Serenity and beauty blend

Road trips are fun. The trip down South West to Lodge Bella Vista last weekend was one with bubbly mates, which made the trip quite entertaining. An omnibus half full of ladies made for more than beautiful faces.
From the point of take-off, to the last stop of the lodge they sang, danced, chatted out loud and threw jokes and jibes at one another as well as new found friends, as a way of breaking the ice. Dedicating songs was one of those things, where the title of a track and its lyrical content attracted the cheers. Like that, there was no chance of shutting the eyes, at least not for long.
The proprietor, an Italian gentleman in his evening years, set the lodge facility in the wildernesses at the edge of Nyamiteza Crater lake, in Fort Portal. To get there, we drove through a village, exposing us to the rural communities around the craters and facility.
Boys and girls, some half-dressed, were happy to show excitement with smiley faces and little hands that waved at the visitors. Their parents stood by their fruit and food stalls inviting tourists to stop by and support their families.

At Bella Vista
Into Bella Vista and there was a welcome team with chilled fruit cocktails and sizzling pizzas from charcoal ovens. The meal was earned after a five-hour drive. The curiosity then lay in what awaited us.
The lodge’s beauty opens up through a small gate. From one corner was a towering grass-thatched hut built with concrete and right at its footnotes is a garden of grass and flower.
Adjacent to it, are lined up 10 rooms that are beautifully decorated in different colours and drawings. There are double-storeyed with a panoramic view of the lake and from a not-so-far distance is one of the misty, and almost frosty self-imposing peaks of Mountain Rwenzori.
In the middle of the lodge’s compound is a crystal blue swimming pool, with resting facilities. At the left hand side of the pool is an artistic concrete sculpture of a nude man holding out a spear.

While there…
As you relax in the water, you can see the resident chef, busy in the kitchen fixing some food and supervising the preparation of roasts. The rooms are self-contained, with a bathroom, toilet and shower. There are two beds, a standard one downstairs and a smaller one, which is a couch, upstairs.
There are two balconies, downstairs and upstairs, which both open up to the crater lakes and interfacing hills on one side. Then below is the lake, with still waters. You can take a boat ride on the lake, or take a nature walk in designated paths.
The scenery is good enough for some Nikon moments. One point you would get some good photographs is at the Lake Restaurant which is at a raised point, allowing you an eagle’s view of the village’s beauty, lake and hills.
The serenity and ambience of this lodge offers a memorable stay for lovers on a honeymoon retreat.

Accommodation
Bella Vista has rooms that range from US$50 to US$180 which range between low and high season (visit their website for more, www.lodgebellavista.com). There is a fairly stocked bar and active kitchen. The customer care is commendable.

While at bella vista...> Compiled by Edgar R. Batte

Mountain view

In most city or even countryside relaxation spots, you long to keep in touch with nature. Look not further when you go to Fort portal at Bella Vista. You seep in the cool breeze and have a clear view of the mountain in the neighbourhood. What other way would one want to spend their serene moments.

Natural interior

Forget about the places we go to with tiled floors and all the modern artifacts. Bella Vista is one place where natural resources or materials were used to construct the interior. The wooden interior makes it come off as very rustic and attractive place to relax.

Chef moment

If your meaty craving seems uncontrollable, worry not for the chef at the relaxed countryside hangout will take care of your needs. An open barbecue spot is in the compound and you place your order at will.