Paraa Safari Lodge

Paraa Safari Lodge stands on the bank of the Victoria Nile inside Murchison Falls National Park, a large protected area in northern Uganda. The river is the organizing fact of the place: rooms, balconies, and the upper-floor Explorer's Bar all face the water, and most of the activities begin or end on it.

Accommodation runs from classic single, double, and twin rooms through air-conditioned deluxe rooms with wooden floors and king-size beds, to superior suites with a separate living area and a mini bar. Cottages — including the Queens Cottage and the Presidential Cottage — offer the most privacy, with en-suite bathrooms and dual showers. All room categories have balconies, electronic safes, mosquito nets, and en-suite bathrooms. Deluxe tents are also available for guests who want a patio directly above the river.

Game drives run twice daily. The morning drive starts early, with breakfast available beforehand or on return. The circuit west through the Buligi area to Delta Point — where the Victoria Nile enters Lake Albert and becomes the Albert Nile — takes around three hours and covers elephant, buffalo, giraffe, Jackson's hartebeest, and oribi, with lion and leopard possible. A UWA ranger guide can be arranged with advance notice.

The Nile here holds Nile perch and catfish; a one-hundred-and-eight kilogram perch was landed near the falls in 2002. Fishing permits come from the UWA office at South Paraa, and the lodge rents basic fishing gear and binoculars. Rhino tracking is available off-site. The lodge also has a pool, spa, conference room, and a restaurant serving local and international food.