Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge is one of the newest additions to luxury lodges in Uganda that was established in 2020 and located in Kabarole district in the western region of the country just 10 kilometers from Fort Portal which is Uganda’s tourism city.
This lodge is strategically situated at the edge of the Great Rift Valley overlooking the stunning views of Tooro-Semuliki wildlife Reserve, Rwenzori Mountains, the Blue Mountains of Democratic Republic of Congo as well as spectacular views of Lake Albert in the north. The lodge is about 306 kilometers from Kampala lasting for about 5-6 hours getting to the lodge.
It is therefore a great and a convenient luxury accommodation option for guests covering the western region of the country more so visiting Kibale forest National Park, Fort Portal tourism city, Semuliki National Park and other tour destinations around. The architecture of the Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge features exclusive space pods with 120 degree panoramic windows offering 80 kilometer views of the surrounding countryside. The pods appear to be floating in the air which is best seen in the night.
The Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge was built utilizing locally sourced materials and known to operate with up to 80% renewable energy like solar-powered hot water and electrical systems.
The lodge offers various services and facilities aimed at ensuring guests’ satisfaction and comfort ability and these include the following;
Accommodation
Aramaga Rift Valley lodge features six beautified and comfortable space themed pods designed in a modern style offering guests modern comfort. All the six pods namely Gravity, Supernova, Orbit, Galactic, Starship and Moonshot are well-spaced from each other ensuring privacy among guests.
Of all the 6 pods, Moonshot is the largest pod with two beds, one king size and a single with more room to sit and relax. All the above pods have a bathtub on the rooftop with cold and hot water and fitted with shelf areas to serve drinks and food.
Each of the pods are fitted with private en-suite facilities like hot and cold showers, flushing toilets, flat screens, hairdryers, legit mosquito nets and many more. All the pods offer enough space to fully unwind and enjoy the stunning scenery from the comfort of one’s private rooftop tub, seat or even the bed.
A restaurant, a well-stocked bar and lounge
The restaurant serves a variety of delicious meals both local and international with great customer service from well-trained, skilled and experienced service staff.
The delicious meals offered at the lodge are put to table by experienced local chefs with locally sourced spices and other ingredients. The bar is well-stocked with a wide variety of drinks both soft and hard such as beers, wines both sweet and dry, vodkas, cocktails, spirits and many more. There is an extension of a lounge where guests sit to relax as they read a novel and sip a cocktail or a cup of African coffee.
Swimming pool
The swimming pool is a cozy one for guests to relax as they cool off from the scorching sun while they capture great and scenic views of the surrounding areas such as the Semuliki wildlife Reserve and many others.
Health and fitness center
The health and fitness center is comprised of a sauna, spa, massage and a well-equipped gym that provides yoga and fitness classes to guests. Thee yoga and fitness programs are aimed at keeping one’s body in shape as well as rebooting the soul and mind.
A craft shop
This craft shop is stocked with a variety of African art pieces, locally made crafts like necklaces, baskets, clothes, guide books, shoes, safari items and many more. Therefore guests can easily purchase some souvenirs to take with them back home.
The observatory
The lounge has an extended deck outside which acts as a viewing platform for star gazers. There is a telescope that is always availed on this observatory deck for guests to have a closer view of some of the star systems.
Fire rings
Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge features up to three fireplace areas that accommodate a variety group sizes. These include one that was designed in the lounge to be utilized predominantly during the rainy season, another outside close to the observatory deck and the one which is more extensive near the swimming pool designed for larger groups of up to 10 guests.
Other services and amenities offered at Aramaga Rift Valley lodge include free strong Wi-Fi in the main building, laundry services, ample parking space, beautiful gardens, the Bali swing and tree viewpoint, room service, housekeeping services to mention but a few.
There are a variety of activities that guests at Aramaga Rift Valley lodge can do and these include chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park, hiking and climbing the Rwenzori Mountains, wildlife or game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Semuliki National Park and other game reserves, visiting Amabere caves, visiting Toro kingdom and Fort Portal city tour, bird watching in Kibale and Bigodi wetland sanctuary, nature walks, crater Lakes tour, cultural and local community tours, Rift Valley community escarpment walks and star gazing at the lodge to mention but a few.
Accessibility
Aramaga Rif Valley Lodge can be accessed from Kampala or Entebbe by both road and air transportation means. By road, one embarks on a scenic drive from Kampala to Fort Portal which lasts for about 4 to 5 hours and later connecting to the lodge from Fort Portal in about 20 minutes. By air transport means, one is required to book a chartered domestic flight from Entebbe International airport or Kajansi airstrip to Saka airstrip and later on embark on a 10 minutes’ drive to the lodge.
