Our story
At Euphorbia we are offering something different: a place to unwind in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park and to immerse in the local culture and traditional village of Kasenyi, on the shores of Lake George in Western Uganda.
Set up by Pascal Jobogo, Euphorbia Safari Lodge has a very special story of its own. It has been built on land gifted from the community after Pascal’s fifteen years of dedication to the people of Kasenyi, helping build schools and health facilities, and provide clean water, latrines, and solar power to what is now a 2500 strong community. His intention is to train children of Kasenyi village who cannot afford school, or who drop out of school, in hotel management.
Staying with us is a true home from home experience where you are warmly welcomed and thoroughly looked after from the moment you arrive.
Activities that you can do from Euphorbia Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Game Drives
Queen Elizabeth National Park covers some 1978 square kilometres and boasts 350 different types of mammal and 600 species of bird. Game driving from Euphorbia Safari Lodge is wonderful for as soon as you leave the lodge gates you are in the park, meaning wildlife sightings can begin straightaway. If needed, we can organize drives for you from the lodge reception with options to head out early and enjoy breakfast in the park as the sun comes up over the savannah grasslands or later with a picnic lunch and afternoon game drive.
Safari vehicles are fully equipped with window seats and a viewing roof, water, guide books and binoculars. We explore the vicinity of Kasenyi and Uganda Kob breeding grounds where there is the chance to spot lions and go on to the open grassland savannah in search of elephants, buffalo, Topi and warthogs. In the early morning you can hear the call of the hyena and, with luck, we will find them, maybe a leopard too.
The bird life is remarkable here; see our national bird the crowned cranes, storks during migration, stonechats, wheatears, plovers, shimmering blue starlings, Tawny eagles, African marsh harriers, long crested eagles, yellow throated long claw, Sacred Ibis, white backed, white necked and hooded vultures and Maribou storks.
We can take you on to the shores of the Kazinga channel for a sunset cruise along this stunning 40km stretch of water joining Lakes Edward and George; an incredible place to spot more game, especially hippos and hear the evocative call of the fish eagle as the sun goes down.
Explore Lake George by boat
This is a magical trip. Walking through the hubbub of the traditional village of Kasenyi, through the market stalls selling fruit and veg to the lake shore where villagers come to buy catfish, lungfish and tilapia freshly caught from the waters of Lake George and the Kazinga channel, you climb aboard the community boat and set off to explore the islands and shores as the sun comes up.
Your community guide will talk you through the history of the lake, its importance to the village of Kasenyi and how this community has changed over time.
We encourage you to bring your binoculars and cameras for there are plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife big and small on this outing. Our team at Euphorbia Safari Lodge can even arrange a private fishing trip on one of the community boats, using our fishing tackle.
Tour the fishing village and salt pans
At Euphorbia Safari Lodge we really enjoy helping our visitors explore and understand our local culture and way of life. After a leisurely breakfast, why not take a walk with our community guide, through the village of Kasenyi and go on to see the local working salt pans at Lake Bunyampaka.
As a remote fishing village, Kasenyi historically struggled with a lack of schooling, healthcare and infrastructure. Some 15 years ago, Pascal, owner and manager of Euphorbia Safari Lodge welcomed guest and traveller, Madam Keiser who made a real connection with the village. Together Madame Keiser and Pascal have worked tirelessly to drive up education, sanitation and health standards in this community of around 2500 people. Visit the kindergarten and primary school where you can meet and greet the children and teachers and learn about schooling in Uganda before walking through the main street and market stalls and on to meet the fishermen and traders on the lake shores. After lunch we take you on a short drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park to reach the Bunyampaka Crater Lake. Be prepared for stunning views and (if you are lucky) a seasonal flock of pink flamingos wading, drinking and fishing lake side.
Walking through the salt pans you will learn the fascinating geology, production and harvesting of pink salt crystals on the lake. The taste is amazing too – try some salt while you stand in the crater on the edge of the pans. If you are lucky you may see elephants wander through too.
Drive along the explosion crater trail
Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts some incredible scenery and is a fascinating experience, especially for those with an interest in geography and geology. Some 7000 years ago violent geological activity led to the eruption of several craters and the formation of seven major crater lakes including what we now know as Lake Albert, Lake George and Lake Edward.
We take you on a three-hour drive to explore some of these explosion craters and lakes, including those at Katwe, and learn all about the Albertine Rift Valley and more about over thirty lakes that surround the Kazinga Channel, renowned for having one of Africa’s largest population of hippos and one of the highlights of visiting Uganda.
The landscape is breathtaking – big scale beauty and rift activity right before your eyes.
Trek in search of chimps in Kyambura Gorge – a magical experience!
Kyambura Gorge was formed thousands of years ago during an era of crater explosions when the Kyambura River found its way through a large geological fault line to create its own microclimate and stunning scenery. Hike down into the gorge, an area of dense woodland either side of the Kyambura River, that cuts through the grasslands of Queen Elizabeth National Park..
Your expert guide will take you to where the chimps are resting; sometimes they are down on the ground playing and grooming and sometimes up in the trees. Seeing these incredible primates in the wild is a gem of an experience. The gorge itself, and the sights and sounds of the forest and all its wildlife make for an incredible experience. If you are lucky you may spot a dozen chimps going about their day near the river or in their rainforest habitat, a place chock full of birdlife: Turacos, black headed and golden oriels, goneleks to name a few. There is no guarantee of seeing the chimps at Kyambura Gorge since they roam up and down the gorge in search of fruiting trees.
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