Sambiya River Lodge
Sambiya River Lodge a newly renovated midrange lodge. Situated only 15 minutes from the top of the magnificent Murchison Falls. It is the perfect place to stay if you want to experience peace and privacy in this African wilderness. The outstanding uniqueness of this lodge is its nearness to nature. Sambiya River Lodge’s unique charm is in the atmosphere of intimacy provided to the guests. Surrounded by a vast number of beautiful trees.
The lodge is Eco-friendly and has a solar powered water heater. There is a standby generator which you can use to charge batteries plus any other electrical gadgets. It offers low cost bandas river lodge which have shared bathroom plus toilet facilities. Guests can at any time enjoy a swim in their swimming especially in the evening. Or decide to enjoy a drink by the poolside as they enjoy the beautiful scenery.
The open fronted lodge allows a panoramic vista of hills and game viewing along the Sambiya River and the adjacent grass covered flood plain. The surrounding area known for viewing many species of bird life. For most of the year, the park is hot by day and cool by night. A swimming pool offers a break from those hot African afternoons. Floodlights illuminate the river area after dark so that one can see as well as listen to the sounds of the African night before retiring.
Accommodation
Guests stay in any of the 24 cottages designed as individual and family cottages which have en suite bathrooms, fans, screened doors & windows and a veranda to relax and enjoy the commanding views of quintessential Africa. This lodge offers you an opportunity to unwind as you enjoy the sounds of Africa’s.
Dinning
The meals are very tasty and prepared by expert chefs. These include local plus international cuisines. There is also a well-stocked bare offering a great assortment of drinks. The staff is very warm and welcoming and always eager to serve the guests. You will also have the opportunity to see some animals walking around the territories of the lodge and all Cottages. These combined will certainly offer you a very memorable safari experience.
Activities
Game drives
Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to see and photograph animals and birds. By 10-11am many mammals look for refuge from the heat under or in trees! Leisurely drive on the new game circuit in the “Heart of the Park” that Uganda Wildlife Authority has put in on the South Bank.
The Honeymoon Circuit is about a 10 minute drive from Sambiya (the turn off is on the way to the Top of the fall). It has loops off the road to Rabongo, where clients rarely miss seeing lions! Numerous other wildlife seen including giraffe that were translocated from the North Bank in February 2016! Other wildlife to be seen include Cape buffalo, waterbuck, bushbuck, Uganda kob, Jackson’s hartebeest, warthogs and forest elephant if you are lucky! Birdlife for the twitchers: bee-eaters, eagles, buzzards, kestrels, vultures, plovers, doves, shrikes, flycatchers, widowbirds, nightjars, cuckoos and coucals abound.
Boat Cruise
A number of boats provide cruises up and down the Nile. One trip offered is from the landing at Paraa (approximately 25 minutes’ drive from the Lodge depending on good road/weather conditions) traveling up the River Nile to the base of the renowned falls. There is an abundance of hippos, crocodile, Cape buffalo, elephant and numerous species of birds to be seen, including the rare shoebill stork, Red throated bee eater, Black bee eaters etc.
Top of the Falls
This historic site can only be reached from the South Bank and is a 15-20 minute drive from Sambiya River Lodge. Lion, Cape buffalo, elephant, Uganda kob, wart hogs, hyena, and waterbuck have all been seen on this road as well as numerous birds! The dramatic waterfalls plunge 45 metres through a narrow 6 metres canyon of boulders.
Nature Walks
Sambiya has a resident UWA ranger guide who is happy to take guests out on walking safaris. Guides are knowledgeable concerning flora and fauna of the area. It is best to make arrangements 24 hours in advance to avoid disappointment. Early morning and later afternoon walks are cooler and more comfortable. Guests can experience, feel and see the vastness of Africa as the early explorers did! Lion, buffalo, kob, waterbuck, wart hogs, colobus monkeys, baboons and numerous bird species are just some of the wildlife that have been seen in the past.
Other Activities include; Zip lining, Chimpanzee trekking, Canopy Walk, Top of the falls breakfast, High Swing etc.