The Pines At Katosi

September 21, 2020

The Pines At Katosi

For our eldest daughter's 12th birthday we decided to venture out of Kampala for a weekend trip. As parents we have tried to incorporate memories or experiences in birthday celebrations rather than focusing solely on material gifts. We decided on a place called The Pines at Katosi which is less than two hours from the city yet promised a quiet and relaxing experience.

The lodge requires that you pay prior to arrival as they do not accept payment for the accommodation on site. One option was to pay cash in Kampala, which seemed to be the easiest option. They provided the address of where I was to pay, which happened to be just down the street from my office. The week before we left I drove to the given location, which turned out to be someone's residence. I paid and had to simply trust the process as they didn't offer a receipt. I was assured all would be good when I arrived and this was the typical way of doing business. Upon chatting with the woman, she mentioned that when she took her mother to The Pines for the first time she was a bit concerned as it seems as though you are in the middle of nowhere when you turn off the main road. This insight proved to be helpful!

When we turned off the highway we immediately came upon a narrow, bumpy dirt road that winds through villages and forest. If the woman hadn't mentioned the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere I would have thought we made a wrong turn. The dirt road continues for about 10km (which seems like forever when you don't know where you are going) and you eventually see signs for the lodge and the gate that enters into the compound. Thankfully all was well, and we weren't asked to provide proof of payment. The staff was expecting us and immediately led us to our cottage.

The Pines consists of about 20 acres of land which includes four self-contained cottages, an Olympic sized swimming pool, a tennis court, a restaurant (it was closed due to COVID, but they still served beer), bike paths and green space. Our cottage had two bedrooms and bathrooms each, a fairly well equipped kitchen, a living area, and my personal favorite a back deck that overlooked green space and in the distance Lake Victoria. The landscaping was amazing and there were beautiful flowers, plants and trees to enjoy throughout the compound. There was no wi-fi or television available, though a little library of books was provided. We happened to be the only guests there and felt relaxed right from the start. The kids loved having the pool to themselves and the ability to ride around on the bikes that were provided.

It was a perfect getaway and allowed for quality family time with no distractions. Our weekend consisted of swimming, taking walks and bike rides, playing games, cooking together, pointing out beautiful birds and intricate flowers, and relaxing on the deck. We also took a boat ride on Lake Victoria coordinated through the local village. Though it was lovely and we had life-jackets, my anxiety flared up due to the guide using a cup to remove water from inside the hand-made wooden boat we were in. Thankfully we made it back to shore without incident!