The Uganda Safari Company
Uganda is tipped by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) as being one of the fastest growing tourism destinations over the next five years; tourism numbers grew by 33% from 2004/2005. Get in there now!
The Uganda Safari Company is a leader in tourism in Uganda with three current lodges/hotels, Semliki, Emin Pasha Hotel in Kampala and the newly opened Apoka Lodge, as well as being a leading ground handling operation. In addition, Silverback Gorilla Lodge will open in early 2007.
The Uganda Safari Company offer tailor-made safaris in the pearl of Africa; classic camps in the old tradition, with a commitment to conservation. So, whether you have a specific interest or want to get a real feel for what Uganda is all about they’ll make it possible... As Jonathan says ‘There is a world of difference between a well-planned safari and a sight-seeing tour.’
The Emin Pasha Hotel in Kampala
Semliki Safari Lodge, Western Rift Valley
Apoka Safari Lodge Kidepo
The Emin Pasha Hotel Kampala
www.eminpasha.com
The Emin Pasha Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Kampala offering 16 rooms and 4 suites, opened its doors at the end of March 2005. Set in two acres of landscaped gardens, part of the hotel is in a restored old colonial house built in the 1920’s, while the rest is a modern interpretation of an old-style hotel with courtyards, open spaces, pergolas and terraces. All the rooms are individually decorated with vibrant fabrics, deep armchairs, artwork in hardwood frames, antique desks and natural slate bathrooms.
Jonathan Wright, one of the owners, named the hotel after one of the region’s most revered explorers. “We wanted a name that had historical relevance. Emin Pasha was a real character in the history of Uganda,” says Wright. “He absolutely loved this part of the world. He felt at home here and had no interest in returning to Europe. He was a naturalist who had learned the cultures and languages of this country, had studied the wildlife and the plants, and had a real affinity for the region. As the governor of Equatoria, he was well respected both here and abroad. In turn, he deeply respected the Ugandans. He was very much against the slave trade and was, in fact, killed by slave-traders some years later.”
The Emin Pasha Hotel features elegant public areas, like the Fez Brassiere and Wine Bar. Fez Brassiere is a small restaurant with a varied menu offering the best of continental fusion cuisine. The wine cellar is stocked with wines found nowhere else in Uganda, specially imported for the hotel. “We have an list of good wines from South Africa. Some of our items on the menu have been devised to go with these specific wines. The menu will change every month and we will be constantly updating our wine list as well,” says Des’re Reck, the Food and Beverage Manager.
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Semliki Safari Lodge Western Rift Valley
Down in the western Rift valley in Uganda between the mountains of the moon and Lake Albert lies the Semliki Valley Wildlife Reserve, an enchanting place full of life and mystery. Here is where East Africa meets West.
Semliki is a park of dramatic contrasts - miles of acacia savannah dotted with borassus palms, deep riverine forests meandering across the savannah, and the shimmering shores of Lake Albert with its green slopes leading up to the escarpment. The habitat diversity within the 558km² area of the reserve supports a huge array of fauna including lion, leopard, elephant (both savannah and forest species) buffalo, and chimpanzees as well as a staggering number of birds. The park is of particular interest to birdwatchers since a high proportion of the 400 bird species recorded here, are thought to occur nowhere else in Uganda (10% are essentially Congolese species). The most popular bird being the rare Shoebill, which resides in the reeds bordering Lake Albert.
Semliki Safari Lodge is the only accommodation in over 500 square kilometres of wilderness, offering a truly private experience. Built out of local materials, the lodge strikes the perfect balance by providing a traditionally rustic feel whilst also being fantastically comfortable and relaxing. Guests stay in canvas tents, but with permanent thatched roofs, en-suite bathrooms and private verandas with lovely views. Four-poster beds and Persian carpets ensure that this is far from roughing it in the bush.
The food at the lodge has often been referred to as the ‘Best food in Uganda’ - everything is home-made; from the bread baked daily, to the soups, the relishes and chutneys.
While at the lodge guests may choose to do nothing more than relax by the pool which overlooks the Blue Mountains of the Congo, or partake in a number of activities run from the lodge:
• Chimpanzee tracking
• Guided walks and hiking
• Jungle walks
• Fishing
• Bird watching
• Spotlit night drives
• Game drives
• Visits to local communities
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Apoka Safari Lodge Kidepo
Miles and miles away from the noise and dust of the city, Kidepo Valley National Park is a completely different world. Big skies, vast plains, inspiring views from every vantage point…and wildlife everywhere you look. The park is home to elephant, zebra, giraffe, huge herds of buffalo, warthog, duiker, hartebeest, lion, leopard, cheetah and hundreds of bird species. And this wonderful park is now home to Uganda’s newest safari lodge, Apoka.
Apoka, where 10 rooms built of wood, thatch and canvas spring from a large rocky kopje, and the décor takes its cue from rock, savannah and the natural landscape. Apoka, where you can sit in your outdoor bathtub under the stars, or lie on your private veranda soaking up the view - a landscape dotted with giraffe, elephant, buffalo, and zebra.
Where you can walk with trained guides, tracking game along a sandy dry riverbed. Apoka, where you can dive off a huge boulder into Uganda’s only rock pool…and watch the animals at their watering hole at the same time. Apoka, where the sun rises from the crest between two hills, and sets behind a dramatic range of craggy mountains, bathing the entire valley in a golden light. Where you sleep in your great big bed, in Egyptian cotton sheets, listening to lions roar, knowing that your are as far away from city life as you are ever going to get.
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