Ndali Lodge

Ndali Lodge is a fantastic traditional colonial lodge set in the stunning crater region of Western Uganda. Built of local stone and thatch, the 8 luxury bandas offer views over the dramatic Rwenzori Mountains; each banda is en-suite with a private veranda. The dining room and lounge offer relaxing views over the crater lake below.

This is a great base from where to track the chimpanzees of Kibale Forest. Ndali Lodge does have hot and cold running water however all lighting is by candle or storm lantern! Ndali Lodge is set in a stunning location on the rim of an extinct volcano that has now filled with water to become the breathtaking Lake Nyinambuga – 250 acres in size and 130 metres deep.

There is a main thatched lodge with a spacious sitting room, reception area and dining room, flanked by eight cottages providing luxurious accommodation for 16 guests. The eight cottages provide luxurious accommodation for 16 guests. Facing west, they offer panoramic views of the spectacular 'Mountains of the Moon'. The cottages are built of local stone and thatch and interiors at Ndali Lodge are imaginatively and comfortably furnished, using local materials. Each cottage, large enough to accommodate a family, has en-suite facilities with bath, shower, WC and hand basin and a private veranda, perfect for watching the sun setting behind the Rwenzori Mountains, the snow-capped peaks which are visible on a clear day.

At night the dining room is festooned with candles as the lodge has no electricity. The sitting room, reception and dining room open out onto Lake Nyinambuga and are connected by two open passageways or breezeways: fruit bats, owls and frogs like to use them as a highway to the crater lake. Facilities include a swimming pool, lounge and library, dining room, laundry.

About Kibale National Park

Kibale is highest at the park’s northern tip, which stands 1,590m above sea level. The lowest point is 1,100m on the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley to the south. 351 tree species have been recorded in the park, some rise to over 55m and are over 200 years old. Kibale’s varied altitude supports different types of habitat, ranging from wet tropical forest on the Fort Portal plateau to woodland and savanna on the rift valley floor.

Kibale is one of Africa’s foremost research sites. While many researchers focus on the chimpanzees and other primates found in the park, others are investigating Kibale’s ecosystems, wild pigs and fish species, among other topics. Kibale National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau.

Kibale is famously known for Chimpanzee tracking. The park is home to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate including the chimpanzee. It also contains over 375 species of birds. Kibale adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south to create a 180km-long corridor for wildlife between Ishasha, the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Sebitoli in the north of Kibale National Park.

The Kibale-Fort Portal area is one of Uganda’s most rewarding destinations to explore. The park lies close to the tranquil Ndali-Kasenda crater area and within half a day’s drive of the Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori Mountains and Semuliki National Parks, as well as the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve.