Sample itinerary - PURE APES SAFARI - Kibale & Bwindi

The Boma Hotel Entebbe is located in Entebbe, Uganda. The property features 15 spacious guest rooms with modern amenities, including en-suite bathrooms, seating areas, and free Wi-Fi access. Guests can enjoy delicious meals from the on-site dining facilities. Additional amenities include a courtyard garden, a lounge, a bar, a pool, a gift shop, and a main veranda.

The design of Primate Lodge is simple, natural and intentionally low-impact, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the surrounding forest. Built using timber and other locally sourced materials, the lodge has a rustic yet comfortable feel, with thatched roofs and earthy tones that reflect the colours of the environment. The central area is open and welcoming, with a lounge, bar and dining space that encourage relaxation while still maintaining a strong sense of being in the forest. The lounge area is ideal for relaxing between activities, and there is an outdoor firepit where guests can gather in the evenings. Pathways wind through the trees, linking the cottages and enhancing the feeling of privacy and immersion.

Accommodation at Primate Lodge consists of cottages and a honeymoon cottage all set in the forest. The cottages are spacious and comfortable, featuring en-suite bathrooms, wooden interiors and private verandas that open onto the surrounding greenery. While the style is more understated than high-end luxury lodges, it offers all the necessary comforts for a relaxed stay. Some units are slightly more premium, with added space and upgraded finishes, while others provide a simpler but still atmospheric forest experience. While the lodge does not focus on extensive luxury amenities, it provides everything needed for a comfortable and enjoyable stay, with the emphasis firmly on the surrounding wildlife and environment.

The primary activity at Primate Lodge is chimpanzee trekking, with the starting point located just minutes away, making early morning departures particularly easy. This is why we love Primate Lodge. Kibale is renowned for its high density of primates, and guests often have excellent sightings not only of chimpanzees but also of red colobus, black-and-white colobus and other species. The chimpanzee habituation experience, which allows for extended time with a troop, is a highlight for many visitors. Additional activities include guided forest walks, birding excursions and visits to the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, known for its rich birdlife and community-based tourism initiatives.

Primate Lodge is located within Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda, close to the town of Fort Portal. Its position inside the forest and near the main visitor centre makes it one of the most convenient lodges for chimpanzee trekking. Access is typically part of an extended Uganda safari or directly via road, around five to six hours from Kampala or Entebbe. Often combined with other destinations in western Uganda such as Queen Elizabeth National Park. For those flying, charter flights can be arranged to nearby airstrips followed by a shorter road transfer.

Nestled at the gateway to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Buhoma Lodge is one of only two lodges set within the national park, and is an ideal lodge in the mid-range for Bwindi. Overlooking the forest canopy, it offers a warm, welcoming base for gorilla trekking, with a long-standing reputation for service, atmosphere and location. The lodge blends seamlessly into its surroundings, creating a relaxed and intimate environment where guests can unwind while immersed in one of Africa’s most extraordinary ecosystems. Its proximity to the park headquarters makes it one of the most convenient options for trekking while still feeling private and tucked away.

The design of Buhoma Lodge is rooted in traditional safari style, with timber and stone structures that echo the textures and tones of the forest. Elevated along the hillside, the lodge takes full advantage of its setting, with open-fronted communal areas that look out across the canopy. The central lounge and dining space is cosy and inviting, often centred around a fireplace that adds to the lodge’s homely feel, particularly in the cooler forest climate. Pathways wind through the vegetation, linking the cottages and enhancing the sense of seclusion and immersion. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, featuring wooden floors, large beds and en-suite bathrooms with flush toilets and hot showers. Each cottage includes a private veranda, allowing guests to sit quietly and take in the sights and sounds of the forest. The style is understated and authentic rather than ultra-luxurious, focusing on comfort, warmth and a strong connection to the natural environment. A massage room offers treatments to ease tired muscles after a day of hiking, while the fireplace provides a cosy gathering point in the evenings. 

The primary activity at Buhoma Lodge is gorilla trekking, with the park headquarters and briefing point located just a short walk away, making early starts particularly convenient. In addition to trekking, guests can enjoy guided forest walks, birding excursions and cultural visits to the local community, including opportunities to learn about the Batwa people. The variety of activities allows for a deeper appreciation of both the natural and cultural richness of the area.

Buhoma Lodge is located in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda, one of the most accessible regions of the park. Access is typically via a domestic flight from Entebbe to Kihihi Airstrip, followed by a road transfer of around one to two hours, or by a longer overland journey of approximately eight to nine hours from Kampala, often combined with other destinations such as Queen Elizabeth National Park.