During a community walk organized with Hope on the Road (hopeontheroad.org), we visited the orphanage's own small field in Buhoma. They grow beans, potatoes and aubergines here — everything the children need. It's a tiny plot by any standard, but it feeds the house.
Every child has a job
What surprised us was how involved the children were. Everyone had their own task — watering, weeding, carrying tools. The older kids showed the younger ones what to do. They learn responsibility early here, and they take it seriously. You can see it in the way they work: focused, calm, and proud of what they're growing.
Harder than it looks
We helped out for a bit and quickly realized how tough the daily work is. The soil is heavy, the sun is strong, and there are no machines — everything is done by hand. It gives you a completely different perspective on what it takes to put food on the table here.
Social Impact
The orphanage garden is supported by Hope on the Road (hopeontheroad.org), a German non-profit working directly with communities in western Uganda.
Just walk over and say hello
If you're in Buhoma for gorilla trekking, take a morning to walk through the village. Everyone is open and friendly — you don't need a special tour or a guide with a clipboard. Just ask, show interest, and people will invite you in. That's how Buhoma works.
Travel Tip
A community walk in Buhoma takes about two hours and costs very little. We can arrange it as part of any gorilla trekking trip — just let us know when booking.