of Uganda’s Crater Lakes region near Kibale National Park, Papaya Lake Lodge is a European family-owned property offering a tranquil and luxurious retreat. Set between two extinct volcanoes and overlooking the turquoise waters of the Lyantonde and Kifuruka lakes, the lodge boasts exhilarating views of the majestic Ruwenzori Mountain Range.

The lodge comprises nine luxurious cottages, a restaurant, and a beautiful swimming pool with a scenic terrace. It is evident that Papaya Lake Lodge is established with great passion, appreciation of local culture, and attention to detail, creating an oasis that makes life worth living.

Guests can enjoy long walks and road cycling in the dramatic landscape of crater lakes cupped under steep hillsides south of Fort Portal. For those with limited time or traveling with young children or the older people, Papaya offers a shorter walk that includes crater lakes, a community visit, and several viewpoints.

Just a 20-minute drive from the starting point for chimpanzee tracking at Kanyancu in Kibale National Park, Papaya Lake Lodge is an excellent base for exploring the Kibale forest jungle and other nearby attractions.

Accommodation at Papaya

Papaya Lake Lodge offers nine spacious and bright cottages situated on the slope of an extinct volcano crater, providing breathtaking views of Lyantonde Lake. Each cottage provides complete privacy, hidden from view by a natural screen of green treetops.

Eight of the cottages feature two beds, a king-size and a single, with local stone-decorated bathrooms featuring shower units and verandas equipped with deck chairs. The single family-cottage is a two-level villa with three bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, a spacious en-suite bathroom, and a large terrace.

Papaya Lake Lodge has styled its rooms with calm colors, subtle accessories, original interior design, and simple but comfortable furniture. However, it’s the lush, green vegetation that makes it easy to relax after an adventurous day in Kibale Forest.

The lodge’s cuisine is a delightful fusion of elements from around the world, combining European and African cooking styles. Guests can choose to dine in the restaurant or outside for a panoramic view of the crater lakes.

Activities Around Papaya Lake Lodge

Located just a 30-minute drive through the lush Fort Portal landscape to the trailhead, Papaya Lake Lodge guests can easily join guided chimpanzee trekking excursions from Kanyanchu visitor center in Kibale National Park Headquarters. These treks take guests into the forest jungle in search of a habituated chimp troop and begin in the early morning and after lunch at 2:00 pm. The experience of viewing wild chimpanzees up close in their natural habitat can be incredible, but it’s worth noting that intimate encounters are not guaranteed in Kibale Forest.

After an exciting encounter with the chimpanzee troops, guests can relax by taking a dip in the well-elevated pool, which offers the greatest view of Papaya Lake Lodge. Alternatively, they can take a guided walk around the crater lakes surrounding the property, visit a community, or simply unwind in the fresh, natural surroundings of the lodge.

Bird enthusiasts will be delighted to know that Kibale National Park is home to 325 bird species, including six endemic to the Albertine Rift region, such as the black-capped Apalis, collared Apalis, purple-breasted sunbirds, blue-headed sunbirds, dusky crimson wings, and red-faced woodland warblers.

The area also offers lovely walks, such as the walk in the small Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary in the east of the park, where guests can hope to meet more primates. A network of trails in Sebitoli Forest provides further opportunities for viewing various primates and birds on the forest’s northern side.

Located around 15km from Kibale Forest near Fort Portal, the Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves are a renowned cave system and one of Uganda’s seven wonders, making it a great attraction to visit. Papaya Lake Lodge is an excellent choice to include in your tailor-made Uganda safari itinerary.