Virtually every intrepid safari visitor to Uganda wants a photo taken at the sign marking the equator: Elephant Plains Lodge’s proximity to the Equator Monument makes this a cinch. Another convenience is that the lodge is very close to the entrance to the productive northern section of Queen Elizabeth National Park, meaning you can be among the first guests in and the last to leave.

Built in a breezy, easy-going style to take advantage of the views to Lake George on the western escarpment of the Albertine Rift, the lodge has a swimming pool for hot afternoons and Wi-Fi for staying in touch. It is also within striking distance of the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve, renowned for its superb chimp trekking.