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Travel safe during COVID-19
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What you can expect during your stay
- Face masks required for staff in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff
- Stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Staff required to regularly wash hands
Updated 03/14/21 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
Updated 03/14/21 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
#1 of 5 Specialty lodging in Wakiso
Location
5.0
Cleanliness
5.0
Service
4.9
Value
5.0
Nkima Forest Lodge is set in a sunny glade surrounded by indigenous forest on top of a hill with beautiful views of Mabamba Bay, a protected Ramsar wetlands site near to Entebbe. It was built to help preserve the patch of indigenous forest, home to turacos, parrots, hornbills and red-tailed monkeys (Nkima). There are six ensuite cottages with private decks in the forest.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Pool
Free breakfast
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Room features
Housekeeping
Bath / shower
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Location
Full view
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Fabulous place, in small forest fragment. Easy walking distance to catch tour of wetlands, lodge will organize for you. If you want to try and see a shoebill but have limited time, this is a perfect option! Amazing birding in the wetlands, but also within the forest in which the lodge sits. Great little walking trails through the woods, amazing views of the wetlands below. Wonderful spot to relax into nature! Lodge organizes everything - tours, transport, and all food while at the lodge. If you have limited time, you really can arrive in the evening, go on tour the next morning and then depart by 12 or 1 pm. So great way to end a business travel week to Kampala - just leave saturday afternoon instead of friday night! But if you have a bit more time, you can soak into the forest, or in the sun next to the pool.…
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled on business
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Helpful
Nkima Forest Lodge is the perfect place to stay at the end of your Uganda Safari. Excellent personal service by Shiraz and Nasser. Bandas are comfortable and clean. In-house PCR testing very convenient. The forest provides a calming environment to reflect on you adventures and impressions gathered about Uganda. A word of appreciation to owners Nick and Elaine for preserving a part of Ugandas Forests and providing the travellers the opportunity to enjoy the quietness. An excellent place for birwatchers. Book a boat trip to observe shoebills with Ismael a knowledgable guide.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
Helpful
Although very near Entebbe (you can see the runway a few Km away across the bay from the viewpoint) this little gem of a place has the peace and quiet of real forest retreat. Plenty of birds, butterflies and 3 species of monkeys for the naturalists, a swimming pool for the more sporty types and excellent food for everyone. The proximity to Mabamba Swamp (world famous for Shoebill Storks) is convenient for birdwatchers. The place is very well run, not luxorious but - much more importantly - evrything works very well!
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Date of stay: June 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
Helpful
+1
This lodge is incredible. We have travelled to Uganda twice over the past couple of years and of all the places we have stayed, this was one of the places, we love the most. The rooms are incredible, they feel like you are sleeping in the tree canopy with the owls. The grounds and viewing decks are beautiful and we spent hours watching monkeys and the amazing birdlife that is here. This is a perfect place to unwind, chill around the beautiful swimming pool and take in the extraordinary surroundings the lodge boasts. It really is something special and the owners elevate your stay with their amazing flexibility, kindness and offers of help. It's such a refreshing experience for lodge owners to offer such a personal service. Thank you Elaine, we really appreciate all you did for us. The food was beautiful and plentiful and the staff, super friendly and helpful- always on hand if you needed something but not intrusive in any other way. The lodge is ideally located for those wanting to explore the wetlands in search of the Shoebill and over the course of our stays here, we have done the tours 4 times whilst staying in Nkima. We have seen Shoebills on every tour we have done and even seen Sitatunga and otters too. The Mabamba swamp is literally just 5 min away, so it really shouldnt be missed. This was our last stop in Uganda before returning to the UK and as such we needed to ensure we had a PCR test to depart. Once again Elaine stepped in and arranged this for us. A nurse turned up at the lodge, took our PCR and 8 hours later, we were emailed the results. All for around £60, which is absolutely incredible. It meant our last days on holiday were spent relaxing, not trying to sort out PCR testing. The first time we stayed here, it was for just one night, this time it was for two. For us we left still wanting to stay longer, so next time it will definitely be longer. …
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Nick Roberts, Owner at Nkima Forest Lodge
Responded Jun 19, 2021
Thanks..great that people enjoy our efforts to conserve Ugandan wildlife. We love it when people are relaxed and enjoy all that Uganda had to offer, and especially in these tricky times.
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My family and I staid three nights at Nkima lodge early in May. The place is really nice and the staff is just amazing! It is the perfect place to relax and forget about everything. Also the location offers a lot of activities, bile tour, boat trip, walk to the swamp etc. We really enjoyed our time and will repeat. A big thanks to the team!!
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Date of stay: May 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Helpful
We live in Kampala and didn't want to travel far for a nice little break. From many other recommendations we headed to Nkima Forest Lodge and in about 1 hour we were ther and enjoying our welcome juice. These were COVID times and we were the only guests at the lodge during this midweek stay, but still we had a great selection of food and all the attention we could ever wish for. The owner told me that no trees were cut to construct the lodge and the rooms give the impression you are literally sleeping in the jungle. This was confirmed to us when we woke up and a monkey was having a good look at us through the cabin window. We enjoyed the food, we enjoyed the pool, we missed the croquet, but had two wonderful walks in the forest where lots of monkeys are to be spotted. At the far end of the ridge on which the lodge is constructed there is a wonderful view of Entebbe in one direction and the vast Mbamba swamp in all other directions. For a short, or longer break to escape the city and to feel that you have left it miles behind, then Nkima is the place for you!…
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Date of stay: August 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Helpful
+1
We had been to see the Shoebill Stork in the nearby Mbamba wetlands and needed lunch so called in here. Great lunch and friendly staff. Knowing of my interest in lodges one of the staff/management kindly showed my round one of their bungalows and I was quite impressed. Nicely built and furnished this is a place I could happily stay in for a few days. Close enough to Kampala and Entebbe but definitely away from it all in the lush countryside. Apart from Mbamba the whole area bustled with birdlife and some mammals too. The bungalows had full size beds and nets for protection. H&C water and smart bathrooms. I liked it a lot.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This no-frills lodge in a beautiful spot is quite comfortable and peaceful. Nkima means monkey, specifically the black-faced monkeys in this forest, and in the morning dozens of them were playing and grooming outside the main building. I also saw many different types of beautiful butterfly. This is shoebill territory. I didn’t, but you can go on canoe tours in the wetlands to look for them. The food here is really good, and plentiful. A bar and fridge well stocked with booze, beer, and soda. Dispersed cabins are really private, with a large balcony looking straight into the forest. Hard to find, roads maybe impassable in the rain. I understand there’s another route via ferry from Entebbe. WiFi access in the main building but very slow. I recommend a visit. Two nights would justify the long drive and give you time to birdwatcher, hike, and relax too.…
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled solo
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Wonderful bungalows in a patch of forest on a hill. The surrounding trees are full of exotic birds and monkeys and you can enjoy a sunset overlooking the Magamba wetlands. Excellent food and service, clean and comfy. Easy access to the wetlands where you can see the odd shoebill stork and myriad other birds.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
100% self sufficient eco-lodge overlooking the Mabamba Wetlands. The rooms are all nestled in the forest equipped with large balconies, hot showers and private views of the forest. Each morning we woke up with Nkima monkeys outside our room in the trees. The main area is large, filled with games, a bar, and comfy seating with views over the wetlands. The food is fresh and delicious. The pool has the best views overlooking the wetlands and forest. It's private and refreshing. Good for sunbathing, reading and maybe some swimming. The staff are helpful and happy. The owners are knowledgeable and welcoming. A good weekend getaway from Kampala. Also it's a good first or last stop when arriving to/from Entebbe Airport. It's only a short ferry ride across the bay, and 10ish minutes to the lodge…
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
Helpful
LOCATION
UgandaCentral RegionWakiso
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Nkima Forest Lodge
What are some of the property amenities at Nkima Forest Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Nkima Forest Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Nkima Forest Lodge?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.