About this space

Kikorongo Rest Camp, formerly known as Elephant Home, is situated in the Kikorongo area of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is noted as an ideal center for a variety of park and community activities, including game drives, birding tours, chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu and Kyambura Gorge, community tours to Busongora pastoral communities, visits to the Rwenzori Mountains communities, the Katwe salt mines, fishing communities, and the Kazinga Channel boat cruise. The camp also coordinates cat tracking including lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The accommodation options provided are designed to be ideal for budget travelers and include four main types, all offering a Bed and Breakfast plan. Budget Accommodation Types and Rates: Double Room: 2 people $50, one person $25. Twin Room: 2 people $50, One person $25 Triple Room: 3 people $75, one person $25 Camping Per person: $10 per night $10 Key Highlights of the Camp's Mission: The camp is community-owned and run, established to empower local people by involving them in tourism. It enriches the visitor experience by allowing guests to stay in the community, meet the people, and learn about the local way of life, demonstrating the community's relationship with wildlife. Here is a breakdown of the activities that can be organized through the camp, categorized for clarity: 🦁 Wildlife and Primate Adventures: The camp's location makes it a perfect base for exploring the diverse ecosystems of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the surrounding areas. • Queen Elizabeth National Park Game Rides: o Day Game Drives: Exploring the savannah plains of the park (like the Kasenyi plains) to view iconic wildlife such as elephants, buffalos, leopards, warthogs, Uganda kobs, and, notably, the Tree-Climbing Lions in the Ishasha sector. o Cat Tracking: The camp specifically mentions this activity, which often involves tracking lions and leopards with a park ranger, offering a more dedicated safari experience. • Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise: A major highlight of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This cruise on the 32km channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward offers close-up views of large concentrations of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and a variety of animals and birds drinking along the shore. • Chimpanzee Tracking: o Kalinzu Forest: This is a popular and excellent location for chimpanzee trekking, and the camp coordinates trips here. o Kyambura Gorge (The Valley of Apes): Also a key area for chimpanzee tracking, located within Queen Elizabeth National Park. 🐦 Birding and Nature Tours: Uganda is a renowned birding destination, and the camp's proximity to diverse habitats supports dedicated birding experiences. • Birding Tours: The various habitats around the camp and the park—including the Kazinga Channel, Lake Kikorongo, and the savannah—are excellent for spotting hundreds of bird species, making it an Important Birding Area (IBA). 🛖 Community and Cultural Experiences: As a community-based enterprise ("Elephant Home"), this is a major focus, providing direct benefits and deep cultural immersion for guests. • Community Tours to Busongora Pastoral Communities: These tours allow guests to interact with and learn about the local people, including the Basongora pastoralists, offering insight into their way of life, traditions, and the challenges of coexisting with wildlife. • Visits to the Salt Mines in Katwe: A tour to the historical Katwe salt pans provides an educational and cultural experience, showing how salt is traditionally mined and processed by the local community from the crater lake. • Visits to Fishing Communities: Engaging with local communities like the ones on the shores of Lake Edward or Lake George to understand their traditional fishing methods and daily life. • Kikorongo Women Community Cultural Experience: This often includes vibrant cultural performances, craft workshops (like basket weaving), and purchasing authentic local handicrafts, directly supporting the women's group. ⛰️ Regional Exploration: The camp serves as a strategic starting point for exploring the wider region of Western Uganda. • Visits to the Rwenzori Mountains Communities: Trips can be coordinated to communities on the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, known as the "Mountains of the Moon," offering cultural experiences or serving as an access point for the mountains themselves. • Visits to other National Parks in the Region: Trips can be organized from here to other Nature destinations in the region such as Kibale National Park, Semuliki National Park, Bwindi National Park, Mgahinga National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. Kikorongo Rest Camp offers a comprehensive package, combining the famous wildlife viewing of Queen Elizabeth National Park with meaningful, income-generating community tourism.