Situated high on the banks of the Nile just a short distance north of the Owen Falls Dam, the Jinja Nile Resort combines one of the most spectacular settings in Uganda with luxurious grounds that are perfect for lounging, swimming or hanging out with friends and family.

Its convenient location and accessibility make it a great place to pamper yourself without having to go too far from home.

When I lived in Iganga, nothing like the Jinja Nile Resort existed, and most places in Jinja by the lakeside or riverside either had poor service, poor grounds, or were just lousy places to stay.

After the Nile Resort opened, I spent a night there with my wife, and we were very impressed. The rooms were attractive. The pool was beautiful and the views were fantastic.

There were great places to sit and appreciate the sweeping views of the river, the opposite bank, and the surrounding countryside.

Although relatively pricey, the resort delivered on a new level of luxury that most Ugandan hotels had yet to approach.

Since living in Kampala, we have continued to appreciate the charms of the Nile Resort.

It is a great escape, even for an afternoon, and we sometimes head out to spend several hours sitting at one of the Nile Resort's shady tables overlooking the river, before catching a late-afternoon coaster back to Kampala.

Or we take visiting family there for a weekend of easy living, and take advantage of the relative seclusion of the resort to spend quality time with them away from the routine of home.

Food at the Nile Resort is pricey and of varying quality. The best option is the grilled tilapia, a tender and extremely fresh whole fish for Shs8,000.

Other options like the chicken wings and the soup are less exciting, and the cafe menu is generally uneven.

For those looking to gorge themselves, buffets are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and these range in price from Shs16,000 to Shs18,000. Some creative options, including make your own stir-fry and some creative Southeast Asian-inspired food were available on our last visit there, and some of this food was surprisingly good.

When available, muchomo was also excellent and there is also allegedly tandoor on offer some days.

The quality of the food in these enormous buffets seems to vary considerably, and overall the buffets are probably not worth the price tag.

Service at the resort, like the food, also varies, and is generally pleasant but not always fast or highly professional.

For those of you choosing to stay there, it doesn't come cheap, but there are deals that offer bed and breakfast for two for 150,000 shillings per night or 270,000 shillings for two nights.

Given that the level of comfort at Nile Resort far exceeds that of many Kampala hotels that charge a lot more and offer a lot less, this deal is not such a bad value.

Getting there is easy, as it is a two-hour drive (or less) from Kampala or a quick bus or coaster ride followed by a boda boda journey of several kilometres.