Mbarara District: Ankole Heritage and Savannah Landscape

Rwenjeru Community Campsite combines savannah scenery with an activity on foot. It is located on a hill on an 83-hectare site, surrounded by flat plains on the edge of Lake Mburo National Park. Acacia trees dot the plains, where various bird species and a beehive are found. Big game from the neighbouring national park occasionally wanders onto the site. From the campsite, you can see the Kaburangire ridges above Biharwe trading centre. It also offers walking safaris. Visitors interested in open landscapes and getting active will find two distinct points of interest here: the savannah and the walking safaris on offer.

Ankole Culture and Historic Sites

Igongo Cultural Centre in Biharwe trading centre in Mbarara District includes a restaurant, gardens and sculptures. The sculptures symbolise the biological and cultural diversity of the Ankole region. Here, specific design elements meet a theme that brings nature and culture together. The centre offers a different focus from the open plains of Rwenjeru.

Itaaba Cultural Site is considered the heart of the Ankole Kingdom. It covers about one acre on a hill in Kyabanyoro village, Rugando Sub County, and offers a view of Kamukuzi, the former palace of the Omugabe, the king of Ankole. From Itaaba, Kamukuzi is about 50 km away and the Mbarara-Ntungamo road about 40 km away. Its hilltop location, views and cultural context give this site its own focus among the Ankole-related attractions.

In Kamukuzi, Ankole Kingdom Headquarters and Palace includes the former official palace of the Omugabe, the former Lukiiko and the Mbaguta Monument. The Ankole Kingdom Burial Grounds in Nkokonjeru contain the graves of members of the royal family, including Omugabe Sir Charles Gasyonga. The sites have different points of emphasis: Itaaba provides cultural context for the kingdom, Kamukuzi is associated with former official and institutional sites, and Nkokonjeru with the royal graves.

Understanding the Sites and Landscape

Karibeita Shrine is located in Katerananga village, Biharwe Sub County, about 1 km from the Mbarara–Masaka road and to the right of Biharwe trading centre. Rwenjeru Community Campsite is in Kabucebebe village, also in Biharwe Sub County. Measured from Biharwe trading centre, it is about 2.5 km from the Mbarara–Masaka road. These location details help distinguish the reference points for the two destinations. When planning, check which reference point is relevant to your destination.

The location of Lake Mburo National Park is also important for understanding the area: most of the park lies in Kiruhura District, while a small part of its area lies in Biharwe Sub County in Mbarara District. Rwenjeru Community Campsite is on the edge of the park, and big game from the neighbouring park occasionally wanders onto its grounds. The landscape and administrative location show different aspects of the connection between Rwenjeru and the national park.

More Themes in the Western Region

The wider destination of Western Region offers additional, distinct nature-related themes. Semuliki National Park covers more than 220 square kilometres and is described as the only lowland rainforest in East Africa. Sempaya Hot Springs are located in the park: their water bubbles up and displays striking mineral deposits; locally, the springs are known as “the male” and “the female”. Visitors can explore shaded paths in Semuliki National Park; check local trail conditions in advance. The history of this landscape goes back further: Semuliki Forest Reserve was established in 1932 and gained national park status in 1993.

When planning your hotel stay, you can first decide what you want to focus on: Ankole heritage and historic sites, or the savannah landscape and walking safaris in Rwenjeru.

Discover more destinations: Mbarara, Kisoro, Kabarole, Bushenyi, Kasese, Kabale District, Masindi, Kabarole District

Go to the regional travel overview: Western Region.