Katara Lodge

Perched high above the sweeping plains of Queen Elizabeth NP, the view from the main lounge really does stretch as far as the eye can see. Settle down in one of the rustic armchairs or float in the swimming pool and watch the wildlife wandering below. In the evenings, take up your position by the camp fire for sundowners and safari tales before dinner is served a deux in the restaurant.

Eight grass-and-thatch cottages, each individually carved into the hillside by local craftsmen, are scattered artfully across the grassy kopje. Wonderfully spacious inside, the décor is local and the fittings, modern and stylish. Bathrooms are a real delight with roll-top baths and heavenly rain showers to splash around in and outside, private verandas and hovering hammocks are made for view-gazing.

If you can peel yourself out of your hammock, Katara offers a fantastic selection of activities in Queen Elizabeth and the surrounding areas. Traditional game drives offer the chance to see big cats and some of the 100 plus mammals that call the park home whilst boat trips down the Kazinga Channels are a birder’s paradise. Chimp trekking in the Kyambura Gorge is most certainly a highlight and the reason for many a visit here. If you can squeeze it in, visit a local village for a chance to see how these amazing communities live.