Kyaninga Lodge is among Uganda’s most luxurious accommodation outside the capital, Kampala. Built from timber and thatch, and overlooking Lake Kyaninga, which is one of the country’s deepest crater lakes, it is nearby the town of Fort Portal and has easy access to spectacular hiking trails with views of the Great Rift Valley and Rwenzori Mountains, which are also known as the Mountains of the Moon.
Each of the nine log cabins, which have been constructed from more than a thousand hand-carved logs, has a private deck overlooking Kyaninga and the Rwenzori (over 10 000 indigenous trees have been planted as part of conservation work to preserve the surrounding ecosystem. The common areas are equally comfortable, with a design clearly influenced by traditional Alpine-meets-African interiors using glossy local woods. Steps hewn from ancient volcanic rock lead down to the azure swimming pool (the lake is also a comfortable temperature for bathing) and to an emerald lawn for croquet, badminton and boules. Those wanting to work up even more of an appetite can play a few sets on one of the only grass tennis courts in Uganda. Afterwards, unwind in the sauna at the wellness centre or be soothed with a professional massage or reflexology treatment.
Uganda is best known for superb gorilla and chimp trekking – animal and bird lovers at Kyaninga Lodge should look out for vervet, red-tailed, and colobus monkeys, civet cats, porcupines, bats and plenty of bird species.
Views of Lake Kyaninga and the Rwenzori Mountains
Excellent hiking to superb outlooks
Tennis, croquet, badminton, swimming and boules
Wellness centre for post-trek massage
Good proximity to Queen Elizabeth and Kibale National Parks
Kitchen garden and significant wine cellar
Kyaninga Lodge is ideal for outdoorsy or sporty travellers, with
for lawn tennis, croquet, badminton and boules. In the evenings, snuggle up at double-sided log-burning fireplace with board games and a drink from the bar. The lounge area has two raised galleries that are ideal for birding or reading.
The swimming pool is surrounded by grassy terraces that overlook the lake and mountains. The Wellness Centre is situated on a cantilevered platform below the pool to enjoy magnificent vistas from its full-height windows. The centre has a sauna with a plunge pool for cooling off, and the therapists are well versed in Chinese, Swedish, deep-tissue and aromatherapy massage techniques, as well as facials, reflexology and nail care.
The lodge runs on solar power.
