Chimpanzee Guest House

Chimpanzee Guest House, also known as Chimpanzee Forest Guest House, is on the edge of Kibale National Park, about 22 km from Fort Portal on the Kamwenge road. It is built around a colonial house from the 1950s, with views over the forest, tea plantations and a crater lake.

Rooms

Guests stay in rooms in the colonial house, in a twin banda overlooking Lake Nyabikere or in self-contained cottages with views of the forest. Camping is also possible.

Why we like it

• Character and history.
• Close to the chimp trekking start at Kanyanchu.
• Beautiful crater lake views.

Who it suits

Couples and travellers who like character over luxury.

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.