Visit the Kibiro Salt Gardens
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Kibiro Salt Gardens is located on the western arm of the East African Rift valley along the shoreline of the famous Lake Albert. To get to Kibiro Salt gardens from Murchison falls National park takes about 2-hours 30minutes (122Km) by vehicle following the scenic bulisa route.
A visit to Kibiro Salt Garden is not something you will see on many itineraries as It is not for every traveller but rather an experience only for the truly adventurous hearts. The hike both up and down into the village can be physically challenging for the less fit.
Salt Minning is the major economic activity for the people living in this area. The proximity to Lake Albert however also allows them to carry out fishing to supplement the salt mining. The mining is mainly done by women while the men prefer to do the fishing.
Almost all trade at Kibiro is still cashless _ they still do barter trade. The Kibiro people trade their salt and fish for foods and things like soda etc.
Kibiro salt garden is also an archaeological site for smoking pipes, beads pottery, and animal remains. Some of the beads found are generally disc beads of freshwater shell, and both ivory and glass beads as well, which are rare to find. Among the notable archaeologists that have visited Kibiro Salt garden is Graham Connah.
THINGS TO SEE & DO AS A TOURIST VISITING KIBIRO SALT GARDENS
Salt mining.
Unlike any other salt mining you might have seen elsewhere, the process of mining at Kibiro is nothing that you have seen before – at least those that have visited say so!
The Process: Water from the hot springs flows over the area’s salty soil, keeping it moist. Miners sprinkle dry earth over this, which draws the salt up from the earth. The soil is then collected and placed in a sieve that is set over a large pot. Water is poured over the soil, and the water carries the salt into the pot. This solution is then boiled to produce salt – don’t tell me that you have seen this before!
Visit the hot springs.
Believed to be a “healing well”, many locals come to seeking healing at the hotsprings. The water at the main point does boil up to 100°c and locals have and continues to use it a cooking place. Your guide on a visit to the hot spring will experiment this for you.
WHAT TO WEAR & BRING ON YOUR VISIT TO KIBIRO
Wear
- Good hiking shoes
- Long-sleeved shirt
- A hat
- A rain jacket.
Bring
- Snacks (including energy bars),
- Drinking water.
- Camera.
- Binoculars.
- Day pack to carry all this stuff.
HOW TO GET TO KIBIRO SALT GARDENS
From Murchison Falls National Park:
Take the Bulisa route exiting the park through the Bugungu gate. Continue with the drive through the Bugungu wildlife reserve take a right turn at Kigorobya (1°37’45.6″N 31°18’51.0″E). After you take the right turn, continue approximately 10Kms and you will have reached Kibiro salt gardens.
- ** Bugungu gate to Kigorobya is approximately 83km.
- **Kigorobya (right turn) to Kibiro is approximately 10Km.
From Kampala:
The drive from Kampala could last about 3-hrs 56mins (230Km) along Kampala – Hoima road. Kibiro from Hoima town is approximately 1-hour drive through about 35km.
WHERE TO STAY WHILE VISITING KIBIRO SALT GARDENS
There is no place to stay in Kibiro. However, the neighbouring Hoima town located 35km (1hr 30mins) away is a perfect place to base as you explore Kibiro. Hoima is a fairly developed town with quite a few decent places to stay that one could choose from. However, our top recommendations of safe places to stay in Hoima include Hoima Cultural lodge and Kontiki Hotel.
Planning Tip:While Kibiro is not difficult to get to, we recommend working with a reputable local tour operator in planning your visit there. The tour operator will professionally advise you on all aspects of your visit and also help recommend hotels and any other things to do around.
Remember you can also contact us for any other recommendations: info@murchisonfalls-nationalpark.com or call: +256773196729
Discover More Things to See & Do in, and around Murchison Falls National Park
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