Cottage weekend in Entebbe

It has been almost six months since I posted, but I am finally inspired to write again. I have had a follow up jackfruit post in my head for months, but so far it remains in my head.

The first weekend of December I took a mini vacation to Entebbe. It was my second mini vacay to Entebbe since Uganda lockdown restrictions lightened up. The first time I revisited 2 Friends hotel to take advantage of the reduced rates and, most importantly, get out of the apartment and Kampala for the first time in months.

This weekend we found our accommodation through Airbnb. It is hard to believe that this weekend´s cottage cost less for two nights than the first stay did for one. Yes, I said cottage. A magical little house on a beautiful property in lovely Entebbe.

Like Kampala, the most complicated part of getting anywhere is finding it. Uganda is not big on actual street numbers or street signs so Google maps is helpful but still not a perfect solution. Oh, and it was raining so the ´roads´ were even less road-like than usual. When we arrived at the property we had a good inch of road mud attached to the tires.

As a new couple we had some degree of tension while we navigated our way there, but we did not hit full argument so we considered it a successful experiment.

Then we got out of the car, saw the property and the gorgeous view of Lake Victoria and all remaining tensions just faded away.

Dickens met us at the gate and showed us around the cottage. We unloaded the vehicle and then went back out to get some dinner. We shared a whole grilled tilapia and fries at 2 Friends restaurant because it is a favourite of mine and I love to share.

When we returned to the cottage there was a thermos of spiced tea waiting for us on the door because ¨it is the coldest day of the year¨. It actually was cold – even this Canadian girl was in a hoodie. But not December-in-Canada cold though, so I won´t rub in what the actual temperature was.

This little cottage is a tiny home dream. I could live there long term if I was able to remodel the kitchen slightly to allow counter space.

The entrance way doubles as a sitting area and dining area, with double doors that open to make it feel more like a patio than an inside room. The bedroom is beautifully appointed and the bathroom is roomy with a great shower.

Without a doubt, the library/sitting room/2nd bedroom was my favourite space. It has a cozy chair, desk and side table and a large window to make it feel larger and very open. The daybed functions as a second bed but also as a comfy sofa where we spent Saturday evening watching Out of Africa. Sure the movie is about Kenya, but it is still east Africa, right?

The artwork around the cottage is, I assume, the source of the cottage name – Casita del Arte.  Original pieces full of colour and character.  I was captivated all weekend as I discovered different details of the pieces as I studied and restudied them.

Our host, Dr Nathaniel Dunigan, keeps the house stocked with coffee, yogurt, nuts, granola and other sundry necessities and a fresh fruit basket greets you when you arrive.  These small additions made the cottage even more homey and welcoming. Saturday morning we were gifted with some delicious chocolate muffins which I enjoyed from the elevated treehouse dining platform while reading our host’s book.

The property comes with five friendly canines. They are welcoming and quite happy to explore the cottage at every opportunity. Samson spent much of Saturday morning laying on the mat in the entrance way. This may not be the place for you if you do not like dogs, but it certainly is if you are a dog lover.

Of course no trip to Entebbe is truly complete for me until I go to Entebbe Botanical Gardens. We spent an hour or two on Saturday enjoying the Garden’s beach and the recent upgrades to the facilities. I still have not ventured in to Lake Victoria for a swim, but some day I will.

The sunset view when we returned was spectactular!

One final detail that made the stay perfect is that proceeds from the rental provide scholarships The AidChild Leadership Institute.  

This is directly from their website https://aidchild.org/:  “Airbnb Guestrooms at A.L.I., Entebbe – Charming, private guestrooms and baths inside the AidChild Leadership Institute (A.L.I.), a modern education facility.  Your hosts are A.L.I.’s interns, welcoming you to also enjoy their library, spacious gardens with a lake view, and free WiFi! Eight minutes from the airport. Gym and swimming pool within walking distance.  Proceeds from your stay pay for the academic needs of  our interns.”

We had a peaceful and laid back weekend and were even offered a late checkout. We headed back to Kampala before 1pm and stopped along Gaba Road for some nyama choma before arriving home. *Nyama choma  is a specialty of grilled goat meat, very popular in Kenya where it is considered the national dish. Yes, I eat goat now 🙂

We are going to Kenya for Christmas, negative Covid test dependent, so I will be eating more nyama choma and will also have something new to write about. This will be much less of a safari trip that last Christmas vacation, but I am sure it will still be an adventure.

Thanks for reading!