Chimpanzee & Wildlife Lodge — Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Home of the Lost Chimpanzees
Eight hand-built bandas on the edge of a sunken rainforest gorge, converted from an old coffee store — the only lodge positioned for chimpanzee trekking inside Queen Elizabeth National Park.
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Overview
From Coffee Store to Chimp Sanctuary
Once an old coffee store surrounded by plantations, Kyambura Gorge Lodge was sensitively restored into a stylish base for one of Uganda’s most unusual wildlife encounters.
The sunken rainforest gorge at Kyambura — nicknamed the 'Valley of Apes' — is the only place within Queen Elizabeth National Park where chimpanzees can be found, an isolated population researchers call the 'Lost Chimpanzees of Kyambura.' The lodge's eight hand-built bandas, four deluxe and four standard, sit on stilts across the hillside, each with floor-to-ceiling windows facing either the savannah or the gorge itself. A direct private footpath — the Fig Tree Trail — leads guests straight from the lodge down into the gorge to begin their trek, while the wider Queen Elizabeth National Park and its Kazinga Channel lie just beyond.
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Hand-Built Bandas
1
Only Chimp Site in the Park
600+
Bird Species in the Park
80%
Chimp Sighting Success Rate
Bandas
Bandas Above the Savannah
Four deluxe and four standard bandas, each named after a member of the Kyambura chimp family, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the gorge or the savannah.
Banda — Facing the Gorge
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Floor-to-ceiling windowsEvery banda is raised on stilts with large windows facing either the savannah or the Kyambura Gorge escarpment.
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En-suite bathroomBathrooms feature a flushing toilet, double vanity and hot-and-cold shower, alongside bathrobes and slippers.
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Personal butler serviceEvery guest receives complimentary personal butler service throughout their stay, from laundry to evening turndown.
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Private balconyEach banda opens onto its own balcony, with charging stations and mosquito nets fitted as standard.
Experiences
Chimps, Lions and the Kazinga Channel
Kyambura’s location gives access to a rare chimp trek alongside the wider game drives and boat cruises of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Signature
Chimpanzee Trekking, Kyambura Gorge
Walk the Fig Tree Trail down into the sunken gorge to search for the Lost Chimpanzees, alongside twelve other primate species.
Wildlife
Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha
A game drive to the nearby Ishasha sector offers a chance to see Queen Elizabeth’s famous lions resting in acacia trees.
On the Water
Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Cruise the channel connecting Lake Edward and Lake George, home to one of Africa’s densest hippo and bird populations.
Conservation
Kyambura Lion Monitoring Team
Join a carnivore census with the lodge's resident lion research team and learn about conservation efforts in the park.
Culture
Rwenzori Sculpture Gallery
Visit the Rwenzori Sculpture Gallery and Bronze Foundry, known for bronze sculptures of Uganda’s traditional clan totems.
Wellness
Spa & Saltwater Pool
A saltwater swimming pool and spa, launched in 2019, offer a relaxing break between chimp treks and game drives.
Dining
Dinner in the Old Coffee Store
The lodge’s converted coffee store now houses a bright, contemporary lounge and dining area, with meals showcasing locally-inspired Ugandan flavours.
01The main dining room, converted coffee store
02The outdoor terrace, over the plains
03The lounge bar, fireside drinks
04A bush breakfast, on the Fig Tree Trail
05Poolside dining, on request
Dinner — In the Old Coffee Store
Location
On the Edge of Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge Lodge sits on the border of Queen Elizabeth National Park, overlooking the sunken rainforest gorge and the savannah beyond.
Kyambura Gorge, within the wider Kyambura Wildlife Reserve, is the only site inside Queen Elizabeth National Park where chimpanzees are found.
The gorge spans just 11km but reaches 100 metres deep — a natural refuge for chimps from the savannah’s predators above.
Queen Elizabeth National Park has no distinct dry season, though June and July tend to be the driest months for trekking.
The lodge supports the Kyambura Gorge Ecotourism Project, a partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute to protect the gorge.
Fly
Scheduled flights from Entebbe land at Kasese or Mweya airstrips, followed by a road transfer to the lodge.
Drive
A scenic overland transfer connects Kyambura with Bwindi (approx. 2-3 hours) for a combined gorilla and chimp safari.
Arrive
Guests trek directly from the lodge via the private Fig Tree Trail into the gorge.
Combination Offer
Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari
Combine Kyambura Gorge Lodge with Bwindi Lodge on a 7-night safari and receive a complimentary night worth up to $1,700.