can’t help but feel compelled to donate items of need. The lodge itself is
an upmarket enclave with excellent restaurant for food-lovers and a beautiful oasis in which to relax after longer travels. Don’t be surprised as the
delightful manager, xxx, personally takes guests on game drives. We head
out in search of the 4-month-old giraffe. Although he remains elusive, xxx ‘s
enthusiasm soon find us plenty of other wildlife to keep us busy for hours.
5. Uganda
City of Seven Hills, Kampala
Just over an hour’s flight from Nairobi, Uganda is a verdant fertile land.
Capital Kampala is known as the city of seven hills. Now, the number of
hills has widened and expanded, as becomes the case with many cities. My
base is the city’s most iconic spot, occupying a hilltop that was once the
legendary Nile hotel. In the early 80s, Milton Obote’s reign of terror saw
the then ‘Nile Mansion’ used by the regime for torture and interrogation. It’s
unknown how many people were died or went ‘missing’ here. Later, in 2006,
the Serena Hotel, member of the Leading Hotels of the World, pulled the
building down to construct a brand new luxury flagship hotel and spa. The
historic site has been transformed into a plush property in an ideal spot for
city explorations.
I take a day’s tour to visit the National Museum, chimp sanctuary and the
Entebbe botanical gardens. Beyond, Jinja is worth a stop, as a source of the
Nile River. Waterfalls are a specialty here, particularly scenic ones including
Owen Falls, Sezibwa Falls and the impressive Bujagali Falls. After a couple
of days, I move on to the serene Lake Victoria. The Serena property here
is a haven of tranquillity and ideal for some rest and relaxation. Inspired
by a rustic Roman villa, it’s the Tuscan Hills comparable in Uganda. Africa’s
largest lake laps the shores of the serene hotel, which is a spot I use to
simply recuperate and reminisce on my epic African Odyssey.
NEED-TO-KNOW: My African Odyssey itinerary was put together and tailored by
Luxury Holidays Direct. www.luxuryholidaysdirect.com
Anisha Shah is a luxury and emerging destinations
travel journalist. Her background as a BBC TV and
radio news reporter, combined with a longstanding
love affair with travel, sees her first on the scene
of new and exciting travel hot spots, sourcing
inspiring stories.. Her work has appeared in The
Huffington Post, Yahoo Travel and Prestige Asia.
Follow Anisha on Twitter: @anishahbbc.
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