8 Best Hotels in Uganda

One of only two lodges within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the chalets at Buhoma Lodge rise up on stilts out of the hillside, ensuring that views from the highest rooms—long, sweeping vistas down the mist-clad valley—are some of the best this side of the forest. Inside, the cream wooden-framed walls offset traditional Congolese masks and colorful kitenge (African print) bathrobes. Some of the en suites feature bathtubs (a welcome treat after a hard day's gorilla tracking). Charcoal braziers are lit every night as waiters serve up delicious four-course dinners in the cozy lounge and open-air dining room. The family / honeymoon chalet has a separate lounge with open fire place. Uganda Exclusive Camps’ have set the bar high: lodge operations strive for minimal environmental impact; guest stays support the Future Generations Trust; the lodge curio shop supports a local women's group. Ask for cottage 2 or 4 to guarantee the panoramas, but be prepared for steps. Those with mobility issues may prefer rooms 3, 10 or 9.

The only lodge in the unspoiled 156-square-km (60-square-mile) Kyambura Game Reserve, a remote corner of the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area which is within the park boundaries; expect a chic, classic safari experience with five spacious en suite tents, outdoor showers, and quirky handmade tin bathtubs. Part of Wildplaces Africa's private concession with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the air is alive with the sounds of honking hippos, freely roaming elephants, leopards, and lions. The Camp takes its name from a character in Mogambo, an Oscar-winning film from 1953. The River Station, the camp's big sister, features a swimming pool, spa, private plunge pools, and Uganda’s only dhow boat—imported from the Kenyan Coast—perfect for silently gliding close to prolific birdlife. Masterchef-style creations, butler service, and afternoon tea (served in bone china teacups with homemade orange drizzle cake) are signature touches.

With a philosophy celebrating the simpler things in life, this relaxed mid-range lodge has got the recipe just right—kids love the pool, parents appreciate the babysitting service, homemade meals are served by smiling staff—and life here generally mirrors the slow pace of the river Nile drifting by. Four family cottages are set back overlooking acacia woodland and 13 en suite thatched safari tents dot the bush, but the main restaurant and bar area, lined with comfy couches crafted from salvaged railway sleepers, takes the lion's share of the river view. Despite the allure of the park’s activities, it's tempting to while away days in hammocks, or from the viewing platform, just looking out over the islands of the Nile, watching for passing hippos and elephants.

Expect to be met by your personal butler on arrival at the converted coffee station overlooking Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kyambura’s eight luxury bandas are named after individual Kyambura Gorge chimpanzees and overlook the forested gorge (great for birders), or the rolling savanna of the National Park (complete with passing elephants). Each privately-situated banda is decorated in contemporary Afrochic style with generous private balconies and outdoor showers. Full board includes a complimentary massage in the spa adjacent to the lodge’s salt-water swimming pool. Both lodge and the chimp tracking activity itself can be booked on an exclusive use basis. Guest stays directly support Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust’s sustainable community projects such as the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative, and the Kyambura lion monitoring project. Opened in 2025: the Kyambura Discovery Centre, is a VSPT collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute and Uganda Wildlife Authority, showcasing the pioneering work of Kyambura Gorge Ecotourism Project since 2009.

A stone’s throw from the equator, high on the western escarpment of the Albertine Rift, sits Elephant Plains, a few minutes’ drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ten bright, roomy cottages with large private verandas balance privacy with envy-inducing views of elephants bathing in distant Lakes George and Edward. Water babies will love the cottages’ large bathtubs, showers, and infinity swimming pool, the perfect antidote to adventures in the Equatorial sun. Professionally curated crafts and African-inspired furniture adorn a sprawling lounge, restaurant and exterior dining area that offer spectacular vistas in every direction. Cottages (two of which are family-sized) are thatched with savanna grass; walkways are fashioned from granite from the nearby Mukubu river. A neighboring mid-range option is Simba Safari Camp, the Great Lakes Collection’s first accommodation in the area.

Turaco Treetops combines nature, good environmental practices, and excellent value for money for the whole family from its jungle site at the edge of Kibale National Park. On a clear day, the Rwenzori Mountains are visible from the restaurant’s upper deck. Luxury en suite cottages at secluded spots in the forest are a perfect hideaway for couples; standard en suites have the (optional) feature of sharing balconies, ideal for groups who want a bigger private space to enjoy nature together. The natural stone swimming pool is big enough for pre-breakfast laps and has a shallow end for kids (and sun loungers for mums!) A kids’ playroom and outdoor playground with mini zipline mean fun is guaranteed for the little ones. Guided nature walks (day or night) and Giant bike hire add to the adventure. The Chris Roberts Forest Foundation (www.crff.earth) was established by Turaco Treetops to partner with local farmers to create sustainable agro-forestry zones that protect and regenerate over 40 acres next to Kibale National Park.

Volcanoes Safaris’ newest Uganda lodge, set on yet another stunning hilltop, offers panoramic views of the Rwenzori Mountain foothills, the perspective shifting throughout the day. The local community played a key role in its construction—over 400 workers, including female masons, built the lodge by hand. Local carpenters crafted the furniture, and many continue reforesting its 150-acre grounds. With 200,000 indigenous seedlings planted, the more than 150 bird list is set to grow. Camera traps capture serval cats and side-striped jackals. Bandas feature indoor and outdoor showers; fireplaces glow in bedroom and living areas. Rwenzori Foundry statues enhance the décor, while bold kitenge bathroom wraps add to the Afrochic vibe. The kitchen garden serves up creative menus; the coffee served is hand-harvested by the Kyambura Women’s Cooperative, a Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT) project; menus are inspired by local dishes such as “filinda,” a bean soup that is traditionally served at weddings. The summit view, guided nature walk around the crater lake, complimentary massage and sauna whet the appetite for nibbles and cocktails by the pool. Monochrome family photos and a well-curated library on East Africa reflect the lodge owner's deep roots in the region. Fireside chats at the lodge with primatologists from the Kibale Chimpanzee Project can be arranged after you have tracked the chimps in Kibale Forest. A visit to nearby Sadhguru School (the only one in Africa) can also be arranged. VSPT is an active supporter of the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots and Shoots educational program.