Isunga Lodge
Affordable cottages on the edge of Kibale National Park, about 20 minutes’ drive from Kanyanchu, with a restaurant looking over the forest.
Isunga Lodge stands on the edge of Kibale National Park, about 20 minutes’ drive from the Kanyanchu visitor centre. It offers comfortable, good-value accommodation for chimp tracking.
Rooms
The lodge has eight cottages, from single and double rooms to triple rooms and a two-bedroom family cottage for four. Each has a terrace, an en-suite bathroom with a hot shower, solar power and mosquito nets.
Food
The restaurant has wide views over the park and serves local and international dishes, with many ingredients from the lodge’s garden and nearby farms.
Why we like it
- Good value close to the chimps.
- A family cottage for groups.
- Fresh local food.
Who it suits
Budget-conscious travellers and families tracking chimps.
Getting there
Kibale is about five to six hours by road from Kampala via Mubende and Fort Portal, on a paved road. Fort Portal is about 30–45 minutes from Kanyanchu, and Queen Elizabeth National Park is about three hours to the south. Flights from Entebbe land at Kasese, about 1.5 hours away.
Things to do nearby
- Chimpanzee tracking and the habituation experience from Kanyanchu.
- The Bigodi Wetland walk for primates and birds. See Bigodi Wetland primate walk.
- Crater lakes walks and swimming. See crater lakes walk.
- Fort Portal town, the Tooro palace and tea estates.
- Night walks for bushbabies and pottos.
About Kibale and Fort Portal
Kibale National Park is Uganda’s primate capital, with around 1,500 chimpanzees and 13 primate species. Chimp tracking and the chimp habituation experience start at the Kanyanchu visitor centre. Next to the park, the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary offers a community-run primate and bird walk, and the crater lakes around Fort Portal are perfect for walks and swims. Read chimpanzee tracking in Kibale.
Permits and booking
Chimp permits are limited and must be paid in full when booked. We secure them first and then book a lodge close to Kanyanchu. Kibale’s chimp permit costs US$250 (US$200 in April, May and November). See our 2-day Kibale chimpanzee safari.
Facilities & style
- Eight cottages, incl. family cottage
- Terraces with seating
- Restaurant with park views
- Garden-grown produce
- Family cottage for four
- Solar power and hot showers
Planning your stay?
We match lodges to your route, budget and permits. Tell us your dates to get started.