Get on an experiential community tour to enjoy and learn more about the rural homestead in and around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This shall give lifetime memories to remember on the African soil that is purely pristine because the residents behave more like a family belonging to their guests. These are families of like-minded people, using their passion and skills to make a difference.
A stay in one of the rural homesteads takes you in day-to-day activities such as farming, banana brewing, folklores, music, dancing and a visit to local traditional healers.
Aside from the above, you will enjoy a highlight of an amazing nature walk that takes you through the entire coffee process at a nearby family farm. You will pick the coffee berries, deshell and grind them with a traditional mortar and pestle, and then roast them on an open fire. This is before – the best part – finishing with a fine cup of strong Arabica coffee.
More about rural homesteads and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Rural homesteads in Bwindi are purely local home families headed by different community leaders. These homesteads offer volunteering opportunities and placements to its surrounding nearby communities in conservation, health, music, dance, and drama. There are also education projects to alleviate poverty among the rural poor.
Opening up rural homestead tour in Bwindi was done to increase the variety of tourism activities offered in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is meant to provide members of the local community with an alternative source of income directly linked to conservation.
The rural homestead contributes 35% of its profits to fund conservation projects through African Community Based Development Initiative. This is a local community-based organization supporting marginalized communities along with the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Besides the tourism enterprise, the trust also supports beekeeping, handicraft making, mushroom, and passion fruit growing.
Bwindi was in 1994 declared a UNESCO world heritage site in recognition of its unique biological diversity. The ancient natural rainforest harbors almost half of the world’s surviving population of mountain gorillas. It has over 20 habituated gorilla families within the four sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. So, in any sector you go to, you will be sure to trek more than two gorilla families.