From Murchison Falls we set out for the journey to the green hills of Fort Portal and Kibale Forest. The drive is scenic and passes through rural villages and a few bigger towns - lots to observe. It does take most of the day, so if clients are keen to do a morning activity in MFNP then the flight from Bugungu is a good option. It does, however, have a minimum seat requirement (3 or 4 depending on the carrier).
Kibale Lodge, the newest addition to the Volcanoes portfolio, is set on top of a hill overlooking the Rwenzori Mountains and a crater lake below. It is about 15 mins drive from Ndali Lodge (for reference) and about 1 hr from Kibale Forest NP headquarters for chimp trekking. There are reports of a shorter route, but current road conditions are very poor and we are not currently recommending it due to rough conditions and the risk of getting stuck if it had rained. If clients prefer to be closer to the forest, Primate Lodge is the best option. Kibale Lodge offers 4 deluxe and 4 standard rooms. The deluxe rooms are enormous, almost too big in my opinion as some of the space is a bit awkward. Each deluxe room has its own living/sitting room with a fireplace, plus the bedroom with king size bed and desk, as well as a changing room before the bathroom. There is an indoor and outdoor shower. The outdoor showers are really beautiful and nicely done. It’s really a full garden set up with a shower in it. Mine was lovely. The style and decor of the rooms is nice, chic and relaxing. The finishing touches are always good with Volcanoes and you’ll find things like a welcome bottle of wine, little glass containers of snacks, kitenge bathrobes, reading materials, international plug outlets…it is well curated. The main lodge area is very spacious with generous sitting areas, several outdoor patios for dining during nice weather or sundowners overlooking the Rwenzoris. Stacks of books, local art and a small shop can be found. The standard rooms are smaller, and I actually think more cozy, than the deluxe rooms. Standard bandas feature a sitting area, rather than the separate sitting room, a spacious, bright bathroom (with indoor and outdoor showers) and verandah. There are a few elements of the experience at Kibale Lodge that show it is still in its baby-stages, but I don’t doubt those will get ironed out. Unfortunately, the dinner left a lot to be desired. Wine and drink selection was adequate and is included in the rate. The upsides of this property are certainly the views of the Rwenzoris and its setting, the privacy of the rooms and the ample guest areas. It’s peaceful and feels very serene. The downsides are the distance to the park headquarters and many of the activities that the Kibale area is known for.
While in the Kibale area we also visited Sunbird Hill, a nature monitoring and rewilding program adjacent to the Kibale Forest. This private reserve is run by Julia (who originally came to Uganda from Australia as a primate researcher) and her local team of young people who she is training in monitoring and rewilding programs. These young people from the community are incredibly well-versed in the flora and fauna and extremely passionate. The reserve is home to 295 identified bird species, 16 sunbird species and 279 butterfly species. We did a short walk focusing on butterflies, insects and birds and it was really well done. We’re excited to incorporate this activity into your clients’ stays in Kibale. This can be done from any Kibale area lodge and is a half day activity including refreshments and local snacks. The property also has a couple very basic treehouses with double accommodations (en suite with bucket shower and eco/composting toilets) which would be suitable for serious birders who want to make the most of their time in the forest. Postscript: we are getting great feedback from clients on this experience! Highly recommended.