Sambiya River Lodge — Hotel in Buliisa

Sambiya River Lodge: A Jewel in Murchison Falls||||Nestled in the wild heart of Murchison Falls National Park, Sambiya River Lodge stands out as one of the finest safari lodges in the region. After reviewing guest feedback, facility descriptions, and the lodge’s own presentation, here is a detailed review of what makes it special—and a few caveats to keep in mind.||||⸻||||Setting & Atmosphere||||From the moment you arrive, Sambiya River Lodge feels deeply connected with its surroundings. The lodge is set among open woodland on a gentle slope down to the Sambiya River, which gives many cottages sweeping views across the bush and into parts of the floodplain. ||||The main lodge buildings are open-fronted, allowing the sights, sounds, and smells of the wilderness to infuse the dining and lounge areas.  The sense of immersion is enhanced by the surrounding garden, the freshwater pool, and common areas that seem to gently blur indoors and out.||||Because it’s relatively close to the top of Murchison Falls, the lodge offers a strategic location for those wanting to minimize travel time and maximize safari or waterfall time. ||||All this contributes to a warm, rustic, yet comfortable ambiance—it doesn’t pretend to be ultra-luxury, but it aims for authenticity with amenities that matter.||||⸻||||Accommodation & Facilities||||Rooms & Cottages||Sambiya offers about 22 to 24 stone or thatch cottages, each with an en-suite bathroom, veranda, screened doors/windows, mosquito nets, and fans.  Some cottages also include outdoor showers, which many guests praise for being a unique, atmospheric touch under starlight. ||||The furnishings are simple and functional, with the goal of blending into nature rather than overpowering it. Cleanliness generally receives positive comments, and guests appreciate the charm of the cottages. ||||Amenities & Common Areas|| • Restaurant & Bar: The lodge has a central restaurant area (often with terrace or veranda) and a bar. Many guests speak highly of the food—both in quality and variety. || • Swimming Pool: A refreshing outdoor pool is available for guests to cool off after safari drives. || • Lounge & Common Spaces: The open lounge invites relaxation with views over the bush; in the evenings, guests may gather here to unwind. || • Other Perks & Services: The lodge provides laundry, 24-hour security, on-site parking, and arrangement of safari activities like game drives, river cruises, and guided walks. ||||⸻||||Service & Hospitality||||One of Sambiya’s greatest strengths is its staff. Across multiple platforms, guests frequently highlight the staff’s warmth, attentiveness, and professionalism. ||||Examples of positive experiences include:|| • A group of nine saying staff were “helpful, friendly, organized, professional and considerate” through the stay. || • Guests being greeted with hot towels and fresh watermelon juice on arrival, setting a tone of hospitality. || • The lodge’s effort to cater to special dietary needs (such as vegetarian meals) being appreciated. ||||Of course, there are occasional reports of service hiccups (e.g., delays in responses or maintenance issues), but these are not predominant in the reviews. ||||⸻||||Dining & Food||||Food at Sambiya is often cited as a highlight. Buffets or plated meals include a mix of local and international cuisine, and guests generally find the offerings varied and tasty. ||||Some extra points:|| • The breakfast buffet is praised, and the lodge accommodates “early pack breakfasts” for guests heading out on dawn drives. || • Vegetarians report the kitchen tries to accommodate them, though in such remote areas it may require prior notice. || • A few guests do mention that food service and bar operations can be slower or less consistent at times, especially during fuller seasons. ||||⸻||||Strengths & Highlights||||Putting together the positive points, here’s what really makes Sambiya River Lodge shine:|| 1. Immersive wilderness setting — You feel part of the bush from terrace to cottage.|| 2. Good balance of comfort and authenticity — Cottages are comfortable without being overly flashy.|| 3. Excellent staff & hospitality — Consistent praise for warmth, professionalism, and attentiveness.|| 4. Well-situated for exploring Murchison Falls — Its proximity to the falls is a logistical advantage.|| 5. Amenities that matter — Pool, restaurant, lounge, laundry, and safari coordination make it a convenient base.|| 6. Strong food offering — Many guests view meals as a highlight of their stay.||||⸻||||Weaknesses & Things to Watch||||No lodge is perfect, especially in remote wilderness areas. Here are some recurring critiques or caveats:|| • Hot water & solar heating limitations: Solar water heaters are used, and guests say hot water is sometimes only reliably available around midday. Morning showers can be cooler. || • Power cuts or weak electricity: Some visitors report occasional power outages or limited electricity, which affects lighting and comfort. || • WiFi & connectivity: Internet access tends to be limited—often in public areas only or working intermittently during mealtimes. || • Wildlife proximity at night: Because the lodge is in wilderness zone, guests mention needing escorts to their cottages after dark (e.g. presence of buffalo). || • Occasional maintenance issues: Some guests cite incidents of bats entering rooms, slow responses to help, or staff misconduct (e.g. reports of theft), though management in at least one case is reported to have responded to resolve it. || • Location relative to some park areas: While close to the top of the falls, it’s still a drive away from other zones, and some guests feel it is “about 45 minutes” from certain safari areas. ||||⸻||||Verdict||||Sambiya River Lodge is, in my view, a standout among mid-range lodges in Murchison Falls. It strikes a strong balance between comfort, wilderness immersion, and accessibility. Guests looking for a safari lodge that doesn’t overpromise in opulence but delivers in experience, ambiance, and service will likely be very satisfied.||||If I were to rate it, I’d place Sambiya among the top lodges in Murchison Falls, especially for those who value authenticity, a welcoming team, and a strong base from which to explore the falls and...

SERENE SANCTUARY IN SAMBIYA

Our stay at Sambiya River Lodge was largely impressive and I can see why it ranks at the top in Murchison Falls National Park. This cozy eco lodge sits beautifully on a bluff overlooking the Sambiya River valley, just 20 minutes from the famous falls. The property feels genuinely connected to nature with wildlife regularly visiting the grounds - we spotted Warthogs, Waterbucks, and even Cape buffaloes during my stay. The lodge's commitment to sustainability with solar panels and eco-friendly practices adds to its authentic African safari atmosphere. While there were a few operational issues, the overall experience was memorable and I felt truly immersed in the wilderness.

LOCATION:The location is absolutely superb - only 20 minutes from the top of Murchison Falls, making it incredibly convenient for both hiking to the falls and taking river cruises down the Nile. The lodge is centrally positioned within the national park, giving easy access to game drives on the newly opened southern circuits. Being situated on elevated ground provides stunning views of the river valley and creates a perfect vantage point for wildlife watching right from the property.

DINE + DRINK:The restaurant serves delicious food with a focus on local ingredients, though I found the dining experience somewhat mixed. During busy periods, there were noticeable delays in service but on the day when there was minimal crowd everything seemed perfect. The staff sometimes seemed overwhelmed when large groups arrived, affecting the overall service quality. However, Food was consistently good and they do accommodate special dietary requirements when requested in advance.

ROOM: We stayed in Room 16 , so this review is based on that; SIZE: Spacious enough for 2 adults and simple baggage; VIEW: pretty view of the jungle from the cute patio attached to the room; AIR-CON: No Airconditioner in the room, but they have a pedestal Fan for comfort; BED: Comfortable bed that played the expected part of putting us to sleep; BATHROOM:Good sized bathroom with a Stand-in shower; TOILETRIES: Decent quality toiletries

FACILITIES: No Gym on site, but they have a nice Swimming pool(outdoor) and a bunch of board games in the bar area

SERVICE: Friendly staff that cared for all our needs with a smile and made us feel at home and well taken care of. Thanks to HUMPHREY at the front office for a great welcome experience and attending our needs through the stay. Special Shout-out to DOUGLAS and ARAFAT at the bar, GLORIA and ESTHER at the restaurant, and the front office staff for hosting us wonderfully. Kudos to the Chef for whipping up mindblowing specialities during every meal. And a big thank you to BRENDA (reservations) for ensuring a great stay experience for us!

HOW WIRED YOU WILL BE: Free Wi-Fi that works well all over the property, and the speed is OK - so dont plan working remotely from here! No Television in the room, just pure...

The structure and rooms are excellent: beautiful atmosphere, wonderful decor, gorgeous vibe. The place has clearly been newly renovated. The location is a bit tricky, it's about 30 minutes drive from the game drive areas of the park (although it wasn't a big deal for us). Service was generally very nice: staff was attentive and well organised. As a practice, they even come to your bedroom during dinner to set up the mosquito net for you and spray the room for bugs every night. However, we did have a very unpleasant experience the last morning. The hotel has a buffet breakfast until 9:30 everyday. We informed the staff the night before that we would have a slow morning the next day with no 5am wake up to go on a game drive (I was looking forward to sleeping in and having a big breakfast before getting on the road again for 5h and to work on Monday). However, to our big surprise, we woke up to no food at all. At 8am, instead of enjoying a buffet, we walked into a completely deserted restaurant. A very confused waiter told us that "the big group of guests went to have breakfast on top of the fall so they didn't make any for the other guests". We were baffled. He proceeded by telling us that if we wanted to eat they had "eggs, bread and a sausage". I was so angry, hungry and disappointed at the same time. To make matters worse, when we went to settle the bill we were presented a charge of 850$ instead of the 180$ we were supposed to pay. Apparently our reservation got mixed with another one and it took them a long time to believe us (yes, we were the one who had to explain how our reservation was not the one of another couple) and then fix it. This delayed our plans which was not pleasant as we risked exiting the park late and having to pay another full day of entrance fees. Our last morning was a real disappointment to an otherwise...