Twiga Safari Lodge

The roomy main area is well-built with a light touch. There's tile and stone underfoot, a papyrus-thatched roof, and walls of roll-up mesh, and an overall ambience that's easy-going. Here, on its hilltop perch overlooking the river, you'll find the communal lounge, restaurant and bar. Surrounding it is a wide terrace that offers plenty of space to enjoy the open air and the views, and there's a fire pit for chats and evening stargazing.

Eight elevated canvas tents are spaced throughout the grounds, with views of the river and the hills beyond that have to be seen to be believed. The tents are doubly sun-sheltered with a papyrus roof, and made extra spacious with their large verandas. The interiors feature either single, double or twin-bed configurations, and en-suite bathrooms with toilets and solar-powered showers. Good-quality linens, four-poster bed frames, mosquito netting and solid outdoor furnishings give a real sense of comfort and luxury.

Uganda's infrastructure may be relatively basic, but the upside is that the country's wildernesses are well-preserved. The lodge is just a five-minute drive from the ferry crossing to Murchison Falls National Park, the country's largest and oldest, a wild riot of natural beauty (rivers, waterfalls, floodplains) and diverse wildlife. This place is nirvana for eager adventurers and a birder's paradise, home to 23 Albertine Rift endemics. Visit the famous Falls, and take a guided game drive through the game-rich park.