Lying in a magical landscape between Uganda’s prime gorilla-trekking destinations, Chameleon Hill Lodge overlooks an unspoiled Rift Valley lake framed by the rugged Virunga Volcanoes. Boldly designed and vibrantly decorated, the lodge offers not just the chance to track mountain gorillas in nearby Bwindi Forest or Mgahinga Park but also to enjoy hiking and mountain biking as well as boat trips and cultural interactions.

Chameleon Hill Lodge has 10 suites, each overlooking the scattered islands and forested shores of Lake Mutanda. Each has an en suite bathroom and a private terrace from which to soak up the idyllic views. There is a convivial lounge and bar at the main camp plus a massage service to soothe your tired legs after a taxing but exciting gorilla trek. The kitchen at Chameleon Hill has a reputation for excellent organic dishes. There is a long list of activities on offer, and you will want to explore the area as much as possible.

The highlight activity is, of course, a gorilla trek, and Chameleon Hill Lodge offers additional research-based treks that give you more time with the gorillas (four hours instead of one) and with fewer other visitors. You can also search the rainforest for the rare golden monkey, go bird watching on the lake, or hit a mountain bike trail – as easy or challenging, as you like. There are also hikes to extinct volcanoes and walks into the fields and forests of the friendly local community where you can learn how to weave a traditional basket, carve a mask, and meet the traditional Batwa people to venture into their dappled forest domain.

Highlights

• Spectacular lake and volcano setting in Uganda
• Superb gorilla and golden monkey trekking
• Mountain biking, hiking, boating, complimentary Wi-Fi and birding
• Meet the local Batwa community to learn traditional crafts
• Bold, vibrant design and welcoming, family atmosphere
• Post-trekking massages in the spa as well as a muddy boot-cleaning service

Activities

• GORILLA TRACKING
• BIRD WATCHING
• CANOEING
• HIKING

Rooms

Luxury Chalet

Chameleon Hill Lodge has 10 luxury suites, each individually designed and imaginatively decorated. Expect bold primary colors as well as quirky art pieces. Furnished with double or twin beds, the rooms have their own modern en suite bathrooms and a pair of chairs on their spacious verandas where you can sit and soak up the mesmerizing views.

Facilities

Chameleon Hill Lodge’s lounge, bar, and dining area open out onto a wooden deck with panoramic Rift Valley views. To recharge camera and video batteries, electricity comes in the form of a generator run in the early morning and early evening; to recharge batteries of another kind, the lodge offers a spa where you choose from a range of health and relaxation therapies. A shoe-cleaning service and free Wi-Fi in the main building make a couple of welcome surprises.

Dining

Fast developing a name for great food in the area, Chameleon Hill Lodge makes the most of its organic garden, incorporating much local produce in its dishes. Given prior notification, the chefs happily cater to any dietary requirements such as vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, or lactose-intolerant menus.

Your day begins with an early but hearty breakfast to prepare you for a day on foot or bike. Choose from fresh fruit, pancakes, homemade muesli, and yogurt, or go for the full-cooked English complete with home-baked bread. Lunches are enjoyed at the lodge or as a delicious packed meal while out on an all-day activity. Dinners are a 3-course affair beginning perhaps with cinnamon pumpkin soup followed by charcoal-roasted Ankole beef steak and finishing with sticky banana caramel crumble, a dessert as fantastical as the view from the dining table.