KECOBAT VISITS UGANDA FOR A BENCHMARKING MISSION AND WIDENING PARTNERSHIP

By Taiko Lemayian 

KECOBAT Director Mr. Taiko Lemayian visited Uganda from the 18^th – 26^th October 2015 for a meeting with the Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) in Kampala, Uganda. The main objective of the visit was to participate in a four day training facilitated by Fredskorpset (FK) to orientate Tanzania Association for Cultural Tourism Organizers team to FK and to draw modalities for renewal of an expanded tripartite partnership between community tourism practitioners in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The secondary objective for the Uganda visit was to benchmark Kenya’s Community Based Tourism Businesses/Enterprises with those of Uganda.

UCOTA were represented by Madam Helen Lubowa UCOTA’s Executive Director and Jennifer Magala UCOTA’s Administrator while TACTO was represented by Freddy Masawe (Executive Director) and Edith Shoo (Treasurer). TACTO (http://www.tactotanzania.org) is non-government organization in Tanzania which works to foster good working relationships of cultural groups dealing in cultural tourism or similar activities in Tanzania in order to empower them to transform the lives of their families through the development of sustainable micro-enterprises in the way of cultural tourism products for sale to tourist.

After the FK Training, Taiko had a opportunity of visiting a number of community based tourism initiatives in the western part of Uganda in order to bench mark them with the Kenya’s Community Based Tourism businesses and draw opportunities for sharing skills and experiences. Some of the projects visited were:

Tinka’s Homestay

We set-off from Kampala on 24^th October 2015 in a rather wet morning; we headed to Entebbe to pick Mr. Thore Anton Bredeveien of FK who was joining us for the excursion. Our driver was Isa and Lubega Paul Muwonge of UCOTA was to chaperon us around. We had a long but pleasant ride and had to stop at Mubende Town in Central Region for a breather after having driven roughly for 230KM. Our next stop was Fort Portal town in the Torro Kingdom where we had our late afternoon lunch in a cosy restaurant called Garden Restaurant.

We set off again for Bigodi village that is situated 40 Km away in the highlands of western Uganda. The comfort of tarmac road ended a after a Kilometre from Fort Portal when we branched off to take Kamwenge road. This road was fairly smooth and it took us through lushly green undulating hills and valleys that were covered with tea plantations. Halfway through our ride, we encountered lots of earth works in preparation for the tarmacking of the road. The road become extremely wet and muddy because of the evening showers. Vehicles we sliding and swinging while others were pushes. Young men from the villages around were making briskly business pushing vehicles for a fee. We were lucky to have made it through the bad stretch of the road without many hitches. After doing close to 30 Km, we entered Kibale National Park. There were no gates and we made through the parks smooth road after the sun had set. We encountered a new tarmac a few km before reaching Bigodi village. We were taken straight to Tinka’s homestay where we spend a memorable evening.

Tinka's house is newly built and should be considered comfortable even by western standards. Our rooms were self contained and the beds were comfortable and had mosquito nets. There weren't any running water in the room at that time but that wasn't really a problem. All the traditional delicious food was prepared by Tinka's daughter and well presented besides a traditional kitchen besides the main one story house.

A variety of traditional foodstuffs ware served and we had to sit on traditional schools. The layout of the tables and presentation of the meals under the stars amid African night melodies from the wild crickets and distance frogs was excellent

We had a very interesting story telling and folk dances from the family. Tinka our host unfortunately did not arrive till much later after we had retired to sleep. We has not as fortunate as we were. He way delayed by trucks were stuck in mad that had blocked the way. Tinka was there in the morning though to join us for breakfast.

The Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary

The Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, located in the Magombe wetland and is operated by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED), a registered community based organization (CBO) with over 80 fee-paying members. The Sanctuary office is located at the edge of Bigodi trading center. Most of the proceeds accrued from the wetland is used to support Bigodi Secondary School and numerous related community projects.

The Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary features 8 primate species, including black and white colobus, red colobus, mangabey, red tail, vervet, and L’Hoest. Other wetlands mammals include baboons, sitatunga (an increasingly endangered swamp antelope), bush pigs, civet cats, mongooses, bush bucks and an occasional chimpanzee. The swamp has over 200 species of birds with the great blue turaco, being the favourite bird for visitors. Also frequently seen are varieties of papyrus gonoleks, hornbills, waxbills, weavers, cuckoos, kingfishers, flycatchers, and a host of many, many more. There are plenty of trees, shrubs, ferns etc in the forest to be encountered in the walk. Visitors have to be accompanied by a trained Sanctuary guide to visit the wetland.

After visiting Bigodi Wetland Sanctuaries office and paying the sanctuary fees, we were introduced to our guide who gave us a brief to prepare us on what lays ahead of us. We were provided with gum boots because we were venturing into a swamp.

The walk took close to four hours of an exciting walk. The wetland has a raised board walk in soggy and watery sports with a raised observatory midway that gives you a canopy view of the swamp. We also ventured on the open areas outside the sanctuary boundary in order to sport birds that love the open areas.

We sported over 50 species in the walk and our guide was spot on. He was knew all the birds by their calling and appearance. He educated us on behaviour, character and local tales associated to different species of birds. We were not so lucky with primates. We only saw plenty of red Columbus monkeys that were highly habituated. We also spotted a red tail that was deep in the dense swampy vegetation. I was anxious to spot the blue toraco and was about to lose hope before the graceful birds appeared just before returning to the Bigodi office; call it saving the best for last.

After having had our lunch in Fort Portal, we set off towards Kasese and stopped over in Rubona to visit Rubona Basket Weavers Association (RUBAWA) and Bunyangabu Beekeepers Cooperative. Below is a small profile of these institutions;

Rubona Basket Weavers Association (RUBAWA)

Rubona Basket Weavers Association (RUBAWA) are located 20 km south of Fort Portal along Kasese on the Fort Portal-Kasese road. RUBAWA is made up of a group of 200 women trained and dedicated to weaving basket using naturally dyed raffia to make baskets of all sizes, which are then sold to international markets. The project is wholly owned and run by the local women and the income accrued directly goes to the local household women o meet their basic needs

Being on a tourist route, the group offers training lessons to tourist on basket making and they have a shop that acts as an outlet for their beautiful wares. We had an opportunity to visit the shop and talk to one of the members of the group. Our group were shown the raw raffia and different plants in the shops backyard that were are used to make natural dyes. We purchased a number of beautiful, mats and baskets before crossing over to visit Bunyangabu Beekeepers Cooperative 50 meters away.

Bunyangabu Beekeepers Cooperative

Bunyangabu Beekeepers Cooperative (BBC) is a very successful community organization involved in bee keeping and honey processing. BBC has an apiary that is located about 300 meters from the honey outlet shop which also doubles as a honey processing factory, store and training and demonstration centre. The apiary is well stocked with all types of bee-hives ranging from traditional to modern ones.

BBC shop stocks bottles of pure honey, beeswax candles in a variety of designs, and propolis tinctures in small bottles for sale. BBC runs meetings and workshops for beekeepers from all over East Africa; beekeepers from the community get free trainings that help with their crops and health, and teach them about the multiple benefits of bees. Every workshop is paired with an HIV/AIDS awareness training to curb infection rates among community members.

We had an opportunity to be taken round the processing plant and got a talk on how the cooperative works. We certainly bought lots of bee products to sample them later.

After setting off we set off for about 20 Km before turning off the road near Bkenda Power station and headed to Ruboni Community Camp where we rested for the evening.

Ruboni Community Camp

Ruboni Community Camp is situated on the foothills of Rwenzori at the village of Ruboni. The community camp offers guests nestles on a picturesque slopes of a hill affording  visitors a breathtaking view of the Ruwenzori Mountains from the comfort of their own rooms or at the clubhouse which doubles as a restaurant. The camp has a small water stream/canal that crosses the camp in front of the self contained bandas offering a melodious soothing sound as is flows bye. The establishment cascades up the hill with the clubhouse and cabin houses and hostel on the upper level.

Ruboni Community Camp offers a number of activities that we were able to enjoy on our last day after having has a sumptuous dinner and slept on cosy mosquito net covered beds. These activities include a village walk that affords visitors an opportunity to see and experience Ruboni’s traditional village life and see homestead, craft demonstrations and cultural performances. A hill climb/hike to the top of the adjacent hill that rewards visitors a perfect view of Margarita snow capped peak that is Africa's 3rd highest mountain. Nature walk, a walk in the forest, bird Watching experience to see Rwenzori turacos among other birds or the camp can organise for visitor’s excursions to the Ruwenzori through routes/circuits of their choice. Never miss an opportunity to see the three honed chameleons that are endemic to the area or visit the hot water springs when you visit.

We had an opportunity to visit Ruwenzori Mountain National Park’s gate and had a lecture on the park and its attractions, Community’s black smith, a community story teller, women weavers’ workshop and lastly had an excellent Agrotourism experience by visiting a farm that had a variety of crops and fruit trees. We ate lots of fruits before bidding our guide and the community member’s farewell and leaving for Kampala.

NYERI HOMESTAY TRIP

Date: 18^th-19^th September 2015

Participants

Elijah Kasati – Ministry of tourism trade and east African affairs, Kenya

Ole Taiko Lemayian – Executive Director KECOBAT

Kamalha Kireru Felex – Project officer KECOBAT

Host Participants

Wanjiru francis Karagu – A&MK

Wangombe earnest - A&MK

The trip:

The trip of KECOBAT and ministry team set off from Nairobi with three participants and met with the host team of two from Aberdare & Mt Kenya Region Farm & home-stay Association, at karatina where they started to show us around after a brief introduction. We visited a total of five homestay projects and the office of the Aberdare & Mt Kenya Region Farm & home-stay Association;

No	Name	Contact name	Phone
1	Zadhili Home-stay in Karatina	Gakenia Wanjiru	0737/0733170980
2	Jama Care Centre, a holiday home for the aged	N. Jama	0722785735
3	Waka Complex of Medical Tourism
4	Dancun Villa, Muthua-ini
5	Kinini's, Kigogo-ini
6	A&MK Regional office		0727291806

Zadhili Home-stay in Karatina:

It was a simple home with very happy people who took us around the garden, the farm and the house interpreting everything. The home has two bedrooms available for the visitors, a library and runs a plant selling business. The project is young and has not accommodated any visitor yet. The site is accessible by marrum road of a Tarmac road from Karatina to Nyeri town

The needs of the home are;

·        

•  Profiling the product,
•  Interpretation training
•  Briefing and guiding information to the home owner on homestays,  
•  Content collection for information to upload on the forthcoming website

Jama Care Centre, a holiday home for the aged:

This home sits on a five acre property that has been donated by an elderly man, Mr. N. Jama, to host a proposed home and center for the elderly and other relevant tourism investments. It is currently hosting a catholic brother (Joseph) of the “our lady of the poor” congregation (originating from Philippines) as they work on concretizing their partnership with Aberdare & Mt Kenya Region Farm & home-stay Association and the owner donor of this home, before they can work on the establishment of the home of the elderly and retired people. This home will be replicated in other parts of the country like it has been in other countries including Rome, London, USA and Belgium. In the short run, the home may not appeal for the homestead since their plan is too broad and with no caretakers to operate the homestead. However, it is a good cause and a potential project that doubles for tourism and community development that can be replicated elsewhere.

The needs of the home are;

• Connection to potential sources of support,
• Connection to national media channels for the voice of the elderly to be heard
• Linkage to the ministry of tourism and ministry of finance to help the women brochure a tour van on duty free basis.

Kinini's, Kigogo-ini:

With an extended vegetable garden around the home, we were welcomed by the care taker and he showed us around the farm quite well. The home is covered by an organic farm on every inch of its land with assorted vegetables and tea on the side. Besides, while at this home, we took the best panoramic view of the surrounding villages, town and Mount Kenya on the far end. This home was said to have other side homes that would work as annex in case the clients turned up in bigger numbers. This home is new and has never accommodated any clients yet. At meeting the home owner in town, we realized that he has extensive catering skills of all kinds of foods. With his knowledge of the food nutrient and medicinal values, the home is a potential medical tourism destination. In that case, people can travel there either to learn the nutrients and medical values of the different foods, modern agriculture training or if they have ailments they can go there to take organic foods for treatment.

The needs of the home are;

•          Profiling the product,
•          Interpretation training
•          Briefing and guiding information to the home owner on homestays, 
•          Content collection for information to upload on the forthcoming website
•          Development of a small brochure of the home

Dancun Villa, Muthua-ini:

Though it looked big and of very high value, the home looked quite a abandoned. Covered with so many fruit trees in the compound and the house is furnished inside. This home was said to be available for a homestay. We didn’t have a chance to meet the host but shared a few words with the care taker.

The needs of the home are;

•      Need to meet this home owner to educate them about homestays since the host organization seemed not to know them much.
•          Looking at the house and agreeing on the terms and other requirements of a homestay.

Waka Complex of Medical Tourism:

This doubles as a home and as a clinic. The home has a small farm as a surplus income. This home is also promoted for conferences owing to its spacious conference hall that can hold up to one hundred people. The medical center is already having a partnership with local medical schools in Kenya and USA. The homestay facilities are already being sold to the interns from the US. However, we were not able to meet the owner of the homestay to be able get more practical information regarding the incorporation into the KECOBAT homestay network.

The needs of the home are;

•          The home owner should fill the content collection form from KECOBAT
•          Interpretation training

Tourism potential of the area:

This area is located close to two National parks Mount Kenya and Aberdare. The area is also endowed by the breath taking views at the different locations. The rich social and cultural heritage is also very rich like most parts of Kenya. Besides, the area is served by good tarmac roads and well maintained marrum roads making it easy to access the homes.

Suggestions:

•  We can team up the common needs and do them for all the potential homes together to avoid duplication of resources. Eg a collective brochure, a collective training etc.
• The homes need to fill the content collection form from KECOBAT.
•  The homes need to list the potential tourist attractions around or near their homes.
•  A collective map of the area showing the cluster of homestays will be handy showing the location of home and the GPS coordinates.

Zinduka Festival 2015

Zinduka is a Swahili word which means a re-awakening. In this context it is used as a clarion call for a re-awakening of the consciousness of the East African people regarding their great duty in shaping their destiny within the integration and development processes especially in defining the agenda and priorities in East Africa Festival is a Pan Africanist forum dedicated to re-awakening the consciousness of the people and catalyzing their active engagement with the East African integration. Zinduka focuses on the people's common struggles for socio-economic and political transformation and advancement. It offers the people a unique opportunity to contribute to the East African integration process through art and culture, policy dialogue and movement building. It also offers space to celebrate the vibrant East African diversities as well as share successes and challenges as we pursue intellectual, economic, social and political fulfillment.

Zinduka takes the view that the people have a right to transform their role from that of passive subjects to active citizens and to actively and intelligently shape their priorities and destiny. Zinduka is a space to share and celebrate individual and collective triumphs as much as to share and learn from our challenges and failures in the pursuit for change and development. Herein is a robust space for people's direct participation in the East Africa Community integration process – in and outside the official processes. 

Zinduka provides a unique opportunity to plug into a regional movement of East Africans committed to development, human rights and social justice and provides a massive platform to tap into their creative energies and community networks and expand outreach beyond traditional/existing frontiers. The inter-disciplinary and inter-sectoral, cross-border nature of the Festival provide an incredible opportunity to reach to multiple new audiences.

Zinduka Festival is organized and managed by the Zinduka Organizing Committee (ZOC) that is made up of members from different organizations from the five East African Countries. ZOC executes its work through the following five specialized sub-committees;

1. Programs and Logistics Sub Committee

2. Publicity Sub Committee

3. Credentials Sub Committee

4. Artists Sub committee

5. Resource Mobilization Sub-Committee

2015 Theme

“Integration: People First”

2015 Zinduka Objectives

The following are the core objectives of Zinduka Festival 2015; 

• Provide a platform for people of East Africa to robustly engage with the integration process; participants will specifically engage with the EAC Treaty and the EAC Development Strategy in the context of sustainable development and Pan Africanism. 
• Present a platform for East Africans to interact, appreciate and celebrate the regions rich diversity and unity of purpose through their arts and cultures. In addition to performing artists, the Festival will feature technology and food bazaars 
• Facilitate the people to establish collaborations with other regional organizations in strengthening their advocacy campaigns around the integration process and sustainable development. 
• Strengthen the linkages between theory and practice in policy advocacy, movement building and human rights and democratic governance 
• Develop strategies for advancing effective participation of the people in the integration process at the intersection of development and governance, human rights and social justice; art, culture, technology and policy dialogues. 

Festival activities 

a) 2-day East Africa Academy at Arusha bringing together public intellectuals, activists and artists

b) Daily road shows and community outreach for the 2 weeks preceding the Festival

c) Solidarity speeches at the Stadium

d) Zinduka East African Caravan

e) Solidarity marches in Arusha City

f) Self-organizing Convenings 

g) Performance by artists

h) Cultural events 

i) Football matches and the Zinduka Marathon

j) Cultural and technology exhibitions. 

2015 Convenings

a) Pan-Africanism and EAC Integration.

b) Swahili and Integration Forum.

c) Women's Forum.

d) Resource Governance Forum.

e) Tourism Forum.

f) Social Entrepreneurship Forum.

g) Sports for Development Forum.

h) Constitutionalism in East Africa Forum.

i) Human Rights Defenders Forum.

j) Social Justice Forum.

k) Youth Forum.

l) Movement Building.

m) Trade Forum (and Cross-Border Traders can feed into this).

Participants

The Zinduka Festival 2015 will bring together participants from the five East African countries from different backgrounds and sectors including: academia, activism, civil society, social movements, business, women, youth, farming communities, fisher-folks, techies, the arts, culture and sports. Zinduka is an inclusive space and will therefore be open to people and representatives from all walks of life. However the Zinduka Organizing Committee will sponsor representatives from minority and disadvantaged communities and demographics to ensure that voices from the margins are represented and heard. The Committee will, as in the previous editions, encourage, promote and support effective representation and participation of youth, women and people with disabilities.

Contacts

 Zinduka Festival Organizing Committee

Wing 3C, K Rep Center, Kilimani

Box 27611-00100 Nairobi, Kenya

Mobile, Festival Director: +254726797402

E-mail: zinduka@akibauhaki.org

Tweets: #ZindukaFestival2015

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/zindukafestival

FB: zindukafestivalEA

Web: www.zindukafestival.com

By Irene, Akiba Uhaki Foundation

Kahiga Homestays

Kahiga Homestay is a holiday home that offers affordable accommodation for holiday goers. It is located only two hour’s drive from Nairobi along the Nyeri-Nanyuki highway in Nyeri County within Mt. Kenya Tourism Circuit.

Kahiga Homestay provides a perfect accommodation that is charming fully furnished with four self-contained spacious rooms that can accommodate 8 pax. Boasts of fully central lighting system, a cozy fire place, modern kitchen and 24 hours security.

If you think of organizing a team building or spiritual groups retreat in a private yet easily accessible location, then Kahiga Homestay has something that everyone will enjoy. This holiday home is set within scenic and outstanding views of the country side in an environment that promotes creativity, communication and teamwork among participants by allowing them to relate with one another in ways not possible in an office or noisy setting.

Activities offered within the reach include: game drives, mountain climbing, hiking, fishing, nature and river walks, excursions to historical sites, camping, team building, bird watching, canoeing and water rafting.

Consider having a holiday at this spectacular homestay.

Location:

Off Nyeri- Nanyuki Highway, Nyeri County, Kenya, about 143 kilometers from Nairobi CBD.

Accommodation:

Comprises of four spacious ensuite bedrooms for up to 8 pax A modern, tastefully furnished dining and sitting areas with a cozy fireplace. Kitchen: Spacious, modern and fully equipped.
The host facilitates a caretaker, beddings, towels and other amenities

Contacts: 

Telephone: +254 729 442 678 / +254 733 790 995

Email: kahigahomestay@gmail.com

Postal Address: P.O Box 12573-00100 Nairobi, Kenya

COMMUNITY TOURISM: A MEANS TO POVERTY ERADICATION ...

By Godfrey Habumuremyi

The ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with opportunities to uplift local communities out of poverty is a focal point of tourism initiatives in various communities which needs to be highly considered to benefit and improve on well-being of people.

Reflecting on highlights from tourism stakeholders, an in-depth end aim in boosting tourism and diversifying tourism products in any country is to enhance the livelihood transformation among the communities.

Considering some of stakeholder’s talk on Tourism and Community Development, “it reveals the potential that tourism has to promote new socio-economic opportunities and better livelihoods for communities around the world. 

While highlighting the critical role that community engagement has in advancing sustainable development, each time we travel, use local transport at a destination or buy products from a local market we are contributing to a long value chain that creates jobs, provides livelihoods, empowers local communities, and ultimately brings in new opportunities for a better future. 

Tourism is a people-based economic activity built on social interaction, and as such can only prosper if it engages the local population by contributing to social values such as participation, education and enhanced local governance. 

Empowering individuals and communities around the world at all levels through tourism can be a fundamental step towards these goals”. Message by UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, on World Tourism Day 2014

Among the parameters to credit the development of any country or region is based on the well-being of communities who are the end targets and consumers of all services in any country. 

Taking a case on tourism, community based tourism initiatives are among the developmental blocks to enhance well-being of people with respect that the tourism proceedings or revenue will support community development in different arenas. 

Communities can source directly or indirectly from tourism products by either owning a community tourism project or forge linkages with other stakeholders respectively in the industry. 

Community based tourism can be enhanced by international visitors through strong marketing mechanisms to elevate community tourism products and also local market sourcing.

Gaps emanating from operations of various stakeholders in tourism industry especially the community-wildlife conflicts in most of conservancy areas, revenue sharing or support to communities among others, need to be bridged by harnessing all efforts from local communities, private sector and government. 

This will ensure a participatory intervention aimed at promoting mutual benefits to all stakeholders and enhance sustainable development. 

Such approaches to benefiting the local community will not only ensure a transition where community members are focal point to realize livelihood transformation but also appreciate and participate in implementation and sustaining various government initiatives to empower the citizens. 

The big challenge has been where tourism products and benefits do not reach the end benefiaciaries (communities) and yet all efforts are to ensure a transformed society or community with improved welfare of people. 

This trend has to change where government and other private Organizations need to promote and facilitate community projects for them to remain relevant in community development.

Focusing on Community Tourism Based Organizations and taking a case of Kenya Community Based Tourism Network (KECOBAT) and Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) which have created partnership to implement a sustainable community development using parameters of tourism enterprises among others to empower communities undertaking various tourism products, all possibilities to enhance livelihoods of communities are being employed and there is still need to strengthen and establish more collaborative operations across various levels from grass root communities to regional stakeholders. 

Considering the evolution of county governments in Kenya, its an opportunity for KECOBAT to stimulate partnerships and map out tourism products in specific counties which with harnessed efforts can be developed and marketed to improve on livelihood of communities. 

Its for the benefit of the communities that they are represented at different levels and also the joy of the umbrella body to fulfill its mandate of representing and register tremendous community transformation.

Community development will be achieved through an integrated approach of involving various actors and place community driven approach at forefront in different activities including; needs assessment and mapping of tourism products, decision making and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of community projects across all levels. 

Relevant stakeholders including government and private organizations need to support community enterprises for the real transformation which is sustainable be achieved.

Conclusively, KECOBAT still continues to look forward and work towards empowering communities to mobilize their own capacities, learn from each other, effectively manage their resources and thereby make informed decisions to control activities that affect their lives and their environment. This will ensure community ownership and participate in promoting various tourism products which will be a means to poverty eradication among communities in Kenya.

Karibuni Eco-Cottages…Experience The Rural Side With A Luxury Touch!

Karibuni Eco-Cottages is a Community Based Tourism Initiative run by the Karibuni Women's Development Initiative. It is a 'hotel' and restaurant, which provides accommodation for individuals and groups, and has welcomed many visitors including national and international.

Established in 2009 by Team Kenya, a UK charity based in Newcastle, the community initiative works in partnership with rural communities in Kenya to promote and support sustainable development.

This project also act as a community resource for sustainable development addressing problems such as climate change and lack of food security, and provides a venue for community groups to meet, hold workshops and carry out other activities and training.

Location

Karibuni Eco-Cottages is situated in Ndhiwa, a rural community in the gorgeous Nyanza region of Western Kenya. This community invites you to stay in the traditional, sustainable homes with a well trained and dedicated individuals who will look after you.

Valentines 2015 Package

Want something to do this Valentine’s Day? Karibuni has a special deal for you during the ‘love season’. This includes star gazing, all kinds of food, a trip to Rusinga Island and a boat ride with added extras such as beauty and massages and beading workshops.

A bit of rural luxury and relaxation with cocktails in pineapples! 

Revenue generated are channelled towards empowerment of this community projects including sponsored students’ projects.

The community project is offering a 2 night package for couples/families to relax and spend time together in a tranquil environment.

Visit Karibuni and experience the rural side with a few luxuries!

2 night package Offer

Day 1 - Arrive and have meal. Star gazing with a chart and relaxing before bed.

Day 2 - Trip to Rusinga (transport included) to visit Wayando Eco-Lodge, have a boat ride and lunch. 

Back to Karibuni for relaxing and dinner with treatments from drinks of fresh juice and wine served in fruit cups sold with money being donated to sponsored students fund (300 non alcoholic and 500 alcoholic each with 2 extra refills).

Day 3 - Breakfast and optional beading workshop (800 per person includes table mats). Look for gifts at the shop and have a chance to buy local products such as solar lamps or donate to a student.

Pricing 

Price: Resident Kshs. 5,500 ksh non resident Kshs. 7,000 (includes 2 nights accommodation, all food, trip to Rusinga with lunch and boat ride-does not include workshops, beauty treatments, pineapple cocktails)

Itinerary can be changed to suit a group or individuals needs/taste, please contact through the email below for more details.

Email: booking@karibunicottages.com

Come and relax with a speciality drink and help your local community!

KECOBAT welcomes you to a sustainable community tourism initiative promoting environmental conservation and supporting local community projects in Ndhiwa...