Safari with a difference
Church members Anne and Ken Mizon recently spent three weeks in Uganda and rather than it being a sightseeing holiday their time was spent looking after a guest house that is operated by Aim International, formerly Africa Inland Mission. The guest house is called Matoke Inn, matoke being a particular type of banana which is part of the local staple diet and is eaten cooked.
.jpg "Matoke Inn Guest House")
Anne and Ken were not strangers to Matoke Inn as they had previously been responsible for the Inn for a year in 2005/6. This time they were there to relieve the present managers who had returned to the UK for their daughter's wedding.
The present guest house is not large having just 5 bedrooms but when filled to capacity it can accommodate up to 15 guests. Although it is an AIM guest house Matoke Inn is also used by other organizations working in Uganda and individuals who are visiting or leaving the country. It is very conveniently situated just 40 minutes drive from Entebbe International Airport which is the only international airport for Uganda. Some guests stay just before flying out of the country and others when they have just arrived. This does mean that some guests arrive around midnight, while others have to leave at around 5am or earlier to check in for their flights.
The attraction of Matoke Inn is not so much the luxury accommodation, although if you have not been able to shower or bath for several days, plentiful hot water is certainly a luxury! The Inn is known for its beautiful surroundings and also for its peace and quiet. The food that is prepared by Baifa, the Ugandan cook, has a very good reputation.
Set in a large garden compound the Guest House enjoys a plethora of tropical and semi tropical flowers and birds. Although it is only 15 miles or so north of the equator the altitude of approximately 3000 feet (900 meters) above sea level makes the climate very pleasant. It is also just a mile or two from Lake Victoria Which is the second largest inland lake in the world.
.jpg "Tropical flowers in the garden")
.jpg "Dining on the guest house verandah")