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Garuga Country Resort

From the scenic view of Lake Victoria, beautiful green gardens to honeymoon cottages and boat rides, Country Lake Resort, Garuga is a perfect getaway. Before you opt for a holiday destination abroad, look at Country Lake Resort-Garuga. It may be just what you were looking for the perfect holiday.

Often times, when people want to go away for a holiday or vacation, they think of destinations out of Uganda, which is all well and good. However, there are a number of local destinations worth trying around the country and they will surely make a memorable get-away experience.

Country Lake resort-Garuga is one of those places. It boasts of good hospitality, but most especially its natural green. It is a walk into and through a mini jungle of various floras. The neat constructed pathways that lead you to this eye-catching expanse are artistically marked by well-trimmed flowers and green as well as palm trees that run along the footpaths.

And the beauty extends to the spacious and well-combed gardens in which statues stand both in concrete and metal, beautiful fabrications that depict nature in still form- of gorillas, crested cranes, man et cetera.

This hideaway of sorts is located approximately 25km in Garuga from Kampala. There is a 6.5km stretch off the Kampala-Entebbe highway and there is an imposing signpost that directs you to branch off and more signposts to lead you to the place.

If you’re using public means from Kampala, you can use a taxi going to Entebbe from the old taxi park and ask to get off at Kitala stage and then get onto a boda boda to the resort.

Alternatively you can board a taxi from Kampala to Gerenge Landing site and ask to be dropped off at Bulega Trading Centre. There are signposts which lead you to the resort which is 400m from this trading centre.

It is a bumpy ride on the murram from the main road and sometimes dusty especially during the dry season. But it is worth the effort. The resort offers a get-away from nagging road users, hooting cars and generally the hustle and bustle of busy towns and cities.

What makes it even more beautiful is that it is located on the shores of Lake Victoria. At sunset, residents who wish to fish go out to the fisherman’s rock that has a barrier to ensure the careless or little ones don’t end up in the water against their will.

Those who wish to go boat riding can do so at the beach side aptly marked. There is actually a path that leads into the shallower end of Africa’s largest fresh water body.

Lake Victoria’s serenity is more pronounced at night, providing a favorable environment for you to enjoy your drink, muchomo or tea or coffee as you chat with friends or simply relax.

If you prefer a warm evening by the lake then bonfires are lit on request at twilight. Otherwise a loud night out is on offering especially for those on a corporate retreat who might want to shake their bones.

There is also a disco that goes on into the wee hours of the night without necessarily inconveniencing other residents who might prefer a more quiet night.

If you choose to make your get-away a family affair, then the little ones won’t be left out.

There is a children’s play area to keep their adrenaline rushing. For the sports lover or for team building, volleyball and photo shoots will save the day respectively. Otherwise bird watching and taking forest walks can be equally interesting.

Honeymooners are catered for with themed cottages to make their stay worthwhile. They are fully furnished and detached.

On the whole most cottages are self-contained though differently priced depending on amenities and how long one would like to stay. “We do offer 10 per cent discount for those who intend to stay for at least three days and for those who intend to stay for at least five days we offer 20 per cent discount,” Angella Aluoch, Country Lake Resort’s Operations Manager says.

A number of the cottages will allow you to wake up to the beauty of the peaceful lake and an eagle’s view from the resort’s pier. Management can organize for an early morning warm-up session that starts with jogging at around 6a.m. There is a swimming pool too.

There is a good amount of lounging space at Country Lake resort with an ambience suited for recreation and piped music softy filters through at different points of the thatched shelters. it might not matter that you earn less than your dream salary. It is all about pre-planning and setting priorities where you can allow yourself time off and make it worthwhile, say for your annual leave. Go out and explore.

World’s Smallest Church in Uganda

Nested on top of Biku Hill within Nebbi district in North-western Uganda dwells the outstanding wonder like never encountered before in Uganda. This magical attraction is the World’s smallest Church that stands at a height of 8 feet and width of about 2.5 meters. This mind-blowing attraction is not only known for its beauty but its exceptionalism because in normal circumstances, churches accommodate more than 100 people but this wonderful small church accommodates only three people that include two congregation members and a priest. It is widely known by the locals for its healing powers which is why most people always dream and strive to climb the Biku Hill in a lifetime.

It is believed to have existed from 1996 when a Korean Pastor known as “Song” in partnership with the retired Archbishop of Church of Uganda-His Lordship Henry Luke Orombi constructed this jaw-dropping structure which has in the past years drawn several locals and tourists to Nebbi in Northern Uganda. This Church was established with an aim of spiritual healing for the locals and indeed the church allows people to encounter God in a special way. There are currently nine prayer points on Biku Hill that enable the people to praise, pray and meditate on the word of God.

The first prayer point is found on top of the Hill and has a very big cross, the second point is just opposite the first prayer point and is a Lilliputian structure built in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ and has 12 windows in the western and eastern side that depicts the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ and is exactly where the Pilgrims always pray for several things most importantly for the neighboring countries like Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan and Rwanda for spiritual and physical peace and revival.

Prayer point number two rewards tourists with the eye-popping panoramic views of the fascinating Namrwodho waterfalls which is known to be a habitat to the elusive shoebill stork that doesn’t miss in the must-see list of birds on a Ugandan Safari.

The third prayer point is established in the Map of Africa and has two magnificent entrances.  It also has ten windows that show the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament of the Bible.  This Prayer point was dedicated for praying for all the African countries, mostly the African countries

Prayer point four, five and six are positioned with a large serene garden, with prayer point number four crafted in a format of a Heart showing the Love of Jesus Christ with a cross made of thirty three stone showing the 33 years of Jesus Christ. Prayer point five is a shape of an arrow head that shows the energetic youth speed whereas prayer point 6 features 66 windows that signify the 66 books of the Bible, and 39 of the windows are at the back because they show the 39 books of the Old Testament while the 27 windows show the 27 books in the New Testament. The Point features three wonderful doors crafted in a structure of a man standing that shows people who are well equipped with the Word of God. Prayer point six was made in the shape of al alter which depicts the living testimony that the church is a living offering to the mission of Jesus Christ whereas the rough stones on the cross show that  Christians are living stones.

Prayer point seven is a round structure that is shaped in form of a globe and is found at the back of the towering rock with an open-ended Cave at its bottom of which one is supposed to crawl from one end to another to have a glimpse at the suffering that Jesus Christ endured and tourists who visit the site have to crawl for five minutes through the dark mysterious cave.

Prayer point number eight is the most spectacular because contains the World’s smallest Church-known as the Bethel Church that has twelve (12) windows at the entrance depicting the 12 stones found on Aaron’s breastplate that is the twelve tribes of all saints. The ceiling of the Church has seven beams that show the seven rainbow colors that demonstrate the covenant of God-never to destroy the World with floods after the time of Noah and the eastern window rewards tourists with the views of the Cross that is positioned on the highest Peak on prayer point one. This view offers the visiting Christians with a chance to always look up to Christ Jesus. Regardless of the detail and beautiful appearance, it took only 79 bags of Cement and was built with an intention of lasting more than five Centuries before the foundation is weakened.

The last remaining opposite point was made in the shape of a womb along with the prime chapel that is large enough to accommodate over 400 pilgrims hence you will relish a breathtaking encounter during a safari in Uganda.