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#11 of 15 Specialty lodging in Murchison Falls National Park
Location
4.5
Cleanliness
4.3
Service
4.4
Value
4.1
Budongo Eco Lodge, also known as the Kaniyo Pabidi Ecotourism site, is located in the heart of Budongo Forest Reserve, in Murchison Falls National Park. The lodge consists of comfortable eco-cabins with private veranda, four spacious dorm rooms, a visitor's centre and restaurant. In addition, many different forest activities are offered in the direct surroundings, including chimp tracking, chimpanzee habituation, forest walks and bird watching.
I enjoyed my stay at this eco lodge near Murchison Falls.
First, the staff was very welcoming. We were greeted warmly by the manager and staff with a welcome drink.
After a short briefing, we were were taken to our cabin. It was like a cabin in the middle of a rain forest, surrounded by trees and native plants.
The room was large with a very big bed and seating area. The bathroom and shower was separate.
There was plenty of hot water for showers and handwashing.
The bed was very comfortable as well with a mosquito 🦟 net.
The staff was outstanding. Especially Rule'. I hope I got his name correct.
He was kind and patient when taking our special request for meals. I don't eat red meat, and my travel partner is allergic to dairy. He and the chef went out of their way to make sure our dietary needs were met.
There is plenty of parking at this lodge. And the ambience is so peaceful and inviting.
It rained two nights during our three night stay. I loved it.
My only complaint was the long walk to the cabin at night on rocky paths.
On our last night they turned on path lights to make it easier to find our way back to our cabin.
I would definitely recommend this place due to the location and staff, and would stay here again.
Dear Charlotte,
Warm greetings from the pearl of Africa at Budongo Eco Lodge. Thank you for choosing to stay with us and also sparing a moment to share feedback about your stay with us.
We are very delighted to note that you had a worthwhile stay with us and enjoyed our services, the rooms, meals, hospitable staff and the entire lodge ambience.
Your gratitude message has been shared with Kule and the entire team.
We look forward to yet another opportunity of hosting you.
Written March 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
As others have said, this lodge is remotely situated so don't expect 5 star luxury. What you do get is an authentic experience. The cabins are clean and comfortable, if a little smaller than in some other lodges. The food is excellent. The cabin's lighting is a bit dim, so it wasn't so easy for me to search for small items in my case after dusk.
I had a wonderful chimpanzee trek. Our guide was very knowledgable about all types of wildlife, and he spished for various birds while we were waiting for the tracker to call. The guide was very patient whilst I tried to take their pictures. After 2 and three quarter hours, the tracker called to say the chimps were half an hour away. When we arrived there was a tremendous racket. The chimps had cornered three colobus monkeys. We saw two escape but the third was killed and eaten in the low canopy above our heads. Our guide said he had only seen this once before in three years at the lodge.
Dear David,
Thank you for choosing to stay with us at Budongo Eco Lodge and for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We absolutely loved reading your review!
We are pleased to note that yo had a memorable stay with us and enjoyed most of our facilities especially the comfortable rooms, the tasty meals and most of all the fantastic Chimpanzee tracking experience you had. We must admit, its such an authentic experience compared to none.
We genuinely aim to provide absolute all-round comfort in the wildness for all our guests, to be your home away from home with the added advantage of literally being surrounded by the sights and sounds of the rainforest.
Sending you warm regards and best wishes from us and our cheeky cousins in the forest! and we look forward to the opportunity of hosting you again in the nearest future.
Written April 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Room was a good size, nice wooden walls, mosquito net with no holes and shower that worked well. Soft bed, lulled to sleep by local animals, then slept all night. Dining room and lounge was laid out well. Padded wooden chairs, views overlooking the trees. Occasional animal and birds roaming around the trees. Lovely seeing the monkey and hornbills in the tree tops and hear the birds singing. Looks very jungley. Food good. Internet speed v slow, but who wants to be on the internet when in an African forest!
Guide around the forest was very good. Knew the trails, butterflies, monkeys, birds and trees. Great value. Left at 7am and returned at 5pm. Regular rests en route while watching interesting animals. Saw about monkey 4 types, butterfly 15 types, birds 45 types, sadly only 1 snake briefly and numerous trees.
Dear Guest,
Warmest greetings from Budongo EcoLodge,
We thank you for choosing to stay at Budongo Eco lodge and for going a step further to share your experience at the lodge.
We are glad that through your trip you managed to experience a range of things- from the chimp walks, to the array of birds, to the thick forest canopy to the diverse primates, butterflies and the reptiles. This combined with clean, comfortable accommodation, tasty food and warm hospitality from our staff is what we believe make for a truly remarkable and memorable holiday in the heart of the jungle.
We are very pleased that Budongo Eco Lodge left you with no regrets and we look forward to your next visit.
Written April 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Date of stay: January 2020
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a great one night stay at the lodge. The food was lovely and so were the team, who looked after us very well. The lodge was clean and spacious. It was really cool going to sleep with the sounds of the forest. We also did chimpanzee tracking with Robert, which was unforgettable. He taught us so much and is one of kind!
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place was very cute and a good place to stay if you want to go chimpanzee tracking. The staff was extremely friendly! The food was great. There is no service here, and they had no Wi-Fi at the moment.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Uganda Lodges, General Manager at Budongo Eco Lodge
Responded May 2, 2023
Hello Abbyhamre, greetings to you from Budongo Eco Lodge. Thank you for choosing to stay with us and also sparing a moment to share feedback with us. We are glad you enjoyed our facility, the location and hospitality of the staff. We apologize for any inconveniences you faced due to no WiFi at the lodge. We look forward to yet another opportunity of hosting you during your next visit.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had a wonderful morning chimp tracking through the rainforest. We found 20+ chimpanzees in a fig tree and we’re allowed to watch them and follow them for over an hour. Our guide, James, pointed out many interesting facts & answered all of our questions. He was great! I hope we can come back and do it again. I highly recommend chimp tracking for anyone who wants a beautiful adventure through the rainforest and who’s interested in these amazing creatures.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Chimp tracking- wear long socks, long pants, dark clothing.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a wonderful trip chimp tracking at Budongo Eco Lodge organised by Buutu Safaris in Jinja. Our guide (James) was very knowledgeable and we had a great experience seeing the chimps playing, feeding, climbing, sleeping etc in the wild. Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our chimp trekking experience was AMAZING. Our guide, Joseph, and the trackers put us in the middle of a chimp group that was in the trees AND on the ground. He also helped us identify trees, birds, berries, and dung beetles at work! If you are just looking to track chimps, this is your place. If you want chimps and more -- they will exceed all expectations! The Eco Lodge also has an amazing gift shop!
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:We did not stay at the Lodge - but the accommodations looked great!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Uganda Lodges, General Manager at Budongo Eco Lodge
Responded Jan 19, 2023
Dear Petsel, Warmest Greetings from Budongo Forest and Budongo Eco lodge. Thank you for choosing to track with us and taking a step further to share with us your valuable feedback, We are happy to note that enjoyed the chimpanzee trekking experience with us and so glad that our guide Joseph did a fantastic job showing you the beauty within Budongo, without a doubt, Budongo is the ultimate chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda. We look forward to yet another exciting opportunity of hosting you again in the nearest future. "Cheers"
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I had looked on the web page and it said this place was closed but as I was leaving Murchison Falls National Park, I saw the very small sign for Chip Tracking so we called in. The Eco Lodge is open and the Chimp Tracking tours are on. This tour was one of the highlights of my life, to see the chimps in the wild, on the ground was a once in a lifetime experience. Highly recommended.
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Date of stay: February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Uganda Lodges, General Manager at Budongo Eco Lodge
Responded Mar 23, 2022
Dear Tula, Greetings from Budongo Eco Lodge. Thank you for passing by to track chimps with us and also sparing a moment to share feedback with us. We are glad to have made your visit to the pearl of Africa a life time experience. We look forward to hosting you during your next visit to the the pearl of Africa.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I enjoyed my stay at this eco lodge near Murchison Falls. First, the staff was very welcoming. We were greeted warmly by the manager and staff with a welcome drink. After a short briefing, we were were taken to our cabin. It was like a cabin in the middle of a rain forest, surrounded by trees and native plants. The room was large with a very big bed and seating area. The bathroom and shower was separate. There was plenty of hot water for showers and handwashing. The bed was very comfortable as well with a mosquito 🦟 net. The staff was outstanding. Especially Rule'. I hope I got his name correct. He was kind and patient when taking our special request for meals. I don't eat red meat, and my travel partner is allergic to dairy. He and the chef went out of their way to make sure our dietary needs were met. There is plenty of parking at this lodge. And the ambience is so peaceful and inviting. It rained two nights during our three night stay. I loved it. My only complaint was the long walk to the cabin at night on rocky paths. On our last night they turned on path lights to make it easier to find our way back to our cabin. I would definitely recommend this place due to the location and staff, and would stay here again.…
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:There's plenty of parking.
If you have dietary needs or restrictions, inform them ahead of...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Uganda Lodges, General Manager at Budongo Eco Lodge
Responded Mar 23, 2022
Dear Charlotte, Warm greetings from the pearl of Africa at Budongo Eco Lodge. Thank you for choosing to stay with us and also sparing a moment to share feedback about your stay with us. We are very delighted to note that you had a worthwhile stay with us and enjoyed our services, the rooms, meals, hospitable staff and the entire lodge ambience. Your gratitude message has been shared with Kule and the entire team. We look forward to yet another opportunity of hosting you.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We wanted to stay there to see some special birds at the forest. The place was good and the shared rooms and bathrooms were basic but Ok. The problem is that the walks in the forest are overpriced for the Chimp tours and makes it very difficult for other nature-lovers or birders to do so (70$ per person, plus the Park fees...). Please revise your policy! Thank you in advance,
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Uganda Lodges, General Manager at Budongo Eco Lodge
Responded Aug 23, 2021
Dear MiquelRafa, Thank you for choosing to stay with us at Budongo Eco lodge and also sparing time to give us feedback. It is indeed feedback such as yours that enables us to better our services. We apologize for the high prices though it is not Budongo Eco lodge that sets these prices. We shall try to engage National Forestry Authority and see how to better this experience.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This lodge far exceeded my expectations! I had expected quite basic facilities - but the quality of rooms, the hospitality and yes, the food - all were superlative! Completely surrounded by the forest, this is as close to nature as it gets. A warning: The government has decided in its supreme wisdom that the monstrous Oil Highway would rip out Budongo (and Murchison Falls national Park) just outside this lodge. Hence, in addition to hearing the deafening calls of Chimpanzees, you cannot avoid hearing the noisy trucks even at night! A tragedy - hope Budongo survives his onslaught. Activities: The nature walk in the evening was fabulous! Don (my guide) managed to spot "Puvel's iIladopsis" - the elusive endemic bird. The walk is a nature lesson indeed. One can do Chimpanzee tracking as well here - though I did not get the chance to experience it here.…
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:All cottages are great! Absolutely in nature! Dorm facilities also exist!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As others have said, this lodge is remotely situated so don't expect 5 star luxury. What you do get is an authentic experience. The cabins are clean and comfortable, if a little smaller than in some other lodges. The food is excellent. The cabin's lighting is a bit dim, so it wasn't so easy for me to search for small items in my case after dusk. I had a wonderful chimpanzee trek. Our guide was very knowledgable about all types of wildlife, and he spished for various birds while we were waiting for the tracker to call. The guide was very patient whilst I tried to take their pictures. After 2 and three quarter hours, the tracker called to say the chimps were half an hour away. When we arrived there was a tremendous racket. The chimps had cornered three colobus monkeys. We saw two escape but the third was killed and eaten in the low canopy above our heads. Our guide said he had only seen this once before in three years at the lodge.…
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Uganda Lodges, General Manager at Budongo Eco Lodge
Responded Apr 21, 2020
Dear David, Thank you for choosing to stay with us at Budongo Eco Lodge and for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We absolutely loved reading your review! We are pleased to note that yo had a memorable stay with us and enjoyed most of our facilities especially the comfortable rooms, the tasty meals and most of all the fantastic Chimpanzee tracking experience you had. We must admit, its such an authentic experience compared to none. We genuinely aim to provide absolute all-round comfort in the wildness for all our guests, to be your home away from home with the added advantage of literally being surrounded by the sights and sounds of the rainforest. Sending you warm regards and best wishes from us and our cheeky cousins in the forest! and we look forward to the opportunity of hosting you again in the nearest future.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.