Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse

Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse in Kibale Forest National Park Uganda is a really fantastic and peaceful place to stay. It is a lovely, very well-kept property with friendly and helpful staff (a special mention for the wonderfully pleasant bartender) in a convenient location close to Kibale Forest.

Each spacious cottage has stunning views of the hills and tea plantations. The three black labrador dogs make you feel even more welcome. The food was really delicious.

Really the only thing missing here would be a swimming pool, if one could ever even find the time to relax with all of the activities to do in the area! My only regret is that I wasn't able to stay longer than 2 nights!For visitors planning to spend time in the region of the Kibale Forest National Park then you will not be disappointed with Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse.

It's location on the Kamwenge Road with easy access from Fort Portal some 25 minutes drive away on a well graded murrum road was a pleasure.

On arrival here the views of the adjacent Isunga tea estate and the Kibale Forest were sublime and I knew I was going to enjoy myself.

Bala the manager and one of the family members who have been resident in the property for many years welcomed us and the ever attentive James helped us with our bags to one of the garden cottages .

I had come here with my family and we stayed for 3 nights.

The kids had a great time running around on the manicured lawns taunting the dogs and getting to know the very friendly staff.

We conducted nature walks from the guesthouse with James who was also the resident guide to the nearby crater lakes, whilst with so much tea growing on the doorstep a visit to the local tea factory was a pre-requisite.

3 en-suite cottages had views onto the Kibale Forest and over the tea estate, the forth cottage also en-suite faced towards the Rwenzori Mountains.

The rooms in the main house that being a colonial styled tea estate managers property had shared bathroom facilities.

The dining room was also in the main house however a huge new thatched dining room, bar and lounge area was being constructed in the gardens to take advantage of the views and natural surroundings.

The food was well presented and the chef did a great job to cater for two fussy kids.

The staff were attentive and the beer cold enough to enjoy yet another wonderful African sunset from an easy chair in the garden. I don't think I have been as relaxed since anywhere I have visited!

Other Hotels in this Area

The Kanyanchu visitors centre in the Kibale Forest was an 11km drive that took 20 minutes to drive to where the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary was a further 5 km along the road.

The idyllic Lake Nkuruba was a walkable distance from the guesthouse via the 'Top of the World' view point but James suggested it was too far with kids in tow so we drove some 30 minutes to visit this amazing volcanic crater lake where the crater still maintains all it's primary forest.

The lake was home to an incredible variety of colorful birds and an abundant population of monkeys that included the some very playful Black and White Colobus.

A visit to Lake Nkuruba was the icing on the cake I have to say as provided a great viewing spectacle of monkeys at 'eye level' in forest canopy without having to crane the neck looking skyward for primates in the high canopy forest of the national park.