At Boomu Women’s Group expect to experience a remarkable and incredible African touch and feel. You will experience the real African life with a visit at Murchison Falls National Park, as part of the activities on your Uganda safari.
Boomu Women’s Group was formed in 1999 with the aim of reducing malnutrition and poverty levels. This was in addition to enabling children go to school through incomes received by the members. The Women’s Group has around 40 members from the villages of Kihaguzi and Kigaragara.
During the 90’s, subsistence farmers in villages like Kigaragara and Kihaguzi had remained with little to receive from their produce because the land was dry. So, little was always left for sale. The women started with making crafts, but of late what seemed small has greatly improved into a tourism community project with amazing village guided visits, gardens, a restaurant, and traditionally made budget accommodation facilities.
Activities while at Boomu Women’s Group
The word “Boomu” means “together”, so while here you get a chance to see people work together. It started as a women’s group but there are also men involved. This community shall provide you with one of the best cultural experiences while in Murchison Falls National Park. Because of this, it has attracted very many tourists from Europe and other countries to come and take part in activities carried out in this place. These include seeing how homestays and herbal medicine are made; craft making, cultivation, locally processing and cooking food. There are also cultural performances like music and dances among others. Visiting this group leaves one with an unforgettable experience of an African village culture.
The village still carries authenticity of an African touch whereby there is no running water, no hydroelectricity or solar lighting. Food is got fresh and nutritious right from the garden and then directly prepared on locally made charcoal or wood stoves, and to your plate. Nothing like refrigeration; all foodstuff is so fresh.
Most people in the village eat with their hands, so they wash them before and after eating but tourists are given forks if that is their choice.
Ugandan local meals and dishes are served, but if one is in need of the western food; it can also be prepared, including dishes for vegetarians. Also remember to say, “thanks for cooking”, that is if you are served food in this community. There is nothing as thrilling as taking a cold open-air shower while in this village, though those in need of hot water can get it, supplied in a Jerrycan.
Accommodation and facilities
There are no worries of where to stay especially for those who want an overnight stay, because Boomu Women’s Group owns a budget accommodation facility within. There are African Bandas with fresh ambience because you are encircled with flowers, shrubs, trees, and sweet sounds of birds in the trees. Basically, the accommodation is calm and relaxing.
A tourist that needs to experience an overnight stay in a real African hut, can also enjoy his stay in a hut traditionally made with mud. There is also campfire made evening where you can sit, share and listen to stories from the elders about African customs and history.
If one visits and is to have an overnight stay, there is a great opportunity of participating in all activities and also leave with knowledge about how an authentic African rural lifestyle can be. You can also support the community by buying souvenirs that are made by the members of the group.
Visit Kigaragara village or Boomu today and have yourself a Boomu cultural experience – a true African touch of culture, not read in books or on the internet, but firsthand in the village!