Murchison River Lodge

My two night stay in a safari tent was excellent. Murchison River Lodge (not easy to find without directions) is sensitively and stylishly designed and entirely solar-powered.

It is smart and comfortable, but not ostentatious.

The simple, tasty food is very well prepared and ambience superb. Stunning location makes the place special. As do the grunting hippo.

Our stay at MRL was fabulous. The scene upon arriving is spectacular, with the river spread out before you, and monkeys enjoying the fruits of the tamarind trees on the property.

The decorative details all around the lodge are beautiful, such as the gourd-light covers, carved locally in Jinja, the local statues and handcrafted figurines, as well as the furniture itself, made from the old railway beams, and locally produced pillows and cushions.

Some Other Hotels and Safari Lodges

As soon as we were comfortable, they inquired when we would be wanting dinner, and a 3-course meal was promptly served, delicious and filling.

In fact, all the meals were delicious, served exactly when we requested them, and always with a smile and great service, and never redundant.

Breakfast was deliciously filling, a full English breakfast served with tea, fresh (proper) coffee, and toast, even when requested for 5:30am.

As we had one vegetarian and two non-pork eaters in our party, the staff happily accommodated all meals accordingly, providing alternatives that were just as delicious.

We chose to stay in the safari tents along the river. They were very clean; the sheets, dry towels, mosquito nets, the outdoor bathroom, and the tent itself.

Much attention was given to the details, as there was a bottle of water on our night table, as well as an electric lamp to see by at night.

At night, lamps were set up outside our tent, as well as along the pathways to find your way to the dining area, and a member of the staff was there to guide you back to your room after dinner and drinks.

Just outside the tent was a shower and a small chemical toilet, so you didn't have to wander far in the dark.

The water is cold in the safari tent bathrooms, but it warms up a bit during the heat of the day.

Personally, I found the cold shower invigorating, and all the more fitting to sleeping in a tent and showering under the stars.

As far as I understand, the self-camping and cottages all have hot-water showers, so you don't have to suffer if you don't want to!

I did get a chance to see one of the family cottages, and was very impressed.

The cottage was solid and clean, yet beautifully rustic- with a gorgeous view off the open veranda.

The bathroom was really cool- the shelves made of old railway beams- and the decoration all lovely.

The lofted mezzanine was my favorite detail. With mosquito nets on all the windows, as well as over the beds, it looks like a serene place to sleep!

The staff was incredibly helpful, and ever-ready to please.

They were very eager to accommodate, and seemed genuinely happy and proud of their jobs.

They were always around to offer a fresh juice or drink from the bar, which we enjoyed sitting in the hammock or on the comfortable rustic sofas set up in the dining area.

Upon returning from a long boat trip or safari drive, they immediately offered tea, juice or whatever drink you might want while unwinding from the tiresome trip.

The owner and manager were incredibly helpful in helping us plan our activities, and even called to have a boat pick us up from the lodge!

I'd recommend Murchison River Lodge to anyone looking for great service, great accommodation to fit your needs, and a