A general view of the Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Inset is the outdoor sitting area of Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
Growing up around River Kyambura and grazing my dad’s goats, it never occurred to me that this would be a tourism hub that everyone in the community would be proud of.
The lodge sits in a formerly abandoned coffee factory. The main restaurant of Kyambura Gorge Lodge is housed in the structure that housed the coffee pulpery; where my dad was a pioneer staff in 1970 and worked until 1985.
When I showed him the pictures of the lodge, he exclaimed; “Eshi Abajungu bakatushereka Obwengye! Fakarimba nibagihinduramu ekintu ky’omuhendo ky’oburambuzi” meaning; “These whites are really skilled! They can turn trash into something precious and touristy”
The former coffee factory main building whose construction started in 1967 and was completed in 1970 has been redesigned to host the main restaurant and lounge, an expansive world class kitchen, the operations office and bar area with exclusive assorted premium drinks and coffee; Omwani. It is a rustic craft with intentionality from locally available materials. The master craftsman has deft hands.
A westerly extension seats majestically to give guests to this lodge an endless view of Queen Elizabeth National Park as the sun goes down beyond Lake Edward.
On right, a giant fig tree stands tall to proclaim its power from the past, affirming little disturbance to mother nature and preservation of the gorge’s tree and animal species.
The former Manager’s house down the seating extension has been turned into the coffee roasting house for Omwani Coffee managed by the local women, as part of the lodge’s way of giving back to the community.
The coffee served is grown and roasted by the women from the community around the lodge. My maternal Aunt, Naume is one of the women. I am so immersed in this community partnership. It is an intentional sustainability act.
It could be the reason and much more that the clients love this lodge.
One of the rooms at Kyambura Gorge Lodge.
Nearly 90 percent of the lodge staff are from the community and trained by Volcanoes, the company behind the lodge. The lodge sits on the ridge of the Eastern side of Kyambura Gorge with seven ensuite challets. Across the gorge, is the hospitality and coffee grading training centre. This gives the lodge indigenous identity and the people have a personal relationship with it.
The community has been part of its building and its curating.
A guide, a former hunter (derogatively mentioned as a poacher), Girivasi Gumisiriza gives us a tour down the valley with the authorisation of the resident Manager. I have known Girivazi since I was a little child.
He takes us down the gorge and there, the Kakumbagaro crossing, where we fetched water, down the bridge that connects Katerera county, still roars powerfully with vengeance. The water levels have risen.
The walkway down to the river is impeccably designed to ensure that you maneuvour the gorge with less effort. A bridge has been purposely built to cross over from one side to the other; Omukyenkobe, a place known for the chimpanzee sanctuary and other species of monkeys such as baboons and lots of butterflies and endemic birds. It is here that the magic of Kyambura Gorge starts. The roar of the river is so enchanting and I get ensconced in it.
The evening quickly set in and so, we did not get to see the baboons jumping about save for a few colobus monkeys that are late to go to the tree tops for a night nap that are still jumping about. The waters hitting the rocks give away a misty feel. Nature truly preserved for generations. I am deeply in love with the place that raised me up. It is a sweet jungle.
The marshes of Omumashaka have been restored and some of the plant and animal species that were long forgotten have been restored. It is now animal and plant galore. I also understand that the lodge through a trust is steadily recovering the land that borders the gorge from the locals. I was assured by, Mr. Filbert Nabimanya, the Resident Lodge Manager that community members have access to the gorge for water, medicines and firewood.
According to Mr. Nathan Kwikiriza, a resident, Kyambura Gorge Lodge has really supported the community through the coffee project that is solely working with women as a means of empowering them. But also, the lodge has provided employment to young people, who are first trained before being taken on.
“The impact of the lodge is immense. They buy most of the foodstuffs from us on top of providing jobs for young people. There has been interest in conservation by the community because they see the benefits which, we never saw in the past” Mr. Kwikiriza said.
The magic of the lodge is in its iconic location; on the border with the park with great sunrises and sunsets and conservation efforts for the endangered chimpanzees and restoration of the Kyambura Gorge. The accommodation spaces are designed to perfection from materials sourced from the community. I couldn’t have enough of the place.
I will have another date to take in this place to fully get immersed in my childhood area.
