Elephant Plains Lodge is a luxury safari lodge, part of the Uganda Lodges Brand, offering a unique and authentic experience in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Perched 941 meters above sea level on the Albertine Rift western escarpment northeast of the park, it offers breathtaking panoramic views over the savannah plains, stretching to Lake George. Set on 80 acres of pristine wilderness next to the equator line, Elephant Plains Lodge is a truly unique destination.
Location and Accessibility
The lodge is located northwest of Queen Elizabeth National Park, providing easy access to several attractions, including the Kasenyi tracks, Mweya Peninsula, and Kazinga Channel. Elephant Plains Lodge is located in the northeastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and guests can reach it by taking a 1-hour flight from Entebbe followed by a 2-hour drive from Kasese Airport. From Bwindi, guests can take a 15-minute flight from Kihihi Airtrips or a 5-hour drive through the park.
The Allure of Elephant Plains
The equator monument is visible from anywhere around the lodge, and Lake Kikorongo, located nearby, displays stunning plains merging into its crystal waters, with large elephant herds gathering in the evenings to catch a drink. This is what gives the lodge its ingenious name. Elephant Plains is a lodge located at the most spectacular viewpoint in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Nowhere else in the world can you sleep closer to the equator (N*S 0.0, 25.172) with views of the equator monument visible from all around the lodge, set in 80 acres of pristine wilderness and only 2 minutes to the park gate. Planning a getaway? The elephant plains is the newest and latest luxury lodge at the Queen Elizabeth National park with a view that evokes nostalgia.
Accommodation
Elephant Plains offers comfortable and spacious accommodation in six double/twin en-suite grass-thatched cottages with large private verandas and full-height glass windows/doors to take advantage of the incredible views. Guest accommodation is in 6 spacious double/twin en-suite cottages with large private verandas and huge glass windows to take advantage of the incredible views. In addition, two-family cottages with double separate en-suite bedrooms are available, accommodating up to five people per stay. An additional 2 family cottages offer accommodation in 2 separate en-suite bedrooms with plenty of space for up to 5 people. All cottages have large bathtub showers and are spaced out along the hilltop, providing privacy and tranquility. Each room’s large veranda overlooks Lake Kikorongo, where guests can watch elephants and buffaloes gathering by the watering hole during sunset.
| Accommodation Type | Description | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Double/Twin Cottages | En-suite, grass-thatched, private veranda, glass windows | 2 guests |
| Family Cottages | Two separate en-suite bedrooms | Up to 5 guests |
Main Lodge Area
The main area features an extensive lounge with comfortable couches and intimate seating areas, perfect for enjoying a Ugandan gin and tonic while taking in the beautiful views under the cooling breeze rolling in off Lake George. The spacious restaurant has an outside dining deck with 270-degree views and serves an international menu inspired by local flavors. The lodge also boasts a sizable eco-friendly swimming pool for guests to cool off at the end of the day while continuing to take in the fantastic views offered from everywhere around the lodge.
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Activities and Wildlife Viewing
Staying at Elephant Plains Lodge provides an opportunity to take a short drive to Kasenyi Plains for fantastic game viewing. A short drive to the Kasenyi plains offers an open savannah filled with various wild animals. This area has fantastic game viewing and a huge number of grassland birds. Kasenyi Plains also has Uganda Kob breeding grounds, attracting an impressive number of predators in the area. It is also a major breeding ground for the Ugandan Kob, which readily attracts lions and other big cats to the area. Elephant Plains Lodge is the perfect base for exploring the outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities in Kasenyi Plains, the crown jewel of Queen Elizabeth National Park and arguably in Uganda. Love photos of animals on your safaris? The lodge is located in the north east of the park where you will catch views that stretch out to open grasslands filled with various a wild animals, all offering the extreme viewing sport. The park also contains Kazinga Channel, Lake Albert, and the antelope breeding grounds, making it an excellent choice for spotting the park’s big cats and a wildlife photographer’s paradise. To fully experience the African bush wilderness, guests are encouraged to spend at least two nights at Elephant Plains Lodge.
Boat trips on the Kazinga Channel, just a short distance from the lodge, are available on either a scheduled boat launch or a private boat safari. These trips offer a chance to witness the waterhole drama in a leisurely fashion. The channel’s strategic shore locations offer an excellent selection of exclusive safari lodges and camps.
For those seeking a more relaxed experience, chimp trekking is available in the low-key Kyambura Gorge forest reserve. While chimpanzee sightings may not be highly probable, the gorge reserve offers a tranquil nature walk, where you can spot other animals such as red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus, baboons, and vervet monkeys. However, Chimpanzee Tracking is the most popular attraction in the gorge. The park is also renowned for its variety of avian species, including various falcons, the blue-headed bee-eater, the African finfoot, and over 597 bird species recorded.
The main highway on the edge of the park separates the communities of people who live along the boundaries and connects the park to the capital city in the east, Kibale National Park in the north, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for Gorilla Trekking. Adding Elephant Plains Lodge to your Uganda Safaris itinerary is an excellent choice for a luxury wildlife experience in Uganda, providing great access to game viewing while also offering comfortable and spacious accommodation.
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Sustainability Initiatives
As a protected area in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Elephant Plains Lodge is highly committed to the conservation of nature and culture. The lodge uses solar-powered electricity to minimize the impact on the environment. Worried that electricity might just run out of the window? No that should be the least of your worries. The lodge uses solar powered electricity in order to minimize the impact on the environment. The cottages are thatched using local brown savannah grass, which not only blends into the surroundings but also absorbs the heat and acts as a cooling system that is essential so close to the equator. The black granite stones used on the walkways are from the Mukubu river, which flows from the Rwenzori mountains. The lodge is constructed with materials from the local area, all with a unique story behind them that is true to Ugandan culture. Love nature and serenity?
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Amenities
- Laundry Services
- En-suite bathrooms
- Bathtub in all rooms
- Swimming Pool
- Wi-Fi Available
- Restaurant & Bar
- Drinks at the Bar
- Mosquito net
Uganda Wildlife Tours
If you’re planning a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Nkuringo Safaris team of expert safari planners can help you customize your experience. We have a variety of suggestions to inspire your trip and put together an unforgettable African adventure. Chat with an expert. If you have any queries, the Nkuringo Safaris crew, comprised of knowledgeable locals, will be glad to assist you in designing your ideal wildlife escapade in Uganda.
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