Jacana celebrates 10 years of excellence
By Roger Mugisha
When a lodge, situated in the middle of a national park marks 10 years in business, it is certainly a crown to toast to. Not only to acknowledge the decade-long devotion to the hospitality industry, but also a decade of significantly enhancing the tourism industry of the country.
Jacana Safari Lodge, the second lodge of GeoLodges Uganda (formerly Inns of Uganda) and part of the Alam Group of companies, opened in 1998 in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The other lodges are Nile Safari, Rain Forest and Silver Back.
Jacana Safari Lodge is located in Maramagambo Forest in Bushenyi district. It can accommodate 24 people per night, with 10 cabins and one family cottage (two rooms).
The lodge is situated on the shores of Lake Nyamusingire, Uganda’s largest crater lake. It has a swimming pool, a sauna, two bars, a restaurant, the Captain’s Table (a pontoon that serves as a floating restaurant for meals), kayaks and a fireplace. It also has nature walkways, bat caves, bird-watching trails, wildlife drives and boat trips and it is located in the butterfly migration route.
Tourists enjoying the Captain’s Table (the floating restaurant),
a unique experience at Jacana Safari Lodge
The design and construction of the lodge speaks volumes about the style of the place. GeoLodges Uganda has a department for the in-house architectural, construction, fabrication and on-site construction facilities that give their lodges that added attraction and elegance.
“With 17 years experience in the design, construction and management of eco-tourism lodges, GeoLodges Uganda has carved a respectable and recognised name in the tourism sector. The company and staff provide the clientele with superior accommodation and services,” says Zahid Alam, the managing director and designer of GeoLodges.
The architecture of these eco-tourism facilities reflects a style that compliments the different environments. The unified and extensive use of natural materials (wood, stones and ropes) creates uniqueness in the accommodation units.
Alam says the lodge allows a visitor to feel the elements of nature.
These attributes of feeling part of nature and providing luxury in a remote tropical rain-forest have been kept in mind.
“Our motive is to highlight what Uganda as a country has to offer to the tourism circuit.”
Promoting the safe use of the environment not only brings in revenue for the country, but also enriches the country with natural pride, the key goals of Jacana Safari Lodge.
“Since the lodge was set up, we have hosted over 60,000 clients.”
As a visitor at Jacana Safari Lodge, there are boundless treats of optical pleasure that will have one reconnect with nature.
The lodge allows a view of the country’s finest sceneries. The eyes will also enjoy looking at the birds, insects and reptiles.
As if that is not enough, one can also trek into the dense foliage of Maramagambo Forest to see the primates. But most importantly, all this happens amidst a natural setting with less noise and interruption.
The crater lakes are another unmatched attraction in the Jacana Safari Lodges. Situated adjacent to Uganda’s largest crater lake, Nyamusingire, and 52 other surrounding smaller crater lakes, the attraction to Jacana Lodge is immense.
The lodge also provides a fancy presentation for the unique restaurant and accommodation facilities.
GeoLodges Uganda is also the first recipient of the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s Jumbo Hospitality award for their high client satisfaction and responsibility in the protection of lakes and rivers.
“In a further expansion of GeoLodges Uganda facilities, in 2007, we added the Rain Forest Lodge, located in Mabira forest on Jinja Road and in June 2008, took on management of Silver Back Lodge on the border of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Buhoma.
“The lodges are renowned for their high quality service and strategic positioning in Uganda’s most popular destinations. We have successfully caught the attention of both international tourists and the daring traveller,” says Alam.
