Kikorongo Safari Lodge
Story
Background
We have our origin from the Mountain Rwenzori. It is believed that our grandparents were displaced by colonial governments during the creation of the great Virunga National Park and later displaced during the creation of the Rwenzori National Park. They then moved to the Present day Kassanda in central Uganda. Our fore father, Mr. Erisa Bushomonghu Ziribasanga was an astute hunter but also a great conservationist.
One day, on a hunting expedition, he spotted a Uganda Kob (Engabi). He ducked in a thicket and aimed his spear. On close scrutiny he saw that the kob was in calf, he just scared it away to everyone’s dismay. When asked as to why he had not shot it, He said “It is not allowed, killing a calf would be immoral, what will you hunt the next day, let us look for another chance”.
Over the years, we planted trees all over our small land holding-some of these trees are as old as 80 years, following this precedent, we have planted close to 300 acres of trees at our ancestral home in Mubende. We have used these trees to construct Kikorongo Safari Lodge, Munyanyange Caves Lodge and Tilenga Safari Lodge. For all the three lodges we have logged trees on an estimated 20 acres-which area we will allow to coppice and will never be harvested in the near future.
We have also planted another 30 acres as compensation;these acres will also never be harvested in the foreseeable future. At Kikorongo, we have a built-up area of close to 3 acres out of our land holding of 26 acres. The 23 acres are untouched;left as we found it and in the built-up area we tried as much as we could to build with the terrain instead of heavy cuttings. This increased building costs to more than 40% but we believe it pays when we factor in preservation of nature.
Location
Kikorongo Safari Lodge was specifically set up in the area because of the richness of diversity there. The location combines five great features you will never find in one place: The equator, the Great East African Rift Valley, foothills of mountain Rwenzori and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
In addition, Queen Elizabeth National Park being a biosphere reserve, we wanted to be in close proximity with the community to be able to push ahead our anti-poaching gospel whilst showing how the communities can benefit from conservation.
The rugged nature of the area is an evidence of how violent the creation of the rift valley was; also an attraction. The raised land mass that gives us a view of nearly 50% OF THE PARK, two lakes: Lake Kikorongo where we derive our name and lake George was another consideration. Our business model is to build outside the park, near the park entry gate and where disruption of biodiversity is as low as possible. This was the perfect location for us.
Lodge Design
Kikorongo Safari Lodge was specifically set up in the area because The lodge is divided into two distinct areas: Premium and intimacy. The nine Premium cottages are located at the topmost level of the lodge giving our clients a mini hiking experience while at the lodge. For clients who may be physically challenged;we provide “human helicopter” services and proceeds go directly to the community members who give the service.
This hiking experience is not by accident, we want our guests to live the life of a Mukonzo (one of the major tribes living on the Mountain Rwenzori and surrounding areas) who live their everyday lives through hiking to their homes and going down escarpments to get water and gardening. All our Premium cottages are tented on raised platforms some of which are as high as a three-storied building. The cottages give spectacular views of the park, lake Kikorongo and lake George-on some clearer days we also view Kazinga Channel.
The intimacy area has five cottages with a three in one family cottage. These are slightly lower than the premium and smaller but bigger that an average room in most traditional hotels. In all our cottages we use high class linen, and the interior and exterior are both themed in African traditional architecture with minimalist interior design.
All cottages are named under kikonzo names emphasizing our traditional approach. Bakonzo name by precedent a particular name gives one an indication as to what number one is in the family birth chain. For example, Kambere/Mumbere means the first-born boy with all grandparents still surviving-otherwise the first born can also be Baluku. For the girls it is either Masika or Musoki. The second born girl is Bhira and a boy Bwambale.
