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Kitandara Hippo Hill Camp: Traveller Reviews

Katwe town | Queen Elizabeth Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Hotel amenities
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7 reviews from our community

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London
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
“Beautiful location”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 31 January 2012

This camp site is in a beautiful location overlooking the lake. Having only ever camped in a two man bell tent before, the permanent tented camps are great by comparison: spacious, clean and comfortable.

We were the only group staying there and so had no problems whatsoever with noise, it was really peaceful. The staff were very courteous and provided a good standard of food.

The water supply is a bit variable but then this is a very rural location so to be expected! Plugs are available in the bar so we could recharge cameras etc each evening.

I really enjoyed my stay here - and yes, there are hippos around the tents at night!

  • Stayed January 2012, travelled with friends
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Barcelona, Spain
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
“Not more than budget, with noisy neighbours”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 October 2011

The best you will find there is the staff, very kind and helpful. Location is not bad, top of the hill with great views, but tents are arranged in a "military way".
The main problem was with the groups of truck passengers that -as mentioned in other reivews- shared some of the camp facilities. Very noisy people, they didn't care how late in the night it was when the truck arrived: walking among the tents while looking for the showers, shouting ... Not what you expect if you are going to wake up very early for a morning game drive...

  • Stayed July 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Contributor
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22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
“Fine experience”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 July 2011
1
person found this review helpful

We spent one night here and found it to be totally adequate. The tent was very spacious and the bed was comfortable. The bathroom is out the back of the tent so there are some bugs, but this was not a problem for us. We did not have hot water, however.

  • Stayed June 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Kitgum, Uganda
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“Believe these reviews, not the website.”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 July 2011
1
person found this review helpful

As a previous reviewer has commented, the Hippo Hill website is very misleading. This is a budget tented camp, no more. When we were there, the only other guests were the passengers of an overland truck who were camping in the grounds.

Its location is a 'curates egg' - great views of the lake one way where we saw elephants wading/swimming between islands and mainland; the other way, great views of a sunset over a flamingo-filled lake; well positioned for the main park gate; but located just outside a run-down settlement based around the local salt works.

The staff were friendly and helpful enough, the food plentiful - but poor lighting and a miserable en-suite bathroom lose points. I paid the foreign resident rate of USD70/night full board for a single room and really don't think it is worth more than that to anyone.

NB - the name is surprisingly apt. Although the main lake is 1000-1500m away, I was woken late at night by a hippo eating grass very noisily just outside my tent. What was also surprising was that the staff didn't give any form or briefing/warning that this might happen. Insomniacs and sleepwalkers stay here at their peril!

  • Stayed June 2011, travelled with friends
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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See 2 more reviews by CommanderBUganda for Queen Elizabeth National Park
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
nlct
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Very bad experience.”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 3 March 2010
1
person found this review helpful

Kitandara Hippo Hill Camp is neither a luxury tented camp nor situated in the wilderness as billed on the web. This is a seriously dilapidated tented camp situated directly next to Katwe town. If you are visiting Queen Elizabeth park to enjoy a nature related experience this place is downright depressing with more prospects of dodging herds of cows and goats then actual park wildlife. When we arrived the grounds were covered with large quantities of cow dung making the walk to and from the tents an unenjoyable experience. Yes, the bedding and mosquito netting was fine but the actual tents and platforms they are situated on had seen better days. Basically the place was built a few years ago and has not been maintained by the management. It's a real disappointment. It should be rated at the level of a backpacker or hostel type facility and rates should reflect that accordingly. This place cannot be compared positively with other Queen Elizabeth accommodations. I would not advise anyone to stay at this camp under current conditions. Again it is neither luxurious or situated in the wilderness. You will be disspointed.

  • Stayed February 2010, travelled with friends
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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