Activities

Nearby Attractions and Things to Do While Staying at Rays Hotel Mbarara, Uganda

There are as many activities/safaris ideas as there are reasons to visit Uganda as a destination for an African safari - There are so many ways and so many different places to explore the beautiful faces of Uganda.

Responsible Tourism Company travel consultants does propose packages but to be sure that your trip fits with your expectation.

Tell us your desire and Rays Hotel Mbarara in Mbarara will guide you depending the longer of your stay, your budget, the places you want to visit, the kind of activities you want to do, the kind of traveler your are

Adventure & Excursions – Guided tours to nearby attractions, including Lake Mburo National Park and Igongo Cultural Centre

Below are the top 10 best day tours and activities guests visiting Mbarara town can enjoy when they book their accommodation with Rays Hotel Mbarara.

For the more adventurous bird-watching groups, this stopover is ideal for viewing the Ugandan species. A guest’s satisfaction is our priority.

• Ankole Kingdom Royal Tombs (Abagabe Ba Nkole), Nkokonjeru
• Ankole King’s Palace; Kamukuzi
• Solar Eclipse – Biharwe / Hiking
• King’s Lake (Ekiyanja) – Lake View Resort
• Rwizi River –
• Igongo Cultural Museum –Biharwe 18km
• Banana Plantation
• Ankole Long Cattle
• Coffee Plantations
• Hills; Kaburangire, Mpanga musanju; Sanga; Rwampara Hills
• Forest; Nyamityobla, Kyahi, Mwizi, bugamba forest reserve
• Coca Cola Plant
• Nile Breweries Plnt
• Sanga Cultural Village
• Churches; Ruharo Cathedral, Nyamitanga
• Schools – Ntare School, Mbarara Highschool
• Cattle farms –, cow milking; manual / hands
• Rich traditional Foods – Eshabwe, Kalo, Matooke, Amakamo, Amazujuta (cow ghee)
• Airfield – Nyakisharara
• 200 bird species in mbarara
• Plants – Enkukuru, Oruyenje
• Traditional Cultures; Ankole Weddings, Dressings, Dances (kuhingira)
• Minerals; Sand, Clay, Brick works – Nyeihanga, Kinoni, ngoma,
• Traditional Gold Mining – Buhwezu, Ibanda
• Hotsprings – Kitagata – 60km
• Physical Rock Outcrops – Rwakobo, Ibanda Rd, Mugore – Kazo,
• Man-made valley dams; Kazo, Kiruhira
• National Parks – LMNP; 35km, QENP,
• Game Reserve – Katonga Wildlife,
• Tea Estates – Bushenyi
• Kyeirumba – Explorer Point

Cultural and Tourism Experiences Explore the vibrant culture of Uganda at Igongo Cultural Centre. Visit the Eriijukiro Museum for Ankole artifacts, traditional huts, and the Biharwe Eclipse Monument.

Enjoy guided tours and village walks, and shop at Nkwanzi Crafts for unique souvenirs. Experience authentic Ankole traditions and performances in the Cultural Village. Igongo offers a rich, immersive cultural journey.

Experience Igongo Igongo Cultural Centre offers a unique blend of cultural immersion and modern luxury.

Whether you're exploring the museum, participating in cultural activities, or unwinding at the health club, Igongo promises a memorable and enriching experience.

Eriijukiro Museum:

Delve into Western Uganda’s largest collection of artifacts, crafts, and photos that showcase the traditions and history of South Western Uganda and neighboring kingdoms.

Biharwe Eclipse Monument:

Trek to this historic site, enjoy a cup of tea, and take in the panoramic views that tell a story of resilience and heritage.

Nkwanzi Crafts Shop:

Find unique books on Ankole and Kigezi history and beautiful traditional costumes, perfect as souvenirs to remember your visit.

Mpororo Courts:

Explore artifacts from the late 18th-century Mpororo kingdom, providing insights into the rich history of the region.

Guided Trekking walks Reenact tradition by trekking to the eclipse monument and visiting local attractions around Igongo. Guided tours offer firsthand experience of the regional lifestyle.

Mpororo Court Explore replicated items from the late 18th-century Mpororo kingdom, designed to enrich your historical knowledge and experience

Nkwanzi Crafts Shop Visit the cultural resident shop for books on Ankole and Kigezi history, and buy traditional costumes at Nkwanzi Crafts.

Cultural Village (Itaramiro): Experience the traditional lifestyle of the Ankole people with recreated huts for cattle farmers (Bariisa) and crop farmers (Abahiingi), an amphitheater, and bonfire storytelling sessions. Explore traditional Bariisa and Abahiingi huts, a spacious amphitheater, and a venue for bonfire storytelling

Eclipse Monument Trek to the Biharwe Eclipse Monument, sip tea, and enjoy panoramic views from this historic site.

Bird watching day tours in Mbarara With over 200 species of birds, the Mbarara town area is a must visit birding destination in Uganda. All tours start early in the morning from the hotel and are led by professional birding guide.

The property will try to find a lot of the localized endemics (of which there are many), and we will also see pelican, gray-crested crane – Uganda national bird, saddle billed stork, marabou storks and other landbird and waterbird spectacles, plus we will enjoy fantastic forest farm birding in idyllic surroundings.

Tour the Ankole Kingdom Royal Tombs Ankole Royal Tombs site at Nkonkojeru Kakika is located 4 km from Mbarara Town centre and it contains the tombs of Ankole Kings. This is the resting place for the 25 kings of Ankole Kingdom

Visit the Rwizi River in Rwizi area – a major source of water and a tributary for several water bodies in western Uganda

Tour the breathtaking landscapes, amazing collection of plant and endless rolling green hills of Ankole

Nile Breweries Mbarara plant tour Opened in 2013, the brewery tour on foot or by van offers guests an opportunity to meet the brewers, take a behind scenes tour with numerous tastings, and learn the entire brew process from grain to glass.

Visit the local market To get a flavor of Mbarara town, head to the Mbarara Central Market or Rwebikona. This is where the locals come each morning to search out the freshest vegetables, meats and spices for lunch or dinner.

The local food market in Mbarara offers many food items ready sell such as matooke (green banana), ground nuts – gnuts, honey, fresh dairy milk, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Coca Cola Plant Tour in Mbarara Located on Mbarara-Masaka Road in Makenke in Mbarara City Industrial Area, and adjacent to the Makenke Military Barracks, this is one of the most popular factory tour in Mbarara. The Coca Cola factory in

Mbarara city opened its doors to the public in 1998 for tours and tasting. From school groups and university students to community associations and corporate guests, the Coca-Cola Plant visitors experience welcomes anyone who wants to come and explore, learn and have fun discovering the past, present and future of the world’s number one soft drink and one of the Mbarara’s leading businesses.

The plant is located 5 km from our hotel and tours runs from 1-2 hrs. Prior arrangements with the hotel to the tour the plant must be done on time (approx 5 days in advance)

Visit the Igongo Cultural Centre Located 15 km from the property Mbarara City on the road to Masaka – Kampala, this new cultural village is worth a look. Set on the grounds of a former palace of the royal Ankole king, this quality museum explores the peoples of southwestern Uganda, particularly the Ankole, through artifacts, a cultural village replica and a heap of info.

There’s a great bookstore with an interesting selection of Ugandan reading material. Directly across from the centre is Biharwe Eclipse Monument atop Biharwe Hill.

It was built to commemorate a victory for Ankole kingdom 500 years ago, following an eclipse that saw the invading king retreat in fear (and never return), spooked as day plunged into sudden darkness.

The Igongo Cultural Centre opens daily for visitors from 7.30am-10 pm. For entrance fees, ask our hotel reception desk for details

Visit the local Ankole longhorn cattle and exotic dairy farms during a farm tour and banana (green plantain) plantations. According to scholars, the Ankole -Watusi Longhorn cattle can survive in extremely harsh, dry conditions such as those in sub-Saharan Africa – which is becoming drier and hotter over the past decades. The medium-sized animals, with long, large-diameter horns, attract attention wherever they appear.

These animals are one of the oldest indigenous cattle breeds of Uganda and have often been referred to as “cattle of kings”. In a context where herders are strongly encouraged to keep exotic and hybrid cattle, the innovative life approach led Ugandan herders to revalue the Longhorns for their economic and cultural value.

Their keepers, the Bahima, are an ethnic pastoral group of the Ankole people who reside in an area stretching from the South West to the North East of Uganda. Guests will visit a family owned working farm practicing agricultural and community tourism.

Along the drive from your hotel in Mbarara, the countryside is very green and the traveler will enjoy the rolling hills, dotted villages, roadside open air markets, schools, grazing cows, banana plantations, maize farms, and local people going on with their daily lives.

For overnight guests homestead activities can be arranged such as Traditional cow milking lesson, and Farm chores: fence repair, weeding, herding, tick control, water cows at a local watering well and lots more while daytime visitors can schedule selected activities.

Planning your Mbarara city day trip or two-day loop, please contact us to enquire about the scheduled day trips, or if you would like us to arrange a private guided tour.

Entertainment Mbarara organizes cultural performances to celebrate Uganda heritage. During the festive season and upon guest request (for guests staying at the hotel during other seasons), we arrange evening shows of traditional Uganda song and dance performed by Mbarara famous group consisting of numerous singers, dancer and drummers.

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