News....news....news....
October 2011 - struggling for Christmas present ideas? Why not sponsor a child? Contact us if you’d like a gift card to acknowledge your sponsor-ship.
October 2011 - we wish Tim Stock all the best for his stay in Ruboni - our eyes and ears on the ground for the next few months. If you would like to volunteer in Ruboni, please contact us.
June 2011 - we were delighted to receive a large anonymous donation. We have decided to expand the CSP to 40 children from January 2012 and to increase our sponsorship per child to meet recent inflation. We will support requests for short further education courses that are likely to lead to jobs.
May 2011 - a huge thanks to all those who generously sponsored our walk along the South Downs Way (from Eastbourne to Ditchling Beacon, 29.5 miles in one day). Any further donations can still be made at www.justgiving.com/sarahlouis eemma
Ruboni Community Camp
Ruboni Community Camp is situated at the gateway to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The location makes the camp an ideal destination for mountaineers who are preparing for their ascent into the Rwenzoris, or a base from which to appreciate the stunning views of the mountains and relax. Please book accommodation at Ruboni Community Camp through UCOTA (ucota@africaonline.co.ug) or through the camp website www.rubonicamp.com.
Accommodation
Camping...................3,000/pppn
Safari tent...............15,000/pppn
Banda....................25,000/pppn
Bandas contain 1 bedroom sleeping up to 4 people and a bathroom (photo below).
Exchange rate as of May 2011 approximately 3,900/ = £1
Getting to Ruboni
On the Kasese-Fort Portal road, 9km north of Kasese and 4km south of the Hima Cement Factory, take the turning at the Nkenda electricity sub-station and follow the road, through Bugoye, Ibanda and Nyakalengija for approximately 12km. Note that the road is not well formed beyond Nyakalengija, but please do persevere! The camp is on the left hand side of the road, approximately 1.5km beyond the remnants of the hydro-electric sluices at the top of the Nyakalengija trading centre, and a couple of hundred metres before the entrance to the national park.
If arriving by public transport, Nkenda is easily reached by matatu (shared taxi) from either Fort Portal or Kasese). Beyond Nkenda, you can take a motorbike taxi (or take a matatu from Kasese going to “Ibanda/Bugoye” and then a motorbike taxi from Ibanda). If you’d prefer a car all the way, it’s best to hire a private taxi in Kasese.
How does the community benefit?
Ruboni Community Camp is a member of the Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) and creates a source of employment and income for the local people. The development also raises community awareness of conservation issues and how to sustain natural resources effectively. All profits are reinvested in local community development projects.
Facilities at Ruboni Community Camp
- Restaurant
- Village tour
- Hill climbing hike
- Forest hike
- Traditional dancing
Nyakalengija is also known as Ruboni, and this is the area where the child sponsorship project’s efforts are concentrated, and also where Rwenzori Mountaineering Services have their base. Just before reaching the trading centre at Nyakalengija, there is a small craft shop which you are welcome to visit. The craft shop is run by Ruboni Community Conservation and Development Programme (which manages the child sponsorship project in Ruboni) and all sales benefit local women.
All treks inside the Rwenzori Mountains national park are conducted by Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS) and the national park (RMNP). The Rwenzori Mountains are the highest block mountains in Africa and were gazetted as a national park in 1991 and became a world heritage site in 1995.
