Queen Elizabeth National Park, Western Uganda
Budget
Sambiya River Lodge is located in Murchison Falls National Park and is twenty minutes from the top of the falls. The surrounding is a mixture of savannah plain and dense forest that supports a variety of wildlife untouched by mass tourism.
The open eco-lodge allows a panoramic view of hills as well as game viewing along the Sambiya River. The surrounding area is known for viewing numerous bird species.
There are twenty grass-thatched cottages include either one or two bedrooms with twin or double beds. They all have en suite bathroom facilities and a verandah/patio to enjoy the African tranquility. Solar water heaters provide warm showers and a generator provides electricity in the morning until the evening. The cottages are equipped with rechargeable emergency lights but clients are advised to carry flashlights and spare batteries with them. Their swimming pool offers a break from hot African afternoons.
If you are seeking budget accommodation, Sambiya offers ten bandas (round circular houses that are grass thatched) that share bathroom facility blocks. Meals are served in the dining area (storage, preparation and consumption of food in or outside of the rooms is strictly prohibited since it entices wild animals) and have access to the swimming pool. Service is local, friendly and unobtrusive. The Lodge also supports the Anaka Women's Group by offering their crafts in the Lodge gift shop because the directors want ecotourism to uplift the community.
The lodge provides outdoor activities like game drives around Murchison Falls National Park in comfortable four-wheel drive vehicles where you will view the Borassus Palm Forest, across rolling savanna to the Nyamsika Plateau.
Take a cruise to the Falls and view the wild animals like hippo, crocodile, buffalo, giraffe, elephant and rare birds including the Shoebill stork. Track chimpanzees on foot in the Rabongo and Pabidi Forests or arrange a fishing expedition on the Nile. Walking safaris with a ranger guide are arranged for avid bird-watchers or simply stargaze using the Lodge telescope.
