Expanding the image of our Uganda
The realisation that most of the people visiting my country will only see its National Parks and the luxury hotels and resorts where they stay, started generating frustration over time.
I noticed that the only Ugandan they interact with are mainly the tourism professionals, but not the real people in the streets and in the vibrant markets.
My country is more than the National Parks, for sure, and although our parks are beautiful, attractive, unique, and precious for the different forms of life to which they are home, they are only one part of the story.
I dreamt to bring tourists to the real Uganda, the country of the real people, who makes Uganda the rich and culturally diverse land that it is.
Culture is at the very centre of what we do at MGCT because it is in our DNA, and we want to share it with our visitors.
I noticed that the only Ugandan they interact with are mainly the tourism professionals, but not the real people in the streets and in the vibrant markets.
My country is more than the National Parks, for sure, and although our parks are beautiful, attractive, unique, and precious for the different forms of life to which they are home, they are only one part of the story.
I dreamt to bring tourists to the real Uganda, the country of the real people, who makes Uganda the rich and culturally diverse land that it is.
Culture is at the very centre of what we do at MGCT because it is in our DNA, and we want to share it with our visitors.
FROM THE COFFEE TO THE PARKS
My dream has always been to build a company together with local communities, and with the support of USAID, I started with the coffee project, because this is what I knew at the time.
I soon realised, though, that due to its seasonal nature, it couldn’t represent a stable stream of income for the people involved, and the impact generated was limited.
After the visit of the first group of US volunteers for the coffee project, I started complementing the hand-on activity with the visits to the National Parks.
We are blessed with luxuriant nature and people were surprised by the variety of animals you can find here.
So, you won’t see only Gorillas because Uganda is home to many more species.
The rare tree-climbing lions, white rhinos – once extinct but today again populating our forests - hundreds of species of birds, elephants, antelopes, giraffe, crocodile, primates and many more.
My initial dream did not start with the NP but with the people, and, through MGCT I wanted to use coffee to generate additional income for local families and have a positive impact on their lives through the tourism activity. We started small in 2012, with two families. Today we have three families involved and who are directly benefiting from the project. We have also started the project to build a homestay where tourists can be hosted.
Currently we offer a series of alternative leisure activities, all managed by local community members, that look, taste and feel the real Ugandan life.
Beside the Coffee experience in Kisoro, we offer the tea experience in Fort Portal.
In the same region visitors can amuse themselves while learning how to weave papyrus grass baskets.
Biking to the twin lakes of Kayumbu and Chahafi in Kisoro or taking a ride in the lake Mutanda in a traditional canoe while visiting local villages, admiring the volcanos that stands majestic on the background.
That’s why MGCT is more than just Gorilla and Coffee.
Currently we offer a series of alternative leisure activities, all managed by local community members, that look, taste and feel the real Ugandan life.
Beside the Coffee experience in Kisoro, we offer the tea experience in Fort Portal.
In the same region visitors can amuse themselves while learning how to weave papyrus grass baskets.
Biking to the twin lakes of Kayumbu and Chahafi in Kisoro or taking a ride in the lake Mutanda in a traditional canoe while visiting local villages, admiring the volcanos that stands majestic on the background.
That’s why MGCT is more than just Gorilla and Coffee.
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