Page 41 - Oct-Dec 2024 Edition

Bird hide

friends or families who wish to share their jungle Black and White and Red colobus, and walk in
experience. All cottages and rooms feature extra- the footprints of elephants.
long beds, en-suite bathrooms with hot showers,
plenty of storage space, and charging stations. Caring for nature
Not to miss: ask for coffee or tea served at your From the start, Turaco Treetops has been
room in the morning and wake up with the forest committed to protecting and preserving nature.
sounds. Nearly all operations run on 24/7 solar power,
the lodge practises waste management and
More than chimpanzees upcycling, and minimises single use plastics
For most guests, embarking on a chimpanzee by offering free drinking water. To encourage
trekking is the highlight of their stay. The lodge is wildlife and forest conservation Turaco Treetops
a convenient 10-15-minute drive away from the initiated and actively supports the Chris Roberts
UWA starting point and serves early breakfast Forest Foundation (CRFF - www.crff.earth). The
to start the chimpanzee adventure energised. foundation was named after Chris Roberts, one
Seeing these intelligent great apes in their natural of the founders of Turaco Treetops, who tragically
habitat is a truly magical and humbling experience lost his life in a lightning accident, shortly after
due to their active nature, social interactions completing the lodge constructions in 2019.
and expressive facial expressions that strikingly
resemble those of humans. Back at the lodge, CRFF currently manages a total of 50-acres of
guests often hear their lodge primate-neighbours degraded land, previously affected by mono-crop
calls as the night falls and occasionally small farming, tree cutting and charcoal burning. The
groups are roaming around near the lodge foundation protects and restores boundary-zone
premises. areas near the national park, plants indigenous
trees, and works with nearby farmers to develop
Though the Kibale area is known for productive agro-forestry mixes that can benefit
chimpanzees, the lodge is a great base for people and nature. Every booking at Turaco
other activities too. Neighbouring community Treetops supports CRFF: the lodge donates 2
organisation KAFRED for example offers guided USD per bed-night and 50% of its nature walk
nature walks in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary and earnings to the foundation.
cultural tours that invite guests to explore village
activities, taste local meals and hear stories Book your stay
about traditional life and practices. Both KAFRED To enjoy all that Turaco Treetops has to offer,
experiences are just a 10-minute drive away from ideally book for two nights (or more!). The team
Turaco Treetops. For anyone with a bit more time is easily available via WhatsApp (+256 757 152
to travel, the crater lakes and 360-degree “Top 323) and will make sure you feel welcome in the
of the world” viewpoint are great additions. Or, forest.
make a day-trip to Fort Portal to visit the botanical For all Eye Magazine readers Turaco Treetops
gardens, Tooro Kingdom palace, or the Mpanga now offers a 10% discount. Mention EYE10 when
market. booking - the discount is given on the room rate
Next to these excursions there is much more to (Bed and Breakfast), and is applicable to direct
explore at Turaco Treetops. Birding enthusiasts bookings of 2 nights or more, booked for the
can comfortably observe and photograph a period September 15 - December 15, 2024. The
variety of bird species – including Great Blue forest is waiting for you.
and Ross’s Turacos, Black and White Casqued
Hornbills, and White Browed Coucals – from
the newly built bird hide overlooking the forest
edge and an elephant-made water pool. Lodge Luxury cottage
guests can also join a guided nature walk directly
from the lodge. Turaco Treetops has created a
network of trails and boardwalks that take guests
through the rain forest and the reforestation and
agro-forestry zones of the Chris Roberts Forest
Foundation. During the walk you can learn more
about the flora and fauna around the lodge, spot
birds and butterflies, encounter Redtail monkeys,

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