When you normally get a rolled up face cloth handed to you, you expect it to be steaming hot. It is such a relief that when you arrive off the dusty road to Nile Safari Camp, that you are presented with a refreshingly cold one. The journey is simple, taking about 4-5 hours, mostly on good straight roads. Have a break in Masindi for something to eat and a beer, then continue towards Murchison Falls until you arrive at the oasis that is Nile Safari Camp.

Situated high up on the banks of the river, it sits like a secret garden in the fertile landscape. Everything about this place is a bit of a surprise, from the secluded setting to the winding paths between the tented cabins that make you feel like you’re in some wonderland. It is all done with a kind of indigenous knowledge, which works at every level. Local materials are used with creativity and lovely attention to detail. There are twelve rooms in all, six log cabins and six luxury tents, each one having its own private, secluded balcony, which hover over the Nile, hidden amongst the trees, all with stunning views. These are great places to settle down while teaming with the animal life around you. Colourful birds and lizards sit in the trees, monkeys wander around with their young and hippos

wallow in the water below. The tented cabins are a hybrid of a log cabin and luxury safari tent, fully furnished.

All having comfortable beds, with an en-suite bathroom and outdoor shower (hot water available at all times). In the mornings you have a choice of a full English or continental breakfast. All meals including lunch and dinner are delicious and the enjoyable part about the relaxed atmosphere is it allows for guests to eat where there preference takes them: restaurant, bar, poolside, or private balcony. Waiters are very friendly and professional.

Follow one of the meandering paths, through an exotic display of flora, to the swimming pool. Sitting in one of the reclining sun beds you can enjoy the views of the Nile over the cool waters of the pool. Unwind under the shaded awnings or tan under clear blue skies but be careful as the rays are exceptionally vicious in this neck of the woods. A full bar service means drinks are always close at hand.

The bar (offering a fantastic sunset scene) and restaurant are thatched buildings that are integrated into the trees and rocks, stepping up and down on a gently sloping site and appearing to grow out of their surroundings. There are several other vantage points providing you with the best views and comfortable seating in which to unwind. A central campfire area creates a space for live entertainment for local musicians to play in the evening.

There are many other activities on offer; take and early morning game drive, looking forward to a plethora of native wild animals and birds. The camp’s resident bird expert, David, can also tailor make a trek for you. Look out for some of the more rare birds in the area, like the Black Billed Wood Dove and the Red Wing Grey Warbler.

Recently while on a bird walk near the campsite, there was a Red River Hog seen, previously unknown to exist in the Murchison Falls National Park. The park, being bisected by the river Nile also offers a north south divide with tree savannah on the south and grass savannah on the north, the contrast in scenery and animal life differing immensely on either side; for the more energetic there are mountain bikes to hire; In the evening take a boat ride down the river passing numerous pods of hippos and some of the largest crocodiles in the world. There is also the magnificent Shoebill which is incredibly rare and has people travel from all over the world just for a glimpse! Fishing in the area is excellent for Nile Perch or just take a break on the water to watch a spectacular African sunset while enjoying some chilled refreshments.

This section of the Nile is not the rough waters that are usually associated with the river, but calm flowing water that compliments the tranquil atmosphere and the slow passing of time that makes you never want to leave Nile Safari Camp. It has been designed with eco-friendly themes and organic forms that reduce its impact on the surroundings. By creating a comfortable place to be and with a reassuringly sustainable future, you can expect to return year after year to the same untouched environment that makes this one of the most beautiful places you will visit.

Interesting Facts
Murchison Falls is the largest park in Uganda covering on area of over 3,840 sq kms and one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world, Murchison falls where the mighty Nile River is squeezed though a gap about nine meters wide down and down some 70 meter drop. The park was formed when tsetsee flies became a hazard to human livestock and the villages were relocated to form the park.

450 species of bird including Pel’s fishing owl, pennant winged nightjar, red-throated bee eater and the magnificent and rare Shoebill stork.

In the southern sector of the park, there is Rabongo Forest, a home of chimpanzees and other primates.

Wildlife
Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Buffalo, Chimpanzee, Lion, Leopard, African Wild Cat, Genet, Civet, Serval, Hyena, Jackal, Antelope, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Oribi, Uganda Kob, Reedbuck, Dik Dik, Duiker, Eland, Hartebeest, Patas Monkey, Red Tailed Monkey, Colobus Monkey, Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Crocodile, Hippopotamus, Otter, Ant Bear, Porcupine, Bush Pig, Warthog, Aardvark, Hyrax, Mongoose.

Fish in the Nile include Nile perch, Wakka, Tiger fish, several varieties of cat fish including Electric Cat Fish, Tilapia. There is also large turtles often seen basking on the rocks near the banks.