Quick facts: Location: Masindi town, on the route from Kampala to Murchison Falls · Built: 1923 by East Africa Railways and Harbours · Status: national heritage site
Masindi Hotel is Uganda's oldest hotel, built in 1923 as a railway stopover and now a recognised national heritage site. Its most famous guest is Ernest Hemingway, who stayed here during his 1930s African safari — the hotel's Hemingway Bar commemorates the connection. Sir Winston Churchill also passed through Masindi en route to Murchison Falls in 1907, and the hotel has hosted dignitaries and travellers continuously since, including through a full renovation ahead of its 2023 centenary.
Sits just outside Masindi town, close to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, community chimp trekking sites, and Sir Samuel Baker's Fort — a genuine historical stopover rather than just a convenient overnight, worth building a little extra time into your itinerary here.
Colonial-era architecture and furnishings alongside modern comforts, the Hemingway Bar, and dining options reflecting the hotel's long history as a social hub for the town.
Travellers who want their overnight stopover to be part of the story — history buffs, birders, and anyone wanting a genuine taste of colonial-era East African travel on the way to the park.
