Mweya Safari Lodge

An iconic landmark since the 1950’s, Mweya Safari Lodge is perched atop a hill on the Mweya peninsula and offers luxury accommodation in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park.  As you approach the lodge from the road below, it’s completely unassuming, blending into the natural vegetation around it.  Once inside the lodge, opulence and mesmerizing views surround you.  The ambiance of the place takes you back in time and makes you feel like an early explorer from a bygone era.

Mweya Safari Lodge Lobby

On arrival to Mweya Safari Lodge, the lobby gives you an overall  feel for the place.  Large, spacious and furnished with leather chairs, sofas and safari decor, it’s lavish and inviting.  On the opposite end of the main entrance is a large picture window that draws you closer to the view over Lake Edward and Katwe town.  You can see part of the Mweya peninsula as well, dotted with elephant, hippos and buffalo.  Cold juice and a cool towel welcome every guest on arrival.  The main lodge of Mweya is sprawling and is well positioned great views no matter where you are.

Inside a luxury tent

Mweya Safari Lodge offers various accommodation options ranging from 32 standard rooms, 12 deluxe rooms with air conditioning, 2 suites, 2 standard and 2 luxury safari tents and several cottages.  Standard and deluxe ensuite rooms are tastefully decorated in a safari theme and deliver comfort all around.  Most of the rooms at Mweya Safari Lodge look out over the Kazinga channel so you can enjoy great views as you relax on your private veranda.  Mweya Safari Lodge has 4 different cottages which are perfect for families or those wanting more space, privacy and amenities.  For those seeking the ultimate luxury safari experience, the safari tents are sure not to disappoint and are thoughtfully placed to give guests the utmost privacy.  Each tent has its own large wooden veranda, a perfect place to relax in privacy as you watch the animals on the far bank of the Kazinga Channel as they wander down to the waterside for a drink.  With plenty of vegetation around the tents, there is no shortage of birdlife flitting about. 

Inside a luxury tent

Inside the air conditioned luxury tent there is plenty of space.  A writing desk sits in one corner with a basket overflowing with fresh fruit, tea and coffee facilities and a hidden bar fridge.  In the other corner of the tent is a cozy sitting area with sofa, chair and coffee table.  In the middle of the tent, a king sized bed rests underneath a whirring ceiling fan.  At the head of the bed is a partition wall which separates the main part of the tent from a private closet area with dressing room, dressing table, mirror, hair dryer and a safe.  The modern bathroom is situated at the back of the tent.  As you enter the bathroom  there is a spacious counter, double sinks and full over counter mirror.  To the left is a large walk in shower and to the right a toilet and bidet.  Overall the tent has ample space and every creature comfort has been thought of.  What makes the tents so special is the mesh windows that allow you to enjoy all the sounds of the park from inside the comfort of your tent.  Lie in bed and hear lions roar, hippos grunt and hyena cackle. 

The outside of the main lodge

Mweya Safari Lodge is in the middle of a wildlife setting making escorts essential when returning to your room at night after dinner.  Golf carts and driver get you back to the comfort of your room safely and swiftly.  On our first night at the lodge before turning in for the night, we were relaxing on our veranda when we heard a rustling in the bushes next to us.  We sat wondering what was making the noise in the bushes and to our surprise, a hippo emerged and walked calmly in front of our veranda a mere few metres from where we sat.  We were thrilled as neither of us had ever been that close to a hippo, it was an amazing experience and as quickly as it began, it ended when the hippo disappeared into the bushes on the other side of our tent.  We sat in awe.  Not long after that, we heard the breaking of branches and soon discovered it was seven elephants metres from where we sat.  We sat gazing at them as they ate to their hearts content, and then moved on.  Mweya Safari Lodge may offer all the creature comforts, but it does so while keeping you amongst wildlife.

The Tembo Bar is in a corner of the main lodge and has a nice veranda that wraps around three sides of the bar.  It's a perfect place to enjoy a cold drink and gaze at the views.  It has a wonderful atmosphere with various seating options.  Leather furniture and safari decor abound while soft music plays in the background.  With WiFi and panoramic views of Lake Edward and the Kazinga Channel, the Tembo Bar is an excellent place to sit any time of the day.  The bar is well stocked with an extensive wine list, champagne and spirits as well as espressos and cappuccinos.  The beer and soda are always icy cold to quench your thirst.  The bar staff are friendly and always willing to have a chat in between their drink mixing and glass polishing.  The atmosphere in the Tembo Bar throws you right back to the exploration era, so much so that you feel like an explorer yourself. 

Mweya Safari Lodge with the boat launch below

The Kazinga Restaurant is where meals are served at Mweya Safari Lodge.  The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating.  The outdoor seating is nice for those looking to take in the view or to enjoy the vast birdlife around the lodge.  Be careful though, the weaver birds are sneaky and love to steal a nibble from your food and drink from your milk jug.  They are entertaining to watch to say the least, but with time have become brave around humans.  For me, they are part of the charm of mealtime on the terrace at Mweya Safari Lodge.  The restaurant serves meals both a la carte and buffet style depending on the occupancy at the time.  Both options offer a variety of cuisine from vegetarian, Indian, Continental and local Ugandan dishes.  On a busy night, there is a nice buzz in the dining room, people chatting, laughing and enjoying the end of a day on safari in Africa.  BBQ dinners and pasta evenings  give an extra special dining experience and coincide with traditional singing and dancing.  Once the sun goes down, the lawn outside of the Tembo Bar comes alive with people from the surrounding villages traditionally dressed.  The songs and dances they perform are filled with local legend and storytelling accompanied by the deep rhythms of African drums.  Guests can relish in the entertainment from the veranda of the bar before heading to the dining room for dinner.  On the BBQ evenings, the chefs set up outside the dining room near the pool with their charcoal grills where they grill and roast an assortment of meat and vegetables.  Here you can fill your plate with delicious grilled food before heading inside to compliment it with salads. During the pasta evenings a live cooking station is set up in the dining room where a chef is on hand to prepare your pasta dish with the fresh pasta and ingredients that you have chosen.    

For guests looking for an exclusive dining experience during their stay at Mweya Safari Lodge,  the bush breakfast and dinner were designed for this purpose.  After an early morning game drive, when your stomach is starting to rumble, rather than going back to the lodge for breakfast, a full buffet breakfast is served in a seclusive location several kilometres away from the lodge.  Tables, chairs and a team of chefs and waiters transform the bush into your own private dining area with a view overlooking the channel.   Bush dinners are a magical experience.  Late in the day, when the sun is dropping in the sky, head out into the bush for a sundowner overlooking Lake Edward.  Once the sun sets and the sky begins to darken, your bush dining room comes alive.  Lanterns light up the area beyond which is complete darkness.  Sitting under a ceiling of stars, dinner is served while a bush campfire burns not far away.  Frogs, crickets, nightjars, lions, hyenas and elephants are all part of the soundtrack.  This is an experience of a lifetime, one that will most likely stand out as a highlight of your safari.

The pool

One of the highlights of Mweya Safari Lodge is the beautiful swimming pool adjacent to the restaurant.  Its crystal blue water is inviting, especially on a hot day.  The pool is a lovely place to stay cool in the heat of the African sun while enjoying  the view over the Kazinga Channel.  Snacks and ice cream are also available at the Kazinga Pool bar.  Next to the pool a wooden deck with chaise loungers and large patio umbrellas make for a nice place to laze around. 

Mweya Safari Lodge has a gift shop near the lobby that is open daily.  It offers local crafts and curios for sale alongside books, maps, jewelry, souvenir shirts and caps for you to commemorate your stay at the lodge. The gift shop also sells a few essentials in case you have run out or forgotten something.

Other facilities at Mweya Safari Lodge include a business center for those that need to tend to work while on the road.  The centre offers a quiet atmosphere with internet access and computer facilities.  If you're looking for somewhere unique to host a workshop or conference, the lodge has amenities including a fully equipped conference room.  The health club and spa is a quiet place to get your daily dose of exercise.  If you are wanting a little pampering, they offer massage as well as other beauty treatments.   

Boat trip on the Kazinga Channel

Recently, Mweya Safari Lodge has introduced hot air ballooning which offers visitors a whole new way to experience their safari.  In partnership with Balloon Tours Uganda, (www.ugandaballoonsafari.com) balloon flights lift off just before sunrise over the savannah grasslands of the Kasenyi area of Queen Elizabeth National Park.  Quietly drifting over the Kasenyi plains you will be treated to a beautiful sunrise and the start of a new day in Africa.  It’s an incredible experience.  Upon landing, the lodge serves up a delectable bush breakfast to conclude your balloon safari. Information and bookings can be made through Mweya Safari Lodge.

Mweya Safari Lodge is a popular choice among many travelers.  The location of the lodge is unbeatable as it is inside the park and boasts incredible views.  The staff at the lodge are helpful, friendly and strive to make every aspect of your stay an enjoyable one.  If you enjoy comfort, ambience and outstanding views, then Mweya Safari Lodge should be your choice for your safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

For more information and reservations:

Marasa Central Reservations
Plot 96-98, 5TH Street Industrial Area
P.O. Box 22827
Kampala,
Ph:       +256  31 2260260/1
Ph:       +256  41 4255992

reservations@marasa.net
www.marasa.net

Lodge Tel
+ 256 39 2796773
+ 256 41 4340054

Bakers Lodge - Murchison Falls NP

For nearly a decade, Exclusive Camps and Lodges have been well-known for offering high quality lodges in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP (Buhoma Lodge) and Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth NP (Ishasha Wilderness Camp).  Recently, their newest addition has opened its doors in the ever popular Murchison Falls NP and it is no surprise that it boasts the same “wow” factor as the other lodges.  Situated on the south bank of the mighty Nile River, guests can sit at eye level to the river and watch as it gently flows by.  The proximity to the Nile River is what sets this lodge apart from all others.  All that lies between the lodge and one of the most famous rivers of all time is sprawling grass and large shade trees.  Bakers Lodge offers a Nile River experience like no other.

The lodge is named after the British explorer Samuel Baker, who is famous for his exploration of the Nile.  Late in the 1800’s Samuel and his wife Florence spent time around the area during their expedition of the river.  Samuel Baker was the first European to view and subsequently name the Murchison Falls.  In keeping with this theme, the decor of the lodge is reminiscent of the exploration era.  Wood, leather and canvas are abundant in the main lodge area which is a large wooden deck raised up off the ground.  There are several large sofas and chairs to relax in and enjoy the view, read a book or just to sit and contemplate just where you are in the world.  A large portion of the main lodge is covered with a thatch roof with an open air deck on each side.  The bar stocks wines and a selection of spirits as well as water, soda and local beer which is kept cold via their eco friendly solar powered energy system.

Accommodation at Bakers Lodge is individual cottages elevated off the ground.  The very spacious en-suite cottages have large netted windows on all sides for an open airy feeling.  Each cottage is positioned with consideration of privacy from others, has a wooden deck off the front and a view of the river, a great place to sip on your morning cup of coffee or tea.  The cottages are furnished with wooden furniture, a writing desk and chair, beds with side tables, lockable safe, and an open wardrobe for clothes and is lit with solar lighting.

The large netted windows on the front of the cottage roll up for an unobstructed view of the river.  The beds have been designed to sit up in comfortably to enjoy the view.  I sat on my bed for quite some time with my binoculars, enjoying the bird life and the view while listening to the grunts of hippos.  I felt like I was watching a large HDTV and had to pinch myself that what I was watching was real.  It was awesome!

The cottages are self contained with a large bathroom, flushing toilet and running water.  Double sinks sit on top of a spacious wooden table with a mirror hanging above.  The shower is open and faces the view so while you are washing off the dust of the day, you can revel in the amazing view.  Hot water in the bathroom is provided by a solar energy system.

Every evening, just before sunset a fire is lit between the main lodge and the river.  It’s a great place to sit with a cold drink, watch the last of the day light fade away, reflect on your day, watch the stars in the sky slowly come to life and cherish another day in Africa.  The campfire is a great place to interact with other guests and swap safari stories.  The ever attentive staff is never far away to take your drink orders so you don’t have to leave the magic and the ambiance of the fire.  Once dinner is ready, the staff show you to your table, top up your drinks and begin the dinner service.

The food at Bakers Lodge was nothing short of amazing.  All of the meals we had were delicious and plentiful.  We started our mornings with a wake up call at our cottage followed by a freshly brewed cup of coffee on our verandah.  As we sat and enjoyed the dawn of a new day, many species of birds were fishing and hunting in the nearby wetland next the river while agama lizards chased each other to protect their territory on the ground and in the trees around us.  Breakfast is served in the main lodge and cooked as per your order along with fresh fruit, cereal, cold meats and cheeses, coffee, tea and fresh juice served buffet style. We had our three course lunch al fresco in the shade of a large tree on the deck of the main lodge.  As the gentle breeze blew we enjoyed both the view and the food.  After some sundowners around the fire, we had a four course dinner under a blanket of stars on the deck.  As we savoured a salad course, soup course, main course and dessert, we talked about our day and made plans for the next while listening to the night sounds of crickets, frogs, hippos.  The dinner atmosphere at Bakers Lodge was magical and a perfect way to end a day.

Getting to Bakers Lodge, you have a choice of routes once you reach Masindi town which is 215 kilometres north of Kampala.  The most direct route is to enter Murchison Falls NP from the Kichumbanyobo gate which takes you through the south side of the park through the Kaniyo Pabidi forest.  A longer but more scenic route passes through Budongo forest before descending into the rift valley next to Lake Albert.  This route gets you to the lodge without entering the national park as Bakers Lodge sits just outside of the Bugungu gate.  The lodge is well marked with signposts at the entrance, so it’s easy to find.

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest park in Uganda and offers plenty of activities for visitors.  The park is home to elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, giraffe, hyena, jackal, hippos and the Nile crocodiles which are reputed to be “huge”.  The park is well known for its diverse bird population, including the most sought after and unique resident, the shoebill.

A variety of boat excursions can be done on the Nile river.  The waterfall cruise travels up the Nile River to the base of Murchison Falls which is a spectacular sight.  Along the way you can view many species of birds, mammals near the shore that are coming to the water to drink and crocodiles both in and out of the water.  The delta cruise travels down the Nile River to the Victoria Nile Delta where the bird life is prolific and is the best place to search for the shoebill.  If you’re ready for a fishing experience like none other, you can bait your hooks in anticipation for a mighty Nile Perch.  Fishing safaris with an experienced guide and equipment are a popular activity in the area.

All of the boat activities operate daily and can be arranged through Bakers Lodge which has its own fleet of boats and can pick you up from the lodge for the various excursions.  Special arrangements can also be made for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks or sundowners on board. You can also make your safari more interesting by combining the boats and a safari drive.  Cruise down the Nile River to the delta by boat at sunrise to experience the area from the water and then return with a game drive through the Buligi area which offers a number of tracks and where wildlife abounds.

Chimpanzee trekking can be done in the nearby Budongo forest where you can observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat as well as other primates such a black and white colobus monkeys.  This gentle walk through the forest is an amazing way to experience the sounds of an equatorial tropical rainforest.

For me, the highlight of my stay at Bakers Lodge was the proximity to the river and the spectacular views of it from anywhere around lodge.  I loved the slightly elevated bird’s eye 180 degree river views from the wooden deck of the main lodge and from my cottage the front roll up floor to ceiling large window was pure indulgence.  Lying comfortably on the bed, gazing at the river and listening to the birds, every tension in my entire body melted away.

If you are planning a trip to Murchison Falls NP, throw yourself back into the time of exploration at Bakers Lodge.  Sit in luxury on the banks of the Nile River and imagine what it was like for Samuel Baker to discover this amazing part of Uganda.
For more information and reservations:
Uganda – Wild Frontiers Exclusive Camps & Lodges
PO Box 619, Entebbe, Uganda
Tel/Fax: +256 414 321 479
Mobile: +256 772 721 155
Email: reservations@ugandaexclusivecamps.com
www.ugandaexclusivecamps.com

An Inventive Fishing Boat

Fisherman on the Nile River are commonplace and their fishing boats vary widely.  Some boats are simply hollowed out sections of a tree and and others are hand crafted canoes.  They vary in size and color and always make for and interesting sight on the water.  One young man that we met recently while exploring the river looking for birds had taken ingenuity to the extreme!  Clad only in his underwear, he was floating on a banana tree stem and used his feet as a motor of sorts.

Carefully hanging at the front of his vessel was a makeshift storage compartment made from small sticks and a plastic bag which carried his clothes, presumably for when he returned to shore.  His fishing line and hooks were meticulously attached to the banana stem along with his catch of the day.

 

Although this is probably not the image that comes to mind when you think of a fishing boat, it's working and for this young man it's extremely cost effective.  One can only hope that as the months and years pass, his savings will translate into something more traditional as his business grows from mere subsistence fishing to commercial fishing.  What a crafty water craft!