Soak up the plentiful sunshine, our pool area has luxurious loungers ideal for long time relaxation.

Discover the perfect souvenir at our hotel gift shop offering a unique selection of locally made products, handmade jewelry, travel essentials & more.

Enjoy the world’s finest wines, champagnes, spirits and other cocktails while overlooking Papaya Lake Lodge view. A classic bar in Papaya Lake Lodge is  for international travelers , where travel may just be a state of mind

We invite you to enjoy a massage in the privacy of your cottage or open space area at the lake side or swimming pool. Our massage is available full-time. Please book in advance.

We offer a number of exciting activities at Papaya Lake Lodge. For a little more adventurous we highly recommend: Chimpanzee Tracking, Crater Lakes Exploration Tour, Mahoma Falls Tour, Community Walk Tour, etc. Please let us know if you are keen for a certain activity. If we are fully booked please be understanding if we cannot provide every activity on any given day.

The Mweya Peninsula is one of the best places to startNyamunuka Crater Lake your game drive from. The forested area offers a great variety of game tracks and at the same time it hides many narrow natural trails, created by the inhabitants. A game drive in this area will give you a fair chance of finding the elusive leopard and watching herds of elephant. Also waterbucks, warthogs, hyenas and the giant forest hog are regularly seen around the Mweya Peninsula. As it is located closely to the shores of the Kazinga Channel do not be surprised when you encounter a hippo grazing peacefully between the bushes, in the early morning or evening. Many bird species like the Black Bee-eater, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl and Malachite Kingfisher inhabit this isolated peninsula as well.

This famous 32 kilometers long channel is a natural link between Lake Edward and Lake George and is said to contain the world’s largest concentration of hippos. A boat trip will offer you the opportunity to view hundreds of hippos laying lazy in the water or plunge timidly when you pass. Crocodiles will be found motionless at the shores and also buffaloes and waterbucks come to the water to cool off. Occasionally you may see an elephant coming to quench his thirst. Moreover, the Kazinga Channel is a true birders paradise as it is home to hundreds of (water) bird species. You may spot Pelicans, Fish Eagles, Kingfishers, Cormorants and the bright coloured Saddle-billed Stork.

One of the most scenic parts is the impressive crater area in the northwest region of the park. Formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago, you can now explore a series of dramatic craters and dry calderas in the hilly landscape, offering stunning views of the park and its surroundings. The birdlife is spectacular, with large flocks of flamingos, but also buffaloes and other wild animals come to drink here

A real Tarzan territory can be found in the northeast of the national park. This is where the savannah grassland suddenly ends into an impressive gorge of 100 meters deep and 16 kilometers long. The steep slopes are formed by the water of the Kyambura River and make a beautiful contrast with the valley that is covered by lush riverine forest. A walking safari takes you along the river, deep down into the heart of the gorge. Follow the sounds of the chTree climbing lion in Ishashaattering chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys and other primates. Or try to catch a glimpse of the colourful forest birds, while you find your way through the thick bushes, with a blanked of dense forest canopy raising high above you.

A part of Queen Elizabeth National Park consists of tropical rain forest including the legendary Maramagambo Forest. It is one of the largest forests in Uganda, with different walking trails traced out. A guided nature walk will lead you through the lush primary forest, home to a large number of primates, butterflies and bird species. Baboons, vervet monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys and even chimpanzees can be hiding in the trees or down in the bushes. Deeper into the forest you will find the Bat Cave, a large cave which serves as a shelter for thousands on Egyptian Fruit Bats and several pythons that prey on these bats. Nearby is also the tranquil, picturesque Blue Lake. As the name implicates, it is famous for the intense blue colour of the water.

Follow the road to the southwest of Queen Elizabeth National Park and you will enter the remote plains of Ishasha. The landscape slowly changes as you pass large herds of Uganda kobs, topis and buffaloes, grazing peacefully in the savannah highlands. In the far end, the winding Ishasha River forms the natural border between Uganda and DR Congo. Here you will find hippos at the shores, lazy drifting with the stream. The birdlife enriches the trees along the river, while curious colobus monkeys and baboons often come to take a look at the visitors. The highlight of this area, however, is the tree climbing lion, who likes to take a nap in the upper branches of huge fig trees. So keep your eyes open when your guide takes you for a search along one of the circuits in the southern sector!

A popular photo stop is the Equator. The spot where this imaginary line crosses the national park is marked by two large circles. Not far from the Equator is the Queen’s Pavilion. This was a temporary shelter to host Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh during their visit in 1954. Five years later a permanent pavilion was built for the visit by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. A new information centre on the site includes internet facilities and a coffee shop.

Community Tours & Visits
Agartha’s Taste of Uganda Tour: Situated in a small village on the fringes of the Queen Elizabeth National park, (approximately 45 minutes’ drive from the camp) Agartha is a strong member of the local community group and tirelessly works to improve not only her family’s well-being but also her neighbours’.

Agartha takes great pride in sharing with you how the women of her tribe, the Bakiga, prepare their favourite food. Not only do you hear how the ingredients are grown and harvested but you can witness how to shift, grind, cook, and most importantly, keep the much-loved food warm for their husbands.

During the tour Agartha weaves in stories of what it’s like to be a Bakiga wife whilst encouraging you to taste what you may have helped prepare together. She then sends you off on your journey with a packed traditional snack and a taste of the local brew if you wish too!

Located just outside the North-Eastern boundary of Queen Elizabeth National Park, (Approximately 2 hours drive from the camp) the picturesque Kyambura Gorge is home to a small community of habituated chimpanzees.

Guests can trek the chimpanzees in the company of a Wildlife Authority ranger. Please note that a trekking permit is required and must be purchased in advance of your visit. Our Reservations Team can assist you with this.

Cruise the Kazinga Channel
Queen Elizabeth’s Northern Sector, “Mweya” can be visited before/after Ishasha or even incorporated into a full-day excursion from Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Approximately 2.5 hours drive from the camp)

The Kazinga Chanel, bisecting this part of the park offers a tranquil river cruise, with excellent chances of spotting elephants on the river-bank, hippos in the water and a plethora of water-birds.

Boat cruises depart at scheduled times through-out the day, private trips are also possible.

Birding and Wildlife Walks
You may also explore the camp area on foot and do some bird-watching with “Narina Trogon” and “Black Bee Eaters” being two of the rarer bird species sighted at the camp.

Short guided walks with National Park staff can be arranged (pre booking and additional fees involved) along the Ishasha river area for close up viewing of hippos and offer a unique bush experience

This World Heritage forested area is around two hours drive from the camp and offers Mountain Gorilla trekking (pre booking required), endemic Albertine Rift birding and is often combined with visiting the lions in the savannah trees of Ishasha and one of the unique offerings of this special part of Uganda.

Meaningful adventures on foot
These off-the-beaten adventures connect you with the people and the rural landscape.
We've been offering these exciting off-the-beaten-path adventures to our guests since our journey began sixteen years ago. These experiences made us fall in love with the humble people and the gorgeous rural landscape and continue bonding hundreds of guests that visit us every year.

The Buniga Forest Trail showcases the symbiotic relationship the Batwa pygmies had with the Bwindi jungle before they were ousted to turn the forest into a protected reserve. To reveal their unique heritage and traditions to the world, the Batwa people, through their community organization NCCDF take tourists into their small pocket forests, showcasing their historical nomadic cultures when they occupied the jungles.

Guests walk an hour to a Batwa-enacted settlement. Here, they'll observe how the women prepare, cook and serve a meal. They'll engage with medicine men, learn about the lush forest flora's medicinal properties, and hear ancient legends and traditional songs. They'll learn about the Batwa's fascinating way of life, from religion to their food gathering and hunting techniques, and how they made fires from rubbing sticks.  

The Buniga Forest Walk provides the means for the Batwa to preserve and earn an income from their culture and heritage. The forest walk is a source of employment for the Batwa guides with employment and enable women sell their crafts to the visitors.

Hike into the archaic hunter-gatherer cultures of Uganda's Twa forest people on this exciting Batwa Cultural Trail in Mgahinga National Park. The Batwa Trail leads from the base of Muhuvura Cave into the jungle museum showcasing a pygmy forest tribe that used to live in the rainforest Park. These tribesmen were hunter-gatherers and fierce warriors who depended on the forest for shelter, food, and medicine. In creating the Mgahinga National Park, they were forced out of the park and rehabilitated in the villages that surround the park.

Nkuringa Bwindi Gorilla Lodge sits on Nteko Ridge, surrounded by a vibrant native community village. Nteko Ridge Community Walk showcases the village cultures, people, colors, and some of the most captivating aerial scenes of the wide Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the far backdrop of volcanic mountains and misty clouds over Nkuringo.

The walk is guided by community walking guides trained by our adventure brand, Nkuringo Walking Safaris. It starts at the lodge and takes about 3-4 hours to walk around the village and back.

Prepare to be enchanted as you rise through the evergreen and montane marshes of Uganda's lush forest floor. Your birding trail will lead you to the breathtaking Buhoma Waterfall, where the thunderous roar of pristine river water crushing against enormous rocks will leave you in awe. The waterfall is set in exquisite verdant terrain. It is truly a sight to behold, especially with the prolific birdlife adding to the symphony of sound.

Uganda is acknowledged as a birding utopia, with over half of the bird species found in Africa, making it the leading birding destination. The Buhoma Waterfall Trail is a must-visit for birding enthusiasts, as you can spot the White-tailed Ant Thrush, dapper francolin, splendid Black Bee-eater, Yellow-eyed Black, and African Sooty Flycatchers along the green bamboo zone.

Discover the exclusive beauty rituals at Nkuringo's only Mist Spa. Well recommended by our guests after the pleasurable but tiring gorilla tracking excursion into the rainforest jungle.

“At our mist spa, be prepared to feel rejuvenated after this fabulous treatment. Take this holistic journey to well being where you will slumber into relaxation with a 60-90 minute relaxing full body massage. Restore harmony of body, mind and spirit in a natural surrounding. End your treatment in our relaxation area with some herbal teas and fruit or herb infused water."

Meaningful adventures on foot
These off-the-beaten adventures connect you with the people and the rural landscape.
We've been offering these exciting off-the-beaten-path adventures to our guests since our journey began sixteen years ago. These experiences made us fall in love with the humble people and the gorgeous rural landscape and continue bonding hundreds of guests that visit us every year.

The Buniga Forest Trail showcases the symbiotic relationship the Batwa pygmies had with the Bwindi jungle before they were ousted to turn the forest into a protected reserve. To reveal their unique heritage and traditions to the world, the Batwa people, through their community organization NCCDF take tourists into their small pocket forests, showcasing their historical nomadic cultures when they occupied the jungles.

Guests walk an hour to a Batwa-enacted settlement. Here, they'll observe how the women prepare, cook and serve a meal. They'll engage with medicine men, learn about the lush forest flora's medicinal properties, and hear ancient legends and traditional songs. They'll learn about the Batwa's fascinating way of life, from religion to their food gathering and hunting techniques, and how they made fires from rubbing sticks.  

The Buniga Forest Walk provides the means for the Batwa to preserve and earn an income from their culture and heritage. The forest walk is a source of employment for the Batwa guides with employment and enable women sell their crafts to the visitors.

Hike into the archaic hunter-gatherer cultures of Uganda's Twa forest people on this exciting Batwa Cultural Trail in Mgahinga National Park. The Batwa Trail leads from the base of Muhuvura Cave into the jungle museum showcasing a pygmy forest tribe that used to live in the rainforest Park. These tribesmen were hunter-gatherers and fierce warriors who depended on the forest for shelter, food, and medicine. In creating the Mgahinga National Park, they were forced out of the park and rehabilitated in the villages that surround the park.

Nkuringa Bwindi Gorilla Lodge sits on Nteko Ridge, surrounded by a vibrant native community village. Nteko Ridge Community Walk showcases the village cultures, people, colors, and some of the most captivating aerial scenes of the wide Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the far backdrop of volcanic mountains and misty clouds over Nkuringo.

The walk is guided by community walking guides trained by our adventure brand, Nkuringo Walking Safaris. It starts at the lodge and takes about 3-4 hours to walk around the village and back.

Prepare to be enchanted as you rise through the evergreen and montane marshes of Uganda's lush forest floor. Your birding trail will lead you to the breathtaking Buhoma Waterfall, where the thunderous roar of pristine river water crushing against enormous rocks will leave you in awe. The waterfall is set in exquisite verdant terrain. It is truly a sight to behold, especially with the prolific birdlife adding to the symphony of sound.

Uganda is acknowledged as a birding utopia, with over half of the bird species found in Africa, making it the leading birding destination. The Buhoma Waterfall Trail is a must-visit for birding enthusiasts, as you can spot the White-tailed Ant Thrush, dapper francolin, splendid Black Bee-eater, Yellow-eyed Black, and African Sooty Flycatchers along the green bamboo zone.

Discover the exclusive beauty rituals at Nkuringo's only Mist Spa. Well recommended by our guests after the pleasurable but tiring gorilla tracking excursion into the rainforest jungle.

“At our mist spa, be prepared to feel rejuvenated after this fabulous treatment. Take this holistic journey to well being where you will slumber into relaxation with a 60-90 minute relaxing full body massage. Restore harmony of body, mind and spirit in a natural surrounding. End your treatment in our relaxation area with some herbal teas and fruit or herb infused water."

Suni designed the bar area in which a cement sofa curves around the existing granite rocks and small niches with paraffin lights add sparkle and a sense of cosiness. Most importantly the bar is extremely well stocked so it is more than likely we can serve you your favourite tipple with a bowl of homemade nibbles. Our wine list boasts many South African wines and a few Australian. 

Michael, our head barman, reportedly makes the best Irish coffee ever!

Mihingo’s reputation for good food is very much thanks to Suni’s wonderful mother Sarah. She was an excellent cook and trained the local Mihingo chefs on how to make the exceptional recipes she had gathered over the years from friends and family around the world.

The food at Mihingo is a fusion of different cultures, herbs and spices. Sarah was great at using the best local produce to create fantastic dishes. Lunches are 3 courses. The starter is often a delicious chilled soup, followed by a selection of crisp, fresh salads, cold meats and vegetarian quiches, and then there is always a scrummy pudding. Dinner is also a 3 course meal. Some of the lodge favourites are the feta and coriander samosas with home-made tomato pickle, smoked Nile Perch from Lake Victoria served with a simple olive-oil, lemon juice and caper dressing, grilled beef fillet from the famous Ankole cows and sticky toffee pudding.

Breakfasts at Mihingo are designed to set guests up for the day. There is always a selection of fresh fruit, fruit juice, cereals and muesli, home-made yoghurt, pancakes with a hint of lemon zest, eggs of your choice and the full fry up with home-made bread.

The lodge can cater to any dietary requirements be it vegetarian, gluten free, vegan or lactose intolerant. Just let us know any food you cannot eat or you dislike and we will prepare something to your taste. Early suppers can be arranged for children and babysitters can be organised to sit in the rooms so parents can eat later and relax.

Escape the heat of the African sun with a plunge in our pool. Overlooking the main waterhole and saltlick, you can do your game viewing from the comfort of a pool bed with a cool drink in your hand. Open 24 hours, we put out lanterns around the pool edge in the evening in case you fancy a swim under the stars.

There are many beautiful spots at Mihingo perfect for yoga. The bush baby platform is lovely and cool in the morning while the top of the water catchment is great for a sunset meditation session.

Mihingo will be hosting yoga events over the course of the year so keep your ears open for upcoming ones or feel free to send us an enquiry if you are interested in joining in.

Yoga mats are available at the reception in case you couldn’t quite squeeze yours in your suitcase.

Horse safaris are an awesome way to see the wildlife around Mihingo Lodge. Without the noise of an engine you can hear so much more and you really feel part of nature. Riding a horse means you often get the chance to see the more timid animals. If you are very lucky you may see eland and buffalo. Ralph and Iddy were even lucky enough to see 2 leopards on a horse ride! However, this was a very rare sighting. You will nearly always see a mixture of warthog, topi, impala, duiker, bushbuck, waterbuck and zebra. Of course the time of year and the weather do affect the number and variety of animals that you see, as the animals graze where the grass is the most delicious.Watching animals from a horse is so peaceful and a totally different experience from being on a game drive; zebras come towards you to check out the strange relative without stripes. Even the eland that are usually very shy, look curiously at the horses without running away, but keep their distance.

If you don’t feel like spending any more time in a car and you’re are not too comfortable on a horse then hire one of our new, top of the range, mountain bikes to explore the bush. Mihingo Lodge has partnered with ‘Africa Outdoor’ to bring great quality bikes to the Mburo wilds.

If you’re adventurous and like to keep fit, grab a bike and explore the sandy tracks outside the Park. You can hire one of our Mihingo guides to join you on your ride and make sure you don’t get lost! Tracks are suitable for a gentle family ride out taking in the wildlife all around but there is plenty for the more extreme riders to explore. Dive off the larger roads on to narrow animal paths and clamber over termite mounds while you put our bikes through their paces!

As we only have 2 bikes for kids please book early to avoid disappointment. Most of the year there is just as much wildlife beyond the borders of the Park as there is inside. You’re very likely to see zebra, impala, warthogs as well as a variety of other antelope.

Nature walks are a magical way to experience the bush. They allow you to notice smaller details often overlooked when in a car or riding a horse.

Within the Park:
All walks in the park must go with an armed UWA guide. You can technically walk anywhere in the park once a guide is in attendance but the most popular walks go from the lodge itself or along the swamps bordering Lake Mburo. From the lodge a two hour loop will take you around the valleys and ridges you see from the dining room and deliver you back to the lodge. The swamp walk has a couple of raised platforms from where you can look over the swamps; if you are very lucky you may even see a Sitatunga or Uganda’s famous Shoebill stork.

Outside the Park:
You may take a walk with a Mihingo guide outside the park where you will often see just as many animals as inside. There are two standard options for walks, either a 2 hour walk down the hill and in to the valleys around the lodge or a 4 hour walk to a rocky kopje with a picnic breakfast.

If you are feeling extra energetic our Mihingo guides would love to take you out on a run roaming across the community lands (outside the park).

From 5km – 15km we will tailor the experience to meet your needs.

Within the Park
There are many beautiful drives to explore in the Park either heading out yourself with a map, with a guide or hiring the lodge open sided Landrover. Research Track is one of our favourite drives where you are likely to see buffalo wallowing in the mud, zebra, impala, topi, bush buck, reed buck, oribi and warthog.

For spectacular views, park at the bottom of Kazuma look-out and walk up to the top; from here the view is stunning and you can see 5 lakes including Lake Mburo. For some 4 x 4 driving during the rainy season Eland track is the most challenging.

Outside the Park
It is both a cultural and a wildlife experience going on a game drive outside the park. You will pass homesteads, farmers herding their cattle, kids walking to school and motorbikes ferrying people to and fro. In amongst this wildlife roams about freely; zebras, impalas, topi, warthogs, waterbuck and even the shy eland are all possible to spot.

The birdlife is also prolific with many water birds living at the livestock dams. Large groups of crested cranes take up residence in the rainy season and even the shoebill can sometimes be seen in the wetlands. We will always send a guide with you to navigate through the criss-crossing and sometimes confusing roads and help you through the muddy patches that crop up in the rainy season. A game drive outside the park is useful if your park entry has expired and you would just like to go for a little spin!

Sun-downer drinks and snacks can also be organized to take on your game drives. Please let us know if you would like to use our Landrover as there is only one vehicle.

Lake Mburo is one of the few parks where you can go on a night game drive! At night there is a whole variety of animals that you would not see in the day including bush pigs, genet cat and white tailed mongoose to mention but a few. Night drives also give you the best chance of finding leopards, spotted hyena and there is one male lion in the park who resides down by Lake Mburo itself. It is an interesting experience out at night with a spotlight, an unusual twist on your regular game drives.

Please inform us in time, so we can organize your night drive as it is mandatory to have a guide for all night drives. Also, there are only a limited number of spotlights so get in touch as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Night drives can be done in your own vehicle or in the Mihingo safari vehicle.

Take a walk or a bike ride over to a traditional Bahima homestead to learn about their cultural traditions and their way of life. Activities include learning about the Ankole long- horned cows with an opportunity to try your hand at milking, understand the ghee making process, taste milk and much more. This experience includes a nature walk or bike ride across grazing land, where wildlife and livestock mingle together, to the homestead and back again. Alternatively you can ride a mountain bike to a nearby fishing village and see how the people live.

Hire a bike or take a short drive to one of the schools we support and see for yourself the work this school is doing for many of the children in the community. The parents in the community also contribute to the running of the school and often fees are waivered for orphans. Spend an hour interacting with the children, talking to the teachers or even running some of the games and activities you used to do at school. There is no charge for the school visit, but any donation or kind hearted gesture is appreciated, be it a few pens & books to sponsoring a student’s schooling.

A boat trip on Lake Mburo is the best way to see the lake and its inhabitants. It is particularly good for water birds (especially Finfoot and Fish Eagles) but you will also come across hippos, crocodiles and other animals coming down for a drink.

The boat trip takes approximately 1½ hours. Lifejackets are available at the landing site also in children’s sizes. The boat is small, holding a maximum of fourteen and has a covered roof.

Boat trips leave at 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 5.30pm

Mihingo Lodge is one of the few places in Africa where you can watch thick-tailed Gallagos in their natural environment. These are a nocturnal primate species that have become very used to our guests and come to the platform below the bar most evenings.

We are very strict and only give them 1 or 2 small pieces of banana to ensure that they still have to forage for their own food which includes fruit, lizards, moths and other insects.

We never allow anyone to touch the Gallagos or take photos with a flash as this can easily damage their eyes. You will be able to see the thick-tailed Gallagos interacting with each other.

Bush babies hide during the day in order to avoid contact with predators such as eagles and large snakes and to avoid competing with Vervet monkeys for resources. Since they are easily captured on the ground they mostly stay in trees and rely on their extraordinary jumping abilities.

Mihingo lodge has a hide about 40 metres to the south of the waterhole and saltlick visible from the dining room. One can easily spend several hours watching wildlife come and go and capture great pictures if you are quiet.

The 15 minute trail is signposted from below the dining room as ‘hide’.

If you travel a few further metres beyond the hide, you will find a second secret shelter known as the den. If you are feeling adventurous then quietly sneak along the path and crawl on your knees to reach inside this exciting new cavern, located even nearer to the watering hole.

One of the beautiful things about Mihingo is you don’t need to clamber in to the car to experience the wildlife of the area. Using the Mihingo Walk Map you can take yourselves on an exploration of Mihingo and discover some of its secret spots and best wildlife watching areas.

From the height of the water catchment rocks to the tennis court, Mihingo garden, aquaponic system and stables you can spend anywhere from half an hour to a few happy hours wandering around and enjoying the wild surroundings.

To get children interacting more with the environment and leave them enthused about the bush and its animals, Mihingo Lodge offers a bush experience for kids. Be it an hour’s excursion or a bush meal, we can get them out interacting and learning about the bush and its animals.

Half and full day experiences are also available. If you are interested in this for your children (or just want a few hours’ peace & quiet!) please speak to us to organise a bush experience.

 

If you would like to combine a couple of different activities please feel free to discuss it with us. Here are some ideas to get you started.

WALK - SUNDOWNER - NIGHT DRIVE
Stretch your legs on an afternoon walk over to a sundowner spot. As the sun drops below the horizon you clamber into the open Landrover for a spotlighting drive, reaching back to the lodge in time for dinner and bushbabies.

GAME DRIVE – SUNDOWNER - NIGHT DRIVE
If you’re not the walking type but would like to enjoy dusk in the bush with a night drive experience in our open Landrover we can drive you to your sundowner spot and back again afterwards.
Simply having fun!

WALK - BUSH BREAKFAST - WALK
Earn your breakfast with a few hours walk to where your bacon and sausages are sizzling over the fire. With a belly full we don’t expect you to walk a huge distance back so we’ll make sure it’s not too far from home!