Tourism in Uganda: Lake Kyaninga Lodge, the best for holiday makers

Kyaninga, the best for holiday makers

Felix Basiime [Sept. 2011]

Kabarole

A day at Lake Kyaninga Lodge you will definitely know that little has been done to market Uganda in terms of tourism through showing Uganda’s several beautiful tourist attractions, thanks to Mr Steve Williams.

Just 8 kms north of Fort Portal town, Englishman Steve Williams, a furniture designer reached Fort Portal on his way to visit the gorillas and he saw the lake, there was nothing there apart from the natural beauty and breathtaking vistas.

This was six years ago, and he decided to set up a magnificent hotel of cottages entirely out of timber and grass standing out on the rim of an ancient crater lake.

Through the years, Steve with the help of some local carpenters he trained has been weaving and fixing thousands of hand carved logs and grass that can now be enjoyed in ultimate comfort and style.

Kyaninga Lodge is set against a stunning backdrop of the Lake Kyaninga, one of the over 50 crater lakes in Kabarole district in Western Uganda overlooking the rolling country side.

The hotel is made up of nine cottages all built on strong platforms and set apart to offer privacy and tranquility. The main cottage is a restaurant and on its lower part facing the lake, is a swimming pool. 
All the cottages are accessed through a raised wooden walkway that has touring lights where the bulbs are cushioned in calabashes to make the rail so beautiful.

Inside the cottages is full range of exquisite hand crafted furniture made by skilled carpenters from the best dried and treated timber.

There are twins or double beds made up with the softest bed linens and feather pillows at Shs 540,000 including bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

An indoor sitting area leads out to a private deck where one can easily view over the lake and the Mountains of the Moon beyond and Fort Portal town.

The bathrooms have marble countertop basins set atop beautifully crafted Elgon Olive pedestals, claw footed freestanding baths, glass walled showers and hot water from solar water heaters.

Lighting is constant powered by solar and or generator providing the comforts of home in an extraordinary setting.

Most of the workers that were involved with the construction of the lodge have been retained as staff for Kyaninga Homes, a company set up to build bespoke log cabins and the fine hardwood furniture you see around the lodge.

“Lake Kyaninga lodge is a magnificent facility in our area standing out at a tall cliff by the crater side, sounds of nature, birds, monkeys, breeze twinkle your eyes and ears as you view Fort Portal and the Mountains of the Moon” says Mr Banjamin Kennedy Akiiki one of the residents of Fort Portal describes Kyaninga.

The facility opened early this year but guests could not wait for Steve and team’s 6 year hand work. Since 2010 guests had started storming the hotel through a very slippery road just to stare about the beauty.

Steve later worked on the road with murram and rocks when he opened the hotel.

Steve has not stopped at setting up the hotel, he has started another company, the Kyaninga Homes where he and his team of carpenters can set up your home in the same way they set up Lake Kyaninga Lodge, just out of local materials that are strong enough and weaved in a beautiful design.