Uganda’s oldest hotel · Est. 1923

Gallery

The verandas, the courtyards, the terraces and the rooms — Masindi Hotel as it stands today.

Masindi Hotel has stood on the same ground since 1923. These photographs show the hotel as it is now — the covered walkways and the courtyard they enclose, the terraces where meals are served, the rooms that carry the names of the people who slept in them, and the building after dark.

The Building and Its Grounds

A single-storey hotel in six and a half acres of gardens, its room blocks spread out under trees planted close to a century ago, with covered walkways joining one wing to the next.

The front of Masindi Hotel, flags flying over the entrance — The front of the hotel

The drive and parking in front of Masindi Hotel — The drive and the parking

The gabled entrance of Masindi Hotel — The entrance under the gable

Masindi Hotel and its grounds seen from the air — From the air

A room block and the drive at Masindi Hotel — A room block and the drive

A room block at Masindi Hotel in evening light — The block in evening light

A room block at Masindi Hotel under the palms — Under the palms

A room block and the gardens at Masindi Hotel — Block and gardens

A room block at Masindi Hotel seen from the garden — From the garden

The room blocks and the lawn at Masindi Hotel — The blocks and the lawn

The lawns and old trees in the grounds of Masindi Hotel — The lawns and the old trees

A garden path at Masindi Hotel, lined with cycads — The garden path

The covered walk at Masindi Hotel, hung with carvings — The covered walk and its carvings

The red-pillared covered walk at Masindi Hotel — The covered walk, red pillars

Corridor with a carved wooden statue outside guest rooms at Masindi Hotel — Outside the reception

Private veranda with table and chairs outside a guest room at Masindi Hotel — A private veranda

Covered veranda walkway outside the Hemingway Room at Masindi Hotel — The veranda walk outside the Hemingway Room

Wooden veranda seating area at the Explorer Block, Masindi Hotel — Veranda seating, Explorer Block

Exterior of a red-roofed guest room block lined with palm trees at Masindi Hotel — The guest room block

The Rooms

The rooms carry the names of the people who slept in them — Hemingway, Bogart and Hepburn, Baker, Kabalega — and many open onto a veranda of their own, facing the gardens rather than a corridor.

A double room in the African Queen block at Masindi Hotel — An African Queen double

A twin room in the African Queen block at Masindi Hotel — An African Queen twin

The African Queen triple room at Masindi Hotel — The African Queen triple

A double room at Masindi Hotel — A double room

A room at Masindi Hotel with a writing desk — A room with a writing desk

Terraces, Dining and Lounges

Meals are served on the open terraces under thatch, and there are lounges indoors and out for the hours in between — including one with a stone fireplace for the cold evenings that surprise people in this part of Uganda.

Open-sided thatched dining terrace with rows of wooden tables at Masindi Hotel — The dining terrace

Open-air terrace dining area with a round wooden table under a thatched roof at Masindi Hotel — A table on the open terrace

Shaded outdoor lounge with sofa seating under a thatched roof at Masindi Hotel — The shaded lounge

Cozy reception lounge with sofas and cushioned armchairs at Masindi Hotel — The reception lounge

Indoor lounge area with sofas, cushions and a wooden coffee table at Masindi Hotel — Indoors, between meals

Rustic lounge seating area with wooden armchairs and a stone fireplace at Masindi Hotel — The fireplace lounge

Wooden reception desk decorated with African carvings and sculptures at Masindi Hotel — To the dining room

Covered walkway with a decorative lattice screen overlooking the courtyard at Masindi Hotel — The covered walk and its lattice screen

Terrace walkway under a thatched roof overlooking the courtyard at Masindi Hotel — The terrace walkway, onto the courtyard

After Dark

The building is floodlit after sunset. Guests coming back late from Murchison Falls arrive to this.

The entrance of Masindi Hotel lit at night — The entrance at night

Masindi Hotel lit at night — The hotel at night

From TripAdvisor

What Our Guests Say

A place of refuge and peace.

We arrived late in Masindi, after our safari drive, only to find our hotel had given away our rooms. (even after confirmation) We didn’t know what to do and were beyond stressed. We called Masindi Hotel, and surprise, surprise they had rooms. They very kindly opened up their hotel for us. They greeted us with fresh juice and amazing hospitality. They could tell we were exhausted and hungry, and they kindly offered to open the kitchen and make us dinner. We were so hungry, and we almost cried when they offered this. Who does this in today’s world?!? Their food is delicious by the way!!! Butter chicken was our favorite! We loved the historical tour and found the place to be full of charm and history. (Kathryn Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and Hemingway all stayed here) It’s a one-in-a million hotel. Place was so clean!!! Great mosquito nets, fluffy towels, and comfortable beds!!! We also appreciated the very hot showers with amazing water pressure!!! My husband said it was the best shower he’s had in Uganda. We lived here for years, so that says a lot. Stay at Masindi Hotel!! You’ll be so blessed!

Chasar5 wrote a TripAdvisor review Jan 2024

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