Katara Lodge — Hotel in Bunyaruguru/Kichwambe Volcanic Field

It was wonderful to be back at Katara Lodge after (far too many) years. Not only did we have the loveliest welcome from Anna, Datus and Annette, but so much about the lodge was familiar: Katara has one of the best views of the exceptional Queen Elizabeth National Park, along with well-kept gardens, a fantastic swimming pool and very good food.||||I arrived late and was very happy to sit straight down to dinner and a drink with friends! The evening’s||starter was hot crayfish served in garlic oil. Unusual! And excellent, as were the next two courses.||||We had an early start booked for the next morning so it wasn’t long before I was guided down the stone path to my tented cottage containing two double beds, one of which is the “star bed” for pushing out onto your private veranda and stargazing! Silly me, I was too tired to remember to do this. My cottage had large ensuite, double vanity bathroom and comfy seating area too.||||I lay in bed listening to the sound of black-and-white Colobus monkeys in Maramagambo Forest at the bottom of the escarpment. Morning came too soon but my 6 o’clock coffee arrived bang on time, giving me the caffeine hit needed to pack all my kit before our early breakfast, a selection of fresh fruits,||cooked eggs, sausages and more.||||Katara is one of the first lodges I visited when I was a volunteer in Queen Elizabeth in 2009. Unbelievably, the view gets even better! Overnight rains had cleared the dust from the sky meaning we could see for miles and miles across the Rift Valley savannah, into the foothills and low and behold the sun was shining on the glacier on Margherita Peak!||||WOW! said Annette as we admired the view together. Imagine, she’s worked at Katara for seven years and the view still wows her.||||It seemed a shame to leave Katara Lodge so soon but chimp tracking at...

It was wonderful to be back at Katara Lodge after (far too many) years. Not only did we have the loveliest welcome from Anna, Datus and Annette, but so much about the lodge was familiar: Katara has one of the best views of the exceptional Queen Elizabeth National Park, along with well-kept gardens, a fantastic swimming pool and very good food.

I arrived late and was very happy to sit straight down to dinner and a drink with friends! The evening’s starter was hot crayfish served in garlic oil. Unusual! And excellent, as were the next two courses.

We had an early start booked for the next morning so it wasn’t long before I was guided down the stone path to my tented cottage containing two double beds, one of which is the “star bed” for pushing out onto your private veranda and stargazing! Silly me, I was too tired to remember to do this. My cottage had large ensuite, double vanity bathroom and comfy seating area too.

I lay in bed listening to the sound of black-and-white Colobus monkeys in Maramagambo Forest at the bottom of the escarpment. Morning came too soon but my 6 o’clock coffee arrived bang on time, giving me the caffeine hit needed to pack all my kit before our early breakfast, a selection of fresh fruits, cooked eggs, sausages and more.

Katara is one of the first lodges I visited when I was a volunteer in Queen Elizabeth in 2009. Unbelievably, the view gets even better! Overnight rains had cleared the dust from the sky meaning we could see for miles and miles across the Rift Valley savannah, into the foothills and low and behold the sun was shining on the glacier on Margherita Peak!

WOW! said Annette as we admired the view together. Imagine, she’s worked at Katara for seven years and the view still wows her.

It seemed a shame to leave Katara Lodge so soon but chimp tracking at...

I would easily give the location more stars for this ecolodge on the edge of the rift valley in Uganda.

When you think of African lodges this is exactly what comes to mind, wlth sweeping vistas across the valley, a resident family of monkeys, and elephants and game visible from your own private balcony.

This certified ecolodge uses solar power and solar water heating, a truly off the grid lodge experience.

Our host, Annet, and server Lucky, are delightful and welcoming, and attended to our every whim.

The food was amazing. Five courses every night, try the tilapia caught from the Kazinga channel in the national park. Dinner includes an appetizer, soup, main dish, and dessert. Breakfast inudes both hotel and cold options, fruit, omelettes, etc. Packed lunches are available to enjoy mid-gaming.

Enjoy a swim in the infinity pool while the elephants graze below.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is off the regular tourist track and so expect a different, more low key, experience than in the Serengeti.

If this is on your itinerary I highly recommend a couple of nights at Katara. You won't be...