Buffalo Safari Lodge is a popular accommodation facility in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The lodge is located in Katunguru and is rated a mid-range facility. Buffalo Safari Lodge is located near the Kazinga Channel and also it is 1 kilometer off the Kasese -Mbarara highway. The lodge is a private facility owned by Savannah Lodges.
Buffalo Safari Lodge offers the best views of the park and several wildlife can be encountered during your stay at the lodge. Some of the wildlife species usually spotted while on this lodge include; elephants, antelopes, hippos, warthogs, mongoose, buffaloes, and many others. Lakes George and Edward as well as Kazinga Channel are also seen at Buffalo Lodge. Buffalo Lodge has about 18 standard and deluxe cottages that can accommodate travelers on their safaris.
Accommodation at Buffalo Safari Lodge
Family cottages
These rooms in the lodge are set to host large groups of people who live like a family. In these cottages, rooms connect to each other and have large bathrooms with a private corridor. The bedding style in this cottage is about the king size. There are two family cottages at Buffalo Safari Lodge.
Deluxe single rooms
These rooms are large with bigger bathrooms, and a king-size bed. In this lodge, it is available where it has bathtub showers, bronze showers, and instant water heaters.
Deluxe twin or double rooms
These rooms have larger spaces with queen-size beds with a sitting area, mural painting décor, and a private balcony for the views of the park while in the room.
Standard single rooms
A standard room at Buffalo Safari Lodge has views overlooking the savannah plains of the park. In these rooms, there are always single and double beds with several electric-powered showers.
Standard double rooms
They are dotted all over the lodge and are spaced around the premises. Each room has a private balcony that allows tourists to view the endless savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Amenities at Buffalo Safari Lodge
Tourists enjoy multiple amenities at Buffalo Safari Lodge. These amenities include among others but are not limited to the following; a Swimming pool, full-time internet connectivity (Wi-Fi), bar and lounge, and many others. These amenities allow tourists to have a comfortable stay while at Buffalo Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
What to do while staying at Buffalo Safari Lodge
If you visit Buffalo Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will take part in several safari activities. These include among others but are not limited to the following;
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge
The encounter with the chimpanzee in Queen Elizabeth National Park is done in the Kyambura Gorge. This activity starts with a briefing about chimpanzee trekking. During the briefing, tourists are taught the dos and don’ts of the chimpanzee trekking. Tourists will go ahead with the search for chimpanzees. The activity will take about 2 to 4 hours. There will be 1 hour to view the chimpanzee while in the jungle.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge is done in two phases – the morning phase and the afternoon phase. One must have a valid chimpanzee trekking permit to be able to participate in the activity. Permit costs in Kyambura Gorge cost 100 USD for foreign nonresidents, 50 USD for foreign residents, and 50,000 UGX for East African residents. Please note that chimpanzee permit prices in Kyambura Gorge are exclusive of park entry fees.
Game drives in the Kasenyi and Ishasha sectors of the park
A wildlife safari game drive is a primary activity that travelers enjoy while staying at Buffalo Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It takes through the viewing of the wildlife in the savannah grasslands. It is done in a 4×4 safari van with a pop-up to view the wildlife in the area in designated trails of the park. Some of the animals encountered during the safari include lions, elephants, warthogs, hippos, buffaloes, and many others.
Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Travelers while on their visit to the Buffalo Lodge, can also engage in the boat cruise which is usually carried out on the Kazinga channel. It takes you through the search of several wildlife in the park that usually live near the water bodies of the park. The wildlife that is usually encountered in the park includes hippos, buffaloes, elephants, crocodiles, and many others.
Experiential activities
The experiential activities offer a close encounter with the wildlife in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. These activities include the hippo census, mongoose tracking, experiential game drive, and many others.
How to get to Buffalo Lodge?
Buffalo Safari Lodge can be accessed by both air transport and road transport. While using the road, the park is accessed via the Kampala – Fort Portal – Kasese highway to the park which takes about 7 hours of the day. The other means of road transport is also Kampala -Masaka -Rubirizi highway to the lodge which is about 7 hours. While using air transport, travelers can access the park through the use of the locally scheduled flights that are either at the Kajansi airstrip or the Entebbe International Airport to the airstrips that are near the park.
Other lodges in Queen Elizabeth National Park
While in the the park, there are other several accommodation facilities that travelers can engage in during their safaris that are situated around the park. These facilities include; BulBul Lodge, Kazinga Green Resort Lodge, Bush Lodge, Tambura Game Lodge, Pumba Cottages, Mweya Safari Lodge, Acacia Mweya Lodge, Kasenyi Plains Lodge, Simba Cottages, Kikorongo Game Lodge, Rafiki Lodge, Lake Munyanyange Lodge, Topi lodge, Elephant plains lodge, Ihamba cottages, Little elephant camp, elephant hub, volcanoes lodge, twin lakes lodge, Parkview lodge, kingfisher lodge, and many others.
