Travellers Rest Hotel

Top choice in Southwestern Uganda

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A hotel with a history, it was once run by the so-called father of gorilla tourism, Walter Baumgärtel, and Dian Fossey regularly stayed here. Through various thoughtful touches such as Congolese crafts, this otherwise simple place has become a lovely little oasis. The garden has lots of shade and the restaurant features an atmospheric bar with fireplace.

The restaurant is one of the more reliable places to dine, with options ranging from pasta to omelettes and curries. It's also known for its buffet dinners (US$15), which are worth the splurge; visitors need to reserve by 3pm.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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Nearby Southwestern Uganda attractions

1. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

6.44 MILES

The smallest of Uganda’s national parks (34 sq km), Mgahinga punches well above its weight. Tropical rainforest cloaks three dramatic extinct volcanoes…

2. Volcanoes National Park

11.38 MILES

Volcanoes National Park, which runs along the border with the DRC and Uganda, is home to the Rwandan section of the Virungas. Comprising five volcanoes,…

3. Gorilla Guardians Village

14.23 MILES

While most of the focus of Volcanoes National Park falls squarely onto the animals, this 'cultural village' puts the spotlight back onto the people…

5. Akampeine Island

15.85 MILES

Translating as Punishment Island, this tiny island was so named because it was once the place where unmarried pregnant women were dumped to die. Their…

6. Musanze Caves

16.04 MILES

These four caves, 2km from the town centre along the road to Gisenyi, were created when different lava flows joined to create the Albertine Rift Valley…

7. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

16.52 MILES

Home to almost half the world’s surviving mountain gorillas, the World Heritage–listed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of East Africa’s most…

8. Bwama & Njuyeera (Sharp’s) Islands

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