Kibale Lodge, opening in July 2024, is Volcanoes Safaris’ fifth luxury great ape lodge. The lodge is perfectly positioned for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park in Uganda, one of the best parks to view chimpanzees in Africa, with a community of 1,500 chimps. The new chimpanzee lodge from Volcanoes Safaris is a landmark development: it creates a unique circuit linking the finest gorilla and chimpanzee sites in Africa.
Kibale Lodge comprises eight deluxe rooms and a villa, plus a spa, sauna and pool. Four deluxe bandas are opening in July 2024 and four more by the end of 2024. The lodge is built in the renowned Volcanoes handmade style by an in-house Design and Build Team of African artisans led by Ugandan born founder, Praveen Moman.
Kibale Lodge sits on a ridge with stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains, looking towards the west and the Queen Elizabeth plains and the Kazinga channel to the south. The 150 acre site is surrounded by lush homesteads on the rolling hills around Fort Portal, known for its warm and welcoming climate. The lodge is in the heartland of the old Batooro kingdom and in the area of the historically important medieval Bachwezi kingdom.
Kibale Lodge is an hour’s drive from the historic hill town of Fort Portal and an hour from the Kasese airstrip, from which there are daily flights to and from Entebbe, and to Volcanoes Safaris’ four other lodges. Kibale Forest, the base for chimpanzee trekking, is a thirty-minute drive from the lodge.
As well as opening the new lodge, Volcanoes is also introducing a new safari in 2024– ‘Primates of the Great Rift Valley’ combining Kibale Lodge with chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura Gorge Lodge and gorilla trekking at Mount Gahinga Lodge.
8 unique hand-built luxury bandas (6 deluxe and 2 standard). 4 bandas opening on 1 July 2024 and a further 4 by the end of 2024.
Personal butler service for all guests.
Kibale Forest Spa has two double massage rooms, sauna and swimming pool (pool open by 1 September). All massages are complimentary and subject to booking and availability.
Full board accommodation including all soft drinks and regular and premium alcoholic beverages including signature cocktails, single malt whiskies and cellar collection wines (except French champagne).
Complimentary laundry service.
Wi-Fi available in the main lodge and bandas.
Locally Inspired and Built
Kibale Lodge has been hand-built to a new level of elegance, style and luxury by Volcanoes’ inhouse teams of artisans from the countries of the Great Lakes, including local engineers, fundis, decorators and upholsterers based at Kibale and our other lodges.
The team of 400 workers has been led by Cyprien Serugero, who built the iconic Virunga Lodge in Rwanda 20 years ago and John-Bosco Tukamuhabwa, the site supervisor who rebuilt Mount Gahinga Lodge in recent years. They are supported by Joseph Nsabimana, Head Carpenter and expert furniture maker. Wycliffe Tuyambaze has mastered the art of upholstery. Bespoke and sophisticated furniture, lighting and artefacts have been made by the Volcanoes’ artisans.
Celine Ishimwe, aged 28, is the lead botanist who trained at the University of Rwanda. Her team of 50 gardeners have planted 200,000 seedlings of indigenous plants in the central 23 acres of land over the last year.
Praveen Moman said “We are delighted to be opening Kibale Lodge. There are three important things to share about this lodge. Firstly, as with our other lodges, Kibale has been hand-built by our artisans. Secondly, we are honoured to be working with key partners to promote conservation and community activities around Kibale. Finally, Kibale Forest – the Primate Capital of the World – is one of the best parks to view chimpanzees in Africa, with a community of 1,500 chimps.”
Praveen adds, “The whole design and construction team has worked with rare passion and dedication and I pay tribute to their spirit. We look to our own people for design inspiration. We work in ‘the barefoot villager’ style, sitting down together and working out practical local approaches to aesthetics. Our team of craftsmen and women have made everything themselves, whatever the origin of the design. Our team of artisans have created a special and unique lodge in the renowned Volcanoes Safaris Afro-chic style, reflecting the richness of the cultures and aesthetics of the Great Lakes.
“The hospitality will embody the deep traditions of the local Batooro people, which is based on values and respect for family. Each guest will have a personal butler and should expect to be given a pet name, an ‘ampaako’, during their stay, which is a mark of respect for visitors and elders.
“Staff will wear uniforms based on traditional local clothing including the suuti, worn by ladies on celebratory occasions. The food will include special locally inspired dishes, such as Filinda, a classic delicacy usually served at marriage ceremonies, made with slow cooked beans and eaten with steamed kalo (millet bread) or matooke (bananas) and served with groundnut sauce and dodo (steamed greens).“
Community Partnerships
At Kibale, we will be working in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute to organise community outreach programs through the Roots and Shoots program, in particular to build up women leaders in conservation.
We are also working with the Jane Goodall Institute and wider participants of the Albertine Apes Alliance, to promote responsible ecotourism in Kibale Forest. The Albertine Apes Alliance is an informal advocacy network bringing together stakeholders in conservation and ecotourism in the Albertine Rift and was established at a conservation retreat at Mount Gahinga Lodge in 2022 as part of the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Volcanoes Safaris. You can read about the First 25 Years of Volcanoes Safaris in a new photo-essay here.
A new cultural partnership with the Rwenzori Sculpture Foundation, set up by Rungwe Kingdom based near Kibale Lodge, will bring sculptures relating to the traditional clans of Uganda to the lodge. Finally, Volcanoes Safaris is building a new vocational centre at the nearby Sadhguru School.
Kibale Lodge, the fifth lodge from Volcanoes Safaris, is listed in the ‘8 New Safari Lodges And Camps To Travel For In
We are delighted to see Kibale lodge featured in CNN Travel among the Sexiest new hotels for 2024. Julia Buckley describes the
Volcanoes Safaris’ new chimpanzee lodge in Uganda, Kibale Lodge, is featured in the Independent as one of the hottest new hotel openings
Write to us on [email protected] or send us a message via the form on our contact page.
Rwanda: +250 (0) 252 502 452
Uganda: +256 (0) 414 346 464
© Volcanoes Safaris 1997 – 2024. All Rights Reserved
Write to us on [email protected] or send us a message via the form on our contact page.
Rwanda: +250 (0) 252 502 452
Uganda: +256 (0) 414 346 464
| High Season Lodge Rates | Per Person Sharing | Single Occupancy |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Banda | $ 1650 | $ 1980 |
| Deluxe Banda | $ 2000 | $ 2400 |
| Community Fees | $ 50 | $ 50 |
| Low Season Lodge Rates | Per Person Sharing | Single Occupancy |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Banda | $ 990 | $ 990 |
| Deluxe Banda | $ 1200 | $ 1200 |
| Community Fees | $ 50 | $ 50 |
| High Season Lodge Rates | Per Person Sharing | Single Occupancy |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Banda | $ 1650 | $ 1980 |
| Deluxe Banda | $ 2000 | $ 2400 |
| Community Fees | $ 50 | $ 50 |
| Low Season Lodge Rates | Per Person Sharing | Single Occupancy |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Banda | $ 990 | $ 990 |
| Deluxe Banda | $ 1200 | $ 1200 |
| Community Fees | $ 50 | $ 50 |
Tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor is nothing short of exhilarating. The chimps effortlessly cross and scamper through the trees above the gorge, and visitors on the other hand must cross the river using natural bridges in order to keep up with the chimps. So although the walk usually lasts only 2–3 hours, descending the steep gorge and crossing the log bridges over the river requires some agility and fitness.
Chimpanzee tracking is also available in nearby Kalinzu, a forest reserve 30 minutes drive from Kyambura Gorge Lodge where there is a community of about 40 habituated chimpanzees.
