An old elegant hotel, the Masindi Hotel in western Uganda was built in 1923 by the East Africa Railway Commission. It stands on pretty grounds one kilometre northwest of Masindi town.
Masindi Hotel is a sprawling old establishment, built in 1923 by the East Africa Railways Commission, and located on pleasant grounds a kilometre to the northwest of the town of Masindi in western Uganda.
After Uganda gained independence, the government took over the Masindi Hotel, and it remained a government-run hotel for nearly 30 years. The Hotel was later privatised in 2000 and has undergone extensive renovations to restore much of its original allure.
The 3-star Masindi Hotel provides both business and leisure travellers with a bar/lounge, a garden, a conference room, a dinner/restaurant, a reading room, free Wi-Fi, a gift shop, and private parking.
Today, the hotel is one of the finest accommodations among the mid-range options. It has become an ideal starting point for tourists visiting Murchison Falls, Budongo forest, the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, the breathtaking Rift Valley Escarpment, and Lake Albert.
Accommodation at Masindi hotel
Each of the 28 guest rooms at the Masindi Hotel is fully furnished with a wardrobe, a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries, bed linen, a desk and chair, mosquito nets, wireless internet access, and a telephone.
All guests can rest easy knowing that the hotel’s accommodations are both reasonably priced and comfortable.
There are single rooms, double rooms, twin rooms, and triple rooms available. Each room features an en-suite bathroom, hot water, and DSTV. Laundry and room service are also available.
In addition, the hotel features a V.I.P suite with a separate living room and bedroom.
The hotel offers dormitories and a large camping area for budget-minded guests, as well as more affordable lodging for drivers.
Furthermore, there is one cottage with its own kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and private patio. It accommodates up to eight individuals.
Check-in time is between 11 a.m. and midnight while check-out time is 10:00 am.
Rates
| Type of room | Rack rate (USD) |
| Single | $65 |
| Double | $70 |
| Twin | $70 |
| Triple | $95 |
Meals/Dining at Masindi Hotel
During their stay, guests can enjoy the hotel’s restaurant, lounge, and complimentary breakfast.
The restaurant at Masindi hotel serves local and international cuisine, including Indian dishes, as well as packed lunches that can be taken on a trip if requested in advance. Outside food is not permitted within the hotel premises.
If guests with special dietary needs notify the hotel in advance, the chefs will prepare food for them according to their needs.
Breakfast is served between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM. It is either continental or buffet.
Facilities and services offered by Masindi hotel
- Free secure parking on-site
- Free Wi-Fi access in rooms and public areas
- Bar/lounge
- Games such as badminton, darts, table tennis
- Car hire
- Restaurant
- Camping in Beautiful Gardens
- Outdoor dining area
- Bicycle tours
- Conference facilities, Wedding & Meeting facilities
- Business centre with photocopier/fax
- 24-hour security
- BBQ facilities
- Luggage storage
- Currency exchange
- Gift shop
- Outdoor fireplace
- Outdoor furniture
- Sun umbrellas
- Private check-in / check-out
- Laundry services
- Ironing service
- Pets allowed
- Airport shuttle services
- Concierge services
- Free newspapers in the lobby
- Picnic area
- Outdoor terrace
Activities at Masindi hotel
Besides camping, a few games, visiting the gift shop and bicycle riding around the hotel premises, other activities for guests staying at Masindi Hotel are within Murchison Falls National Park. The park entrance is 21 kilometres from the hotel. The activities include:
Birding
If you are a birding enthusiast who plans to visit Murchison Falls National Park, you should not forget to bring binoculars. There are 450 recorded bird species in the park, 50 of which are restricted to the area. Blue-headed coucal, giant Hebron, denhams bustard, secretary bird, swamp flycatcher, standard-winged nightjar, malachite and pied kingfishers, saddle-billed stork, and African jacana are among the common species.
Game drive
Wildlife species such as Jackson’s hartebeest, elephants, bushbucks, and lions can be seen clearly during morning, afternoon, and night game drives in a 4X4 vehicle with a retractable roof.
On the morning game drive, you may encounter predators such as hyenas and leopards before they return to their dens.
During a night game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, nocturnal species including leopards, bush babies, genets, hyenas, civets, porcupines, and many others can be observed.
Hiking
Hiking in the Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo forests of Murchison Falls National Park is a must, as you never know what kinds of primates you might see there, from red-tailed monkeys to silver monkeys and more.
You might also come across numerous species of birds, such as the grasshopper buzzard, the booted eagle, and the crested barbet.
Sport fishing
Sport fishing is a popular activity in Murchison Falls National Park, and it is a great complement to a safari in Uganda. Fishing for Nile Perch, Tiger Fish, Catfish, and Nile Tilapia is popular at the falls’ base. At the end of the event, you can take home the fish you caught as a souvenir.
The activity provides excellent opportunities to observe a wide variety of wildlife, including Blue Quails, Lesser and Great Swamp Warblers, Common Squacco, White-headed and Black-billed Barbet, Greenwood Hoopoe, Blue-breasted Shining-blue Kingfishers, Striated and Black-headed Herons, and countless other bird and animal species.
Boat cruise on the Nile
Murchison Falls national park offers boat safaris on the Victoria Nile as it approaches the falls for a cruise to the falls’ base. The Nile boat safari is the pinnacle of water, animal, and scenic encounters.
You may encounter water-dwelling or semi-water-dwelling species such as crocodiles, hippos, and monitor lizards in this area.
Chimpanzee tracking
Budongo Forest is home to a colony of approximately 90 wild but tame chimpanzees. Typically, half-day sessions in the morning or afternoon are utilised for tracking.
Once the chimps have been located, visitors can observe them for up to an hour as they engage in forest activities. The dry months of June through September and December to February are ideal for chimpanzee tracking.
How to get to Masindi Hotel
From Kampala, you can reach Masindi Hotel by taking the Kampala-Bombo-Gulu route and then turning left at the junction after the River Kafu Bridge to head towards Masindi. Take this straight route up to Masindi town.
The hotel shines at the intersection of Masindi Kigumba Road and Main Street in the town of Masindi. It is conveniently located near Masindi Hospital and Kabalega Secondary School.
Reservations
Reservations can be made through the Masindi Hotel website or by telephone call to the front desk team. Cancellation of reservation is subject to cancellation fees
Images for Masindi Hotel
Last but not least, for the perfect Murchison Falls National Park safari experience, make sure to stay at Murchison Backpackers Hostel, Nile Safari Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge, Kabalega Wilderness Lodge, Grassroots Cottages and Tours, Parkside Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Mama Washindi Lodge, Global Village Guest House, and Budongo Eco Lodge located nearby.
Disclaimer: Booking.com is credited with all photos.
