Perched softly on the southern banks of the mighty River Nile, where the water carries ancient tales, hippos and elephants parade the horizon, lies a lodge that is defined by exclusive, luxurious, and eco-friendly hospitality – Nile Safari Lodge. Here, every sunrise offers a chance to reconnect with oneself, family, and friends, and every sunset is a gentle reminder to slow down and simply be.
But beyond the beautiful views and stone-crafted architecture is a story woven with love, legacy, and a fierce devotion to preserving the wild beauty that surrounds it.
When the Van Pee family first imagined Nile Safari Lodge, their vision extended far beyond architecture. They dreamt of creating harmony,
a place where travellers could immerse themselves in Uganda’s natural beauty without disturbing its fragile blueprint. From the outset, the guiding philosophy was clear: work with nature, never against it.
“No tree was cut during the construction of the lodge,” shares Nathalie Van Pee, a Director at Nile Safari Lodge. “My family has always loved nature deeply. It’s where we find peace, purpose, and connection. We knew we had a responsibility to protect it. Plastic, with its toxic, lasting footprint, had no place in that story. Some plastics take over 400 years to break down, which makes it dangerous for the environment.”
And so, Nile Safari Lodge was built entirely plastic-free, a quiet yet resolute stand against convenience in favour of conservation. Every detail, from the refillable glass water bottles in the bandas to the refillable bathroom amenities, the lodge has a no-plastic policy.
More than eliminating plastic, Nile Safari Lodge was designed to exist gently on the land. Solar energy powers its operations. Rainwater is harvested and purified. The open-air architecture blends seamlessly with the landscape, constructed from local, renewable materials with minimal environmental impact. It is luxury, yes, but luxury in its eco-friendly form.
As we mark World Environment Day under the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution,’ Nile Safari Lodge stands as a shining example of an eco-friendly lodge in Uganda.