The soft rustle of forest leaves, the soothing notes of a saxophone, the gentle roar of the Nile in the background and the aroma of freshly grilled food in the air, this was no ordinary Saturday. It was the beginning of something new. The belt downstream of the Source of the River Nile, long known for its adventure spots and laid-back charm, hosted its first high-end brunch experience last weekend at Adrift Uganda River Club.
The result was nothing short of extraordinary. For the first time, brunch lovers were invited out of Kampala’s city hum to immerse themselves in a new blend of nature, sound, taste and style. The event, sponsored by Tanqueray, blessed an evolution in Uganda’s leisure and lifestyle scene. A destination brunch, one of the kind usually reserved for the glossy pages of international travel and food magazines, was now playing out in real life, right on the banks of the Nile. In Kampala, brunch has positioned itself as a social ritual with equal parts culinary indulgence, fashion showcase and weekend therapy.
But this event facing the chaotic but beautiful Itanda Falls reimagined the experience entirely. Set in the wild serenity of Adrift’s riverside property, surrounded by trees and kissed by the breeze of one of the world’s most iconic rivers, this brunch was designed to escape the ordinary. “We have done city brunches over and over again,” Philip Okude, one of the revellers, said, “but this is refreshing. You get good food, great music and space to breathe. You feel alive.” The organisers behind the brunch say the Itanda Falls limited edition was a test of concept: Could brunch be more than just a meal in the city? Could it be an experience that travels, engages with nature and tells a story?
