Budongo Eco Lodge

Budongo Eco Lodge is situated in Budongo forest reserve next to Murchison falls national park in northwestern Uganda. It is the only lodge around budongo forest and it provides mid-range and budget accommodation options for travelers especially those visiting Budongo forest reserve. The lodge is perfectly located in the forest giving tourists breathtaking views of the Budongo canopy.

Budongo Eco Lodge has eco-cabins that are blended with the natural surroundings of the old mahogany trees. They have five intimate cabins that have private verandas with great views of the surrounding vegetation, en suite bathrooms, and compositing toilets. The lodge also has four dormitory-style rooms for large groups and these have bunk beds, shared rooms and mosquito nets.

At Budongo Eco Lodge, there is a restaurant with good chefs who prepare local and international dishes. They have a well-stocked bar with soft and hard drinks, coffee areas and a campfire area where tourists gather to get some warmth on cold evenings. The lodge has a small craft shop where tourists can buy gifts for themselves or friends back home.

To stay at this mid-range accommodation facility, its better you book in advance with your local tour operator or directly with the lodge owners because it’s the only lodge around budongo forest reserve, and the fact that a lot of tourists visit the forest means that the rooms sell out quickly most especially in the dry season.

Activities to do while staying at Budongo Eco Lodge

Trek Chimps in Budongo Forest

Chimpanzee trekking

This is the most done activity by travelers staying at this mid-range accommodation facility because it’s the only accommodation near Budongo forest.  Tourists going for chimpanzee trekking will just leave their lodge and head out to the starting point where they will be taught about the rules and regulations of the chimpanzee trekking activity.

The group is led by armed ranger guides who take tourists to different areas of the forest until they locate the chimpanzees. During the search, tourists will be able to see different forest primates, mammals, birds, and vegetation among others. Tourists will spend 1 hour with these chimpanzees trying to learn how they behave, watch them do daily activities, and take photos.

Birding

Just like other forest reserves in Uganda, this is also one of the best birding areas. Therefore tourists that love birds and are staying at budongo eco lodge should be part of the birding activities. Budongo forest is home to over 361 bird species and these are spitted with a help of a bird guide who knows the best trails to use and can protect you in case of danger.

The birds of Budongo forest include Red-winged grey warbler, rock pratincole, long-toed plover, secretary bird, pel’s fishing owl, rock pratincole, yellow-throated greenbul, black-lored babbler, guinea Congo, fawn-breasted waxbill, African qualifinch, sacred ibis, spotted verreaux eagle owl, black-faced waxbill, denham’s bustard, white-bellied night heron, rock pratincole, Senegal thick-knee, swallow-tailed bee-eater, yellow-billed oxpecker, goliath heron, African shrike flycatcher, pygmy crake, fork-tailed drongo, African jacana, African pied wagtail, chocolota backed kingfisher, and lemon-bellied crombec among others.

Game drives

From Budongo Eco Lodge, tourists can to the northern banks of Murchison falls national park where a huge population of animals do live so that they be part of the amazing game viewing activity. The game drives in Murchison falls national park can be morning, evening, or night and tourists will be able to see different wildlife which include lions, buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, antelopes, warthogs, birds, and River Nile among ithers.

Boat cruise

How do you stay at Budongo Eco Lodge and fail to be part of the amazing boat cruise to explore the Nile? The bottom of the falls boat cruise is what travelers staying at this mid-range accommodation Lodge shouldn’t miss out on because it takes them up to the Murchison falls which are the strongest waterfalls in the world. The boat cruise comes with opportunities of seeing hippos, crocodiles, water birds, and park animals along the river.

Feel the fresh breeze of Budongo Forest on your Nature Walk activity

Nature walks

From Budongo Eco Lodge, nature walks are best done inside budongo forest although tourists can still have them around the lodge. The nature walks are done to allow tourists to encounter different forest attractions but on foot. During the guided nature walks, tourists will be able to encounter different wildlife which include chimpanzees, monkeys, olive baboons, birds, mammals, and different plant species.

When to stay at Budongo Eco Lodge

Tourists can stay at Budongo Eco Lodge at any time of the year during their safari in Murchison falls national park because the lodge is open. The best time to stay here would be the best time to visit the area and this is from June to September and December to February when the area is experience little or no rainfall. The game park and forest trails are dry, the vegetation is short and thin with good views of wildlife, and roads to the lodge are passable

Travelers can still visit Budongo and Murchison falls national park in the rainy season and then stay at Budongo Eco Lodge. During that time, the lodge will be discounted being a low season and tourists will get to enjoy each and everything at a very low price. Tourists should however know that the rainy season has a lot of rainfall that destroys the trails and game trucks, and the vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of the animals.

Accessing Budongo Eco Lodge

Budongo Eco Lodge can be accessed by road transport or air transport in 4-6 hours depending on the number of stopovers as well as the nature of the roads. Travelers from Kampala/Entebbe can access the lodge by driving through Luwero, Nakasongola, to Masindi where they can access the lodge using the southern gates of the park.

Luxury travelers can fly to the park to access Budongo Eco Lodge in 1 hour. Flights which are organized by Aerolink Uganda, and Bar Aviation Uganda do start from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe international airport to Bugugu airstrip where travelers are picked up to the lodge.