Great Lakes Safaris Adds Luxury Pabidi Lodge Budongo to The Great Lakes Collection in Murchison Falls

The Great Lakes Collection, the boutique hospitality arm of renowned East African tour operator Great Lakes Safaris, has once again expanded its portfolio with the grand opening of Pabidi Lodge Budongo in Uganda. Tucked deep within the emerald canopy of the Budongo Forest Reserve (Kaniyo Pabidi sector) in Murchison Falls National Park, this one-of-a-kind luxury jungle retreat joins the group's renowned circuit of properties, which includes Elephant Plains Lodge(Queen Elizabeth National Park), Primate Lodge Kibale (Kibale National Park), and Mwamba Lodge Tarangire (Tanzania).

The intimate boutique property offers an entirely fresh perspective on Uganda's most popular national park, allowing travellers to exchange the traditional heat of the savannah riverbanks for the cool, whispering canopy of an ancient mahogany forest. True to The Great Lakes Collection’s commitment to "Journey Beyond the Wild," Pabidi Lodge offers rare, immediate proximity to the forest's primary tracking trails—perched just 10 minutes away from the action. This unique positioning provides an exceptional, crowd-free wilderness experience, offering guests the ultimate launchpad to transition from standard big-game viewing into an immersive primate safari.

Highlights include:

• Prime Primate Tracking: Direct, effortless access to Chimpanzee Trekking and Habituation experiences just minutes from the property.
• World-Class Birding: Exceptional sightings of rare forest species, including the Puvel’s Illadopsis and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, right from the lodge grounds.
• Expert-Led Guided Walks: Immersive tracking of diverse primate life, including Black-and-White Colobus and Red-tailed monkeys beneath ancient trees.
• The Best of Both Worlds: A seamless base to combine dense rainforest ecosystems with the classic savannah game drives and Nile River cruises of Murchison Falls.

Design Rooted in Nature: The intimate boutique property features 8 beautifully appointed, luxury tented accommodations, carefully configured into eight standard rooms, with near future plans for a premium suite, and a dedicated honeymoon suite. Designed to blend seamlessly with the emerald canopy, each tented room features private verandas elevated to capture the forest's legendary "dawn chorus."

The main lodge serves as a sophisticated, calming environment for relaxation, offering a restaurant serving locally sourced cuisine, a well-stocked bar, a cozy evening firepit, and a refreshing swimming pool. A dedicated wilderness spa is also underway, promising a serene wellness experience utilizing locally sourced natural ingredients deep within the wild.

Sustainability at the Core: In alignment with Great Lakes Safaris' core values of eco-conscious hospitality, Pabidi Lodge has been designed as a low-impact property built to safeguard its pristine rainforest surroundings. By sourcing fresh ingredients and materials locally wherever possible, the lodge champions sustainable hospitality, minimizes its environmental footprint, and creates vital employment opportunities for the surrounding communities bordering the forest reserve.

Location and Accessibility: Pabidi Lodge is easily accessible via a scenic drive from Kampala, or via daily scheduled and private charter flights from Entebbe International Airport to the nearby airstrips within the Murchison Falls region, followed by a scenic vehicle transfer.

Pabidi Lodge is the missing piece in the Northern Uganda safari circuit, allowing tour operators and travel designers to seamlessly blend a high-end forest primate experience with traditional savannah itineraries from a single luxury base.

We warmly invite fellow ATTA members, destination managers, and travel partners to introduce your clients to this hidden emerald gem.  Visit  gallery to view more Images, for contract rates, digital assets, availability, or to arrange a site inspection, please contact our reservations team at [email protected]or visit http://www.thegreatlakescollection.com