Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge

The heart of camp revolves around a large dining tent strategically positioned to frame the Kazinga Channel with the Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop. When weather permits (which is often), tables migrate outside for atmospheric starlit dinners accompanied by crackling campfires and paraffin lamps. The four-course meals punch well above their weight – proper home cooking with vegetarian options that actually taste good. There's a well-stocked bar for essential sundowners, and the whole setup maintains that delicate balance between comfort and wilderness immersion. No swimming pool or spa here – the entertainment comes from watching elephants, buffalo, and warthogs treat your camp like their personal highway.

Twelve self-contained bandas on raised wooden platforms dot the landscape, each purposefully spaced for privacy yet close enough for those essential after-dark hippo escorts. Canvas walls meet massive mosquito-netted windows offering 180-degree bush views, while private terraces overlook the seasonal Kamera River. The real talking point? Outdoor showers with twin heads for couples who fancy stargazing whilst scrubbing – 24-hour hot water courtesy of the Ugandan sun. Inside, beds are properly comfortable with quality nets, and you'll find flush loos and hand basins with running water. For the properly adventurous, there are two self-contained tents set further from the main camp, though you'll need your own wheels as nighttime strolls aren't advised.

Game drives through Kasenyi Plains deliver classic savanna scenes – elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, and if you're lucky, those headline-stealing tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. The Kazinga Channel boat cruise is unmissable, offering front-row seats to hippo politics and elephant bath time. Kyambura Gorge promises chimpanzee trekking through dramatic forested ravines, though sightings aren't guaranteed. For something different, join the park's research teams for mongoose tracking, lion monitoring, or hippo census counts – proper hands-on conservation. Night drives recently joined the menu, and the Katwe salt mines offer fascinating cultural insights. Most activities require advance booking through Uganda Wildlife Authority, and remember – everything starts early to beat the heat.