Fodor's Expert Review Murchison River Lodge

This relaxed mid-range lodge has found its niche; local expats and price-conscious tourists love its laid-back, unpretentious style. With a philosophy celebrating the simpler things in life, they've got the recipe just right: kids love the pool; parents appreciate the babysitting service; home-made meals are served by smiling staff; life here generally mirrors the slow pace of the river Nile drifting by. Four family cottages are set back overlooking acacia woodland; 13 en suite thatched safari tents dot the bush; but the main restaurant and bar area, lined with comfy couches crafted from salvaged railway sleepers, takes the lion's share of the river view. Despite the proximity of the park’s alluring activities, it's tempting to while away days in hammocks, or from the viewing platform, just looking out over the islands of the Nile, watching for passing hippos and elephants.