Where to have fun this festive season

Here’s a guide to the the places where one can enjoy the festive season with family, writes Edgar R. Batte

KAMPALA
Place:Lake Victoria Serena Resort
Location: 10kms off Entebbe Road on Lweza-Kigo Road, on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Main highlights: Check out this newly opened resort that’s surrounded by the Lweza hills and offers an ideal place to unwind and escape the stresses of city life this festive season.
A new addition to the Serena hotels , they will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the festive season starting on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, there will be a family buffet menu, party favours, music by an in-house band, Santa Claus and children’s activities like face painting, ballooning, a bouncing castle and water polo.
Prices: Breakfast on Christmas will cost Shs40,000 for adults and Shs25,000 for children (five-12 years). Lunch and dinner will go for Shs70,000 for adults and Shs40,000 for children.
Reservations: You can call 0414 7121 000

Place: Pyramids Restaurant
Location: Plot 7A Yusuf Lule Road, formerly Kitante Road, opposite the Golf Course in Kampala.
Main highlights: Go experience elegance at The Pyramids where an exciting array of Afro-European fusion cuisine of a three-course Christmas Special Dinner Menu will be served. There will be a choice of two starters, three main courses and two desserts served with a bottle of wine starting at 7p.m.
It is advisble to make reservations. Call 0414-234840/20 or 0414-235082
Prices: All this will be charged at Shs145, 000 per couple.

Place:Kampala Sheraton Hotel
Location: Ternan Avenue- within walking distance from Kampala city centre. There is parking space for those using private means of transport.
Main highlights: The five star hotel will be serving a traditional feast, complete with all the family favourites including seafood cocktailed with brandied thousand island dressing, an arrangement of cold cuts, choice of two soups, honey- glazed ham, roasted turkey, grilled Nile perch and Christmas pudding with crème Anglaise.
The Paradise Grill and Terrace will be decorated and themed to match the festivity. There will also be Christmas carols from the resident pianist, a special appearance by Christ the King Church Choir and Santa with presents for the little ones. These will be followed by perfomance by the resident band.
Prices: Christmas Day lunch will go for Shs95,000 per adult and Shs47,500 per child.

Place: Ekitoobero Restaurant and Bar
Location: Plot 40, Nakasero Road, opposite the Kenyan High Commission
Main highlights: Catch delicious Ugandan authentic cuisines including chicken luwombo, groundnut/smoked fish luwombo, tilapia and catfish (fresh semutundu). These will be accompanied by a variety of foods; matooke, yams, sweet potatoes, rice, chapatti, posho and cassava among others.
The festive options will cover a variety of fresh Ugandan vegetables and patrons will be free to pick an after-meal assortment of fruits like pineapples, pawpaw, sweet bananas, mangoes, etc all organic and freshly picked from the garden. The food can be washed down by a glass of fresh banana or passion fruit juice.
Prices: Shs 20,000 for adults and Shs 15,000

Place: Café Ballet
Location: Nakasero Road
Main highlights: There will be a late Christmas buffet served for family, with a bouncing castle and face painting for the little ones.
Prices: Adults will part Shs28,000 and Shs18,000 for children
Reservations: You can call 0414266319/0772483156/0772903767

Place:Imperial Royale Hotel
Location: Plot 7, Kintu Road
Main highlights: It will be a traditionally set Christmas family barbeque luncheon with lots of fun and food options, spiced up with a lively performance by the Bantus band, from noon till 4p.m
Prices: Adults will part with Shs50,000 while children will pay Shs25,000.

Place: Forest Cottages
Location: Plot 17/18, Naguru Hill, Old Kiira Road- Bukoto, Kampala
Main highlights: It is not exactly a forest but has a forest environment that explains its unique setting and serenity. There will be a Christmas a’ la Carte lunch in the gardens where guests will be able to enjoy food with beautiful African forest environment.
Prices: Meal prices will range from Shs15,000 to Shs25,000.
Their accommodation options include deluxe single rooms that go for $60 (Shs115,200), Deluxe Double Room at $ 68 (Shs130,560), one Bedroom Cottage at $85 (Shs163,200), two Bedroom Cottage - $105, among others.

JINJA
Place: Safari Inn- Jinja
Location: Nalufenya Road Jinja, a few metres from the roundabout- opposite Cool Breeze Hotel
Main highlights: The Children’s Christmas Party that takes place on Boxing Day. There will be music, children’s games and Christmas gifts. You might consider an out of town experience here.
Prices: Lunch buffet is available at Shs10,000 but it is free entrance. Gates open at midday till 6p.m. There is accommodation; singles go for Shs30,000, doubles at Shs55,000, twin rooms at Shs55,000 and family rooms at Shs75,000.
Reservations: You can contact 0772 400955 or 0782 816741.

Place: The Haven
Location: It is about 20km Northwest of Jinja Town on the west bank of the River Nile. Turn off to the road opposite Nile Breweries and sign posts will guide you to the hideout
Main highlights: This will be a good out-of-town option, for a serene and deserving break for the Christmas holiday. The river lodge that overlooks the river Nile is a great hideout that provides a camping experience, forest walks, fishing, bird watching or simply sailing around the river at sundown.
Prices: You could go for a mid-range banda (single) for $60 (Shs115,200), or the luxury bandas for $90 (Shs172,800) per person or family bandas for $90 per adult and $30 (Shs57,600) per child – full board.

Making reservations would be a good idea.

Place: Nile Horseback Safaris
Location: Approximately four kilometres along Kayunga road through Naminya Trading Centre before crossing the Owen Falls dam.
Main highlights: Go enjoy horse riding as you get up close the river and check out the fantastic scene from the hills.
Nile Horseback Safaris is open over the Christmas and New Year Period, shut only on Christmas Day and will be offering horse riding along the White Nile, on the Kayunga Road.
Riders do not need to have any experience. Children from six years of age can participate.
Prices: For a two-hour ride, which is the minimum, you’ll pay Shs90,000 per person and for three hours- Shs130,000.
Reservations:You can call 0774 101 196 or 07702 101 196.

Place: Gately on the Nile
Location: Kisinja Road, Jinja, on the shores of Lake Victoria- past the Sailing Club opposite the pier.
Main highlights: You could choose to spend the festive season at this uniquely renovated grand colonial guest house situated on the shores of Lake Victoria in Jinja. There will be a special Christmas brunch.
Prices: Lunch will be available at Shs50,000 per person excluding drinks. Singles go for $110 (Shs211,200) and $170 (Shs326,400) for doubles.
Reservations:You can call 043-122-400.

MBARARA
Location:Mbarara town
Main highlights: Arch Rwizi Hotel has made this a discount Christmas.
There will be a special Christmas buffet served, in their popular Rwizi Valley. And later on in the evening, there will be music and movies entertainment.
Prices: Christmas buffet will go for Shs13,000 and accommodation will be available at Shs64,000 for single occupancy, double occupancy for Shs85,000 and Shs40,000 for the twin per person
Reservations: Call the motel on 0752648980.

Place: Sisiyi Falls Camp and Resort

Location: 19km along Sironko-Moroto Road

Main highlight: A cultural Christmas with local music, traditional foods and local attires, bird watching, nature walks, swimming in a natural pool and rock and mountain climbing.
Catch the Bugisu traditional chicken, Malewa, Goobe with traditional mashed among other food varieties.
Prices: Customers will spend between Ushs10,000 to 20,000 for Christmas and the New Year

Place: Mbale Resort Hotel
Location: Mbale Town
Main highlights: There will be local and international buffets.
Father Anthony Musaala is expected be the main performer. There will also be in-house entertainment by a local deejay and a visiting music groups.
Prices: The lunch treat will go for Shs30,000
Reservations: You can call 0782-787 333.