Primate Lodge

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Kibale Forest

Primate Lodge

Rating: Mid-range

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.

Accommodation at Kyaninga

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 are on a raised wooden platform and blend into the surroundings with their grass-thatched roofs. They offer queen-sized beds, large windows, and African-style décor, including local stone, bamboo, and paintings.

The lodge’s Forest Cottages have a homely feel and spaced apart to ensure privacy and uninterrupted forest views. They feature twin beds and a sitting area and are decorated with local artwork.

A ten-minute walk away is the Sky Tree House, where adventurous guests can stay up in a tree overlooking the elephant wallow.

Meals are served in a spacious open dining room, made of both international and African cuisines. There’s also a bar next to the restaurant where guests can enjoy various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including coffee, while taking in views of the surrounding forest.

Amenities

Laundry Services

En-suite bathrooms

Evening Camp Fires

Cultural Performances

Wi-Fi Available

Restaurant & Bar

Daily housekeeping

Mosquito net

Activities

After a quick 5 minute walk to the trailhead, guests can join guided chimpanzee hikes from Kanyanchu Park Headquarters into the forest jungle, searching for the chicky chimp bands. Usually, the chimpanzee tracking walks last 2-3 hours and are restrictive to eight people. The experience of viewing wild chimps up close can be incredible, but it has to be said that here in Kibale, the chances of really intimate.

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.

EXPERIENCES

Our Uganda safari and Chimpanzee tracking experiences are entirely customizable with the help of an expert safari planner. We can show you these and more for inspiration to put together an incredible trip to Africa.