Marafiki safari lodge is located outside Queen Elizabeth National park overlooking Lake George in western Uganda in Kasese district.
It is located in a unique position, designed and handcrafted in local materials, and also offers private luxury safari tents on raised wooden floors.
The lodge has beautiful gardens and beautiful scenic views of the river Mpondwe that leave travelers with unforgettable memories during their stay at the lodge.
How to get there
Marafiki safari lodge can be accessed via Mbarara-Kasese in western Uganda, it is approximately 6-7 hours drive from Entebbe airport to Marafiki safari lodge and 36km from the center of Queen Elizabeth National park. From Kibale Forest National park, the lodge is located a 2hours drive, and 5 hours drive from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the best destination for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Type of rooms
Marafiki Safari lodge has the following room types;
- Luxury safari tent
There are 6 units of the luxury safari tents made with hands in Eucalyptus trees, with Queen Size beds, single beds, twin beds, private bathrooms, outdoor showers, balcony, fireplace, scenic views of mountains of the moon, fan, internet/wifi among others.
- Timber cabins
Cabin at Marafiki Safari Lodge
These cabins have 4 units that accommodate 16 people, with views of the savannah grasslands of Queen Elizabeth National park, with showers only, shared bathrooms, fireplace, wifi/internet connection among others.
Facilities of the accommodation
Marafiki safari lodge has a spacious swimming pool with an outdoor bar that provides a variety of drinks and beverages.
The restaurant which serves international and local dishes
Free accessible, secured parking space
Airport pickups and drop-offs vehicles.
Free internet connections which allow clients to be online full time.
An outdoor fireplace that keeps the visitors warm during the cold nights.
Breakfast is served from the veranda of the restaurant as you enjoy the stunning views.
Ironing services, laundry among others.
Tourist activities are done from Accommodation
Below are some of the things do when you stay at Marafiki Safari lodge while on your safari in Uganda;
- Boat cruise
Boat Cruise – Kazinga Channel
Enjoy a fantastic boat cruise along the Kazinga channel as you encounter with water-loving animals like the huge Nile crocodiles, hundreds of hippopotamuses, and others nf the water banks like elephants, buffaloes, and over 600 bird species. The boat cruise takes 2 hours in the morning (11 am), afternoon, 2:15 pm, and in the late afternoon at 4:00 pm. The boat provides clients with a clear platform for fantastic viewing and photographing. The price ranges between US$28 – US$40 depending on the time, and the number of people.
- Visit the Equator
Regardless of the equator on Kampala – Masaka highway, there is another equator monument in Kasese district that can be visited during your stay at Marafiki safari lodge and do the scientific experimentations.
- Game drives
Take a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National park following the Kasenyi plains which inhabit more games for viewing including elephants, lions, leopards, hyenas, warthogs, bush pigs, Uganda kobs, antelopes among others that are seen grazing in the savannah woodlands of the park. More game drive can be taken along Mweya Peninsular.
Game drives are normally done early in the morning to catch up with the early morning risers as they set out to look for food and night dwellers before they return to their hideouts. There is also an afternoon game drive and evening game safari. Night game drives are normally charged and guided by the game rangers. Game drives at night are done to look out for the nocturnals like bush babies and other big cats that come out at night to look for food.
The day and afternoon game drive can be conducted with or without rangers/park guides. However, for maximum enjoyment of your safari in Uganda, we recommend a game safari with a park ranger/guide because, they know where to find which animals in the wild, they can also communicate with fellow rangers to know where the animals are. They can also educate you about different animal behaviors, plants, and birds.
- Tree-Climbing Lion Spotting
Tree-Climbing Lion – Ishasah Sector
Visit the Ishasha sector for the tree-climbing lions that have not been seen anywhere else in Uganda, the lions in Ishasha sector are seen on top of the trees running away from the insect bites like tsetse flies, others climb up on hot days to seek for shade.
- Community walks
Community walks or cultural visits in Queen Elizabeth National park can be done from the leopard village located in the northern region of Queen Elizabeth National park, the village is made up of traditional huts of the Nyabingi, Bakonzo, and Basongola people along with their cultural dances performed there.
Kikorongo women community in kikorongo village close to lake George, enjoy their traditional dances, storytelling, riddles, fire-making experiences, craft making among others as part of relaxation in the evening.
- The Nyanzi ibiri cave community
Nyanzi ibiri literally means two lakes that offer scenic views and great bird sounds, visit the cultural museum of the banyaruguru were their traditional tools are kept.
- Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee Tracking – Kyambura Gorge
Chimpanzee trekking is carried out from Kyambura gorge with thick vegetation that shelters the close relatives of humans. Chimpanzees carry 98% of the human DNA and that’s why they are referred to as human relatives. An encounter with these primates is one of the activities that you cannot miss out on your visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The activity is conducted twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon.
- Guided Nature walks and Bat Caves Exploration
Nature walks are done from the Mweya peninsula and enjoy the scenic views of Kazinga channel and the wild animals that come and stay along the shores of the channel, Maramagambo forest with growing vegetation that inhabits different primate species like chimpanzees, baboons, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, leopards, snakes among others. Never miss a visit to the bat caves that inhabit huge pythons.
- Visit Salt Mining Villages
Visit Katwe area and experience the local ways of extracting salt. Interact with the local communities and learn more about their interesting daily ways of life.
Visit the attractive savannah landscape and woodlands which offer beautiful views and fresh airs.
How to Book a Safari in Uganda
To book a safari in Uganda to Queen Elizabeth National Park and to stay in Marafiki safari lodge, contact African Jungle Adventures via email to info@junglesafarisuganda.com, Tel: +256773728141