Location:

The rest camp is located in the Murchison Falls area and you can book affordable packages through the Red Chilli Hideaway located in Kampala. Specifically, the camp is located approximately within a 10-minute walk to the river where you can spot hippos and crocodiles. The camp is located on a quiet, grassy area and has wild hogs coming to its property to feed on the grass. Although the hogs are used to people we still kept our distance as they are wild animals and can get aggressive. Hippos also come to the camp on occasion but it's during the night so it is rare to see one.

Room Comfort:

The accommodations available range from camping to private bandas. We chose to rent a private banda with a private bathroom. All bandas have twin beds and are decorated in traditional African decor. The beds were comfortable and had mosquito nets which are a must in this area. The water source for the rooms comes from a bore hole and isn't heated. Because of where it comes from it has a brownish colour and an odd odour as it contains a high concentration of lead. Electricity is available (roughly) between 8:30am to midnight, so a flash light is handy. Even though electricity is limited, the bandas do have electric sockets. If you stay in a tent then you can charge your batteries at the front desk. The rooms are basic and comfortable but and given the nature of the accommodation and the area, it is common to find large bugs in your room. Toiletries are rarely provided at these types of accommodations but a bar of soap was provided in the room.

Cleanliness:

The banda and the bathroom were clean. Bandas are cleaned daily and clean towels are provided.     

Service:

The service was great. The staff was very friendly and efficient. Everything ran on schedule as most people staying here were part of the Murchison Falls tour and had schedules planned for the day.

Food:

The food was tasty and very reasonably priced. The beer was also cheap and cold.

Overall Value:

We really enjoyed our stay as the accommodations were clean and the staff were friendly. The vibe at this place is very laid back and friendly and this is a good place to meet other travellers or just to hang out. We recommend the tour and this accommodation to those on a budget. Package tours in Africa can be very expensive and if you're looking for a great budget tour this is probably your best option to this area.

Other Notes:

The rest camp is located along a dirt road which you can jog on if you are brave enough. You will rarely find a vehicle on this road but you will run into some locals who are very friendly. The jog can get your heart rate going before you even start as the noises from the bushes can be quite scary since you know there are leopards, lions and other predatory animals nearby. With Murchison Falls National Park right around the corner, you never know what kind of animal is lurking in the bushes.

Our Rating: 3.9/5   Year Reviewed: 2009 

For the best possible price, please visit Expedia.ca or try Priceline.com. You can also visit the hotel's website at: www.redchillihideaway.com/murchisontrip.htm

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Location:

The accommodations are located inside the Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) in Entebbe, which is approximately 1km from the a main road. The UWEC is located on a quiet street, so getting there at night can be a bit scary as the street isn't lit. Moreover, the bandas are located at the end of the zoo, which is approximately a 10-15 minute walk from the zoo entrance. Walking through the zoo at night is also a scary but unique experience.

Room Comfort:

The bandas are spacious but basic. We stayed in a banda that had 2 twin beds, although bandas with double beds are also available. Mosquito nets were provided above each bed. There is a small kitchen in each banda. The bandas are self-contained and have constant hot water which is rare in Uganda. The beds were comfortable. The bathroom was spacious but basic. We had the ability to walk through the zoo at any time of the day or night. We kept a flash light with us at all times as the pathways were not very well lit at night. In the evenings and mornings we heard the noises of some of the animals, but not lions as the lonely planet book states. In the mornings, we exited our banda to find two donkeys feeding on our front lawn.

Cleanliness:

The bedding and towels were clean and a daily cleaning service was provided. There were some bugs in the banda which we expected due to the location of the accommodations.   

Service:

The service here is really non-existent. You can speak to the staff at the front office should you need anything, but only during working ours. After the zoo closes, there is only one security guard on site. Consider this a self service place for all intensive purposes.

Food:

Chapattis are available from the vendors at the zoo during the zoos' hours of operation. The chapattis were good but no different than anywhere else in Uganda.

Overall Value:

It was a unique experience to stay here and it made us feel good knowing that the money for our accommodation was going to a good cause. If you are traveling on a budget then this is a decent option as it is very affordable and the money goes to a good cause. Despite its isolated location, you can still walk to most areas of Entebbe within 30 minutes or so.

Other Notes:

N/A

Our Rating: 3/5   Year Reviewed: 2009

For the best possible price of accommodations in the area, please visit Expedia.ca. You can also visit the hotel's website at: www.uweczoo.org

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Location:

Red Chilli Hideaway is located 5km from the Kampala city centre. It is easily accessible by matatu (minibus taxi), by car or by boda-boda (motorcycle taxi). The hotel is tucked away on a quiet street, hence the name "Hideaway", which is a great location away from the loud and busy city of Kampala. It's a great place to meet others, plan your next move in Uganda and/or find out about volunteer opportunities. This is also the last pick-up point for the 1-day Adrift Jinja white-water rafting tour allowing you to sleep in longer than you could if you stay anywhere else in Kampala and do this tour.

Room Comfort:

The hotel grounds are fairly large and hold a variety of accommodations from camping (in their tents or your own), dorm beds, private rooms with and without en-suite facilities and self-contained cottages suitable for groups or families. We stayed in a private en-suite double room. The room was spacious and simple. The bathroom was also very simple and also very spacious. Although the room was a bit worn down, it was still clean and comfortable and well worth the price.

Cleanliness:

The room and hotel grounds were clean. The shared bathrooms were also clean.   

Service:

Although the staff was relaxed and laid back, they still provided great service. Check-in and check-out were hassle-free and efficient. The staff was friendly and the owners were also very laid back, caring and friendly. On our way back from their 3-day Murchison Falls tour, we were unable to return to Kampala due to riots and road blocks enroute, so the owners of Red Chilli Hideaway arranged for us to stay elsewhere free of charge. Furthermore, we had  pre-paid the cost of that night at Red Chilli Hideaway which they returned to us, even though they put us up at another place. Instead of risking driving us back to Kampala on a day where there was potential danger, the owners of Red Chilli Hideaway took the cautious approach and absorbed a lot of additional costs by having many people stay elsewhere at their expense. 

Food:

The food was good. There is a wide selection of food and it was very reasonably priced. 

Overall Value:

Although the hotel is in the budget category, it offers enough variety of accommodations to suite almost anyone. We recommend this place to travellers that don't require all the luxuries of a higher class hotel but would like a simple and affordable place to stay where they can meet other travellers. This is also a great place to plan your itinerary for Uganda, as there are a lot of postings onsite of places to go and stay. We would stay here again. If you are looking for clean budget accommodations we would definitely suggest this place.

Other Notes:

Red Chilli Hideaway offers good valued safaris to see Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park. We did the 3-day Murchison Falls tour with them and were very pleased.

Also, as mentioned earlier, riots broke out in Kampala, (which by the way is extremely rare in Uganda), on our way back to Kampala, and as a result, the owners of Red Chilli Hideaway put everyone up at another lodge outside of the city to ensure our safety at no cost to anyone. When we finally returned to Kampala, they also let us use their facilities until we could figure out our onward plans as the situation in Uganda was still unsettled. 

Finally, there are some resident goats and large (but friendly) dogs on their grounds. Free, often slow, internet is also provided.

Our Rating: 4/5   Year Reviewed: 2009 

Expedia.ca provides the best prices on accommodations in Kampala, Uganda. You can also visit the hotel's website at: www.redchillihideaway.com

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Location:

The ZIWA Rhino Sanctuary is located approximately 175KM north of Kampala is actually the home for the only few remaining wild rhinos in Uganda. This is a good place to stop and visit the rhinos if you are on your way to visit the Murchison falls or on your way back to Kampala. Although the rhinos come to the facility grounds, it's rare to see the rhinos in the evenings but they can certainly be heard. Unfortunately there is little to do in this area and the rhino tracking only takes a couple of hours, but it's certainly a place to relax. The resident dog Jessie and the cat are absolutely adorable and well behaved.

Room Comfort:

The sanctuary offers guesthouses or backpacker rooms all with shared facilities. We stayed in a guesthouse and it had a common area, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The bedrooms were small and simple. The furniture seemed a little old and the decor was bland and outdated. The bathrooms are a good size but again were worn down and should be refurbished.

Cleanliness:

The bedrooms had clean sheets and clean towels but the house itself could be cleaner. The guesthouse has a lot of potential, but it's not that well maintained.

Service:

The service was great. The owners welcomed us, helped us with rearranging our plans and ensured we were all comfortable. They even let us borrow their mobile phone free of charge when ours wasn't getting reception. The electrical outlets in our room did not work so we had to charge our camera batteries at the on-site gift shop. The electricity is run on solar power with a generator back-up but all rooms had lights at all times.

Food:

The food was good but not great. They accommodated our request to have a vegetarian meal without any problems. Breakfast was not included with our stay but was available for purchase. Since we were leaving at around 4 AM the following morning, we decided not to have breakfast as we didn't have much of an appetite at that time. The restaurant is a large open air space and uniquely decorated. The walls are covered with drawings from their guests which we think is a great idea.

Overall Value:

For an unexpected stay we were welcomed and accommodated to our satisfaction. We recommend a visit to the sanctuary but don't see a reason to stay unless you want to stay somewhere where the money goes to a good cause. The owners are very lovely, helpful and are doing a great thing in increasing the rhino population in Uganda.

Other Notes:

A visit to the sanctuary or a stay at the sanctuary helps fund bringing additional rhinos and facilitates their outreach programs.

Our Rating: 3/5   Year Reviewed: 2009

Expedia.ca offers great prices on hotels in Kampala, Uganda. You can also visit the hotel's website at: www.rhinofund.org

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Location:

The lodge is located in the Kibale Forest on the borders of the Bigodi swamp which is probably the best place to track chimpanzees in Uganda. The lodge is about a 15-minute drive (or 4 kilometres) from the Uganda Wildlife Authority office or the starting point for chimpanzee tracking. The camp is situated in a forested area where you can see monkeys and other animals from your porch of your tent. The sounds of nature can also be heard throughout the day and night. The location is good because it's in a secluded forested area and within a short drive to the chimp trekking.

Room Comfort:

We have to say that the Belgian owners, (who now live in Uganda), have done a great job in providing the comforts of a nice hotel room in a tent. There are 7 tents at the lodge with either a double or twin bed and private bathrooms. Although there is is no running water in the tents, they are designed in such a way that you wouldn't really know it.  For example, the sink has a large container of water set-up with a faucet so that when you have to wash your hands, there is water. To shower, you have to order your hot water from reception and the staff will deliver it at your requested time. It  takes approximately 10 minutes to receive the hot water so you can pre-order for later in the day or for the next morning. In fact, the staff are very punctual with bringing the hot water at your requested time and will even check to see if you require more. The toilets are non-flushing so instead of water you throw a scoop of sand into the toilet after each use which is a nice alternative to water. The toilet does not smell (in case you are wondering). Electricity is limited to specific times of the day (from 6am to 6pm). Torches are provided during the times that electricity is not in use and you can charge your batteries at the main bar all day as it is powered by a separate generator.

The fairly large tents are designed into 4 sections, a large bedroom, a changing area with a sink, pit toilet and bush shower. The creative design made for a comfortable stay and despite the fact that the accommodations are tents, they felt like cottages.

Cleanliness:

The tents are very clean, but since they are tents, there is only so much that can be done to keep insects out.  The staff do spray the tents with insecticides in the evenings to eliminate mosquitoes, as mosquito nets aren't provided, but it does not kill other insects. We did find a couple of spiders in our tent, but didn't hear of anyone else having the same problem during our stay. It wasn't a concern.

Finally, there is an slight odour from the plastic of the tent but it didn't really bother us as it is expected from this type of accommodation.

Service:

The service was outstanding. The room attendants were very diligent with their jobs and punctual with all requests made. This is one place where the staff went out of there way to ensure we were comfortable and happy. The atmosphere was great and the staff made this a wonderful experience. Since the tents do not have any electrical outlets the staff will be happy to charge batteries and mobiles at the reception desk.

Food:

The food was great. Breakfast was included in the booking and the staff was great with allowing us to order everything on the menu leaving us very full and satisfied. We had the option to choose if we wanted to go on full board, half board or pay as we ate. We chose to pay as we ate and it worked out well for us, although the full board option was a good deal. We also ate dinner here and enjoyed our meal. Dinner consisted of 4 courses (while lunch was 2 courses). The portions were large and tasty. The restaurant is located on an open patio on top of the reception area, while the kitchen is located in a separate building. Dinner and lunch are on a set menu but they will certainly make adjustments if you have specific diet requirements. 

Overall Value:

Overall, the value of this lodge was great. It's a unique experience that we enjoyed very much. The lodge is beautifully set and the tents are smartly designed to provide a unique and memorable experience. The staff provided 5-star service without the associated costs. In our opinion, this is one of the best places in its price range in Uganda. We think the absence of mosquito nets in the tents is the only negative aspect of the tents. We highly recommend this lodge to others as not only is it one of the best places to stay at in this area, it might be one of the best places to stay at in Uganda (at its current price).

Other Notes:

There is a 30 to 45 minute nature trail that surrounds the camp were you have opportunities to spot various species of monkeys and other wildlife. Also, if you are travelling to the Kibale Forest, don't miss out on the Chimp trekking. Although permits are one of the most expensive for this activity in Uganda, your chances of seeing the chimps in the wild are the best in Uganda.

Our Rating: 4/5   Year Reviewed: 2009

For the best possible price, please visit Expedia.ca. You can also visit the hotel's website at: www.naturelodges.biz.

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Location:

The Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite is located on a quiet piece of land on the Nteko ridge overlooking the beautiful Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This campsite is a great base for tracking the Nkuringo gorilla family or for exploring the surrounding area. The meeting point for the Nkuringo gorilla group trekking is only about 300 meters from the campsite which gives people staying at the campsite more time to sleep before tracking the gorillas early in the morning. Although getting to the campsite can be quite an adventure, it's worth the effort. There is a great vantage point on the campground which on a clear day offers spectacular views of the sunrise, surrounding volcanoes and Congo.

Room Comfort:

The rooms are small and basic but clean and comfortable. At the time of writing, the 5 simple twin-bed rooms each contained 2 twin beds and a small table. There was also 1 twin bed Banda and a couple more 'upscale' cottages were in the process of being built while we were there. The bathroom is shared and consists of pit toilets and bush showers that were clean and odourless. There is no heat or electricity in the rooms, so bring warm clothing for night, as it can get cooler in high altitudes even in the summer months. If you need to charge your batteries or cell phones, then notify the staff and they will do their best to get a generator going. Lanterns are provided at night for your room and for getting around the campsite. There is a handy clothes line outside of your room which helps with drying clothes, especially after trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest that can get pretty wet and muddy after rainfall.

Cleanliness:

The rooms and shared facilities are clean and well maintained.   

Service:

The service we received from the owner and hotel staff was excellent. While we were searching for accommodations in the Bwindi area, we came across the owner of the Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite, Robert, who was very helpful in our planning as he was always willing to share his knowledge about Uganda with us. The staff at the campsite were also also very kind and helpful. For example, since there is no running water at the campsite, we had to order the hot water for our showers. The staff boiled water for us and prepared the bush shower when we wanted, even if it was before the sun come up. The staff  was excellent in ensuring that our water was hot and ready for us at exactly the time we requested it. The same holds true for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The staff talked to the guests to find out if there were any special meal requirements and ensured that the meals were ready on time. Finally, one of the staff also took us around the village and showed us what life in the village is really like. We even had the opportunity to try homemade banana beer and banana alcohol from a local village bar.

Food:

The food was good. There is a small restaurant on site with a very small and unique kitchen. The prices of food are very reasonable given the isolated location of the campsite.

Overall Value:

Although the rooms and facilities are basic, our stay at this campsite was one of the highlights of our trip to East Africa. When you have the humbling experience of staying at a place like this, you realize that everything they provide is more than you need. Interacting with the local staff and people from the nearby village is an experience you can't get by staying elsewhere. Robert and his staff do a great job to ensure their guests have everything they need and are helpful to answer any questions that you may have. Overall, this is a great place to stay and experience East Africa.

Other Notes:

A performance is given by the Nkuringo Youth Initiative Group, which should not be missed! The performance is held in the early evening on top of a small hill overlooking the surrounding area. The people in the group range in age from 2 to 20 years of age and perform songs and dances that will make you fall in love with this area. The mission of their program is to teach youths not to beg for money but rather to work for it. The program also teaches equality among men and women. They put on beautiful and memorable performances! This is truly a highlight of the visit to the Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite.

We should also mention that we did run into one issue, which was resolved before we left the campsite. We had arranged transportation, (car and driver), from Kampala to the campsite through Robert for a standard price of US$125/day. Upon learning that other reputable companies offered transportation for US$100/day, we contacted Robert and asked if he would be able to match the price and, if not, then we would book with one of the other companies. Robert agreed to match the price so we decided to stick with the transportation Robert had arranged for us. Unfortunately, Robert provided us with a car that didn't seem to be properly maintained. The trip from Kampala to Bwindi usually takes about 9 hours, as the roads are not always well paved (or paved at all), but ours took well over 12 hours as our rental vehicle arranged through Robert broke down 3 times along the way. In the end, a staff member from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) took us the rest of the way, or about 1.5 hours, from where the van last broke down; for a small price of course. Unfortunately, our driver was stranded in the area for several more hours until he was able to get the van to a repair shop and have it fixed. When we finally arrived at the Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite that evening, Robert made it seem like it was our fault that we received a worse vehicle because we reduced the price of the hire. However, when we agreed on the new price, he failed to mention that he would be arranging a different vehicle for us based on that reduced price. If we had known that upfront we would have booked the car and driver with the other company. In the end, Robert did refund us the amount we paid to the UWA officer for driving us to the campsite and our original driver did make it to the campsite the following day with the repaired van, so the issue was resolved. If you are looking to hire a vehicle (and driver) in Uganda, the prices in 2009 ranged from US$80-US$150 plus gas, so shop around.

Our Rating: 4/5   Year Reviewed: 2009 

For the best possible price, please visit Expedia.ca. You can also visit the hotel's website at: www.nkuringocampsite.com

Photos:

Location:

When we arrived at the hotel, we were a little unsure of the location and thought the area was a little suspect; however, it turned out to be a pretty convenient base from which to explore Kampala. The hotel is located in Old Kampala, within walking distance to the main center of Kampala and most attraction. If you don't feel like walking, taxis and boda-bodas (motorcycle taxis) are readily available on the street in front of the hotel. The location is noisy because it is on a busy street but does have a supermarket, bank and Internet service near by. Surprisingly the street noise could not be heard in our room so it really wasn't a factor during our stay. After speaking with the hotel owner, we learned that the Tuhende Safari Lodge will be moving to a new location across town in the near future, but could not verify the validity of that statement. This hotel is a popular hotel for backpackers and volunteer groups.

Room Comfort:

The rooms at the Tuhende Safari Lodge are old and not well maintained. It's unfortunate because the hotel has the potential to be something very special with very few improvements. Although you can book rooms individually, we ended up booking an entire section which contained two rooms, a bathroom and a common area with a fridge and a sink. The two rooms were basic and small. Other rooms available at the hotel are set up like a typical hostel with multiple beds in one room and a shared bathroom. The way the rooms are set up on the interior of the building structure, it does offer for a quiet evening after a busy and loud day in Kampala, but again, the areas are worn down and in a need of a make over. Furthermore, the showers did not always have hot water and the mosquito nets over the beds were dusty and ripped.

Cleanliness:

Although the bed sheets seemed clean, the rooms didn't. There were spider webs on the corners of the ceiling, chipped paint on the walls and the bathrooms were slowly falling apart. The rooms, especially the bathroom, had lots of mosquitoes which is quite common in Uganda, hence the need for intact mosquito nets over the beds. Despite the lack of western style cleanliness, the rooms weren't that bad for Kampala's standards. We believe the problems in these rooms could be easily fixed with some minor maintenance and a good cleaning.

Service:

The service was good as the staff tried to do everything they could to make our stay enjoyable. On our first night at the hotel, the water heater in our bathroom wasn't working. One of the staff in charge, Patrick, was very quick to get help but despite their best efforts they could not manage to fix it and it ended up leaking all night. Even though Patrick offered us a different room where the heater was working, we decided it wasn't worth moving that evening, since we were checking out the next morning, but instead Patrick allowed us to shower in that vacant room. Patrick was extremely friendly and always found the time to greet us and tell us interesting stories about life in East Africa. When we returned to the hotel a few days later, Patrick was excited to welcome us back and to show us that the water heater in our room was fixed and had hot water again. Check-in and check-out were a breeze and we received timely responses via email when booking.

Food:

The hotel has a popular restaurant on-site with great prices on meals, but unfortunately we can only say that the food was average. We expected much more as we read multiple positive reviews about the delicious food that the Canadian chef prepares, but instead we were left a little disappointed as we felt that the food was lacking flavour.

Overall Value:

If you're looking for a relatively cheap place to stay for a night or two and don't mind the worn down rooms, the location and friendly staff at this place make it ideal.  Otherwise, we would suggest you looking for accommodation elsewhere. Although finding good accommodations in Kampala can be difficult, there are better options for the same price. We can't recommend staying at this hotel, but should the rumours be true and a new Tuhende Safari Lodge opens its doors in Kampala, we would be more than glad to pay them another visit.

Other Notes:

If you do decide to stay here, ask for Patrick and take the time to talk with him as learning about him and where he came from is an eye-opening experience. We really enjoyed our conversations with him and they were the highlight of our stay at the Tuhende Safari Lodge.

Our Rating: 2.5/5   Year Reviewed: 2009 

For the best possible price, please visit Expedia.ca. You can also visit the hotel's website at: www.tuhendesafarilodge.com

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