A Culture and Adventure Expedition to Ruboni Tourism Community with Kasese Hikers Club

We were led by Kasese Hikers Club and we were joined by hikers from Mbarara City Hikers Club, Ibanda Trekkers Club, Fort Portal City Walkers and Rubirizi Hikers Club. We visited Ruboni tourism village with a complete immersion into the wonders of Rwenzori Mountains. Our hosts of Kasese Hikers Club led us to Ruboni Tourism Community where we spend two days and two nights of immersion and excursion into the wonders of Rwenzori the heart of Uganda’s Tourism space. The journey began on Friday the first of November and ended on Sunday the third of November 2024.

Our Stay at Snow Heights Lodge

We found a lodge with quality designs that blend with nature, tucked in a natural forest bellow the portal peaks of Rwenzori mountains National park. We were welcomed by the team of the local people who introduced us to a whole range of accommodation options and unique activities. Here we found a pool of hot-spring where we were able to seat morning and evening while gazing at the sky’s on the sides of river Mubuku.

Staying at Snow heights lodge was like staying inside Rwenzori mountains national park. The lodge is of a unique class, tucked in natural forest setting, with rumbling sounds of a large river mixed with forest sounds full time in the background, then Snow heights lodge was really the best choice we made on this trip.

Snow Heights Lodge property touches the park at the Mihunga gate that leads to margarita peak on the central circuit trail, and therefore we were able to experience a forest ecosystem that brings the real feeling of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

On the hot spring we freely got bath in this naturally heated pool besides the cold frozen river Mubuku on its journey from the Rwenzori glaciers. The contract between the two left us with a real feeling of being in the true nature of Rwenzori.

Community treks with Ruboni Community Tourism Center:

Ruboni Tourism Community is located at the beautiful foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, overlooking the high Portal Peaks. Ruboni Community Camp is the pioneer of Community tourism in the Rwenzori Mountains area. The village is near to the gate of the National Park and this makes it a perfect base to explore the surrounding villages and mountains. It is a quiet and natural setting, generously showcasing the beautiful landscape and culture to travelers who choose to visit Rwenzori

We had a good experience trekking in the community of Ruboni. On our third day we hiked up Makongothe hills, south of River Mubuku up to 2400 meters above sea level to a point where we were able to clearly view the Portal Peaks high in the mountains.

On the second day we took an interesting forest trail located in the natural territory neighboring Rwenzori Mountains National Park. Dazzled in a buffer zone that has been created by the community from the same natural forest of the park. In this forest, we found the same wildlife as you can find in the national park. We interacted with different birds species, and we were able to see several of the elusive three horned chameleons.

We were able to interact with locals in their homes and witnessed different livelihoods around the residential village. We saw how the local people live and how their social and cultural life relates to the natural environment.

About Ruboni Tourism Village Expedition

The Ruboni Tourism Village is a rustic territory, nestled in the foothills of Mount Rwenzori in Uganda. It is a hidden gem that offers visitors a unique and authentic African experience. Ruboni Tourism Village expedition is a journey to explore the natural beauty of the region, the rich culture of the local Bakonzo people, and the sustainable tourism initiatives that are helping to support the community.

A visit to Ruboni village will open to you the stunning scenery of Mount Rwenzori, one of Africa’s highest mountain range and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the stay, you’ll hear from locals about the mountain’s significance in their culture and learn about the challenges of living in such a remote and rugged environment.

While in Ruboni Tourism village, we met some of the residents of the Ruboni Tourism Village, who shared their stories and provide insights into the daily life and customs of the Bakonzo people. we learn about their traditional music, dance, and art, and we saw how they have adapted to the changing world while preserving their heritage.

This expedition also highlighted the innovative tourism initiatives that have been developed in the village, including guided tours and hikes to the mountain and cultural immersion experiences. We met some of the local guides such as Apulinali and saw firsthand the impact that tourism has had on the community, including the creation of jobs and the preservation of natural and cultural resources.

In 2021, Ruboni village was selected by United Nations World Tourism Organisation as one of the top 20 villages with the potential to become an outstanding top-tier rural tourism destination.

Promoting tourism in rural areas can be a source of livelihood for rural communities, especially the youth, and women. Tourism ventures can empower households financially and act as a source of employment for those who are not employed.  Local tourism can also enhance efforts of resource conservation for community development and sustainability.

We interacted with members of Ruboni Community Conservation and Development Program which aims to empower the rural community, especially the youth, and encourage them to get involved in tourism as a source of income, a conduit for community development and natural resource conservation. You will learn lessons that can be applied in your home community.

 Location of the Ruboni Tourism Village

Ruboni village is located in the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains, western Uganda, in Kasese district south of Fort portal tourism City. The location is at the trail head to the Nyakalengijo central circuit gate of Rwenzori Mountains National Park. Being a nature based located in the natural jungle, the village gives all guests an opportunity to live close to nature during their visit. The following details give more information about the geographical location of the village;

• An Altitude of 1646m
• 380 km from Kampala,
• 26km from Kasese town,
• And 81km from Fort portal

Activities you can’t miss while in Ruboni Tourism Village

Ruboni community offers the best options for accommodation, on this particular trip we will do wild camping at Snow Heights Lodge and Camping site. Ruboni Village offers village tours and cultural experiences in the Rwenzori foothills.  The village offers trekking trips into Rwenzori Mountains national park. Other activities include;

• Village cultural walks
• Forest trail walks
• Hill climbing treks
• Waterfalls hikes
• Hot springs Hikes
• And the Rwenzori central circuit trek of 7 days
• The village also offers complete emersion in local home stays and host famillies

Besides the tours and treks, the village also organizes cultural performances to showcase the traditional life of the Bakonzo people living in these beautiful foothills of Rwenzori. These include;

• Traditional dance performance
• Drumming lessons
• And campfire Cultural evenings

Accommodation while on Ruboni Tourism Village Expedition

While in Ruboni Tourism Village we stayed at Snow Heights Lodge and Campsite. Snow Heights offers a range of accommodation categories. Our most preferred accommodation type on this group expedition was wild camping where a tent and sleeping bag was provided. Other participants prefered to sleep in Self-contained bandas and cottages. With these options, Snow Heights was generous to charge moderate rates for each of the choices. All accommodation options had wonderful views of the mountains.

The surroundings of Snow Heights Lodge

Snow Heights Lodge is located in a rich and colorful forest habitat parched on the hillside, overlooking the peaks of Rwenzori Mountains. The lodge is located in an indigenous montane forest include of about 3000 meters above sea level where the tree size is moderate and the forest canopy seems to be broken. Plant species include the yellow wood tree, podocarpus, melan jianus, symphonia globulifera with red flowers, vernonia, adolfi-friderici, begonia and balasma, wild bananas, elephant grass and a variety of other indigenous trees and plants. The place is liked by a variety of wild animals such as birds, chameleons, squirrels, monkeys and a variety of insects. All these will be on common site during your stay.

Why is Ruboni Recognized as a Tourism Village?

Ruboni tourism village is a collective social initiative that works towards enhancing tourism benefits to the social environmental and economic needs of Ruboni community in the Rwenzori foothills. With the vision of making tourism a positive force for transformation, rural development, and community well-being, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) launched this village as the “Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative” in 2021.

The UNWTO initiative recognizes those villages committing to making tourism a strong driver of their development and wellbeing, and seek to advance the role of tourism in valuing and safeguarding rural villages along with their associated landscapes, knowledge systems, biological and cultural diversity, local values, and activities (agriculture, forestry, livestock, and/ or fisheries, including their gastronomy.

Located in the Rwenzori foothills, Ruboni village was selected and recognized by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as one of the global top 20 villages with the potential to become an outstanding top-tier rural tourism destination. Ruboni is the only tourism village that met this score in Uganda in 2021 at the initial selection.

Based on this, the residents of Ruboni village are working very hard, aiming to Position the local communities to reap from the available tourism opportunities. The village has over 10 Hotels and accommodations including Snow heights where we will stay for this expedition, home stays and campsites offering a range of hospitality services, cultural experiences, and tours.

Why we chose Kasese Hikers Club for this Expedition?

Kasese Hikers Club is a local tourism group that wasborn out of the initiative of some enthusiastic and patriotic young travellers in the region with a particular passion for the development of the Uganda’s greatest tourism region of Rwenzori. United in the ideal of promoting local, national and regional tourism, the group was created to share knowledge and passion for Tourism, Fitness and Fun with the natives of the region and visitors from the rest of the world.

Through Kasese Hikers Club, business professionals and service professionals come together for the purpose of fellowship under tourism and adventure. By fellowship we mean the bonds of friendship arising through the mutual participation of members in the tourism and adventure activities.

Kasese Hikers Club has a set of values that bind all members which include; Self-satisfaction, fun, adventure, personal growth and Service. These are the ingredients that make up the winning formula for Kasese Hikers Club.

Members of Kasese Hikers Club share in common Key Principles which include:

1. Collaborating and focusing on unity
2. Introducing and welcoming new members
3. Finding the best fit between tourism, fitness and fun
4. Making community nature Destinations come alive,
5. Preserving and protecting natural resources and the regions rich cultural heritage.

On this particular expedition, Kasese Hikers Club was joined by sister clubs in the region such as Fort Portal City Walkers, Ibanda Trekkers Club, Mbarara City Hikers Club and Rubirizi Hikers Club among others. This made a highly satisfying journey for all participants.

Big congratulations to Kasese Hikers Club and visiting members from Western Uganda’s Hikers Clubs! Our 3-day adventure to Ruboni Tourism Village was an astounding success!

Camping at Snow Heights Hotel, exploring Rwenzori Mountains’ foothills, and conquering Portal Peaks’ viewpoint showcased our teamwork and determination.

Experiencing and appreciating Bakonzo Cultural group’s entertainment and relaxing at the hot springs added a wonderful touch. Rock climbing and team-building activities strengthened bonds and created lifelong memories.

Kasese Hikers Club, your hospitality and organization were top-notch! Visitors who came from Kampala, Mbarara, Ibanda, Rubirizi and Fort Portal, thank you for embracing the beauty of Western Uganda.

Special gratitude to:

Ruboni Community Tourism Center for expert guidance throughout the expedition. Apulinali and other guides, your knowledge and support were invaluable. Felix, your leadership made the difference!

Snow Heights Hotel management, thank you for exceptional accommodation, delicious food, and efficient laundry services. You made our stay comfortable and enjoyable! Mr James, I will ever salute you, your patience and understanding made a huge impact in our world point of view.

Congratulation from all of us at Kitara Foundation for Regional Tourism. Keep Africa Green, Keep it Black. Nature Conservation and Ctural Preservation are the mainstay of our journey.

Let us keep exploring together, let us keep discovering together, and keep inspiring many Ugandans into Tourism and Adventure!