Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge
The Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge is a luxury accommodation in Uganda and was established in 2020 and is situated 10 kilometers west of Fort Portal in western Uganda. The lodge features a unique and visionary design that embraces stunning views over the Rwenzori Mountains, the Semliki Wildlife Reserve, the Blue Mountains of the DRC, and Lake Albert.
Located on a ridge of the Great Rift Valley, the architecture of the Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge features exclusive ‘Space Pods’ with 120-degree panorama windows offering 80-kilometer views of the surrounding countryside. With easy access to the nearby Semliki and Kibale National Parks, chimp tracking and day tours to major natural
attractions in this region are available to book with your stay at our lodge.
The Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge aims to achieve and maintain an eco-friendly low carbon footprint, was built utilizing locally sourced materials, and operates to over 80% with renewable energy, such as solar-powered hot water and electrical systems.
Designed to provide a 120-degree view of the Rwenzori Mountains and the Semliki Wildlife Reserve in the open country below the ridge, our sleeping pods often appear to float in space. That is especially apparent at night when – thanks to low air and light pollution – they provide a 5-million-star view. A telescope is available on the observatory deck for a closer look at some of these star systems. In addition, we installed bathtubs on the rooftop of each pod so guests can enjoy a relaxing soak while entertaining the incredible views of the wide-open landscapes below the ridge.
Five of the pods are double rooms with the possibility of single occupancy. They are equipped with a French double bed, bathroom with shower, wardrobe, a bench, and a desk. ‘Moonshot’ is our largest pod with two beds – one king-size and one single – and with more room to sit and relax. All our pods have a bathtub on the rooftop offering hot or cold water and are fitted with shelf areas to serve drinks and food.
The Restaurant
The Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge can host a maximum of 12 to 14 guests to ensure we can accommodate a fair variety of cuisine and wishes. Our restaurant offers healthy local foods beautifully prepared by our head chef. The main restaurant comes in two wings, one on the left and the other on the right side of the main building. In addition, meals are also served in the lounge, the observatory, and at the poolside. And our room service includes a facility to serve meals at the rooftop bathtub. In addition, guests have the opportunity to book our popular ‘all inclusive’ option, which is based on a full-board meal plan that also includes unlimited sodas, beers, and house wines in the room fee.
Activities
Our pool comes with a view of the Semliki Wildlife Reserve in the plains below, and under ‘normal’ circumstances, we have the sky and clouds above the lodge. But on some days, the lodge and the swimming pool appear to reside above the clouds. We believe the entire concept of the ‘infinity pool’ requires to be redefined. Apart from the swimming pool, we also have a Bali swing and a tree viewpoint, offering amazing ‘Selfie’ opportunities.
Semuliki National Park is one of the oldest protected areas in Uganda and is home to an amazing variety of flora and fauna. The reserve is situated below the Rwenzori
Mountains and in the basin of the Great Rift Valley. The park is one of the most diverse habitats in Africa, with wonderful examples of riparian forests and Borassus palm
forests intersected with short and high grass savannahs. Chimps exist next to rare forest elephants, lions, buffalos, and a variety of other species typically found only in western Uganda.
Semuliki National Park is mostly a lowland tropical forest and is the second smallest of the country’s national parks, covering just 220 square kilometers. Its location next to the Rwenzori Mountains and bordering the DRC also makes it one of the more remote areas to visit. It was declared a National Park only in 1993 and is situated next to the original Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, which was first gazetted in 1932 as the Toro Game Reserve and features more of a savannah-type habitat.
Semuliki NP offers the visitor a rich and diverse flora and fauna, with over 400 bird and 300 butterfly species recorded. As a lowland tropical forest, the park is also known
for its population of forest elephants and buffalos; both species are distinctly smaller than their Savannah-based relatives. The park also features two geothermal springs in a hot, mineral-encrusted swamp. One of the springs – Mumbuga – resembles a geyser with a 0.5-meter high fountain. Contact our reservations team for half-day / full-day tours to the Semliki National Park or other natural attractions in this area.
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