Introduction

Kyambura Gorge Lodge is a striking contemporary lodge set on the edge of the sunken rainforest of Kyambura Gorge and overlooking the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Converted from an abandoned coffee processing plant into a chic, design‑forward retreat, the lodge blends modern architecture with traditional Ugandan materials. Its eight bandas face either the gorge or the savannah and offer a serene base for tracking Kyambura’s famous ‘lost chimps’, exploring the Kazinga Channel, and discovering the park’s rich wildlife and birdlife. With a swimming pool facing the mountains of the Rift Valley and Volcanoes Safaris’ signature warm hospitality, Kyambura Gorge Lodge is one of Uganda’s most atmospheric safari retreats.

Location – Kyambura Gorge & Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Kyambura Gorge Lodge stands on the edge of the spectacular Kyambura Gorge, a deep, forested chasm carved into the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The gorge shelters a small, isolated community of chimpanzees, while the surrounding plains support elephants, lions, buffalo, hippos and prolific birdlife. From the lodge’s terraces and pool, guests look down into the lush rainforest below and out across the grasslands towards the Rwenzori Mountains. The lodge is a short drive from the Kazinga Channel as well as the crater lakes and salt pans that define this part of Uganda’s Great Rift Valley.

The Lodge – Eight Converted Coffee-Store Bandas

Kyambura Gorge Lodge comprises eight spacious bandas that were once part of an old coffee store and processing station. These have been re‑imagined with contemporary flair, combining reclaimed brick, timber and thatch with bold colours, polished floors and locally crafted furniture. Each banda features an en‑suite bathroom with flushing toilet and walk‑in shower with hot and cold running water, as well as a private veranda or balcony facing either the gorge or the savannah.

The main lodge is an elegant open‑plan space with a lounge, bar and dining room, all framed by large windows that capture views of the Rift Valley. A swimming pool sits on the escarpment edge, offering a dramatic spot to cool off while watching elephants or antelope in the plains below. A small spa offers massages to ease muscles after chimpanzee trekking. With only eight bandas and personalised butler service, the lodge maintains a refined yet relaxed atmosphere, perfect for unwinding between activities.

Conservation & Community Project

Kyambura Gorge Lodge is the centrepiece of the Kyambura Community Projects and the Kyambura Gorge Eco‑tourism Project, established by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT). Over the past decade, land around the gorge has been purchased and restored to create a three‑kilometre buffer zone that protects the fragile rainforest corridor from encroachment. This mosaic of wetland, woodland and restored coffee gardens now acts as a vital shield for the chimpanzees and other wildlife living in the gorge.

The new Kyambura Community Centre provides space for coffee processing, vocational training, community meetings and guided interpretive walks. Visitors can learn about sustainable farming techniques, the importance of wetland restoration and the role of coffee as a buffer crop. Another initiative, the Kyambura Lion Monitoring Project, uses camera traps, GPS data and ranger patrols to research lions, leopards and hyenas in the wider Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area. By staying at Kyambura Gorge Lodge, guests directly support these long‑term conservation and community programmes.

Activities & Wildlife Viewing – Chimps, Savannah Wildlife & Crater Lakes

The signature experience at Kyambura Gorge Lodge is tracking the ‘lost chimps of Kyambura’. Guided by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers, guests descend into the rainforest gorge where a small, isolated chimpanzee community lives. This is a chimp‑only destination: gorillas are not found in this region, and any gorilla tracking in a Volcanoes Safaris itinerary is carried out from Bwindi Lodge, Mount Gahinga Lodge or Virunga Lodge in Rwanda.

Beyond the gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a classic East African safari landscape. Game drives across the Kasenyi Plains reveal lions, elephants, buffalo, kob and hyena, while the Ishasha sector—easily combined with a stay at Kyambura—is famous for its tree‑climbing lions. Boat safaris along the Kazinga Channel pass enormous pods of hippo, crocodiles, buffalo and hundreds of bird species along the shoreline.

The volcanic crater lakes around Kyambura offer beautiful walking trails and photographic opportunities, while community visits around the lodge provide insight into daily life and sustainable farming. Guests can visit the coffee and wetland restoration projects in the buffer zone, or simply relax around the pool with panoramic views of the Rift Valley. Evenings are marked by golden light over the plains and fireside storytelling in the main lodge.

Guest Information & Inclusions

Kyambura Gorge Lodge offers eight bandas and is sold on a fully inclusive basis. Stays typically include all meals, most drinks, personal butler service, complimentary laundry, Wi‑Fi and a range of lodge‑based activities such as walks in the buffer zone. A nightly conservation and community fee supports the Kyambura Projects and the long‑term protection of the gorge and its wildlife. Chimpanzee tracking permits are issued in limited numbers and must be arranged in advance.

The lodge is accessible by scheduled flight to Kasese or Mweya airstrip followed by a road transfer, or by a scenic day’s drive from Kampala or Entebbe. The property is open year‑round; conditions are generally drier from June to September and December to February, but chimp tracking and wildlife viewing are rewarding throughout the seasons. Kyambura Gorge Lodge combines naturally with Bwindi Lodge, Kibale Lodge and Mount Gahinga Lodge for a complete great‑ape and savannah circuit.