It’s one and a half hours drive from Mbarara to Kalinzu, whereas it is only 45 minutes to Kichwamba Escarpment, which overlooks Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kichwamba has a range of tourist accommodation. My favourite is Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Other options include Kingfisher, Parkview Lodge, Two Lakes (Nyanzibiri), Katara Lodge and many others. It depends on your budget.

Thanks! So, it is possible to use Mbara as a base camp and go chimp trekking in Kalinzu forest? Would you know of a place in the area where to stay? Thank you so much.

Hi sorry for slow reply. Been laid low with Malaria.
I’m brief, Kyambura Gorge chimp tracking is cheaper but chances of seeing chimps lower. However it is an amazing environment with fewer tourists.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve is probably your best bet as cheapest option plus accessible by public transport from Mbarara. Chances of seeing chimps high (but Kibale almost guaranteed).

Thanks for the fast reply! I read there are some cheaper chimpanzee trekking alternatives in the region (Kyambura?) Do you know anything about that? We would arrive on a sunday in Mbarara coming from Kigali by bus. (don’t think we can make it any further in one day). The following Friday evening we’d like to be in Kampala. What would be a good itinerary to include Sunbird Hill Lodge with the discussed activities and do some cheaper chimpanzee trekking, using public transport and an affordable accomodation? Any ideas? I want to avoid paying heavy park fees as we will already stay a week in Kidepo.
Thank you very much. Btw, I live in DRC, so if you ever have any questions regarding traveling here, I’m your guy :).

Hi Koen
Glad you’re enjoying the blog 🙂
KAFRED is the original swamp walk at Bigodi Wetlands and highly recommended. There you can see a range of primates (and birds) for 50,000 Uganda shillings. You are highly likely to see Olive Baboons on the roadside as you drive through Kibale and en route to Sunbird Hill which borders the National Park.
If you’re lucky, you may hear and occasionally see Chimpanzees, Black and White Colobus, Red-tailed Monkeys and Uganda Mangabeys from Sunbird Hill. They are seasonal and follow the fruiting trees, especially figs.
Sunbird Hill is a couple of kilometres off the main road but it’s walkable or you can get a boda boda. The advantage of staying at Sunbird Hill is there are numerous complementary activities included in your overnight stay, such as ‘walk with the ex-poacher,’ birdwatching, butterfly watching and nature walks. Sunbird Hill has its own site guide and a library of reference information.

I love your blog, thanks for sharing all your information! What would be the cheapest way to see primates and monkeys in or around Kibale? Is a walk around Bigodi Wetlands enough? And is Sunbird Hill a good base to do all your activities (not having your own vehicle). We are two people and I was wondering what would be a nice itinerary for three days?

Thanks a million

Koen