KAMPALA CULTURAL SAFARIS DESTINATIONS – SAFARI NEWS📝

There are several Kampala cultural safaris Destinations, some of which include;

Kasubi Tombs

Kasubi tombs are Situated on a hill within Kampala, Its a burial place for the previous 4 Kabakas of Buganda. It’s about 30ha That stretch around the Hill. The Kasubi tombs hill can be categorized into three main areas; The main Tomb area located at the western end of the site, an area located behind the main tombs containing a number of buildings and graveyards and large areas on the eastern side of the site used primarily for agricultural purposes.

The whole area is fenced with woven reeds. The entrance of the site is a beautifully built gate with a house called Bujjabukula. Traditionally, guards were hiding within the house behind a woven reed partition, day and night, in order to control access. This gatehouse was constructed using wooden columns supporting a thatched roof, with walls made of woven reeds. The Bajjabukula leads to a small courtyard which contains the Ndoga- Obukaba, a circular house in which the royal drums are kept.

Location

The Kasubi tombs are situated five kilometers away from Kampala city center on Kasubi hill, the Kampala/ Hoima road. When coming from Kampala center, pass Makerere University and drive down to Nakulabye. At the Nakulabye junction, turn right on the Hoima road, drive 1 km up the Kasubi hill (on your left), and turn left on the Masiro road. The entrance to the Tombs is marked by a thatched hut.

Kasubi Tombs will surprise you with a multitude of Historical features and information that will give you a complete insight of the Buganda Kingdom.

Mengo Palace

In addition to Kasubi tombs, Kampala cultural safaris bring you Mengo palace initially taken as an official Buganda building in governing of the kingdom was built in 1922 and it’s hereditary, Mengo Palace has been the official residence of the four generations of the Kingdom since 1885. It also became the capital of the Kingdom but every King was allowed to choose and build his own palace that had to have a courtroom and the kings house called Twekobe. This palace was later turned into an army barracks after the coup against King Muteesa II. Amin also used it as his prison for his political prisoners.

Location

Its Located on the ring road as you go up from the CBS building via Kabakajagala Road

The Baganda Clans and Totems

A clan in Buganda represents a group of people whose lineage is to a common ancestor and it is central to the Ganda culture. The most important unit in Buganda’s culture is the clan. In the beginning, there were five original clans referred to as Banansangwa. These went on expanding to 52 clans by 1966. The clan in Buganda forms a large extended family. Members belonging to the same clan take each other as brothers and sisters irrespective of how far they are in terms of actual blood ties.

Some of these you will know more about them from Kasubi tombs and Mengo’s Palace.

It is interesting how the clans are not known by the names of the respective clan founders but instead, totems were taken on by the clans. Every clan has a major totem (Omuziro) and a minor totem (akabbiro). The clans are usually known by the main totem and they are listed above by that totem. The royal clan (Abalangira) is a unique exception in that it has no totems.

However, it should be understood that there is a difference between a clan and a totem whereby a clan is a matter of genealogy and it is through the clan that the Baganda trace their ancestry well as a totem is just a symbol to represent the clan. Although the two are intimately associated with one another, they are in fact different. Some of the totems have their sculptures
displayed alongside kabakanjagala road.

Kabaka’s Lake

Next to the ring road is a magnificent water body that spans across Pope Paul Hotel, St. Lawrence University. The Lake was dug on the instructions of Kabaka Mwanga II whose sole idea was to create a safe route from the palace to Munyonyo.

This lake is Uganda’s and probably Africa’s longest Surviving Man Made lake which was dug in 1886.

Its astonishing how this lake has no river tributaries supplying water to it since 1886 but remains in full supply of water all year round regardless of whether it is a rainy or dry season and the water levels are constant. The lake is supplied by underground springs.

Ndere Troupe

Did you ever wonder how all the different tribes in Uganda dance, Ndere is the one-stop center where you can watch performances of most prominent traditional dances of East African tribes?

Try to catch a dinner-theatre performance of the Ndere Troupe at Ndere Centre on Wednesdays and Fridays 7:00 P.m. and family on Sunday at 6 p.m.

The Uganda Museum

This is the biggest Museum in Uganda Today, it started in 1905 at Fort Lugard in Old Kampala hill, it later moved to Makerere University at college of industrial and Fine arts. Later to Kitante Hill where it stands today.

The museum Has different sections; To begin with Cultural dances, at the museum you will see ancient traditional musical instruments in this corner.

Secondly, the archaeology part where you will see tools that were used about 100,000 years ago. And many other sections.

In conclusion, Kampala Cultural safaris gives an interesting short safari experience covering most of the traditional safaris In Uganda.

Below are some of our packages to Murchison Falls National Park to take on a Uganda safari tour;

3 Days Murchison Falls Wildlife Safari tours, 6 Days Safari in Murchison Falls, Kibale, and Bwindi, 6 Days Safari in Murchison Falls, Kibale, and Bwindi, 6 Days Chimpanzee safari tours & Wildlife Tour, 10 DAYS JINJA – SIPI- KIDEPO-MURCHISON SAFARI, 9 DAYS HOT SPRINGS SAFARI AND WILDLIFE SAFARI, 7 DAYS IN MURCHISON FALLS, KIBALE, AND BWINDI , 13 DAYS JINJA – QUEEN ELIZABETH AND BWINDI SAFARI , 6 Days Safari in Murchison Falls, Kibale and Bwindi, 7 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari in uganda, 17 Days Kidepo-All Uganda Safari, 10 Days Best of Uganda Safari Tour,