Kibale Forest Chimp Tracking

Feb 11 and 12
Primate Lodge, Kibale Forest

This lodge is always busy as it is a 5 minute walk to the UWA station for chimp tracking in the Kibale Forest.

On our final morning we did the chimp tracking. Our guide was Ronald and he tried diligently to ensure we found the chimps. We found the chimps but only high in the trees, not on the ground where closer contact and viewing would be much easier. Unfortunately none of us got good photos - just dark spots in the trees which were the chimps. Off trail the walk is difficult as the forest is thick with vines, branches, bushes, tree roots, but hearing the call of the chimps makes one try hard to keep up.

The chimps were near the lodge on the days we were there and we could easily hear them calling each other. Near the lodge are very good forest walks, but we got lost for a brief time as we didn’t use a guide.

Accommodation:
The lodge has comfortable areas to sit, a large circle for evening fires, a bar and restaurant at which meals have set times. The bandas are large but very dark and our biggest complaint is that the bathrooms are badly designed and the drain for the shower is on the opposite side of the room which means the floor is always damp. The sheets always feel slightly damp but that is to be expected since the lodge is in the midst of a rainforest.

Meals:
Meals were very good except for the soups. It is impossible to get an icy cold beer since all electricity is solar or gas powered. However, if you nag the staff enough they will try to get the beer chilly. During this visit we had a problem with service but after our very vocal complaints to management, the service improved greatly.

http://www.ugandalodges.com/lodge.php

$130 per 2 bedded banda which includes all meals. Luxury tents are much more expensive.

Pic is baboons on the side of the road.