Kibale National Park is a lush, green rainforest in western Uganda, covering 776 km² (77,600 hectares). It is located right next to Queen Elizabeth National Park, making it a great addition to any Ugandan safari. Kibale is famous for having the highest number and variety of primates in East Africa. Over 1,500 chimpanzees live in the forest, making it the best place in Uganda to go chimpanzee trekking. These amazing animals are smart, playful, and fascinating to watch in the wild. But that’s not all—Kibale National Park is also a top spot for bird watchers, with a bird list of around 370 species, including many colorful and rare birds.
There is only one lodge inside the national park, but there are plenty of great lodges, guesthouses, and tented camps around the park. Many of these offer great value, with beautiful views, friendly service, and easy access to the forest and its wildlife. Keep reading to discover the 10 Best Value Lodges and Camps near Kibale National Park:
1. Kibale Lodge
Set against stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains, Queen Elizabeth plains, and the Kazinga Channel, Kibale Lodge is a superior eco-lodge and the perfect base for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park. The lodge is deeply committed to conservation and community, supporting local projects and promoting female leadership in wildlife protection. It is a great stop on a Great Rift Valley primate safari, including visits to Kyambura Gorge and Mount Gahinga. Full-board rates cover accommodation, all meals, soft and premium drinks, laundry, lodge activities, and massages (based on availability). Guests can relax at the Kibale Forest Spa with its sauna, swimming pool, and massage rooms, and enjoy local dishes like Filinda in both indoor and outdoor dining areas.
Kibale Lodge has eight beautifully designed bandas—two standard and six deluxe—each with a private terrace and views of the mountains or Fort Portal hills. All rooms feature en-suite bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers, double vanities, flushing toilets, and cosy fireplaces. Interiors blend wooden floors, four-poster beds with mosquito nets, Kuba cloth, and natural stone. A personal butler is provided for every guest, and Wi-Fi is available throughout the lodge. Beyond chimp tracking, guests can visit a reforestation project, plant a tree, or tour the nearby Sadhguru School, which focuses on arts and cultural education. You can also choose to support a child’s education, making your stay both relaxing and meaningful.
2. Crater Safari Lodge
Crater Safari Lodge is a beautiful luxury lodge set on the edge of the peaceful Nyinabulitwa Crater Lake, just a short distance from Kibale National Park. Surrounded by lush jungle and calm waters, the lodge blends perfectly into the natural landscape, offering guests a peaceful escape with stunning views. Guests can stay in deluxe thatched chalets with wide wooden balconies or in pool-facing cabana rooms—both options provide comfort, style, and views of the lake or forest. Hammocks and garden swings scattered around the grounds add to the calm, relaxing atmosphere, making this a perfect place to unwind after a day of adventure.
Besides chimpanzee trekking, guests at crater safari lodge can also enjoy hike to the famous “Top of the World” viewpoint to see nine crater lakes, canoeing on the lake, romantic dinners by the water, fishing, and nature walks. Visitors can also explore the local culture by trying basket weaving, visiting nearby schools and markets, or taking guided cycling trips to tea and coffee plantations, with bikes and gear provided.
3. Turaco Treetops Lodge
Turaco Treetops is a beautiful semi-luxury lodge located just outside Kibale Forest, perfectly placed for chimpanzee trekking and the Bigodi Swamp Walk. Surrounded by lush rainforest, the lodge offers a peaceful and immersive nature experience. From the comfort of your room or private balcony, you can hear and often see black-and-white colobus monkeys, giant turacos, and even chimpanzees. The main lodge area features a spacious restaurant, cosy lounge areas, a fireplace, and a swimming pool—perfect for relaxing after a day of adventure.
The lodge offers both luxury and standard cottages, all set deep in the forest and offering amazing views over Kibale National Park. The luxury cottages are fully detached and feature large balconies and private bathrooms, offering maximum privacy and a perfect spot for wildlife watching. The standard cottages are semi-detached and ideal for couples, families, or friends traveling together. These also have private bathrooms and connecting balconies that can be opened or closed for privacy.
4. Papaya Lake Lodge
Papaya Lake Lodge enjoys a stunning elevated location overlooking the crater lakes of Lyantonde and Kifuruka, with breathtaking views extending to the majestic Rwenzori Mountains. Owned and operated by Sebastian and Magdalena, a husband-and-wife team who relocated from Europe, the lodge combines warm hospitality with a connection to its beautiful natural surroundings. The main lodge is a striking timber, stone, and thatch structure featuring a spacious, airy restaurant and bar area decorated with elegant furnishings. Guests can unwind on the sun terrace or take a dip in the swimming pool, which offers uninterrupted 360-degree views of the lakes, mountains, and surrounding plantations.
Accommodation includes eight cottages and a three-bedroom villa, all thoughtfully designed with natural materials and soft, neutral interiors. Each cottage boasts a private veranda overlooking Lake Lyantonde, ensuring privacy with generous spacing and natural tree screens. The villa, perfect for families or groups, includes a lounge with a cosy fireplace, a large bathroom, a mezzanine, and expansive outdoor terraces.
5. Primate Lodge
Primate Lodge Kibale is located inside Kibale National Park, placing guests right in the heart of the rainforest and just a short walk from the starting point for chimpanzee trekking. Hidden deep in the forest, this lodge offers a peaceful and immersive jungle experience. It features 16 comfortable cottages—nine luxury and seven standard. The luxury cottages are spacious and stylish, each with an ensuite bathroom, a king-size or two double beds, a cozy sitting area with armchairs, and a large private veranda overlooking the forest. The standard cottages are also ensuite and offer either twin or king-size beds, along with a spacious veranda furnished with lounge chairs for relaxing in nature.
The main guest areas include a wide, open-air dining terrace, a well-stocked bar, a quiet lounge with a small library, and a cozy evening campfire spot—perfect for sharing stories after a day of adventure. Wi-Fi is available in the public areas. Primate Lodge offers a wide variety of activities, beside chimpanzee trekking. Guests can enjoy guided walks through the Bigodi Swamp, and visits to the scenic Bunyaruguru Crater Lakes, walks along the Rwenzori Mountains’ foothills, and tours of nearby tea plantations.
6. Kibale Forest Camp
Kibale Forest Camp is an affordable and great base for exploring the wonders of Kibale Forest National Park, especially for chimpanzee trekking. Nestled peacefully under the forest canopy on the park’s southern edge, the camp is just a short 10-minute drive from the start of the chimp trekking trails. From your private veranda, you can relax as colobus monkeys, colorful butterflies, and a variety of birds visit the lush gardens surrounding the camp
The camp offers a range of accommodation to suit different budgets. For a more basic stay, there are seven comfortable tents with shared bathroom facilities, featuring cozy beds with mosquito nets and charging points. For a touch of luxury, ten traditional en-suite safari tents with hardwood floors, twin or double beds, and shaded private verandas provide a relaxing space with lovely garden views. The open-air restaurant and bar serve a set menu combining local and international dishes, including freshly brewed Ugandan tea and coffee delivered right to your tent in the morning. Kibale Forest Camp also caters to dietary needs if informed in advance. Beyond chimp trekking, guests can explore the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary and Bigodi Village, hiking around crater lakes and touring tea plantations.
7. Ndali Lodge
Ndali Lodge is set on the rim of an ancient, extinct volcanic crater in the beautiful Ndali-Kasenda crater field near Kibale Forest. Just a 40-minute drive from the forest and close to the town of Fort Portal, the lodge offers spectacular views over Lake Nyinambuga, one of the region’s larger crater lakes. The lodge has nine spacious cottages, each with an ensuite bathroom that includes a bath, shower, sink, and flush toilet, along with permanent hot water.
All cottages face west and have private verandas with views across the Ndali estate and—on clear days—even as far as the Mountains of the Moon. Most cottages come with a double bed and a cozy daybed (which can be made into a twin setup), while the honeymoon cottage features a larger six-foot bed. Modern touches include USB charging sockets by the bed and plug sockets in the bathrooms, powered by a generator for hairdryers. Laptops and cameras can be charged at the main lodge.
The main lodge has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with a comfortable lounge, bar, and shared dining area. There’s also a swimming pool, small gym, and a sauna for guests to enjoy. A handmade wooden boat is available for peaceful lake outings. Ndali Lodge is eco-conscious, using solar power and a clever gravity-fed water system that pumps water from the lake. Water is heated using sustainably planted wood grown on the estate. Besides chimpanzee trekking, guest at Ndali Lodge can take nature walks around the estate and visits to the working farm, where coffee, cocoa, vanilla, and local gin (waragi) are produced.
8. Kyaninga Lodge
Kyaninga Lodge is a beautiful timber-built lodge perched on a hilltop overlooking the crystal-clear waters of Lake Kyaninga. Founded by Englishman Steve Williams, the lodge blends beautifully into its forested surroundings, with all structures raised on stilts and connected by elevated wooden walkways.
The main two-storey lodge sits at the highest point, offering sweeping lake views from cosy lounges, private nooks, and an elegant dining area featuring handcrafted mvule and elgon olive furniture. Outside, the grounds include a large swimming pool, terraced gardens, a tennis court, and lawns for croquet, badminton, and boules. Just below lies the tranquil lake, surrounded by lush forest teeming with birds, monkeys, and other wildlife. Free Wi-Fi, a roaring double-sided fireplace, and welcoming interiors make Kyaninga Lodge as comfortable as it is breathtaking.
Accommodation includes nine beautifully crafted cottages, each with a private deck overlooking the lake or mountains. Seven cottages are ideal for couples, while two family cottages include a mezzanine level for kids. Inside, you’ll find polished wooden floors, plush seating, fresh flowers, and luxurious bathrooms with marble basins, glass-walled showers, and claw-foot bathtubs. Activities range from lakeside walks and forest hikes to village visits and bat cave explorations. Guests can also enjoy kayaking and paddleboarding.
9. Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Chimpanzee Forest Lodge is set amidst 40 hectares of beautiful gardens, tea plantations, and lush tropical forest right next to Uganda’s Kibale National Park. Ideal for budget-conscious travelers, the lodge offers a variety of accommodations including cozy self-contained cottages, comfortable rooms, and peaceful grassy campsites for those who want a more rustic, back-to-nature experience. The main building is a charming colonial homestead, once the home of the British District Commissioner in the 1950s, now owned and operated by local Ugandan plantation owners. This welcoming lodge serves as a perfect base for exploring some of Uganda’s most stunning wilderness areas, promising a memorable and authentic stay.
10. Mountains of the Moon Hotel
Mountains of the Moon Hotel and Resort is one of Fort Portal’s most iconic hotels, set within 15 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and offering stunning views of the majestic Rwenzori Mountains, which inspired its name. The hotel’s unique blend of oriental and French chic creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere where guests feel instantly at home. Conveniently located within walking distance of Fort Portal town and its many attractions, it serves as the perfect base for exploring the region’s crater lakes, Kibale Forest, chimpanzee trekking, Semuliki Safari Game Reserve, and other exciting safari adventures.
The peaceful and relaxing environment of Mountains of the Moon Hotel makes it an excellent choice for all visitors to Fort Portal and Kibale Forest. Just a 10-minute walk from town, the hotel is also close to the local golf course, ideal for guests wanting to enjoy a round in the mild, pleasant climate year-round. The hotel offers a wide range of facilities, including a business centre, wellness centre, and a restaurant that boasts impressive mountain views. Additional amenities include a swimming pool and an exclusive bar. All Superior rooms feature unlimited internet access, ensuring guests stay connected while enjoying their serene retreat.
