In Mbarara District, Ankole heritage and landscape take centre stage at several specific places: in Kamukuzi, Nkokonjeru, and at the Itaaba Cultural Site, as well as at the Rwenjeru Community Campsite. When planning your trip, it is worth considering these different connections separately. Historic sites evoke the former Ankole Kingdom; Rwenjeru brings together a hilltop setting, savannah plains, and walking safaris.
Landscape and walking safaris at Rwenjeru
The Rwenjeru Community Campsite is in Kabucebebe village in Biharwe Sub County. It is situated on a hill on an 83-hectare site surrounded by flat plains. The location is on the edge of Lake Mburo National Park; from the campsite, you can look out over the Kaburangire ridges above Biharwe trading centre. The savannah plains are home to various bird species and an apiary. Large game animals occasionally stray there from neighbouring Lake Mburo National Park; acacia groves dot the plains. The campsite offers walking safaris.
For geographical context, it is important to note that Lake Mburo National Park lies mostly in Kiruhura District. A small part of the park lies in Biharwe Sub County in Mbarara District. The park therefore cannot be attributed wholesale to Mbarara District; Rwenjeru’s location on the edge of the park is a distinct point of reference for planning around the landscape.
Ankole culture and historic sites
The Igongo Cultural Centre is in Biharwe trading centre. The centre includes a restaurant, gardens, and sculptures symbolising the biological and cultural diversity of the Ankole region. Gardens and cultural displays are presented side by side here—a different focus from the hilly landscape at Rwenjeru.
The Ankole Kingdom Headquarters and Palace is in Kamukuzi. Its features include the former official palace of the Omugabe, the former Lukiiko, and the Mbaguta Monument. The Ankole Kingdom Burial Grounds are in Nkokonjeru. The grounds contain the graves of members of the royal family, including Omugabe Sir Charles Gasyonga. Both places offer tangible links to the history of the royal family and the kingdom.
The Itaaba Cultural Site is on a hill in Kyabanyoro village, Rugando Sub County. The site covers approximately one acre and offers a view of Kamukuzi, the former palace of the king of Ankole, the Omugabe. The site is regarded as the heart of the Ankole Kingdom. For orientation, it is described as approximately 50 km from Kamukuzi and 40 km from the Mbarara-Ntungamo road.
Location notes for your trip
The respective starting points also help put the road connections into context. From Biharwe trading centre, the Rwenjeru Community Campsite is approximately 2.5 km from the Mbarara–Masaka road. The Karibeita Shrine is in Katerananga village, Biharwe Sub County, about 1 km from this road and to the right of Biharwe trading centre. These places therefore have different locations within the district.
If you would like to combine several interests, first make separate notes of the cultural sites and landscape destinations: Kamukuzi, Nkokonjeru, and Itaaba offer different connections to the Ankole Kingdom; Rwenjeru is associated with savannah plains and walking safaris. You can then search specifically for hotels in Mbarara District and tailor your choices to the places that are most important to your trip.
Discover more destinations: Mbarara, Kasese, Kabarole District, Masindi, Kisoro, Kamwenge, Kabale District, Kasese
For the broader travel overview: Western Region.
