Mihingo Lodge

Mihingo Luxury Lodge at Lake Mburo

Rating: Luxury
Price range: $175 pp/fb single

Nestled on a 500 million-year-old rocky kopje on the edge of Lake Mburo National Park, Mihingo Lodge is a true wilderness luxury accommodation that offers a magical setting for its guests. Designed to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, this family-owned lodge provides a peaceful retreat with spectacular views over the park’s vast savannah landscape.

A tranquil pool overlooks a sweeping wild valley below where buffalo, impala, zebra, eland, warthogs, and bushbuck converge for an afternoon drink. A resident klipspringer family lounges every evening on the rocks, providing guests with delightful company while watching the sunset over the far distant savannah plains.

For those seeking a unique and authentic African bush experience, Mihingo Lodge is the only property to offer day and night horseback safaris in Uganda. You may even catch sight of the elusive leopard on one of your game escapades, as Lake Mburo National Park is known to host an impressive number of these shy cats.

High on the rocky kopje sits the spacious dining and living area, where all meals are served, and guests can socialize. With stretching views of the plains, this is a perfect spot to watch wildlife and enjoy Sarah’s delicious three-course meals. Sarah’s menu is a fusion of different cultures, herbs, and spices from around the world, using produce grown organically from the onsite garden. A calming breeze from Lake Kacheera makes it one of the coolest places in the lodge on a hot day.

Indulge in the ultimate luxury wilderness experience at Mihingo Lodge, where the natural beauty of Uganda’s savannah landscape is right at your doorstep.

Accommodation at Mihingo Lodge

At Mihingo Lodge, guests can choose from 12 luxury tented rooms, each offering its unique charm and character. Whether perched on a rocky outcrop, nestled in the forest, or overlooking the lake or waterhole, every private safari tent provides stunning views of the airy sanctuary.

Each spacious canvas tent features an en-suite bathroom and is meticulously styled to complement the local environment, with great attention to detail. The doorways are framed by stunning pieces of dead olive wood found on the property, adding a touch of natural elegance to the already luxurious accommodations.

The lodge’s walls reflect the warm colors of the African soil and are inspired by the living style and design of Lamu Island. Several of the rooms dramatically incorporate the granite boulders into the design of the bathrooms, creating a unique and immersive experience for guests. To preserve the environment, the lodge is powered entirely by solar energy, ensuring that your stay at Mihingo Lodge is both luxurious and sustainable.

Dining at Mihingo

The dining and living area at Mihingo Lodge sits high on the rocky kopje, offering sweeping views of the Mburo plains and a steady breeze from Lake Kacheera that keeps it cool on hot days. From here, guests can watch the unfolding wildlife drama while enjoying Sarah’s exceptional menu, which has earned the lodge a reputation for serving the most delicious meals on Uganda safaris.

Sarah’s menu is a fusion of different cultures, herbs, and spices, served in three courses that include a chilled soup starter, a selection of fresh salads, cold meats, and vegetarian quiches, and a scrumptious pudding. Lodge favorites include feta and coriander samosas with homemade tomato pickle, smoked Nile Perch, grilled beef fillet, and sticky toffee pudding.

Breakfast at Mihingo Lodge is a perfect start to the day, with a selection of fresh fruit, fruit juice, cereals, muesli, homemade yogurt, pancakes, eggs, and a full fry-up with homemade bread. The chef can cater to any dietary requirements, including vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, and lactose intolerant.

At the lounging area, guests can relax and enjoy a variety of coffees, teas, and hard drinks for late evening safari chats. During summer afternoons, guests can cool off in the pool or relax poolside, listening to outstanding sounds and enjoying the breathtaking views of Lake Kachira.

Children can enjoy early suppers arranged in their rooms, allowing parents to eat later and unwind. Mihingo Lodge offers a cozy Lamu-styled setting that invites guests to evening chats and relaxation after an adventurous Uganda Safari game drive.

How To Get There

Mihingo Lodge is easily accessible via one of two access roads from the main Mbarara-Masaka highway. The Sanga gate northern park access road, located 37 km east of Mbarara and branching off to the south, is the longest of the two routes and is ideal for guests coming from western Uganda or after gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

If you’re driving from Kampala, it’s easier to use the road branching south to the northeast of the park, from the 50 km marker for Mbarara (look for a blue milk factory), about 20 km past Lyantonde town. From here, it’s approximately 9 km to the Nsanga gate entrance to the park, but you’ll turn off to the left and continue for another 13 km to reach Mihingo Lodge.

The drive from Kampala to Lake Mburo takes about four to five hours. However, the access roads from the highway are both dirt and can be rough, especially during the wet seasons, so it may be necessary to have a 4×4 vehicle. It may take approximately an hour to drive between the highway and Mihingo Lodge, but the stunning natural scenery along the way makes the journey worthwhile.

Booking Mihingo Lodge

To fully experience the enchanting wilderness of Mihingo Lodge, it is recommended to stay for a minimum of two to three nights. You can include this lodge in your personalized Uganda Safari through Nkuringo Safaris and receive fantastic rates thanks to our strong partnership with Mihingo Lodge.

Mihingo Lodge Rates

Activities at Mihingo

Horseback Safaris

Experience the African wildlife from a different perspective by taking a horseback safari at Mihingo Lodge. The peaceful and airy experience allows you to see zebras and other animals up close without startling them. You may even be able to spot shy leopards on your ride. The maximum weight on each horse is about 100 kilos, and you’ll be provided with an adjustable helmet, riding chaps, and English-style saddles. Accompanied by at least two experienced riders, you’ll explore the grassy Warukiri hills for 2-4 hours.

Biking Safari

For the adventurous, explore the sandy tracks outside the park on a biking safari. Suitable for families and extreme riders alike, you can hire one of Mihingo’s guides to take you on a thrilling ride, taking in the wildlife all around. From larger roads to narrow animal paths and termite mounds, there’s plenty to explore.

Nature Walks

Take a leisurely stroll through the African bush on foot with a guided nature walk. All walks in the park must go with an armed UWA guide. At Mihingo Lodge, take a two-hour loop that will take you around the valleys and ridges and back. The swamp walk has a couple of raised platforms from where you can look over the swamps, and if you’re lucky, you may even spot a Sitatunga or Uganda’s famous Shoebill stork.

Safari Game Drives

Go on a riveting game drive around Lake Mburo National Park’s famous tracks to meet the park’s protected inhabitants. For spectacular views, park at the bottom of Kazuma look-out and walk up to the top. The birdlife is also prolific, with many water birds living at the livestock dams. A game drive outside the park is helpful if your park entry has expired and you’d like to go for a spin!

Night Game Drives

Lake Mburo National Park is one of the few parks that offer night game drives. Nocturnal mammals like bush pigs, genet cats, and white-tailed mongoose become active during the dark hours, which is the best time to catch sight of these elusive creatures. It’s also the best chance of sighting leopards and spotted hyenas. Enjoy an exhilarating experience out at night with a spotlight, an unusual twist on your regular Uganda safari game drives.

Cultural Visits

Immerse yourself in the local culture by taking a walk or a bike ride over to a traditional Bahima homestead. Learn about their cultural traditions and their way of life, including the Ankole long-horned cows, the ghee-making process, and tasting milk. 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 to see how the people live.