Papaya Lake Lodge
This oasis of nine luxurious cottages lies surrounded by the lush, evergreen landscapes of the Ugandan Great Crater Lakes region. It is set between two extinct volcanoes and located in close proximity to Lyantonde and Kifuruka lakes.
Each cottage offers complete privacy and is situated on the extinct volcano crater’s slope with breathtaking views of the Lyantonde Lake. Eight of the cottages feature two beds (one king-size plus one single), local stone-decorated bathrooms with shower units and verandas equipped with deckchairs. The ninth cottage is a double storey villa with three bedrooms, a living room with fireplace, a spacious bathroom and a large terrace. The style is simple and comfortable, with calm colours and subtle accessories.
A spacious restaurant and bar open onto a scenic sun terrace and make up the heart of Papaya Lake Lodge. The lodge is decorated with fine pieces of local arts and crafts. Relax here with a book on a welcoming sofa or on a sun-bed at the pool while sipping on some excellent Ugandan coffee. Situated atop a hill, the pool offers spectacular, unobstructed views of the surrounding wonders of nature: The Crater Lakes, the Mountains of the Moon and the countless fruit and spice plantations.
Papaya’s fine cuisine merges culinary traditions from all around the world, satisfying even the most demanding gourmand. Every dish on their menu is prepared using only top quality, fresh products and you’re sure to enjoy their home-made pastries filled with the fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in their gardens.
Why we like it here
The 360-degree unobstructed views from the swimming pool are truly amazing.
The service from the staff is friendly and professional.
The lodge is surrounded by nature in all its beauty, so it’s a wonderful place to relax.
Hiking / walking can be done close to the lodge as one of the craters is easily accessed from there. These can take between 1 – 4 hours, and along the way, you can choose to incorporate a cultural visit.
Things to be aware of
As the property is on a hill with the reception, common area and restaurant on one level and the cottages on a lower level accessible by a long set of steps, this facility is not conducive to people with physical mobility limitations.
As the lodge is solar powered, there are no power points in the cottage. Charging of devices can be done in the reception / lounge area.
There is no air conditioning.
Many of the activities take a while to get to and from the lodge.
If you are interested in Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, bear in mind that the transfer there takes around 45 minutes. The Chimpanzee tracking has two shifts which start at 08:00 or 14:00, and the length depends very much on guests’ fitness levels and condition.
Hot Springs and walking in Semuliki National Park takes 2.5 hours to get to.
For Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, which takes around 2 hours to get to, it would make better sense to spend the night in the actual park.
For gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you would enter through Buhoma on the northern side of the park and the transfer will take around 6 hours to get there.