Tom’s Homestay
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Tom’s Homestay is a community overnight visit hosted by the family of Tom Karemire on Lake Bunyonyi’s Habukomi Island and organised by Edirisa, a social enterprise based on the shore of the lake. It is a full-blown cultural tour into the traditional life of the Bakiga. It has to be booked in advance, as it includes much more than sleeping on a remote island.
Tom was born in 1945. He didn’t have enough money to continue past his primary schooling so he worked as a guard and watchman all his working life until he offered to show Lake Bunyonyi to the visitors using his lifelong experience of this area. Tom is iconic. He is smart, witty and, as we say in Uganda, very stubborn. He can be a reluctant talker, but once you begin chatting with him, he will open up and there is so much to learn. Visit him at his homestay and make a deep connection – our guide will help you engage Tom, just come prepared with all your questions.
Habukomi Island is rapidly becoming two islands – the raising level of the lake is making its thin bottleneck centre increasingly marshy. There are 18 houses on the island these days. For reasons unknown, Habukomi is the island of pelicans. That doesn’t mean that the pelicans are extremely many, all pelicans of Lake Bunyonyi simply seem to reside on the island.
Activities and experiences:
- The full-board homestay experience entails;
- professional guidance,
- a dugout ride to the island and back,
- a tour of the island by Tom,
- camping near his house in spacious tents with all the gear provided,
- a great local dinner enriched by crayfish,
- a performance of an enanga (traditional string instrument) player and the island dance troupe,
- stories near the campfire,
- Breakfast with local honey, bananas and chapatis.
In case camping isn’t your cup of tea, we can easily organize a night boat ride back to your lodge.
Highlights
- Listening as you share the local stories with Tom on the tour, canoe and while at home
- Join the dances to participate in the energetic dance of the Bakiga people
- Living like a local in the life of this island family to learn what they go through every day of their life.
- The breath taking scenery and views over Lake Bunyonyi is probably the best you can find in Uganda.
Responsible Travel
- The visit provides market for the local foods and other products
- Promotion of culture through dances, storytelling and music
- Provides the much needed income to support tom’s family basic needs
- Generation of alternative income from tourism helps deter the locals from extracting the natural resources.
How to get there:
It is about 7km from Kabale town to Bunyonyi. On the main road to Kisoro take 0.5km outside Kabale town. You will then branch left at the lake Bunyonyi signs to drive 4km to the hill where you can take the views of the lake. From here you slope for 3km to the lake. Here you will take a canoe to Habukomi Island where Tom’s homestay is located. You can either use a Bodaboda or private car to the lake.
Contact us to book:
Tel: +256 75 2558 222
Email: home@edirisa.org
Website: www.edirisa.org/homestay
Or contact UCOTA at;
Tel: +256 772657700
Email: info@pearlsofuganda.org
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