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Article #161: Uganda Safaris and Tours: Good Hotels and Lodges

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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.






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