Ndali Lodge
Ndali Lodge provides the perfect luxury base from which to visit some of the region’s most popular attractions. Including Kibale Forest National Park. Perfectly placed to explore Kibale and the neighboring areas. The Forest has the largest concentration of chimps on the continent and the nearby Bigodi is a twitcher’s heaven. The park’s trailhead for chimpanzee trekking is only an hour from the lodge.
The lodge well-managed luxury palace situated in Fort Portal West of Uganda overlooking the awesome Lake Nyinambuga in the heart of Bunyaruguru Crater Lake about 26 kilometers south of Fort Portal and 40 minutes’ drive from Kibale Forest. Ndali Lodge is located on a tea plantation that covers about 1000 acres of farmland. Ndali Lodge perched on a ridge of an extinct volcanic crater that is now filled with a placid lake.
Meanwhile, the Lodge is owner run and is built from locally sourced and found materials. On land originally owned by tea farmer Trevor Price and developed by his son in the 1990s. The main lodge includes a reception, lounge, dining area, bar and veranda. Furthermore marked by polished floors, white walls, exposed beams, lightweight seating, well-chosen local artefacts, and lit at night by candles or hurricane lamps, the main lodge’s interiors are welcoming, intimate and relaxing.
The Access
Property is usually accessed by air from Entebbe to Fort Portal Airstrip, from where it is a road transfer of around 60 minutes. It is also possible to arrive here by guided overland safari from Queen Elizabeth National Park (3 hours) and Bwindi Forest (8 hours). Driving from Kampala could take you anywhere between 5-7 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
Fort Portal is blessed with a number of crater lakes and one of them is the location that hosts Ndali Lodge. Which overlooks its own private crater lake. It is a beautiful lodge in a relaxing environment and perfect for a getaway or as base accommodation for tracking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park. Or participating in a Bigodi wetland swamp walk. The Lodge is about 45 minutes from the chimpanzee tracking trailhead at Kanyanchu. The world’s densest concentration of volcanic lakes embraces the hilly landscape area around, giving the lodge an enchanting distant palace feel. It’s a perfect base to hike around the region and go primate tracking in the nearby Kibale Forest.
Accommodation
With a capacity of up to 16 occupants, Ndali’s eight grass-thatched cottages are spacious and airy, with each facing west. To offer a panoramic view to the spectacular ‘Mountains of the Moon’ – Rwenzori Mountains. The interiors imaginatively furnished, using local materials. Each cottage, large enough to accommodate a family, has possesses a double or twin bed, plenty of changing room, a seating area, spacious en-suite bathroom and a private verandah ideal for watching the sun setting behind the Rwenzori Mountains. The bathroom includes a flush toilet, basin, shower and stand-alone bath. Tasteful, restrained, the cottage’s interior designs are a beautiful mix of reclaimed woods – four poster beds, tables – and locally made materials.
Dining
Meals served in a spacious dining room/restaurant or guests can request for room service so that they can have meals in the privacy of their cottages. Breakfast had from the viewing deck as you enjoy beautiful scenery of the Crater Lake, forests and Rwenzori Mountains. Guests take tea in the afternoon and evening drinks with other guests before an English-style meal. Meals are usually served at separate tables, in conventional restaurant style.
Special diets such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher and other variations should not be a problem, so long as you let us know at the time of booking.
The style feels almost Spanish mission, with the main building commanding breathtaking views of lakes on either side. The airy and tastefully decorated lounge and dining area, set in colorful flowering gardens. Have something of an English country-house ambiance, an old library, and superb candlelit, home-cooked four-course dinners. The lodge’s style is a mix of rustic romanticism and post-colonial luxury.
Activities
Chimpanzee trekking
The main reason people visit this area! Head out to Kibale Forest National Park to enjoy chimpanzee trekking and forest walks. The rainforest is not only a home to chimpanzees. But also to 12 other primate species like Red tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys. Baboons, blue monkeys and over 350 bird species. Elsewhere in the park, there are lion, leopard, golden cat, serval, mongoose, otters – and even elephant occasionally make their way along the corridor linking Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Mountain hikes
The lodge will recommend all the best routes for your level. The intrepid can visit the Rwenzori Mountains for some serious mountain trekking!
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
A community-based project for the conservation of monkeys, other mammals and rare birds. Such as the white-winged warbler, white-collared olive back, and papyrus canary. You can enjoy walks around the tea estate and the Ndali vanilla-processing plant: this is a very interesting activity…as sights along the way include crater rims, vanilla and banana plantations, coffee terraces, and oil drums full of brewing alcohol.
Lake Kayaking
The Lake provides many pastimes: such as swimming, kayaking, and looking out for the five different species of kingfisher!