Kyambura Gorge Lodge
Kyambura Gorge Lodge is a luxury accommodation offering unique experience to travellers seeking for luxury and wildlife exploration. This renowned Kyambura Gorge Lodge, with entirely remodelled public areas and gardens. Converted from a coffee store to create a breathtakingly beautiful space.
The guest bandas have an afro-chic theme with the accent on local artifacts re-imagined in a new context. Each banda offers a unique view either across the savanna or the gorge. There are four new deluxe bandas and four standard bandas. A new spa and swimming pool launched in 2019.
The lodge is located on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park with sweeping views of the rolling savanna. The distant mountains of the moon, and the Kyambura Gorge.
The lodge is the ideal location for tracking the lost chimpanzees in the forest of Kyambura Gorge nearby. And seeing the amazing game in one of Africa’s most beautiful parks. Centered on the waterway of the Kazinga Channel.
Guests can participate in the Kyambura Gorge Eco-tourism project, a series of community and conservation activities developed. Since 2009 to safeguard the Kyambura Gorge ecosystem.
New walking safaris have been created around the lodge to experience the dramatic landscapes of Kyambura gorge. And the Queen Elizabeth savannah, and visit a reclaimed wetland. Guests can walk along the Kyambura gorge buffer zone. We have created to protect the fragile ecosystem from encroachment and contribute to its long-term conservation project by planting a seedling.
Accommodation
The Lodge features well-appointed accommodations that combine modern comforts with authentic safari ambiance. Meanwhile, the Lodge designs often incorporates local Materials hence showing the natural beauty of the area.
It has 8 unique handbuilt bandas (4 deluxe and 4standard) of which 6 doubles and 2 twins. All with a private balcony offering spectacular views of the park or gorge. 1 guide/tour Leader room available. All rooms are complete with en-suite bathrooms with flushing toilet, double vanity and indoor and outdoor shower with hot & cold running water.
Conservation and Sustainability
Guests can participate in the Kyambura Gorge Eco-tourism project, a series of community and conservation activities. Developed since 2009 to safeguard the Kyambura Gorge ecosystem. Initiatives may include eco-friendly practices, support for local conservation projects and engagement with nearby communities.
Facilities
Swimming pool with stunning views over the park and the Rwenzori Mountains on the
Horizon.
2 tranquil massage rooms available. One 50-minute complimentary massage per guest per stay. Extra massages are available at $50 for a 50- Minute massage.
Full board accommodation including all soft drinks and regular and premium alcoholic beverages including cocktails, cellar collection wines and single malt whiskies. Guests pay for
French champagne only.
Complimentary laundry service.
Power sockets/charging facilities and hair dryer in the rooms. Fans are provided but no
Air conditioners.
Wi-Fi available in the main lodge and bandas.
Sales Tool Kit with images, videos, rates, etc can be viewed at this link.
Activities
Chimpanzee Tracking
Tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor is nothing short of exhilarating. The chimps effortlessly cross and scamper through the trees above the gorge, and visitors on the other hand must cross the river using natural bridges. In order to keep up with the chimps. So although the walk usually lasts only 2–3 hours, descending the steep gorge and crossing the log bridges over the river requires some agility and fitness.
Chimpanzee tracking is also available in nearby Kalinzu, a forest reserve 30 minutes’ drive from Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Where there is a community of about 40 habituated chimpanzees.
Tree Climbing Lions
It is highly uncommon for lions to actually climb trees. In fact, there is only one subspecies known to climb trees regularly, and one of the two populations of these subspecies can be found in Ishasha, in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Finding a pride lounging on the branches of one of the many fig trees in the park is considered to be one of the highlights of visiting the park.
Boat Cruise
The Kazinga Channel is a 32-kilometer long channel, rich in wildlife that links Lakes Edward and George. Boat trips down the channel depart from Mweya Safari Lodge (about an hour’s drive through the park from Kyambura Gorge Lodge) and last 3-4 hours. The boat cruise provides a wonderful opportunity to photograph the many animals that come to cool off at the waters’ edge, including lion, buffalo, hippo, elephant, and leopard.
Game Drives
Queen Elizabeth National Park is considered to be one of Uganda’s most varied and most beautiful protected areas. Queen, as she is affectionately known, is home to two of Africa’s big cats, the majestic lion and the elusive leopard. Kyambura Gorge Lodge guests can explore the plains of Queen Elizabeth Park in Uganda on a variety of game drives, usually at dawn and dusk. It is when daylight hours are coolest that wildlife is most active.
Birding
Both Uganda and Rwanda offer some of the world’s best bird watching, with a vast diversity of bird species. Uganda has over 1,000 bird species with 150 found only in Uganda. Rwanda has over 700 bird species and is home to the second highest number of Albertine endemics in the Albertine region. Each of our lodges offers the chance to see a number of different birds, with the vast majority endemic to the Region.
Kyambura Wetland Walk
VSPT secured 45 acres of wetland south of the Volcanoes Safaris Kyambura Gorge Lodge. The wetland, which previously had been used as an illegal brick works, is now regenerating rapidly back to its natural state. The rejuvenated wetlands now attract over 200 species of birds, different mammals and primates and the site is used to train members of the community in birding and guiding. This project has been a key success for the VSPT, particularly regarding its ecosystem conservation efforts given the amount of species that have now repopulated the area: new entries are added to the spotters’ lists almost daily!
Indigenous trees have also been replanted, with the help of the community and of Volcanoes guests, along the banks of the Kyambura River. Due to human encroachment and habitat destruction over the past twenty years, hundreds of trees along the riverbank were cut down leading to soil erosion and water pollution.
Community outreach and guide training take place throughout the year with the objective of establishing a pool of qualified local guides who can lead tours of the wetland. Guests at Kyambura Gorge Lodge can participate in guided walks in the wetland.