Leopard Village is one of the communities within Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s possible to visit it on a tour run by Uganda Carnivore Program, which gives an insight into how locals coexist with wildlife. This also introduces you to other cultural activities.
The leopard village is situated near the village of Muhokya. It is a community-owned development initiative that plays the role of promoting wildlife and cultural conservation through eco-tourism activities. The goal of this initiative is to assist in the conservation of the area’s wildlife and support nearby residents.
Through this initiative, residents regain their traditional custodianship of local wildlife and other natural resources. They also gain some economic benefit which helps offset the costs associated with living with carnivore animals, that sometimes prey on their livestock. Not forgetting the herbivores animals such as elephants and buffaloes, which destroy their crops.
Leopard Village Queen Elizabeth also helps in educating tourists about Uganda’s conservation challenges and rich cultural traditions.
A Short Cultural Tour of Leopard Village Queen Elizabeth
At Leopard village Queen Elizabeth, visitors get a brief mental and physical break, before continuing their drive to the park. While here, you will tour replicas of the traditional huts of the Banyabindi, Bakonzo, and Basongora ethnic groups.
There is an opportunity to look at and purchase authentic, locally-made traditional crafts as souvenirs to support sustainable livelihoods. Proceeds from craft sales go primarily to the individual artists, with a small amount reinvested into the further development of ecotourism activities around.
A short entertainment performance by village members and school children from Muhokya, Kahendero, and Hamukungu, can also be arranged. Specific groups include Banyabindi Cultural Drama.
Visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park always complement their visit with a gorilla trekking safari in the nearby Bwindi Forest National Park. They also go for a chimpanzee trekking expedition in Kibale National Park. Others could opt for a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile to Murchison Falls.