Uganda is one of the amazing destinations that you can encounter during a safari. In a safari to Uganda, there are also coffee tours that offer an opportunity to learn more about Uganda’s major cash crop.
The coffee tours take you through encounters with several cultural communities, where you can learn about the traditional practices of coffee handling. Coffee is also among the major exports of Uganda to the world.
Coffee growing in Uganda started way back in the 1900s, where it was grown initially for export only until the locals started drinking it. Currently, coffee has become one of the best and popular beverages among Ugandans and locals.
What are the types of coffee grown in Uganda?
Considering the coffee tours in Uganda, there are different types of coffee grown around the country. The major types of coffee grown in Uganda include Robusta and Arabica coffee.
Arabica coffee is grown at a high altitude, whereas Robusta coffee is grown at a lower altitude. Coffee is grown on a large and small scale.
Where to engage in coffee tours in Uganda?
In Uganda, there are several areas around the country that you can engage in during coffee tours. Some of these destinations include;
Bigodi Community.
This community is nested in western Uganda within the Kibale National Park. The Bigodi community is one of the local communities that you can engage with during the coffee tours in Uganda.
This community is made up of the Batooro and Bikiga, who are coffee cultivators around the community. The common coffee type grown in this area is the Robusta coffee.
During this coffee tour to Bigodi, you can engage in coffee roasting, harvesting, and planting. Usually, travelers who engage in the Bigodi community coffee tours combine it with the chimpanzee trekking or habituation that is carried out within the Kibale National Park.
Sipi and Mbale region
These regions are situated in eastern Uganda in the Mbale and Kapchorwa districts. Coffee is one of the key cash crops grown in these regions.
In these regions, the major coffee type grown is the Arabica coffee, and the cultural communities around this region are the Bagisu and Sebei. Sipi and Mbale regions are situated within the Elgon region.
During the coffee tours in this region, you can engage in activities like Kadodi, the local cultural dance among the Bagisu, Craft making, abseiling, hiking, and many others.
Kigezi region.
Kigezi region is one of the other regions that you can engage in for the coffee tours. This region is made up of districts like Kabale, Kanungu, and Kisoro.
Kigezi region is nested in the south-western part of Uganda. In this region, there are several farms for coffee plantations that are at the commercial and subsistence levels.
The coffee type grown in this region is the Arabica coffee.
Rwenzori region.
This region is located around the ranges of the mountain Rwenzori in western Uganda. Some of these districts include Kasese , Fortportal , Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu , Rubirizi , and Bushenyi.
Communities around this region include Batooro , Bakonzo , Bwamba , Batuku , Banyaruguru , and many others. Both types of coffee are grown around this region.
In a Uganda coffee tour, you can also engage with the cultural communities around the region and learn about the local lifestyle of these people.
What other activities can you engage in on Uganda coffee tours?
On a safari to the coffee tours in Uganda, there are other activities that you can engage in during a Uganda safari, and they include;
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is a primate activity that is carried out in the southwestern parks that include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In these parks, there are several habituated gorilla families.
These habituated gorilla families take about 2 years for the gorillas to get used to the human presence. There are about 21 gorilla habituated families in Uganda available for tracking each day.
To track these gorillas, you are supposed to have booked a gorilla permit. A gorilla permit is a legal document that is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
To acquire a gorilla permit, you are supposed to use a licensed tour operator. In Uganda, there are about 168 gorilla permits available each day.
You are supposed to book in time to ensure availability. The cost of the gorilla permit is 800 USD for foreign non-residents, 700 USD for foreign residents, 500 USD for the rest of the African residents, and 300000UGX for the East African residents.
Game viewing.
Game viewing is a savannah activity that is carried out in the savannah national parks in Uganda. It is done in National Parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park.
Game viewing is done in the gazetted trails of the park that aid in encountering the wildlife. It is done using a 4×4 safari van with a pop-up roof for easy viewing.
The wildlife encountered in the game viewing includes lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, cheetahs, warthogs, and many others. It is done in the sessions of Morning, evening, night, and all-day sessions.