Bwana Tembo Safari Camp
Got Atyero, Murchison Falls National Park Uganda
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About
5.0
#1 of 2 campsites in Murchison Falls National ParkLocation
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6 km from Murchison Falls National Park (Tangi gate). 6 self contained cottages and 4 self contained safari tents. Hot water ant electricity available 24/7. Italian home made dishes. Excellent view of the Albert Nile.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Mosquito net
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Family
Location
Got Atyero, Murchison Falls National Park Uganda
Getting there
Pakuba Airport
17.7 km•
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1 Restaurant
within 10 kilometers
160Reviews3Q+A22Room tips
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Bwana Tembo offered a great value for the price. We had a large comfortable clean room, great hot shower, clean bed and towels. It was in an amazing setting overlooking the river, and frequent sightings of elephants strolling around the property.
Special thanks to Francesco for organizing our stay, recommending an itinerary, and always being available via email.
That said, I wished the restaurant staff was more accommodating with dietary preferences. It was simply impossible to adjust a meal (e.g. not to include certain ingredient or boil/grill instead of frying). Even when we ordered our dinner in advance, the meal still arrived in a way we specifically asked to avoid, which was very dissappointing.
Also, I wished we knew about its precise location due to which we incurred some unexpected costs. The lodge is at the northern end of the park, which made it impossible to drive to Entebbe without going through Murchison Falls park as the alternative road was closed for renovation. To get to Entebbe involved sharing park's road with busses and trucks, and paying a tourist fee of $45 PER PERSON(!) to get in-and-out of the gates (the officers look inside your car and once they see you are a tourist force you to pay before opening the gate). With all higher-end lodges located in that area, the government imposes very high fee for the inevitable use of the park's road.
Special thanks to Francesco for organizing our stay, recommending an itinerary, and always being available via email.
That said, I wished the restaurant staff was more accommodating with dietary preferences. It was simply impossible to adjust a meal (e.g. not to include certain ingredient or boil/grill instead of frying). Even when we ordered our dinner in advance, the meal still arrived in a way we specifically asked to avoid, which was very dissappointing.
Also, I wished we knew about its precise location due to which we incurred some unexpected costs. The lodge is at the northern end of the park, which made it impossible to drive to Entebbe without going through Murchison Falls park as the alternative road was closed for renovation. To get to Entebbe involved sharing park's road with busses and trucks, and paying a tourist fee of $45 PER PERSON(!) to get in-and-out of the gates (the officers look inside your car and once they see you are a tourist force you to pay before opening the gate). With all higher-end lodges located in that area, the government imposes very high fee for the inevitable use of the park's road.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Factor in additional costs to access and exit this location.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is a hidden gem that represents excellent value for money with beautiful views of Lake Albert and plenty wildlife. From arrival that manager was friendly and welcoming offering fresh Mango juice on arrival. He even phoned in the morning to check if we had any dietary needs. The food was exceptional and fresh. The rooms are clean with 24 hour electricity and hot water. WiFi is available in the restaurant and there is a bar and soft drinks reasonably priced. Close to the game reserve for early drives. This is a must stay
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
+1
N02°28.794', E031°32.608’ Bwana Tembo (Master Elephant) Safari Camp is on the Guly-Arua road near Pakwach on the shore of the Lake Albert to Albert Nile. The last stretch road up to the entrance of is rough. Engage 4WD. The safari camp is not far from the Northern Tangi gate of the Murchison Falls NP.
The camp is run by Italian Davide and Francisco. Their mother learned the cook to prepare Italian dishes. The camp just opened a swimming pool, which relaxes the body after a hot day game drives. The pool experience was very nice. The reception, bar, kitchen and restaurant are in the main building. The camp has luxury huts and tents with bathroom and toilet. Only the huts have an USB-charging facility. Staff are helpful and very friendly.
In December 2022, we stayed in hut 5. The bed has a mosquito net, simple but good sleeping beds, a bathroom with excellent warm shower, room safe and a porch to sit on. The fan did its work silently. This camp site is not gated so wild life roams freely between huts and tents.
Every day we were greeted by a hurd of elephants.
An excellent cooked 3 meal course is served in the restaurant. Italian approach to preparing simple but tasty food shines through. It was a joy to join the camp site guests for a cuisine dinner. No need to go to Pakwach.
Bwana Tembo safari camp offers an excellent stay with cuisine food and friendly staff. Highly recommended.
The camp is run by Italian Davide and Francisco. Their mother learned the cook to prepare Italian dishes. The camp just opened a swimming pool, which relaxes the body after a hot day game drives. The pool experience was very nice. The reception, bar, kitchen and restaurant are in the main building. The camp has luxury huts and tents with bathroom and toilet. Only the huts have an USB-charging facility. Staff are helpful and very friendly.
In December 2022, we stayed in hut 5. The bed has a mosquito net, simple but good sleeping beds, a bathroom with excellent warm shower, room safe and a porch to sit on. The fan did its work silently. This camp site is not gated so wild life roams freely between huts and tents.
Every day we were greeted by a hurd of elephants.
An excellent cooked 3 meal course is served in the restaurant. Italian approach to preparing simple but tasty food shines through. It was a joy to join the camp site guests for a cuisine dinner. No need to go to Pakwach.
Bwana Tembo safari camp offers an excellent stay with cuisine food and friendly staff. Highly recommended.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
+1
I booked direct via Facebook messenger.
Greeted on arrival by the lovely manager Jimmy who offered a choice of the tent or cabin, chose the cabin as it had a great view of the Nile.
Loads of hot water via the Sola Heating panels. Shower really good. Clean, comfortable accommodation. I wasn't expecting a safe, but there is a small one in the room.
We booked dinner, bed and breakfast and the food was fabulous, as was the Gin and Tonic!
Great stay, highly recommended for the national park, good value for money in this area.
Greeted on arrival by the lovely manager Jimmy who offered a choice of the tent or cabin, chose the cabin as it had a great view of the Nile.
Loads of hot water via the Sola Heating panels. Shower really good. Clean, comfortable accommodation. I wasn't expecting a safe, but there is a small one in the room.
We booked dinner, bed and breakfast and the food was fabulous, as was the Gin and Tonic!
Great stay, highly recommended for the national park, good value for money in this area.
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Date of stay: February 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
+1
This safari camp is perfect. After a long wonderful day in the park, we were greeted by the incredible and friendly hosts. They gave us a delicious juice as we entered. We freshened up in our room then went back to the lodge for dinner. The glamping tent was excellent. Great size room with good bathroom with hot water.
Dinner was plentiful and delicious. The camp is powered by solar so no charging in your room. You can charge in the lodge tho.
The next morning, we had a delicious breakfast before we went out on our safari. Fruit, bread, drinks, and eggs
Dinner that night was tasty soup, chicken and chips (fries) plus a cake
Slept very well and didn't want to leave.
Highly recommend this hidden gem. You won't be disappointed.
Dinner was plentiful and delicious. The camp is powered by solar so no charging in your room. You can charge in the lodge tho.
The next morning, we had a delicious breakfast before we went out on our safari. Fruit, bread, drinks, and eggs
Dinner that night was tasty soup, chicken and chips (fries) plus a cake
Slept very well and didn't want to leave.
Highly recommend this hidden gem. You won't be disappointed.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We happened upon Bwana Tembo after a long drive to Murch. We were greeted, unexpectedly, by homemade pasta followed by steak which after a long day on the road made us feel right at home. As an aside, home is Boston, Massachusetts so we know good pasta and we were delighted by the quality of the meal.
The staff is friendly as all Ugandans tend to be, the bed was comfortable, the grounds quiet. The highlight was Francesco and his staff who are kind, patient, good-hearted, and Francesco is a wonderful guide who drove us through the park for a day trip. His dogs are so nice that we joked about adopting one of them. The grounds have a view of the Nile and are peaceful with abundant birds coming through.
The staff is friendly as all Ugandans tend to be, the bed was comfortable, the grounds quiet. The highlight was Francesco and his staff who are kind, patient, good-hearted, and Francesco is a wonderful guide who drove us through the park for a day trip. His dogs are so nice that we joked about adopting one of them. The grounds have a view of the Nile and are peaceful with abundant birds coming through.
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Date of stay: November 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
+1
Travelled to Bwana Tembo Safari Lodge with my wife after our evening Game drive at Murchisons and we were warmly welcomed by the staff. It's an Eco Lodge serving delicious 3 main Italian courses. Dinner and breakfast was great. Rooms were very comfortable with heated water.Has quiet, condusive environment and swimming pool. I highly recommend this Safari Lodge and it's "SO AFFORDABLE"
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â check into the Park from 1-3pm so you can do an evening Game drive and have plenty time for next...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a lovely stay here with excellent Italian food. Best of all was the friendliness of the staff and people there. The staff was very willing to spend time talking with us and sharing their knowledge of the park. I learned so much about elephants! It really made the experience in the park extra special.The accommodations were basic but very comfortable.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here 3 nts.. super convenient for accessing the park. The good was great, 3 courses at dinner. Breakfast great.. packed lunches are available and very basic. We stayed in a cabin and then stayed in a tent the next 2 nts. The benefit to the cabin is that there's a fan in the room..other than that it's kinda crampy.. I much preferred the tent BUT no fan... so when its really hot you need to consider your level of heat tolerance , but we managed just fine.. the grounds are beautiful, the staff very helpful.
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Date of stay: September 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our stay at Bwana Tembo has been a real discovery.
Not only for the italian welcome which made us feel at home, cuddled by good italian food and by the fraternal friendship of Davide and Francesco (and we cannot forget Elsa, the rhodesian always eager to play with us), but also because in this corner of 'Black Africa' we experienced a heaven of warm colours, endless spaces, silence and tribal music, breathless dawns and sunsets, marvellous landscapes, wonderful and majestic animals observed with admiration and respect in their habitat, hospitable and smiling people despite their poverty.
Thank you Davide and Francesco for having made us know and appreciate Uganda, for having given us the gift of the adventure of puncturing a tire so closely to the lions, for having come with us in our visits of National Parks and hospitals, always with the same availabilty and great skill of reading the tracks and shades of this amazing land.
Uganda really conquered us and rose questions and reflections that we are keeping with a sense of homesickness for what we saw, tested and left.
It's gonna be difficoult to get used again to chaotic and alienated Italy...so we are waiting for you soon here to listen to your adventures and to dive again in the magic of African life.
Thank you.
PS: Carlo (8 years old) and Giulio (6 years old) add: 'Dear Davide, you are the best guide in the world...will you let us drive the jeep again in the savannah?'
Not only for the italian welcome which made us feel at home, cuddled by good italian food and by the fraternal friendship of Davide and Francesco (and we cannot forget Elsa, the rhodesian always eager to play with us), but also because in this corner of 'Black Africa' we experienced a heaven of warm colours, endless spaces, silence and tribal music, breathless dawns and sunsets, marvellous landscapes, wonderful and majestic animals observed with admiration and respect in their habitat, hospitable and smiling people despite their poverty.
Thank you Davide and Francesco for having made us know and appreciate Uganda, for having given us the gift of the adventure of puncturing a tire so closely to the lions, for having come with us in our visits of National Parks and hospitals, always with the same availabilty and great skill of reading the tracks and shades of this amazing land.
Uganda really conquered us and rose questions and reflections that we are keeping with a sense of homesickness for what we saw, tested and left.
It's gonna be difficoult to get used again to chaotic and alienated Italy...so we are waiting for you soon here to listen to your adventures and to dive again in the magic of African life.
Thank you.
PS: Carlo (8 years old) and Giulio (6 years old) add: 'Dear Davide, you are the best guide in the world...will you let us drive the jeep again in the savannah?'
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Date of stay: February 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
" check into the Park from 1-3pm so you can do an evening Game drive and have plenty time for next days morning game drive since you're to exit after 24hrs(for 1 day)"Read full review
"You can not go wrong with any of the rooms. My favorite is cabin 2, but really all are fine."Read full review
LOCATION
UgandaWestern RegionMurchison Falls National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingBWANA TEMBO SAFARI CAMP - Campground Reviews (Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda)
Frequently Asked Questions about Bwana Tembo Safari Camp
What are some of the property amenities at Bwana Tembo Safari Camp?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at Bwana Tembo Safari Camp?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Bwana Tembo Safari Camp?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.