The best accommodations Southwest Route

Housed in a building with slightly ochre walls, the Palace's 13 rooms are bright, well-maintained and, in some cases, spacious. In addition to a sofa, some of them even have an impressive bathroom worthy of a real... a palace. The serenity of the premises - just a short distance from the green spaces of the golf course and a 20-minute walk from the city centre - is enhanced by a beautiful garden. A car park and a restaurant, not very glamorous under its tin roof, complete the list of the establishment's amenities.

This very beautiful establishment has eight cottages and four villas very comfortable, clean, ecological and spacious allowing you to enjoy the panorama of the rainforest and the Rift Volcanoes before or after the gorilla tracking. Restaurant serving good small dishes. Very warm welcome and friendly service. It is also possible to organize a whole range of activities from the camp. Transfer by 4x4 conceivable.

This establishment is a great success! The cottages are simple but spacious, well-equipped and fairly good value for money. The view on the lake is superb and the welcome is really warm. Crayfish dishes are served in the restaurant. Several activities are organised on site (mountain biking, canoeing, bird watching, lake cruise...). Note the presence of a souvenir shop, the beautiful site dedicated to campers on the shoreline dotted with palm trees and the pier conducive to big splashes in the yawn!

The Bird Nest is without a doubt the most exclusive address on Lake Bunyonyi. The main lodge,, which is accessed through a garden occupied by two donkeys, is a real success: the rooms, overlooking a cove, are comfortable; the restaurant, on the ground floor, is carefully adored and is the ideal place to taste the famous crayfish of the lake; the terrace, where it is nice to have a drink while taking a cool drink, overlooks the swimming pool ... The Bird Nest lies on the other side of the bay, on a quiet plot of land with seven cottages, the Bird Nest Eco Overseas.

The only establishment located on the heights, the Arcadia offers a fabulous view of the lake and its islands as well as the surrounding relief. The twenty-five cottages are cosy as one could wish for. Kai - the spirited Kenyan manager - and his team, at the oven and the mill, are attentive and organize activities in the surroundings (quad biking, birdwatching, cruising on the lake... ). At the time of our investigation, the restaurant, relocated in the middle of the lovely garden, was under (re)construction. Let's bet it will be open when this guide will be published!

Located on the northern periphery of the park (1.5 km from Nshara Gate), on a rocky spur with stunning views of the surrounding area, Rwakobo is a beautiful address. The cottages, decorated with paintings or photographs, are a success, as are the airy straw hut - serving as a bar-restaurant - and the swimming pool "inlaid" in the granite. Facilities for the youngest, the organisation of cycling and walking tours, the warm welcome of the staff and the ecological concern of the designers add to this beautiful range.

This resort is tucked away in a grove on the small Mushongero Peninsula. The cottages are very pleasant and all have a nice view of the lake, but those facing south have a breathtaking backdrop of the Virunga mountain range. The bar-restaurant, with its terrace and subdued interior atmosphere, will delight big eaters and gourmets alike, as its cuisine is both hearty and excellent. A wide range of activities, such as kayaking or swimming on the pontoons. In short, a superb address!

Located on the road to Kabale, a few hundred meters from the university, this hotel offers forty rooms equipped (television, mosquito net, bathroom with hot water...), quite clean and relatively quiet. Adjacent to the pretty garden and its alleys lined with carefully trimmed hedges, the small bar offers a nice range of fresh drinks to be sipped on the tables set up in the courtyard. The restaurant is not very attractive and the food served there is not bad, but it is rather unremarkable. Wifi available.

On a pretty little bay with a well maintained garden and a beautiful view of the lake, the site is unfortunately denatured (especially seen from the water) by a large concrete extension. Nice cottages but rather sad rooms, although clean and equipped. Possibility to camp in the garden with Heuglin's cossyphs. The establishment has a health club, a swimming pool and an outdoor bar with painted barrel tables. A warm welcome awaits you. This resort is located about one kilometre south of Rutinda.

At 600 meters above the road, this establishment was still in the finish during our journey, but at first glance, the price seemed excessive because the whole thing lacked charm. With a view overlooking the forest, the 7 rooms are aligned side by side in a large stone building. They are characteristic of sculpted (too) carved wooden furniture and walls covered with granite briquettes, a local déco soupçon. Installation of safari tents is planned.

Situated 2 km from the city centre, close to the bypass road, this hotel offers charming, yet clean and functional rooms. The garden - with its children's playground, its brand new relaxation area (hammam and sauna) and its lawn on which concerts are sometimes held - is quite pleasant. The restaurant is not particularly attractive, but its kitchen brigade is brought in. Work was in progress when we were there to increase the hotel capacity. Transfer (for a fee) from/to the city centre is possible.

Located just outside Rutinda, this beautiful site is popular with backpackers and overland trucks, as these group safaris criss-cross the continent, which can make it noisy on some evenings. The whole is quite basic, but the location of the safari tents, just overlooking the lake, is pleasant. Lively bar overlooking an XXL chessboard. Activities include canoe rental, swimming, bird watching, etc. Transfer possible from Kabale. If you wish to picnic at Bunyonyi Overland without staying there, it will cost US$3 per person.

The hotel's rooms, built around a patio, are equipped with a television, mosquito net and a more or less spacious bathroom. Although there has been a significant reduction in power outages in recent years, power outages are still frequent at this establishment, which is located on the national road to Mbarara. During breakfast, you can recharge your batteries with the typical katogo. It is also possible to have breakfast and dinner at the buffet set up in front of a TV screen on the ground floor.

Kalebas Camp is dead, long live the Bunyonyi Kalebas Resort! Completely renovated and restructured in 2018, the establishment has also, in addition to its new name, changed hands. Here it is possible to camp (the garden, where there is no shortage of birds, is very pleasant), to stay in modest rooms (equipped) or to go on safari in tents (not equipped). Here you can also eat, swim and enjoy the local activities(village walk, canoe...). Nevertheless, the infrastructures are rustic to say the least...

Wood and plant fibres are the main materials of the charming cottages, drowned in the greenery, of this resort. The restaurant, under its straw hut, is spacious. With a bit of luck you will see the only monkey (a blue monkey known under the nickname of "president of the island") living in this island haven of six hundred meters long and two hundred and fifty meters wide on which some animals have been introduced (crescent beak, impala, zebra...) that can be observed during a nature walk (free for the guests of the resort).

Located at the eastern entrance to the city, this establishment offers some pleasant, clean and well-equipped rooms in the style of North American motels. Built in 1967, it is now owned by a former Ugandan minister and is named after the Italian company of the same name.... In addition to its notorious restaurant, the Agip Motel offers a range of activities in and around Mbarara: milking cows, discovering the process of making eshabwe (a clarified butter used as a condiment by the Banyankole), etc.

The Nabugabo Holiday Centre has fully equipped and clean cottages, a spacious and pleasant campsite and a small beach from which you can take a dip in the lake. The site, where the vervets and birds have a great time, is generally restful during the week. The staff, very friendly, organizes or helps to organize activities around the lake (boat trips, bird watching...). Between breakfast and dinner, you can watch the fishermen at work on their pirogues.

The Heritage Lodge is located on a three hectare wooded island. Quiet and remote from other tourist-friendly islands, Ha'buharo Island is home to safari tents and two cottages, nestled in the greenery, clean, equipped, overlooking the watery expanse, environmentally friendly and lulled by the babbling of birds. The restaurant, where the famous crayfish from the lake are on the menu, is pleasant. Lake recreation and cultural activities are offered by the lodge, accessible in about thirty minutes by speedboat and ninety minutes by canoe from Rutinda.

Clinging to the slope, the Hawk's Eye (whose name is by no means usurped) dominates the locality of Rutinda and the bay that bathes it. The Hawk's Eye, which is accessed by a steep path, has a row of hammocks for you to relax in while enjoying the view, clean and uncluttered safari cabins and tents, and a small twelve-sided swimming pool. The campsite is nice and the lodge staff can rent you a tent if necessary. Many activities are organized by the staff. Food is passable.

Founded in 1997 and located about 4 km south of the city centre, not far from the road leading to the Tanzanian border, this backpackers is popular with Ugandan volunteers and youth groups. The rooms are, on the whole, quite basic. The campsite is, on the other hand, rather pleasant. Those who wish to cook their own meals can use the kitchen free of charge. Relaxing site and good welcome.