The second-year students of BTTM conducted a field Tour to the western Uganda with an aim of relating tourism related class work to the real world and field work. The students tour took four days from November 17 – 20th, 2023. The students visited different areas. The tour helped students understand further the principles surrounding Tour guiding in the field and based at different perspectives while interacting with different site guides, cultural and community guides, wildlife guides among others. This was also aimed at teaching them the dynamics of organisaing and excuting itineraries from there own experiences. A total of 30 students attended the study Tour.
The students visited the following sites;
Tanda Pits & Entanda Community Cultural adventure, Semilik National Park & Amabeere Caves, Kyeganywa Hike, Kigere Site, Rwenzori Mountains National Park Hike.
While at Tanda Pits & Entanda Community Cultural Adventure, they visited the Walumbe Tanda Pits along Mityana-Fort Portal road. This site is just about 50 minutes to 1-hour drive from Kampala city centre. It is home for a one Walumbe, son of god who followed the sister on earth called Nambi. Walumbe killed Nambi’s children which sparked a battle between him and the brother Kayikuzi. The site is where Walumbe hid and the holes underground were dug during the hide-and-seek battle between the two brothers. Today Ugandans and other visitors visit the place to perform rituals and for Tourism purposes. Its is believed that the angel of death Walumbe who lives with us all disappeared at a point on the site. The Kabaka of Buganda is never allowed to visit the site because he is feared to die on site. The site helped students gain traditional and cultural guiding techniques but also add new knowledge to themselves for future endeavours.
While at Semiliki National Park, students were welcomed and given an on site briefing and lecture about national park andatibites undertaken as well. The students were taught about tour guiding principles in Forest Parks, the dos and don’ts while having a nature walk, key success factors for one to be a Safari guide and a successful ranger, the formalities and requirements among others.
While at Amabeere caves, students were briefed about the site and handed walking gear (Boots and sticks). The journey through the small forest started sloping down in a rather challenging terrain to Nyakasura Waterfalls. The cold water presented an opportunity for cold mist showers for students who were happy witnessing the site. The students received a lecture at the Amabeere sites (Stalagmites and stalactites). The caves were named after King Bukuku’s daughter named Nyinamwiru, loosely translated “Amabere Ga Nyinamwiru” would be “Breasts of Nyinamwiru”. King Bukuku was one of the ancient Kings of the Batembuzi Dynasty that ruled that time and were believed to be demi-gods by their subjects, often disappearing to the underground at given times.
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