Marafiki Safari Lodge

Marafiki Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Rating: Medium Range
Price: $70 – $350 pp/Fb

Marafiki Safari Lodge is a luxurious tented camp situated on the northern edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park, overlooking Lake George. The lodge offers private safari tents that are elevated on wooden floors and feature tapeline canvas walls that guests can roll up to enjoy the expansive savannah plains and breathtaking views of the imposing Rwenzori Mountains.

Designed and handcrafted using local materials by artisans from the local communities, Marafiki Safari Lodge also features timber cabins that provide comfortable and spacious accommodations for budget travelers.

Marafifki is a great Uganda Safaris option for budget-conscious travelers, yet offering excellent wildlife viewing adventures. Guests staying at Marafiki Safari Lodge can take a short drive to the Kasenyi Plains for fantastic game viewing. The Kasenyi Plains are home to the park’s most famous game tracks, with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, especially at the Uganda Kob breeding grounds, which attract many predators in the area.

How to reach Marafiki Lodge

Located in the north of Queen Elizabeth National Park, off the Kasese highway, the lodge is easily accessible from Kasese Airstrip and Kibale Forest National Park. Guests can reach the lodge from Entebbe with a 1-hour flight plus a 2-hour drive from Kasese Airport. From Bwindi, Kihihi Airtrips provides a 15-minute flight or a 5-hour drive through the park. The lodge is a 2.5-hour drive away from Fort Portal and Kibale Forest.

In general, Marafiki Safari Lodge provides guests with a luxurious and comfortable base from which to explore the stunning Queen Elizabeth National Park, with opportunities for wildlife viewing, relaxation, and adventure.

Accommodation at Marafiki Lodge

Marafiki Safari Lodge provides guests with spacious and private bandas that feature raised wooden floors constructed from eucalyptus gum poles and canvas. The walls of the bandas can be rolled up, allowing guests to enjoy breathtaking views over the lake and vast savannah plains.

Each room has an en-suite open-air shower, providing guests with a truly perfect bathing experience with stunning views of the African sunrise over the lake and the moonlight under the stars. For those seeking a slightly more adventurous experience, the lodge offers three luxuriously furnished safari tents with park views. Additionally, the lodge has a luxurious timber cabin that can accommodate budget travelers in four spacious dormitory rooms, providing accommodation for up to 16 people.

Guests can start their day with a delicious breakfast served at the restaurant’s veranda, featuring fresh coffee and a full breakfast of seasonal fruits and other fresh local produce. After a long day exploring the park, guests can relax in the bar and lounge area, take in the stunning views while enjoying a relaxing meal and sundowners as the sun sets behind the Rwenzori Mountains.

As part of their tour packages, Nkuringo Safaris highly recommends Marafiki Safari Lodge. The lodge provides luxurious and comfortable accommodations that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The lodge’s various accommodation options fit any budget, with delectable food and a serene bar and lounge area, ensuring guests have an unforgettable safari experience.

Activities at Marafiki Safari Lodge

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a wildlife paradise that boasts a diversity of wildlife unseen anywhere else in Africa. With over 600 species of birds and nearly 100 different animal species, it’s a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Marafiki Safari Lodge offers a variety of Uganda wildlife safaris in association with experienced local guides that you won’t want to miss. From a morning game drive on the Kasenyi Plains to an afternoon boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, finishing up with sundowners around the campfire at Marafiki, there are plenty of opportunities to discover the breathtaking beauty of the park and its inhabitants.

Game Drive Safaris

Embark on an early morning safari drive from Marafiki Safari Lodge to discover the wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park. As the sun rises behind the Kyambura Escarpment, elephants bathe in the watering holes before making their way to breakfast while an abundance of Ugandan Kobs bound through the savannah grasslands, oblivious to lions planning their morning hunt. Witness waterbucks, warthogs, and hyenas on the Kasenyi plains as day breaks, or take a night-time safari for a chance to spot the elusive leopard and round-eyed bush baby monkeys.

Boat Safaris at Kazinga Channel

Explore the famous Kazinga Channel as the midday heat subsides. At 32 kilometers long, the channel links Lake Edward to its little brother, Lake George. View crocodiles lying motionless on the banks, eyes just visible above the waterline, while buffalo cool off in sun-baked mud baths and the occasional elephant stops to quench its thirst. A true birders’ paradise, delight in the hundreds of water species that live here, including the magnificent Fish-Eagle and the brightly feathered Saddle-billed Stork.

Kyambura Gorge Chimps

Experience the verdant underground forest in the park’s far east corner by walking from Marafiki Safari Lodge. Start your hike where the savannah grasslands end and the stunning 100-meter-deep Gorge begins. The steep slopes of the Gorge, formed by the water of the Kyambura River, prove a striking contrast to the tree-covered valleys below. Your walk into the heart of the forest is accompanied by the constant chattering of chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, and other primates. Look up, and you will discover colorful birds perched in the dense canopy of the tropical rainforest high above your head.

Crater Lakes Tour

The impossibly scenic crater lakes, situated northwest of Queen Elizabeth, offer stunning views of the park and its surroundings. Formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago, these impressive lakes are home to a spectacular range of both wildlife and birdlife. Explore the dramatic craters and dry calderas in the hilly landscape surrounding you, watching out for buffalo basking in the watering holes while flocks of salmon-pink flamingos stand sentry-like in the shimmering water.

In summary, Marafiki Safari Lodge provides guests with a range of safari experiences that allow them to discover the incredible wildlife and natural beauty of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Whether it’s a game drive safari, a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, a walk through the Kyambura Gorge to see chimpanzees and other primates, or a tour of the stunning crater lakes, guests will have unforgettable experiences that will stay with them forever.