£130.00
The Mihingo Lodge sits atop a small hill overlooking Lake Kachera on one side and the Lake Mburo National Park on the other. The lodge has 11 bandas that have spectacular views and are build partly luxury tent and partly thatched banda.
A great number of lodges in Uganda offer a wonderful night or two in beautiful surrounding but if you intend to stay longer there’s little to do and the dining options and surroundings quickly become repetitive. Mihingo Lodge, near Lake Mburo, is a welcome change to that type. It offers a great number of things – from the Lodge itself – making it an ideal weekend escape from Kampala.
The less known Lake Mburo National Park is a small gem of a national park which often gets missed by tourists speeding through Uganda. Driving from Kampala to the Nshara Gate takes approximately four hours along the Kampala-Mbarara Highway. Approximately, 1.5 hours outside of Masaka a large sign will direct you to turn off to the left to the park. From the gate an easy half hour drive through the park over well-maintained murram roads will get you to the lodge.
The lodge sits atop a small hill overlooking Lake Kachera on one side and the park on the other. All of the 11 bandas have spectacular views and are build part luxury tent and part thatched banda. The rooms, and ensuite bathrooms, are large and very private. Each has a ample wood veranda with couches and chairs to allow you to soak up the view.
Little, thoughtful amenities make the lodge stand out. A toothbrush cup in the bathroom; complementary shampoos, soaps, and other toiletries; a safe in each room; large umbrellas for walking to and from the dining/lounge area in the rains; cozy shukas on the backs of the chairs in the dining room for chilly evenings.
However, the most impressive element is the number of activities that you can do from the lodge during your stay. It isn’t necessary to drive far in order to have a packed schedule. A number of these are:
Swimming Pool: An infinity pool built into the granite rock on the hill provides one of the most beautiful swimming experiences on offer in Uganda. 50m it is not but for a dip and lounge you couldn’t ask for more.
Tennis Court: A clay court has been built on the property and while the idea is unique it clearly doesn’t draw a lot of action and needs more attention before a proper game could be played.
Horseback Safaris: The lodge has their own stables and provide safaris through the beautiful park anywhere from an half an hour to 3 days. (55,000 – 1.8 million UGX)
Watering Hole Hide: If relaxation is what you’re looking for you can take a quick walk down to the hide the lodge has which overlooks a watering hole and where wildlife is always wandering through for a quick sip.
Massage: Proceeds from a massage (UGX 50,000) go to an inventive community conservation project which aims to compensate farmers for cattle killed by leopards and hyenas to prevent their being poisoned.
In addition to this there are game drives – including a night drive, cultural and game walks, and a boat trip on Lake Mburo on offer. The lodge’s website provides more information of each of these.
The rates are a standard US$130per person for a double and $180 USD for a single. However, when you take into account that this is full board it becomes extremely reasonable. The food is served in three courses for both lunch and dinner with soup as the starter, buffet for the main and then a light dessert. Coffee, tea and water are always available as are any other drinks (at cost) from the bar. The buffet mains bear special mention as it is a great way to ensure that you aren’t over-stuffed or going hungry and there was plenty on offer – salads, vegetables, quiche, chicken, potatoes, pasta – just to name a few.
Mihingo does book quickly in the high seasons and so do plan ahead and make bookings in good time (1-2 weeks).