Guests researching where to stay near Murchison Falls are usually looking for more than a bed for the night. Masindi Hotel, open since 1923, sits 20 km from the Kichumbanyobo Gate and has been a stopover on this road for longer than any other hotel in the country.
A century in the same gardens
The hotel was built in 1923 by the East African Railways & Harbours as a stop for travellers on the road to Lake Albert. Ernest Hemingway spent the night here in 1954 after two plane crashes near the falls, and Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn stayed while filming The African Queen in 1951. It received a National Heritage Award in 2013 for its restoration, and marked its centenary in 2023 with the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.
Rooms for most kinds of traveller
Rooms are en-suite, in single, double and triple configurations, alongside a two-bedroom family house. There are dormitory beds and camping space on the grounds for those on a tighter budget, and a dedicated block for drivers travelling with tour groups. Every stay includes Wi-Fi, laundry and car wash, plus access to Kabalega Restaurant and the Hemingway Bar.
Twenty kilometres from the gate
The Kichumbanyobo Gate is twenty kilometres away, putting game drives, the Nile launch, chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest and the birding along the Royal Mile within reach of a single base. Early breakfasts and packed lunches can be arranged for dawn departures.
Six and a half acres, run on solar
The gardens cover six and a half acres under trees planted close to a century ago, and the hotel has run entirely on solar power since 2024.
Booking direct
Reach the reservations team directly at reservations@masindihotel.com or +256 772 420 130 to check availability and rates.