Attractions
Choice areas to visit during the marathon
Karegyeya Rock
The Karegyeya Rock, known locally as Eibare rya Karegyeya, can be found just over a mile outside of Ntungamo in Karegyeya village on the road to the two-street hilltop town of Rukungiri. The legend of the rock encompasses local traditions of the ancient Bachwezi; demi-gods who took on human
appearance but did not die, they simply disappeared into the underworld. They were said to be the original, traditional rulers of the empire of Kitara, a probably mythical kingdom that existed in the 14th and 15th centuries and covered parts of modern-day Uganda (including Ntungamo), Tanzania, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi.
The Bachwezi were in turn believed to be related to the Batembuzi, a dynasty founded by Ruhanga, the creator. The last of the Batembuzi rulers, Isaza, is believed in tradition to have married and had a child with Nyamata, the daughter of the king of the underworld, Nyamiyonga. Nyamiyonga was later to seek vengeance on King Isaza for attempting to deceive him over a pact and lured him into the underworld from where he was never to return to world of men.
https://western-uganda.net/karegyeya_rock.html
Kitagata Hot Springs
The Kitagata hot springs (also known as the Mulago hot springs as there are in fact two adjacent springs) are natural hot springs fed by the River Ngaromwenda that reach a temperature of some 80 degrees centigrade first discovered in 1904. Widely believed to how healing powers the hot springs are visited by many hundreds a day and first gained popularity after being frequented by the king(Omugabe) of the Ankole Kingdom who attested to their healing properties. As such the locals refer to the spring as “Ekyomugabe” ~ the Kings Spring.
Indeed analysis of the water in the hot springs reveal it to contain sodium chloride, potassium chloride, lithium sulphate, calcium sulphate, calcium phosphate and magnesium chloride all of which
are noted for their medicinal purposes. However there is no clinical evidence to support claims that these Ugandan hot springs heal bad acne, cancer and other terminal illnesses and recent research undertaken by “Save for Health ganda” suggested that the springs actually don’t have any healing
powers at all.
That wasn’t enough to convince even nurses from nearby Kitagata hospital who drink the water when contacting diseases from patients.
If you visit these Ugandan hot springs be mindful not to take photographs as there are many nude and semi-nude people there luxuriating in the water and also remember that there is a fascination with “muzungus” and even more so with stripped down ones so you may experience some touching youwould prefer not to especially after night falls when, in general, the clothes come off.
Lake Nyabihogo
Legend has it that centuries ago a wealthy Bahima cattle farmer called Mutuumo who had hundreds of cows and many servants had a calf born to his herd, of multiple colours and he was then warned bythe gods never to eat the cow as it was sacred, even if it died through natural causes.
Mutuumo also had a secret son to one of his female servants, of which more later! Mutuumo took the advice seriously, however when he was later travelling extensively in Rwanda to trade his products, the cow did die and his servants, who were hungry, ignored the pleas of Mutummo’s wife not to eat the cow and feasted on the animal. Mutuumos; secret son, who lived amongst the servant also unwittingly ate the meat, breaking the family oath Mutuumo had made to the gods.
As a punishment, the gods made it rain for twenty-eight days causing floods that turned the family farm and surrounding area into the modern-day Lake Nyabihoko that covers 2.31 sq miles. Whilst Mutuumo survived, his wife daughter and servants did not nor did any of his wealth nor herd. His illegitimate son, however, was spared.
On discovering what had happened, Mutuumo, a broken and impoverished man, approached his old and rich friend Mwamba and took a the job of keeping Mwambas calves to support himself.
https://western-uganda.net/lake_nyabihoko.html
Kisiizi Falls
The spectacular falls at Kisiizi find their source in the lakes in the south of Uganda on the Kyabamba River, before travelling through fertile valleys then falling some sixty feet at Kisiizi causing a spray that captures the hot Ugandan sun creating beautiful rainbows that cascade like fire over rocky pools.
The falls can be found a short walk from the village of Kisiizi, perhaps best known for its hospital and hydroelectric dam project that was completed in 2008 and powers the hospital and other local services. In fact, the dam provides the hospital with the most reliable source of electricity in the whole of Uganda! Kisiizi can be found in the Kigezi highlands about a mile away from Rukingiri and Kabale and close to the Virunga volcanoes.
Sana Gorilla Rafting
SANA Gorilla Rafting is perfectly located for anyone who comes from Bwindi Forest to see the gorillas, going to Queen Elizabeth National Park to see all the animals of Uganda, or the other way around! It is about a 1:20h drive from Ishasha (Queen Elizabeth) and a 1:40h to Buhoma (Buwindi).
It is a tarmacked road all the way to the Kihihi airstrip as well. Driving to the airstrip will cost you about 45 minutes (shown in detail on the map). The route to Ishasha and Bwindi are also shown on the map.
We will welcome the clients in the centre of Rukungiri Town, where they can leave their driver and car. From here, we will arrange the transport to and from the river we do rafting on, unless specifically otherwise requested by our clients.
For more information about the location or the activity, please get in touch.