Uganda is not only known for the phenomenal wildlife species such as the Mountain gorillas, Chimpanzees and the Big five animals in addition to the spectacular landscapes, it is also popular for breathtaking Cultures and traditional exhibited through the Cultural Centers. The Igongo Museum is one of the attractions that you should not miss while in a safari in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.
Situated at about 12 kilometers from Mbarara Town on the way to Kampala City, Igongo Cultural Center is a perfect lunch stopover for tourists traveling to or from Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga, Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National parks for a safari in Uganda. It is sprawled on the grounds of the former Palace of Ankole King and offers tourists with an insight to the cultural traditions and artifacts of the people of Western and South-western Uganda. This site is where you will relish mouth-watering food, verdant environment, visit a cultural Museum to learn more about the traditions, cultures and history of the people of Ankole.
This Cultural Center is popular for its Erijukiro (Museum) that displays cultures, artifacts and history from all the tribes of western and South-western Uganda. Some of the Royal regalia and Artifacts from the Kingship (locally known as Obugabe) of Ankole Kingdom are well displayed and represented, the cultural dressing of the Ankole people, the traditional cuisines and the traditional long horned cattle and well showcased at the Igongo Cultural Center. For an intimate cultural encounter with the people of western Uganda, this cultural site is your perfect destination.
Besides the Erijukiro or cultural Museum, Igongo Cultural Center has a beautiful Kahwa Kanuzire Restaurant that serves mouth-watering traditional cuisines such as matooke, millet bread, local drinks (Bushera) made from Millet and Sorghum and ghee served in typically traditional equipments so as tourists on Uganda safaris can experience a taste of an African tradition. This traditional restaurant is a perfect lunch stop for tourists travelling to National parks in western and south western Uganda such as Bwindi, mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. Some of the finger-licking foods to taste include a local steak-from the low fat and cholesterol meat of the long-horned cattle as well as barbeque. The fact that the meat is cholesterol and fat free, it is a healthier source of proteins despite the meat being tougher than what you have tasted back home.
Not only that, the Center features an accommodation facility known as Igongo Country Hotel that offers overnight stay to tourists on safaris in Uganda. This Hotel is a perfect accommodation facility located a far distance from the noisy Mbarara Town hence a perfect getaway for a secluded vacation yet a stopover when heading to a number of destinations such as Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Other accommodation facilities near the Igongo Cultural Center include Agip Motel, Lake View Resort and Rwizi Arch Hotel.
The lush Mbuuro gardens of this Cultural Center are good for several functions especially parties. The spectacular sculpture of Mayenje g’ Ishinjo, a traditional historical cow that started the war between Ankole and Buhweju Kingdoms, the monument of Ishe Katabazi, a popular man who used a lot of survival tactics in a comic way as well as the verdant gardens that offer a typical taste of African green landscape.
There is also the Eitaramiro Cultural Village that displays the evolution of typically traditional Kinyankore and Kigezi households. Some of the items exhibited include hides and skins, grinding stones for millet and sorghum, a fire place for cooking, Calabashes, farming tools, milk gourds and hunting tools.
The combination of these interesting attractions make Igongo Cultural Center worth exploring on a safari in Uganda. Majority of the employees working at Igongo Cultural Center are from the local communities in the region, hence the Center is a source of employment of the local as well as being a market for the local farmers of the area. You will therefore be sure that every single coin you spend at the Cultural Center goes to community development.