No.5 Boutique Hotel

No.5 is a small boutique hotel set in tropical gardens in a residential part of Entebbe, the town on the northern shore of Lake Victoria where Uganda's main international airport sits. The rooms are arranged around a central courtyard garden with a swimming pool, and many have private balconies. There is a small spa, a gym, a bar and a restaurant serving international and Ugandan dishes. For families, there is also The Residence, a separate two-bedroom house on the property.

Most international flights to Uganda land at Entebbe, often in the evening, and the drive into Kampala can be slow in traffic. Staying here keeps the first night short and simple, since the airport is about 10 minutes away. It works just as well at the end of a trip, after gorilla trekking in Bwindi or a safari in Queen Elizabeth, when you fly back from the parks and want a shower, a good meal and a proper bed before the long flight home. With a spare day, Lake Victoria is close by for a boat trip, including the Mabamba Swamp, where shoebills can sometimes be seen.

It suits couples and families who want a calm, comfortable base rather than a large city hotel, and anyone with an early flight. The trade-off is that it is a place to rest rather than a destination in itself. It sits back from the lakeshore, so do not expect lake views, and there is little to walk to nearby. One night at either end of a trip is usually enough, or two if you want a day on the lake.