Uganda Hotels and Accommodation

(Uganda, UG, East Africa)

Generally speaking, accommodation and other tourist facilities aren't as well developed in Uganda as they are in other African countries, such as South Africa and Botswana.

Most hotel rooms can be found in the capital city of Kampala, as well as the main tourist areas in the south and west of Uganda. Some upmarket hotels are available, along with a variety of mid-range and budget lodging options.

Many tourists come to Uganda with one aim in mind - to experience a gorilla safari or chimpanzee tracking holiday. The majority of their time is spent staying in safari-style, perhaps with a short sojourn in Kampala or Entebbe at the beginning or end of their visit.

Where to Stay

There is no shortage of first-class places to stay in Kampala. Stylist options include the Emin Pasha Hotel - which has an atmosphere that is redolent of colonial times, the Kampala Serena Hotel, the Grand Imperial Hotel, the Munyono Resort - enjoyed by many a visiting president, and the Sheraton Kampala Hotel - located within reach of Kampala's busy city centre.

Kampala's less luxurious options include a range of moderately priced hotels, many of which offer comfortable rooms with air conditioning. Budget-priced lodging in guest houses, hotels and hostels is, as you would expect, much more basic. The Kampala Backpackers Hostel and Campsite is a long-established option for independent travellers to the city. The International Youth Hostel Uganda offers pick-up from Entebbe International Airport and Kampala's bus station.

The same sort of accommodation options can be found outside of Kampala, albeit with fewer choices. The Jinja Nile Resort, with its landscaped lawns, boasts magnificent views over the River Nile. In Entebbe, the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel offers impressive international standards.

The Ssese Islands lay on a range of resort-style accommodation. The largest island, Buggala, is home to several hotels, many of which front onto the peaceful waters of Kalangala Bay. It is also possible to stay on one of Uganda's smaller islands, where there is usually at least one guest house. The remote and tiny Banda Island, for example, boasts camping, traditional thatched Ugandan 'bandas' and dormitory accommodation.

Safari accommodation is readily available in Uganda, as is the case in most African safari parks. Eco tourism is now taken very seriously here, so you can expect to see plenty of eco-friendly thatched cottages that have been built using locally sourced materials. Camps tend to offer a range of comfortable lodge and tented accommodation, usually in peaceful and secluded surroundings. Tree-top cottages and raised verandahs offer a good chance to enjoy the spectacular views that can be enjoyed over Uganda's rainforests.