Mihingo Lodge

Mihingo Lodge is a luxury, family-owned safari lodge on the edge of Lake Mburo National Park in southwestern Uganda. It sits high on an ancient rocky kopje, with views across the park’s savannah and the option of waking up to klipspringers on the rocks outside your tent.

The lodge is one of the most distinctive properties in the country — entirely solar-powered, designed in the style of Lamu Island architecture, and the only lodge in Uganda offering day and night horseback safaris.

Best for: Luxury travellers, honeymooners, and families wanting a relaxed, design-led safari lodge with strong wildlife access — especially those keen on horseback safaris or breaking up a longer Uganda itinerary between Bwindi/Queen Elizabeth and Entebbe/Kampala.

Accommodation at Mihingo Lodge

The lodge has 12 luxury tented rooms, each set in a different position — perched on a rocky outcrop, tucked into the forest, or facing the lake or waterhole.

Each tent includes:

• A spacious canvas-walled bedroom
• En-suite bathroom (some incorporating granite boulders into the design)
• Doorways framed with reclaimed olive wood from the property
• Mosquito net, USB charging points, and complimentary Wi-Fi

The lodge is powered entirely by solar energy, with interiors styled in warm earth tones inspired by Lamu Island and the surrounding African soil.

Amenities at a glance:

• En-suite bathrooms
• Restaurant and bar
• Swimming pool overlooking the wild valley
• Spa and massage
• Free Wi-Fi
• Laundry service
• Childcare activities
• Mosquito nets and USB charging points

Dining at Mihingo

The dining and lounge area sits at the highest point of the kopje, cooled by a steady breeze off Lake Kacheera. Meals are prepared by Sarah, the lodge’s chef, whose three-course menus have given Mihingo a reputation for some of the best food on the Uganda safari circuit.

The kitchen uses produce grown organically on-site, and can cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-intolerant diets. Children can be served early suppers in their rooms so parents can dine later in peace.

Families and Children

Mihingo welcomes families. Children aged 3–12 are charged $50 per night, and the lodge runs childcare activities so parents can join game drives or horseback safaris. Early-evening kids’ suppers can be served in-room.

Activities at Mihingo Lodge

Lake Mburo is one of Uganda’s most underrated parks for variety, and Mihingo is well placed to make the most of it.

Horseback Safaris Mihingo is the only lodge in Uganda offering day and night horseback safaris. Rides last 2–4 hours through the Warukiri hills, accompanied by experienced guides. English saddles, riding chaps, and helmets are provided. Maximum rider weight is around 100 kg.

Biking Safaris Guided rides on sandy tracks outside the park, suitable for families or experienced riders. Wildlife is often visible from the bike.

Game Drives — Day and Night Lake Mburo is one of the few Ugandan parks permitting night game drives, giving a strong chance of spotting leopards, spotted hyenas, bush pigs, genet cats, and white-tailed mongoose. Daytime drives bring buffalo, zebra, eland, impala, warthog, and bushbuck.

Nature Walks Two-hour guided loops with an armed UWA ranger, including a swamp walk with raised platforms — a chance to spot sitatunga or even Uganda’s elusive shoebill stork.

Cultural Visits A walk or bike ride to a traditional Bahima homestead to see Ankole long-horned cows, the ghee-making process, and taste fresh milk. Alternatively, ride to a nearby fishing village.

How to Get There

Mihingo Lodge is reached via two access roads off the main Mbarara–Masaka highway.

• Sanga gate (north) — 37 km east of Mbarara. Best route from western Uganda or after gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
• Nsanga gate (north-east) — easier from Kampala. Turn off about 50 km before Mbarara (look for the blue milk factory), 20 km past Lyantonde.

The drive from Kampala takes 4–5 hours. Access roads from the highway are dirt and can be rough in the wet season — a 4×4 is recommended. The final stretch from highway to lodge takes around an hour.

How to Book Mihingo Lodge

Mihingo recommends a minimum stay of two to three nights to make the most of the lodge and its activities.

Nkuringo Safaris is a partner of Mihingo Lodge and can usually secure better rates as part of a wider Uganda safari itinerary.

We can help you:

• Bundle Mihingo into a tailored Uganda safari
• Combine the lodge with other Lake Mburo properties or onward stops in Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, or Kibale
• Arrange transfers and a 4×4 for the access roads

Email hello@nkuringosafaris.com or use our online enquiry form and a local expert will reply quickly.

Price Information

Price From: USD 130 pp per night (Twin/Double, low season, full board) Price Range: 3 (Luxury)

Sample rack rates (per person, full board):

• Twin/Double — Low: $130 / High: $140
• Single — Low: $175 / High: $185
• Single supplement — Low: $80 / High: $90
• Children 3–12 — $50 (any season)

Low season: Apr, May, Nov High season: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct