| The lodge has eight double rooms that
| |
| | Victoria. It is only a seven-minute drive
|
| allow for total comfort. Guests are also
| |
| | from Entebbe International Airport, and a
|
| accommodated in large canvas tents with
| |
| | 30 minute drive to Kampala. The hotel is
|
| permanent thatched roofs. The tents have
| |
| | the finest convention centre in Uganda
|
| en-suite bathrooms with running water and
| |
| | and a global landmark, offering
|
| private verandas with a breathtaking
| |
| | technologically advanced conference
|
| view. Sofas are piled with cushions, with
| |
| | facilities overlooking the lake.
|
| ample lounging spaces. The lodge's
| |
| | With 191 rooms on six floors, extensive
|
| resident chef offers a creative mix
| |
| | conference and banquet facilities and
|
| referred to as the 'Best food in Uganda'.
| |
| | restaurants and bars, it is an ideal
|
| Everything is homemade, from the fresh
| |
| | venue for meetings. A modern
|
| bread to the soups. The lodge employees
| |
| | amphitheatre, 1 km private beach stretch
|
| are from the surrounding communities.
| |
| | along Lake Victoria, swimming pool and
|
| Semilik Safari Lodge offers guests
| |
| | health club are just some of the
|
| interesting activities like chimpanzee
| |
| | delights.
|
| trekking, guided walks and hiking, jungle
| |
| | Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel
|
| walks fishing, bird-watching, spot lit
| |
| | The Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel has
|
| night drives, game drives and visits to
| |
| | hosted a number of key conferences,
|
| local communities. The lodge is working
| |
| | including a summit of African leaders and
|
| closely with the Indiana State University
| |
| | former American President, Bill Clinton.
|
| of the US in primate research projects.
| |
| | It has modern well-equipped conference
|
| The cost for double rooms for foreign
| |
| | facilities, high-speed internet
|
| non-residents is US $296 and for East
| |
| | connection in all rooms, electronic safes
|
| African Nationals US $218.
| |
| | and mini-bars, direct dialing telephone
|
| The mystery of Kabale
| |
| | service, swimming pool, saunas and
|
| Bunyonyi Safari Resort (BSR), located
| |
| | Jacuzzi, large secure car parking, free
|
| deep in the highlands of Kabale District,
| |
| | personalized airport service and a doctor
|
| southwestern Uganda, is a secret yet to
| |
| | on a 24-hour call.
|
| be discovered. Located on the shores of
| |
| | Speke Resort & Country Lodge
|
| Lake Bunyonyi, this unique tranquil place
| |
| | Speke Resort and Country Lodge is a
|
| has spacious, self-contained and spacious
| |
| | luxurious resort on the shores of Lake
|
| cottages right at the waterfront. Guests
| |
| | Victoria in Munyonyo, 12km from Kampala.
|
| can tour the numerous islands on the lake
| |
| | This resort is spread over 50 acres of
|
| by motorboat. 'Bunyonyi' means 'little
| |
| | pristine land. It hosts leisure
|
| birds' and, indeed, at BSR guests are
| |
| | travelers, business and executive groups,
|
| woken up every morning by the chirping of
| |
| | weddings and other special travellers,
|
| numerous birds. Some of the areas across
| |
| | business and executive groups, weddings
|
| the lake are famous rare bird species.
| |
| | and other special events. It is the
|
| Lake Bunyonyi is about 900m deep and it
| |
| | epitome of an ultimate resort in the
|
| winds around numerous hills, creating
| |
| | Great Lakes region. The emphasis is on
|
| islands. It has signs of volcanicity and
| |
| | exclusivity and comfort, with the décor
|
| mystery still surrounds its formation. It
| |
| | incorporating ethnic design elements from
|
| is a bilharzias-free lake and therefore
| |
| | various African communities.
|
| safe for swimming. The area is also
| |
| | The resort extends for over 400 metres
|
| mosquito-free.
| |
| | along the shores of Lake Victoria.
|
| BSR have a pad out in the water for
| |
| | Landscaped gardens with indigenous plants
|
| guests to sunbathe ands swim in private.
| |
| | and trees attract colourful birds and
|
| Form there or the balcony, one can
| |
| | butterflies. Wide and well-lit pathways
|
| occasionally view the elusive water
| |
| | link the cottages, apartments and public
|
| birds, the otters, as well as the
| |
| | areas. It includes 10 self-contained
|
| surrounding hills. Guides will take
| |
| | cottages, 20 serviced studio rooms, 11
|
| guests round and give them the historical
| |
| | one-bedroom apartments and 24 two-bedroom
|
| and cultural backgrounds of some of the
| |
| | apartments with the latest amenities such
|
| islands. Visitors can also meet the pygmy
| |
| | as telephones, internet access and
|
| tribes. In the evenings, one can enjoy a
| |
| | satellite TV. It has a large swimming
|
| barbeque dinner with a campfire by the
| |
| | pool, a restaurant, grocery, bar and an
|
| lakeside.
| |
| | equestrian centre with 29 thoroughbred
|
| Lake Bunyonyi is one of the places in
| |
| | horses. There is a jetty where guests can
|
| Uganda where guests can get clayfish,
| |
| | hire speedboats
|
| BSR's specialty. The cuisine is mostly
| |
| | Mweya Safari Lodge
|
| African but the chef is well versed in
| |
| | Mweya safari lodge is located on a
|
| all continental dishes. Self-catering is
| |
| | peninsula in the heart of the Queen
|
| also allowed at a minimal cost for small
| |
| | Elizabeth National Park. It offers
|
| groups. Bunyonyi Safari Resort extends
| |
| | sumptuous meals and luxurious
|
| from the cottages to a small hilltop
| |
| | accommodation and there are amazing views
|
| overlooking the lake. From this vantage
| |
| | from every room, an abundance of game and
|
| point, the view of the Lake Bunyonyi, its
| |
| | birds. Easily accessible by air and road,
|
| surrounding islands against a backdrop of
| |
| | Mweya Safari Lodge is the perfect place
|
| the volcanoes of Muhavura is splendid.
| |
| | to start a refreshing experienced of
|
| The hall on this hilltop is furnished
| |
| | Uganda.
|
| with a bar, a pool table, darts and other
| |
| | Paraa Safari Lodge
|
| games. It is ideal for conferences and
| |
| | Built in the early 1950s, Paraa offers
|
| parties. The surrounding gardens are well
| |
| | visitors the dramatic Murchison Falls and
|
| manicured and beautiful.
| |
| | a large variety of bird and animal
|
| BSR is offering special full board rates
| |
| | species. Winston Churchill walked the 85
|
| this season of US $40 per person per day.
| |
| | kilometres from Masindi to view the
|
| Visitors should look out for BSR's new
| |
| | falls. Paraa is sandwiched by Lake Kyoga
|
| introductory package of US $110 per
| |
| | and Lake Albert in north-western Uganda
|
| person for a two-night weekend that
| |
| | and Murchison National Park. During
|
| includes accommodation, meals and
| |
| | Uganda's political turmoil, the lodge
|
| transport to and from Kampala, and lake
| |
| | collapsed but today the story is
|
| tours. The minimum number of this tour is
| |
| | different. Guests can access it from
|
| 12 people sharing in doubles. This tour
| |
| | Kampala by road or air
|
| can be combined with gorilla trekking in
| |
| | 24 hours in Kampala
|
| Bwindi or a visit to Lake Mburo National
| |
| | I had decided to venture into the unknown
|
| Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park at
| |
| | - Uganda. With only a sketchy knowledge
|
| an added cost.
| |
| | of the history of the country, I had
|
| Hotel industry comes of age
| |
| | covered most of Kenya and my visits to
|
| The Uganda hospitality industry has
| |
| | Tanzania were becoming monotonous. Coming
|
| evolved rapidly into a dynamic
| |
| | all the way from Mombasa, the thought of
|
| institution that places the interest of
| |
| | flying to Nairobi then to Entebbe offered
|
| the client above all else. A visit to
| |
| | a mixed package. On the one hand, I would
|
| Uganda may be marked by stops in the
| |
| | arrive fast and embark on my working
|
| following regions represented by a number
| |
| | holiday, but on the other, I would miss
|
| of towns: Jinja, Mukono, Kampala,
| |
| | invaluable experiences that my
|
| Entebbe, and towns within the refreshing
| |
| | grandchildren would love to hear.
|
| tour circuit of western, north-western
| |
| | I settled for the long journey by road
|
| and north-eastern Uganda. In all these
| |
| | from Mombasa. The Mombasa to Nairobi trip
|
| regions and towns, the hotels meet
| |
| | was uneventful and by morning, I was on
|
| international standards and offer value
| |
| | my way to the Malaba border. Through the
|
| for money.
| |
| | Kenyan towns of Nakuru, Eldoret and
|
| Kampala, Entebbe and Mukono
| |
| | others, which I knew like the palm of my
|
| Central Uganda boasts the country's top
| |
| | hand, we reached the border and
|
| hotels, with Kampala having hosted major
| |
| | disembarked, passport in hand. I eyed the
|
| international and regional conferences.
| |
| | surroundings curiously. We completed
|
| Kampala has a variety of hotels that
| |
| | immigration formalities and set off from
|
| cater for different categories of
| |
| | Malaba through Tororo to Kampala. The
|
| tourists.
| |
| | Owen Falls Dam provided a spectacular
|
| Colline Hotel
| |
| | view of the source of the Nile. And
|
| Colline Hotel is an old establishment in
| |
| | Kampala beckoned.
|
| Mukono about 15 kilometres east of
| |
| | By 6:30pm, the bus arrived in Kampala.
|
| Kampala. The three-star hotel boasts a
| |
| | Dusk was swiftly giving way to night and
|
| town-countryside tropical setting. It is
| |
| | I had not made any accommodation
|
| an hour's drive from Entebbe
| |
| | arrangements. I tried to recollect the
|
| International Airport through Kampala
| |
| | names of some of the hotels and
|
| along Jinja road. The hotel has more than
| |
| | approached an all too willing taxi driver
|
| 100 self-contained rooms, with 24-hour
| |
| | (here they are called 'special hires'). I
|
| room service, DStv and direct telephone
| |
| | addressed him in English and mentioned
|
| communication. It caters for transit
| |
| | the names of the various hotels that came
|
| tourists heading to and from Kampala.
| |
| | to mind, three to be precise, but he
|
| Mukono's unique setting in an area with
| |
| | immediately ruled out two as being
|
| bird life is reinforced by its high
| |
| | upcountry! So, he took me to the one in
|
| service standards. Colline offers guests
| |
| | town. It was a three-star hotel. I was
|
| unhindered access to all facilities such
| |
| | caught in the horns of a dilemma. I
|
| as the steam bath and health club. With a
| |
| | didn't wish to appear as someone with no
|
| large garden, swimming pool and
| |
| | clue of what I wanted, yet I had this
|
| well-equipped health centre, Colline
| |
| | ominous feeling that the cost would
|
| Hotel is another home away from home.
| |
| | subject my pockets to unwarranted,
|
| The hotel has two restaurants, Maxims and
| |
| | self-inflicted shock therapy. I decided
|
| Kob, serving continental, international,
| |
| | to bite the bullet and approach the
|
| oriental and local cuisine. It has three
| |
| | receptionist, who appeared rather busy
|
| bars fully stocked with alcoholic and
| |
| | with some clients. I waited. The wait
|
| non-alcoholic beverages. The hotel has a
| |
| | seemed rather long; I know places in my
|
| launders residents' linen. Cultural
| |
| | home city (Mombasa) where the moment you
|
| troupes perform there regularly, keeping
| |
| | step in you are literally lavished with
|
| the guests fully entertained.
| |
| | service.
|
| Hotel Africana
| |
| | I boldly confronted the receptionist and
|
| Hotel Africana overlooks the beautiful
| |
| | politely asked her to attend to me.
|
| Uganda Golf Club's par 72 Kitante course.
| |
| | Turning the look of being offended by my
|
| The hotel is 40 minute drive from Entebbe
| |
| | perceived interruption, she promptly read
|
| and a mere three-minute drive to the city
| |
| | out the room rates. The figures sounded
|
| centre. It has 115 rooms compromising
| |
| | rather odd; USh 100,000 etc. I settled
|
| five suites, 23 deluxe rooms and 87
| |
| | for the cheapest, which was USh 100,000.
|
| twin-bedrooms. The rooms are elaborately
| |
| | Someone told me the Kenyan Shilling was
|
| furnished to meet client needs. They are
| |
| | quite strong regionally so I need not
|
| individually air-conditioned, have
| |
| | worry, just spend and be happy. I fished
|
| private baths and showers, telephones,
| |
| | out a wad of notes and counted USh
|
| multi-channel TV, radio and fridges. For
| |
| | 100,000 for that night. I was shown the
|
| children under three years, accommodation
| |
| | self-contained room with a sitting area,
|
| is free of charge while those between
| |
| | a TV with numerous channels, among a host
|
| three and 12 pay half the rate of a
| |
| | of other things. I settled in the room,
|
| single room. There are also rooms with
| |
| | took a shower, started counting the money
|
| connecting doors for families, and there
| |
| | while reconverting the currency mentally
|
| is a large swimming pool.
| |
| | to Kenya Shillings, and realized that i
|
| Hotel Africana has a well-designed
| |
| | had spent a whopping KSh 8,000 even
|
| purpose-built, air-conditioned conference
| |
| | before dinner!
|
| and banquet rooms, complete with modern
| |
| | I was however determined that the little
|
| audio-visual facilities, to cater for any
| |
| | shock therapy would not ruin my first
|
| function. Due to its location, the hotel
| |
| | evening in Kampala. Furthermore, there
|
| offers a suitable venue for workshops of
| |
| | was no way I could dine at the same hotel
|
| 10 to 250 people and outdoor functions of
| |
| | as that would choke any attempts at
|
| up to 1,000 people. The conference rooms
| |
| | sampling Uganda's growing economy. I
|
| are equipped with a high-speed wireless
| |
| | moved to Steers on Kampala Road around
|
| Internet connection.
| |
| | the CBD. There was little difficulty in
|
| Holiday Express Hotel
| |
| | following the directions to the fast food
|
| Located in the heart of Kampala at the
| |
| | joint. They seemed more efficient than
|
| junction of Luwum and Dastur Streets,
| |
| | the three-star hotel.
|
| Holiday Express Hotel allows business
| |
| | It was Friday and I began my nocturnal
|
| tourists to access vital services such as
| |
| | tour at about 8:45pm. The city was
|
| foreign exchange, downtown shopping and
| |
| | teeming with not just vehicles, but human
|
| transport in and out of Kampala. The
| |
| | traffic too. I got a 'special hire' to
|
| facilities are designed to meet regional
| |
| | the 'happening places' as the seemingly
|
| and international standards. All the 42
| |
| | enlightened driver called them. He
|
| rooms are soundproofed to allow maximum
| |
| | quickly noticed two things: that I was
|
| comfort. This eliminates the CBD-related
| |
| | new in Uganda and that I was from Kenya!
|
| cacophony. The hotel has a special rate
| |
| | The driver through the city took me to
|
| for East African nationals. All the rooms
| |
| | what he rated as a client-friendly pub in
|
| are fitted with TV with more than 10
| |
| | the heart of the city and a couple of
|
| channels and a spacious study area.
| |
| | other places after which I thought:
|
| Holiday Express has hosted business
| |
| | "well, i now know Kampala!" I decided to
|
| tourists from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania,
| |
| | go it alone and the next 24 hours were a
|
| Burundi and Congo.
| |
| | real rollercoaster ride. I entered what I
|
| Hotel Equatoria
| |
| | later was told was a sleazy joint (not my
|
| Hotel Equatoria is part of the Imperial
| |
| | type) and moved on to what surprised me
|
| Group of Hotels chain - Grand Imperial,
| |
| | most - a Kenyan nyama choma joint. There
|
| Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Imperial
| |
| | was a good number of Kenyans and Tusker
|
| Resort Beach and Hotel Equatorial. It is
| |
| | flowed like water. It felt good to be
|
| located in Kampala's central business
| |
| | 'home' again. The joint-hoping craze went
|
| district, about 40 kilometres from
| |
| | on, this time with a group of homeboys
|
| Entebbe International Airport. Its
| |
| | who seemed to disappear in what I
|
| strategic location provides an ideal
| |
| | considered dark alleys, only to re-emerge
|
| environment for conferences, meetings,
| |
| | stone drunk! I was told that they had
|
| workshops, parties, recreation and rest.
| |
| | gone to 're-charge the Tusker' with some
|
| Hotel Equatoria has features that
| |
| | potent traditional gin by the name Kasese
|
| supplement its quality of service.
| |
| | Kasese.
|
| Recently the hotel added 30 more shops to
| |
| | It was well past midnight. Back home, I
|
| meet the shopping needs of the guests.
| |
| | would be worried about the police and
|
| Hotel Equatoria has one of the biggest
| |
| | robbers but here that did not bother the
|
| shopping malls in the country and 89
| |
| | Friday night crowd. I met a young woman
|
| air-conditioned rooms, 24 of which are
| |
| | who said she was a Ugandan university
|
| executive class, with satellite
| |
| | student and we went to a disco. I do not
|
| television and in-house movies. Security
| |
| | remember the names of the clubs because
|
| is guaranteed as an electronic key card
| |
| | we entered no less than three that night.
|
| system is used. The executive rooms have
| |
| | The mood was real carnival with folks
|
| a sitting area complete with speed
| |
| | partying hard. I learnt a lot from the
|
| special satellite Internet connections,
| |
| | student on why people seemed so relaxed
|
| mini-bars and direct dialing telephone
| |
| | and at ease with foreigners.
|
| services.
| |
| | The last disco we entered was playing a
|
| Grand Imperial Hotel
| |
| | floor-closing number. It was 5:30 in
|
| The Grand Imperial Hotel is one of the
| |
| | morning. I escorted my guide to a special
|
| first hotels in Uganda built in the
| |
| | hire, paid for her trip back to campus
|
| colonial era. It is the only hotel that
| |
| | wherever it was, and I took mine to my
|
| has been used by every governor of the
| |
| | USh 100,000 hotel room. Later, some
|
| colonial era. The 103 rooms, including
| |
| | homeboys who promised to show me a 'more
|
| suites, reflect the urban elegance and
| |
| | affordable' place lived up to their
|
| easy southern charm of the city. The
| |
| | promise. I moved to an equally decent
|
| hotel, part of the Imperial Group of
| |
| | hotel within the CBD for less than half
|
| Hotels, is centrally located in Kampala,
| |
| | the previous cost!
|
| and is just a 30 minute drive from
| |
| | I spent the afternoon visiting the famous
|
| Entebbe International Airport. All the
| |
| | Makerere University, Entebbe
|
| rooms have high-speed Internet
| |
| | International Airport and its environs,
|
| connection, electronic safes and
| |
| | the National Museum, Ndere Cultural
|
| mini-bars and direct dialing telephone
| |
| | Centre, the palace of the Kabaka of
|
| services. The hotel has a swimming pool,
| |
| | Buganda and the National Parliament. I
|
| saunas and Jacuzzi, massage rooms, steam
| |
| | went to bed early that Saturday evening
|
| and spa baths, a shopping mall and a
| |
| | because of the long journey ahead. In any
|
| large secure car park. It also offers
| |
| | case, the bus was set to leave at 7:00am
|
| free personalized airport service, forex
| |
| | on Sunday. I arrived back from Kampala
|
| bureau and doctors on call 24 hours.
| |
| | with fond memories, having spent 24 great
|
| Imperial Resort Beach Hotel
| |
| | hours in Kampala. I most likely will go
|
| The five-star Imperial Resort Beach Hotel
| |
| | back, particularly to visit my university
|
| is situated in Entebbe on 27 acres of
| |
| | friend whom I guess must be about to
|
| landscaped gardens on the shores of Lake
| |
| | graduate.
|
