Easter- Far from Kampala’s Maddening Crowd
Apr 02, 2009
EASTER is here. You need to run away — not from the festivities, but the stress and tension of urban life.
EASTER is here. You need to run away — not from the festivities, but the stress and tension of urban life. Stephen Ssenkaaba and Emmanuel Ssejjengo guide you on where you can spend the holiday without so much as breaking sweat
Ssese Island
For its serene, calming environment, Ssese Island is one of the most ideal places to run to, away from the madness of this town.
It is cool, it is cozy; it is fresh. Eighty four islands make up the vast Kalangala district and on some of these you will find the most beautiful resorts in this country.
Ssese Islands Beach Hotel
This is one of those places you could easily miss. And that is partly because Ssese Islands Beach Hotel is set a little in the depth of the thick forest cover adjacent to the lake.
This lends a permanent, but friendly chill over this white gem; friendly enough to invite all kinds of visitors. The hotel provides a warm, cozy atmosphere in its spacious restaurant and well-equipped bar.
The white well-lit rooms in different sizes provide first class accommodation for individual visitors and families.
The hotel offers a range of local and international cuisine and mouth-watering evening barbecues whose scent wafts in the evening air for hours on end.
It enjoys abundant facilities which include 17 self-contained rooms, a well-stocked bar and restaurant with satellite television. It is an ideal place for families which relish private time to catch up and enjoy the joy of Easter.
At this hotel, you have the opportunity to enjoy various water sports or to simply bask in the protective greenery of the forest. The beach is ideal for all beach games imaginable.
Accommodation here ranges from sh180,000 for individuals to sh210,000 per night, full board in the family block. There are also camping facilities available. It is peaceful and ideal for a family outing.
Mirembe Resort Beach
You might call this place “the Green resort beach.†There is a peaceful aura about it which seems to resonate with its green nature.
Everything here — from the vegetation to the buildings seems to be green; is it then a coincidence that it is called Mirembe (Luganda for peace)?
Mirembe resort springs from the depths of the giant green trees that protectively hover over its confines, spreading its tranquil wings over the white sandy beach and its surroundings.
The resort calmly sits on an expansive well-tended lawn complete with a restaurant and bar and spacious accommodation facilities. It is the kind of place that any family would enjoy spending Easter, particularly, because of its abundant facilities and calm.
The beach provides space for volleyball, netball and the forests provide a good avenue for bird-watching and a healthy nature walk. The lake and its bordering white sand are the perfect place for a cool leisurely walk, a swim or a boat ride.
There is plenty of sumptuous food including continental, international and sea cuisines. There is plenty of room to stay, even for big families.
Accommodation ranges from sh25,000 (in a tent) to sh200,000 for a cottage of three. There is accommodation in self-contained rooms and cottages at different prices (ranging from sh82,000 to sh185,000).
Children below three years get free accommodation. You will love this place for many things, but most of all for its green and white environment that blend well with the green vegetation and white sandy beach.
Bunyonyi Overland Camp — Lake Bunyonyi, Kabale
The most interesting thing about Lake Bunyonyi is that it is “safe for swimmingâ€.
With so many tiny islands on the background of terraced hillsides, its view is not comparable. But that is what you will have during daytime.
Come mealtime and accommodation, the place to turn to will be the Overland Camp. During the four-day Easter holiday, this is a good stop-over if you intend to scavenge for the mountain gorillas.
Camping services are also available. A family cottage goes for sh160,000 while you will part with sh50,000 for a double room. For a canoe ride, you will pay sh8,000. If you own a tent, you pay sh10,000 per day for space.
This area is also renowned for bird-watching.
Forest Cottages, Naguru
Who said you have to go out of town for a holiday? It is only four days off work, but with family, you can have all the fun at the cottages in Naguru.
The place doubles as a museum with many of the relics that date back to the pre-independence days and much about the Buganda Kingdom.
This could provide for an interesting study tour for the young ones.
Most of the cottages are spacious, with some providing enough room for a family, while others are meant for only one or two people. As a guest, you are entitled to the swimming pool and health club services at the nearby Kabira Country Club.
There is an option for those who would not have their meals inside their cottages. The general dinning hall is artistically rich, while the gardens are an alternative if you do not mind the mosquitoes.
For town dwellers, Forest Cottages is too close to home for a typical holiday resort, but like its name suggests, this is a forested area with many singing birds.
Mweya Safari Lodge
This is the real pride of western Uganda, located in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is famed as a honeymoon destination for many Ugandans, but it also has complete family facilities.
You can view the Rwenzori Mountains and the nearby flora and fauna. All the rooms have balconies overlooking the magnificent Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward.
The rooms fit the description of grandeur, but there is special pride in taking the President’s Cottage where the Queen Mother (of England) lodged in 1954.
Facilities include a swimming pool, a pool-side bar and a restaurant that serves global cuisine and a souvenir shop that also sells books.
Rain Forest Lodge, Mabira Forest
The best thing about this lodge is that it is never crowded. Located in the centre of Mabira Forest, the place is quiet with warnings for campers to look out for hazardous insects and animals.
From Kampala, it is only 55km and only 2km from the main road. That makes it ideal for a four-day holiday.
There is also a celebration of nature here. From the reception to the bedrooms, most of the furniture is made from natural materials.
Although close to the capital city, Rain Forest Lodge is secluded. Its dining room and swimming pool are the only two places where the residents regularly meet.
There are 312 birds, 24 small mammals and three primate species in the forest plus a host of butterflies. It costs about sh200,000 a day, including meals and a guided walk.
Islands Club
This is one of the most exquisite places on Ssese Islands. It is a mysterious hideaway that eludes open space, while opening its arms to new visitors.
A thin murram road dances its way to a huge forest of giant green trees and green pastures, leading to this hideout which will swallow you up and then spit you into the tiny, but little green compound of the club.
It is a relaxing atmosphere characterised by strong green woods on one side and the fresh sea side breeze on the other.
You will love everything here from the wooden cottage accommodation inside the forest to the most mouth-watering cuisine.
Whether it is nature’s walk into the forest, a light swim in the lake or a game of volleyball on the beach, you and your family will have a good time.
Accommodation is available for couples and for singles at a range of sh70,000 to 100,000 while camping is at sh30,000.
Tours to different islands range from sh80,000 to 340,000. Short boat rides, sport fishing, animal viewing range from sh50,000 to 200,000.
Islands Club is probably Bugala island’s best kept secret.
Ssese Habitat Resort
Like a huge palace, Ssese habitat spreads out over its huge well-tended compound.
The front yard gives a modest first impression — you could even mistake it for an ordinary bungalow but the first apartment leads the way to an expansive compound graded with stone, grass and ground and dotted with a string of beautifully-built tiled mansions.
Each of these houses has five self-contained luxury rooms offering full board bed and breakfast. These mansions stand atop a steep pedestal overlooking the lake and sucking in the cool sea breeze while enjoying the lush environs of the surrounding grasslands and forests.
The resort provides fully-furnished self-contained houses. An air of serenity hovers over these spacious houses that enjoy the abundance of well-furnished interior and the convenience of satellite television plus Internet services and entertainment.
The quiet here is deafening, but also relaxing, especially for one who wants to escape the bustle of town.
Accommodation ranges from sh80,000 to 150,000 (full board, a room for one, sh200,000 (full board a room for two), sh800,000(full board a room for three) and sh550,000 (bed and breakfast for the family).
Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchisson Falls
It is located in northern Uganda and with the Kony rebels away, it has steadily picked up in numbers.
The lodge has a lot of political history from the days of Idi Amin and has hosted the Queen Mother (of England) and the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.
While at the lodge, you could swim, chill at the bar or hike around the game reserve.
You could have a glimpse at some of the 450 bird species that have been recorded to inhabit the park.
Red Chilli Rest Camp Murchisson Falls
The grass-thatched house overlooking the Nile is picturesque. The well-stocked bar and restaurant closes at 9:30pm, making it compulsory to have more time with family.
At the camp fire, you could tell stories. The camp operates a scheduled tour to-and-from Kampala, particularly from its Mbuya branch.
Camping is also available. More accommodation is available in bandas. The camp caters for low and middle budget visitors.
Ssese Island
For its serene, calming environment, Ssese Island is one of the most ideal places to run to, away from the madness of this town.
It is cool, it is cozy; it is fresh. Eighty four islands make up the vast Kalangala district and on some of these you will find the most beautiful resorts in this country.
Ssese Islands Beach Hotel
This is one of those places you could easily miss. And that is partly because Ssese Islands Beach Hotel is set a little in the depth of the thick forest cover adjacent to the lake.
This lends a permanent, but friendly chill over this white gem; friendly enough to invite all kinds of visitors. The hotel provides a warm, cozy atmosphere in its spacious restaurant and well-equipped bar.
The white well-lit rooms in different sizes provide first class accommodation for individual visitors and families.
The hotel offers a range of local and international cuisine and mouth-watering evening barbecues whose scent wafts in the evening air for hours on end.
It enjoys abundant facilities which include 17 self-contained rooms, a well-stocked bar and restaurant with satellite television. It is an ideal place for families which relish private time to catch up and enjoy the joy of Easter.
At this hotel, you have the opportunity to enjoy various water sports or to simply bask in the protective greenery of the forest. The beach is ideal for all beach games imaginable.
Accommodation here ranges from sh180,000 for individuals to sh210,000 per night, full board in the family block. There are also camping facilities available. It is peaceful and ideal for a family outing.
Mirembe Resort Beach
You might call this place “the Green resort beach.†There is a peaceful aura about it which seems to resonate with its green nature.
Everything here — from the vegetation to the buildings seems to be green; is it then a coincidence that it is called Mirembe (Luganda for peace)?
Mirembe resort springs from the depths of the giant green trees that protectively hover over its confines, spreading its tranquil wings over the white sandy beach and its surroundings.
The resort calmly sits on an expansive well-tended lawn complete with a restaurant and bar and spacious accommodation facilities. It is the kind of place that any family would enjoy spending Easter, particularly, because of its abundant facilities and calm.
The beach provides space for volleyball, netball and the forests provide a good avenue for bird-watching and a healthy nature walk. The lake and its bordering white sand are the perfect place for a cool leisurely walk, a swim or a boat ride.
There is plenty of sumptuous food including continental, international and sea cuisines. There is plenty of room to stay, even for big families.
Accommodation ranges from sh25,000 (in a tent) to sh200,000 for a cottage of three. There is accommodation in self-contained rooms and cottages at different prices (ranging from sh82,000 to sh185,000).
Children below three years get free accommodation. You will love this place for many things, but most of all for its green and white environment that blend well with the green vegetation and white sandy beach.
Bunyonyi Overland Camp — Lake Bunyonyi, Kabale
The most interesting thing about Lake Bunyonyi is that it is “safe for swimmingâ€.
With so many tiny islands on the background of terraced hillsides, its view is not comparable. But that is what you will have during daytime.
Come mealtime and accommodation, the place to turn to will be the Overland Camp. During the four-day Easter holiday, this is a good stop-over if you intend to scavenge for the mountain gorillas.
Camping services are also available. A family cottage goes for sh160,000 while you will part with sh50,000 for a double room. For a canoe ride, you will pay sh8,000. If you own a tent, you pay sh10,000 per day for space.
This area is also renowned for bird-watching.
Forest Cottages, Naguru
Who said you have to go out of town for a holiday? It is only four days off work, but with family, you can have all the fun at the cottages in Naguru.
The place doubles as a museum with many of the relics that date back to the pre-independence days and much about the Buganda Kingdom.
This could provide for an interesting study tour for the young ones.
Most of the cottages are spacious, with some providing enough room for a family, while others are meant for only one or two people. As a guest, you are entitled to the swimming pool and health club services at the nearby Kabira Country Club.
There is an option for those who would not have their meals inside their cottages. The general dinning hall is artistically rich, while the gardens are an alternative if you do not mind the mosquitoes.
For town dwellers, Forest Cottages is too close to home for a typical holiday resort, but like its name suggests, this is a forested area with many singing birds.
Mweya Safari Lodge
This is the real pride of western Uganda, located in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is famed as a honeymoon destination for many Ugandans, but it also has complete family facilities.
You can view the Rwenzori Mountains and the nearby flora and fauna. All the rooms have balconies overlooking the magnificent Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward.
The rooms fit the description of grandeur, but there is special pride in taking the President’s Cottage where the Queen Mother (of England) lodged in 1954.
Facilities include a swimming pool, a pool-side bar and a restaurant that serves global cuisine and a souvenir shop that also sells books.
Rain Forest Lodge, Mabira Forest
The best thing about this lodge is that it is never crowded. Located in the centre of Mabira Forest, the place is quiet with warnings for campers to look out for hazardous insects and animals.
From Kampala, it is only 55km and only 2km from the main road. That makes it ideal for a four-day holiday.
There is also a celebration of nature here. From the reception to the bedrooms, most of the furniture is made from natural materials.
Although close to the capital city, Rain Forest Lodge is secluded. Its dining room and swimming pool are the only two places where the residents regularly meet.
There are 312 birds, 24 small mammals and three primate species in the forest plus a host of butterflies. It costs about sh200,000 a day, including meals and a guided walk.
Islands Club
This is one of the most exquisite places on Ssese Islands. It is a mysterious hideaway that eludes open space, while opening its arms to new visitors.
A thin murram road dances its way to a huge forest of giant green trees and green pastures, leading to this hideout which will swallow you up and then spit you into the tiny, but little green compound of the club.
It is a relaxing atmosphere characterised by strong green woods on one side and the fresh sea side breeze on the other.
You will love everything here from the wooden cottage accommodation inside the forest to the most mouth-watering cuisine.
Whether it is nature’s walk into the forest, a light swim in the lake or a game of volleyball on the beach, you and your family will have a good time.
Accommodation is available for couples and for singles at a range of sh70,000 to 100,000 while camping is at sh30,000.
Tours to different islands range from sh80,000 to 340,000. Short boat rides, sport fishing, animal viewing range from sh50,000 to 200,000.
Islands Club is probably Bugala island’s best kept secret.
Ssese Habitat Resort
Like a huge palace, Ssese habitat spreads out over its huge well-tended compound.
The front yard gives a modest first impression — you could even mistake it for an ordinary bungalow but the first apartment leads the way to an expansive compound graded with stone, grass and ground and dotted with a string of beautifully-built tiled mansions.
Each of these houses has five self-contained luxury rooms offering full board bed and breakfast. These mansions stand atop a steep pedestal overlooking the lake and sucking in the cool sea breeze while enjoying the lush environs of the surrounding grasslands and forests.
The resort provides fully-furnished self-contained houses. An air of serenity hovers over these spacious houses that enjoy the abundance of well-furnished interior and the convenience of satellite television plus Internet services and entertainment.
The quiet here is deafening, but also relaxing, especially for one who wants to escape the bustle of town.
Accommodation ranges from sh80,000 to 150,000 (full board, a room for one, sh200,000 (full board a room for two), sh800,000(full board a room for three) and sh550,000 (bed and breakfast for the family).
Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchisson Falls
It is located in northern Uganda and with the Kony rebels away, it has steadily picked up in numbers.
The lodge has a lot of political history from the days of Idi Amin and has hosted the Queen Mother (of England) and the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.
While at the lodge, you could swim, chill at the bar or hike around the game reserve.
You could have a glimpse at some of the 450 bird species that have been recorded to inhabit the park.
Red Chilli Rest Camp Murchisson Falls
The grass-thatched house overlooking the Nile is picturesque. The well-stocked bar and restaurant closes at 9:30pm, making it compulsory to have more time with family.
At the camp fire, you could tell stories. The camp operates a scheduled tour to-and-from Kampala, particularly from its Mbuya branch.
Camping is also available. More accommodation is available in bandas. The camp caters for low and middle budget visitors.