The Buhoma community walk is a guided village walk of about three hours just outside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s Buhoma gate. Local guides take you to a traditional healer, a family brewing banana beer and gin, small tea and coffee plots, craft workshops and a school. Fees and purchases go to the community, which gives local people a direct reason to support gorilla conservation.
Key takeaways
- About three hours from the Buhoma park gate.
- Healer, brewing, farms, crafts and a school.
- Led by local guides.
- Income for the community beside the park.
Buhoma is the oldest gorilla tourism centre in Bwindi, opened in 1993. The village beside the park gate has grown with tourism, and the community walk was set up so visitors could meet the people who live next to the forest, and so the money from tourism reached them directly.
What you see
- A traditional healer, who explains how plants from the forest edge and farms are used to treat common illnesses.
- Banana beer and gin brewing: ripe bananas are pressed by foot to make juice, fermented with sorghum, and distilled into strong waragi gin. You can taste the results.
- Farms and gardens growing bananas, beans, sweet potatoes, tea and coffee on steep hillsides.
- Craft workshops, where women weave baskets and make jewellery.
- A school or community project, depending on the day.
- Music and dance by local groups.
Why it matters
People living around Bwindi are among the poorest in Uganda, and gorillas sometimes raid their crops. When the community earns money from tourism, protecting the forest makes sense to them. A share of every gorilla permit already goes to communities around the park, and the walk adds direct income for families.
Visiting respectfully
- Ask before photographing people and homes.
- Do not hand out sweets or money; support community projects instead.
- Visit schools only as part of an organised, community-approved programme; avoid orphanage visits.
- Buy crafts at fair prices.
When to go
The walk runs year-round. Afternoons are ideal after a gorilla trek. In the rainy months, paths are muddy.
Good to know
- The walk is easy, mostly on village paths.
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring a rain jacket.
- Carry small Uganda shilling notes for crafts.
- Combine with the Batwa cultural experience.
Who it suits
The walk suits families, first-time visitors and anyone curious about rural Uganda. It is a perfect gentle activity on the day of your gorilla trek.
A day in Buhoma
Trek gorillas in the morning and return for lunch. In the afternoon, join the community walk, then end the day with a drink overlooking the forest as the mist settles. If you have a second day, walk the waterfall trail inside the park for birds and primates. Read Bwindi’s four gorilla sectors compared.
Other community activities
Many lodges in Buhoma support local projects, from craft cooperatives to women’s groups making clothes and baskets. Ask your lodge which projects you can visit, and how to support them after your trip. Cooking classes, coffee tours and village cycling are also offered around Buhoma.
How banana gin is made
The brewing stop is a favourite. Ripe bananas are peeled and squeezed by hand or foot, often in a wooden trough lined with grass, to release the juice. Water and roasted sorghum are added, and the mixture ferments for a few days into a mild banana beer called tonto. Some of it is then distilled over a wood fire in a simple still made from drums and pipes, producing a clear, strong gin known as waragi. Families sell both, and the income pays for school fees and household needs. Tasting is optional, and a small sip goes a long way.
The healer’s garden
The traditional healer explains how plants are prepared as teas, poultices and smoke to treat malaria symptoms, stomach problems, coughs and wounds. Many of the plants also grow inside the park, which is one reason why access to the forest edge matters to local people. Healers often work alongside the local health centre today, referring serious cases to clinics.
Getting there
The walk starts at the community office near the Buhoma park gate, a short walk or drive from most Buhoma lodges. Buhoma is about 1–1.5 hours by road from Kihihi airstrip, which has scheduled flights from Entebbe, and a full day’s drive from Kampala. Your lodge or guide books the walk, usually the day before.
Plan it
Add the walk to our 3-day Uganda gorilla trekking safari or 8-day Uganda family safari. See gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Buhoma community walk?
About three hours.
Is it difficult?
No. It is an easy walk on village paths.
Can I taste banana beer?
Yes, and the local gin, if you wish.
Does the money help the community?
Yes. Fees and purchases go directly to local people and projects.
Can I do it on my trekking day?
Yes, in the afternoon after you return from the gorillas.
Written by our Kampala-based planners and guides, who arrange these trips every season. Prices and rules are checked before every quote.
