Be one with nature at Lake Albert Safari Lodge
THE story of Lake Albert Safari Lodge begins in 2005 with Bruce Martin.
BY ISABEL PIKE
THE story of Lake Albert Safari Lodge begins in 2005 with Bruce Martin.
When he became manager of Kwaboya Widlife Reserve and, with the support of Hoima officials, Martin relocated more than 8,000 cattle from the reserve and transformed it from an overgrazed dustbowl to lush grassland.
Five grass-thatched cottages run alongside the cliff over-looking Lake Albert. On a clear day, guests can see mountains in Congo across the blue water, which is dotted with fishing canoes.
The cottages have double beds, verandahs facing the lake and bathrooms.
For half the price of cottages, guests can stay in tents, set further back from the lake.
The dining space is made using natural materials and the dinners are lantern-lit.
Kabwoya Widlife Reserve does not have the game of Murchison or Queen Elizabeth — no lions or elephants. Paradoxically this adds to its glory.
Guests can walk, run, bike or ride the lodge’s two horses. Now almost secure from poachers, kob, duikers, warthogs, waterbuck and hornbills can roam carefree.
The fishing communities on the reserve are also benefiting from tourism. Women collected the grass for the thatch, the lodge buys fresh produce from the villages. In 2008, sh50m in revenue from hunting went to village projects. Former poachers are offered jobs in re-forestation.
Lake Albert Lodge is about four hours from Kampala
via Hoima and Buseruka
THE story of Lake Albert Safari Lodge begins in 2005 with Bruce Martin.
When he became manager of Kwaboya Widlife Reserve and, with the support of Hoima officials, Martin relocated more than 8,000 cattle from the reserve and transformed it from an overgrazed dustbowl to lush grassland.
Five grass-thatched cottages run alongside the cliff over-looking Lake Albert. On a clear day, guests can see mountains in Congo across the blue water, which is dotted with fishing canoes.
The cottages have double beds, verandahs facing the lake and bathrooms.
For half the price of cottages, guests can stay in tents, set further back from the lake.
The dining space is made using natural materials and the dinners are lantern-lit.
Kabwoya Widlife Reserve does not have the game of Murchison or Queen Elizabeth — no lions or elephants. Paradoxically this adds to its glory.
Guests can walk, run, bike or ride the lodge’s two horses. Now almost secure from poachers, kob, duikers, warthogs, waterbuck and hornbills can roam carefree.
The fishing communities on the reserve are also benefiting from tourism. Women collected the grass for the thatch, the lodge buys fresh produce from the villages. In 2008, sh50m in revenue from hunting went to village projects. Former poachers are offered jobs in re-forestation.
Lake Albert Lodge is about four hours from Kampala
via Hoima and Buseruka