Volcanoes Safaris, the pioneer of gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism in Uganda and Rwanda since 1997, will open Kibale Lodge in Uganda on July 1, its fifth lodge in Africa.
Situated a 30-minute drive from Kibale Forest, the lodge sits on a ridge with views of the Rwenzori Mountains looking towards the west, and the Queen Elizabeth National Park’s plains and the Kazinga channel to the south. The lodge is in the heartland of the old Batoro kingdom and the area of the historical medieval Bachwezi kingdom.
Kibale Lodge will comprise eight bandas, plus a spa and pool. Four bandas will open in July and four more by the end of the year.
The lodge has been hand-built by Volcanoes’ in-house teams of African artisans in the Volcanoes style led by Ugandan-born founder, Praveen Moman.
Moman said: “There are three important things to share about this lodge. Firstly, as with our other lodges, it has been hand-built by our artisans. Secondly, we are honoured to work 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.”
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.
Bookings for Kibale Lodge are now open.
Community and conservation partnerships
At Kibale Lodge, Volcanoes Safaris will work in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute to organise community outreach programmes through the Roots and Shoots programme, particularly to develop women leaders in conservation.
It is also working with the Jane Goodall Institute and wider participants of the Albertine Apes Alliance to promote responsible ecotourism in Kibale Forest.
Established in 2022 as part of Volcanoes Safaris’ 25th anniversary celebrations, the Albertine Apes Alliance is an informal advocacy network that brings together stakeholders involved in conservation and ecotourism in the Albertine Rift Valley.
A new cultural partnership with the Rwenzori Sculpture Foundation, set up by the Rungwe Kingdom based near Kibale Lodge, will also bring sculptures relating to the traditional clans of Uganda to the lodge.
Volcanoes is also building a new vocational centre at the local Sadhguru School, located near the lodge.
