Lagoon Resort Kampala Lake Victoria

I had been to Lagoon Resort in Kampala Uganda Lake Victoria island, where we were served freshly grilled fish, which was incredible.

As I was staying at and this way only a day trip, I promised the owner, Steve and his son Mark, that I would stay overnight the next time.

Lagoon Resort is nothing like I have experienced before: you take a boat from the marina at the Speke, where a gent named Duncan proficiently zips you across the waters of Lake Victoria to the end of a quiet cove where a pier on a white sandy beach greets you.

There is a central lodge for meals and drinks, adeptly managed by Patrick, who is resourceful enough to make even the most outrageous requests happen.

I stayed at "Buffalo", which is a short walk down the pebbled trail to the right of the central lodge.

I was surprised to find it so comfortable! Double bed, spacious shower, hot water, enough space for my stuff to be put away and not trip over... the entire stay was a great experience and the panoramic views breathtaking!

I'm now back in Kampala for a few days and the busyness of being in the city is a clear reminder of just how tranquil and relaxing the weekend was. I feel rested and energized!

Other Hotels and Holiday Resorts

Situated just 25mins by boat from Munyonyo, Kampala, the Lagoon Resort is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Owned and run by a German father and son team, this small resort (there are just 5 cottages and one family-sized banda) is set in acres of lush green gardens, carefully designed to retain as much of the land’s natural character as possible.

After docking on the private jetty, you cross the small sandy beach and, escorted by the two friendly resident dogs, follow the winding gravel path up a gentle slope to the main building, a low, open plan thatched rondavel which houses the bar, reading lounge and dining area.

The décor is tastefully simple and finished to a high standard, using local materials and artwork. The owners’ philosophy is obviously that less is more and they are not wrong.

Along another windy path, set deep among the trees and surrounded by abundant exotic flowers, are the rooms – wooden A-frame bungalows on stilts with canvas sides.

Instead of numbers the bungalows are identified by a signboard bearing an animal (mine was the mighty buffalo!) and each has its own balcony where you can sit and soak up the sounds of the surrounding forest, which teems with birdlife.

The spacious rooms are simply but elegantly furnished with comfortable 4-poster double beds draped with mosquito nets, a wardrobe and dressing table, and a partitioned bathroom with hot water showers and flush toilets.

Power is supplied in the early morning and throughout the evening, and after dark oil lamps line the pathways to guide you safely home to bed!

At dusk, the best place to be is undoubtedly on the wooden ‘Sunset Platform’, cleverly built around the trunk of a large tree and extending out over the sprawling lawns.

Reclining on one of the many cushioned loungers, you can stare out over the lake and while away yet another hour or two until dinner.

Meals are taken in the glass fronted dining room with views out over the lake at whatever time suits you. And what food!

The 3-course fixed menus for lunch and dinner are superb – during my stay I was served delicious tilapia (fresh from the lake) in a tangy creole sauce, thick and tender beef steak with garlic butter, and chicken in a creamy white wine sauce, accompanied by various vegetables and rice.

The desserts ranged from fresh fruit salads to banana fritters drizzled with chocolate sauce.

Breakfast is a similarly grand affair, with a mixed fruit platter, followed by toast and preserves and rounded off with eggs of your choosing, bacon and baked beans.

The resort lends itself to lazy afternoons with a good book, where the only thing to trouble yourself with is deciding which of the many shady seating areas to try out next.

But if you start to feel like you need to work up a bit of an appetite before the next meal (as I most certainly did), there are a number of activities available to try.

For the sporty-minded you can take kayaks out on the lake, hire bikes to explore the tracks around the resort, or borrow a rod and have a go at catching your dinner from the end of the jetty.

There’s also a volleyball net set up on the beach if you can summon the energy!

For those more inclined to take things at a very African pace, there’s a reading table with numerous magazines and books left by previous visitors inside the lounge.

Finally, you could set out on the resort’s own nature trail through the surrounding bush and see how many of the species of bird you can spot.

The Lagoon Resort feels like it almost dares you not to fall into a deep state of relaxation and I’m happy to say I failed miserably.

When it was time to leave I was the last onto the boat, wishing I could stay just one more day!

I would most certainly recommend this place to anyone wishing to “get away from it all ”.But the word is getting out so booking ahead is essential!