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In 2022, some camps are organising camp experiences for you to participate in. We are hopeful that they will be able to go ahead. Camps will follow the local conditions closely, and may have to cancel activities if the local COVID-19 situation forces them to do so. If you have already signed up for a camp-activity you will be informed when this happens. We will update the website also, when such decisions are taken. Please check your own local authority travel advisory to see if you can travel to or return from the camp after the activity. At all times, when at camps, please observe it’s COVID-19 policy (such as wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands, etc).
Human Nature Projects Camp Uganda is working to meet the challenges facing the forest ecosystem in the Bunyoro Sub region, Kakumiro District of Uganda by working with the local communities on sustainable ecosystem management, climate change adaptation, habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation, livelihoods, emergence and effectiveness of a green economy, among others.
The camp covers an area of 540 hectares of forest reserve that has been given attention by government authorities in the past but – until the start of our efforts in 2021 – there were no visible signs of rehabilitation having taken place.
The area has moderate tropical savanna climate that is good for settlement, agriculture, wildlife and other nature to thrive. The region has two major rainfall seasons a year, from March to June and then August to December.
The area is under severe threat of encroachment by the community, wildlife migration, continued deforestation, increasing population, unguided agricultural farming activities and illegal wildlife hunting.
Ongoing activities aimed at restoring the local ecosystem include baseline surveys, education and training, tree planting, seed collection, identifying community leaders for the projects, local relationship building including with local leaders, government administrations, religious leaders, women and youth leaders.
Achievements to date
To date the camp has restored over 10 hectares in community land around the forest reserve (camp site area).
They now have around 80,000 trees planted including fruit trees like jack fruits, avocado, papow, guavas, grafted mangoes and other citrus fruits, cash crop trees like cashew nuts, coffee, indigenous trees that are best agroforestry making system like mvule, makamia, giant melia, volkensii, taminalia, mizopsis, prunus africana, griveria robasta and cariandria.
Who is needed
Researchers, photographers, skilled workers, donors, fundraisers, trainers, students from 12 years and above, elders looking to experience eco educational holiday in a unique and beautiful environment.
What to expect at the camp
The camp is located in the heart of Uganda’s tourist zone and offers beautiful scenery as well as sightings of various species of monkeys, chimpanzees and birds.. Campers can look forward to the warm hospitality of the community, especially the women and children who enjoy interacting with visitors all the time and are eager to learn new things. The welcome and closing ceremonies with meal sharing are popular, as are the camp fire nights, dancing, singing, riddles and traditional poems and story telling. Try the local wine bananas and sugarcane, produced by locals as an income generator!
Included on the camp programme is learning about local farming methods to keep the soil fertile and water retention high in the camp zone; the regenerative food production system with SMART agricultural practices; the local food basket systems that keeps the community from being affected by famine and other related disasters, local food preservatives and local food preparations with enticing aromas.
Security and peace in this area and local community makes it attractive for many people to come and experience Camp Human Nature.
Opportunities for Campers
Learning traditional skills of detecting animal habits, their stay zones and how to capture them, this is typically from the reformed hunters.
Learning traditional methods of harvesting honey from wild bees in anti hills, caves, tree holes and on the bark of trees.
Discovering different tree species in the forest and the best agroforestry trees that do well in the zone of operation, along with the local planting methods, management methods and understanding their importance for the restoration of the entire ecosystem.
Biking around the area of restoration in the community to mobilize and raise awareness of the restoration activities.
Seeing local food types, local water sources that the community use for domestic purposes, local shops in small upcoming trading centers with affordable commodities including bottled purified water, bread, sugar, salt, matchbox, utensils, and domestic materials for everyday life.
Training and education of the local people through mass gatherings, attending to school children at schools, local leaders training and interacting with local government administration.
Vision and Socio Economic Context
The camp’s vision is a world where flora and fauna are treasured and nurtured for their beauty, the life they support and the resources they provide.
Their mission is to empower rural and indigenous people to restore and protect tropical ecosystems in Kakumiro District within Western Uganda.
They believe that the preservation of biological diversity, ecosystems, and natural places is critically important to the survival of us all—people, plants, and animals alike. In addition to the intrinsic value of nature and wildlife, biological diversity and healthy ecosystems provide humankind with many of the things that sustain our lives, including clean air and water, fertile soil, a stable climate, food, medicines, materials and technologies, and a diversity of genes and species—not to mention recreational opportunities and natural beauty.
Cost to stay at Camp Human Nature
$30 USD per night includes accommodation. On average you’ll spend from $8 to $20 per person, including additional water that you’ll need to purchase for drinking and cooking.
Established camp
Upcoming camp dates
21 – 29 June 2022
9 – 30 July 2022
Organising partners
Kayirabwa Chimpanzee Conservancy Association
Trees for the Future
Uganda National Forestry Authority
Youth Empowerment Initiatives Uganda
Trees for Humanity Uganda
Local community
Facilities
Camping (basic) – bring your own tent Bungalows/Cabins Sanitation (basic + advanced) Cellphone/Mobile signal Kitchen (basic, plant based)
Children’s play facilities (basic)
Learning centre
Games and sports playground for football, netball etc
Solar lights and solar system in place for other electronic appliances
Restoration Activities
Water retention
Tree planting
Composting
Soil restoration
Food planting
Community building
Erosion prevention
Natural building
Fire prevention
Cover cropping
Habitat creation
Agroforestry Regenerative entrepreneurialism Restoration livelihoods Restoration holidays
Capacity building, education and training
Seed collection
Nursery operations and management
Other opportunities for campers
Family holiday options
Yoga classes in a unique forest setting
Camp contact form
Complete the form below if you would like to join the team at Camp Human Nature
READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
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What you must do to ensure your own safety at an Ecosystem Restoration Camp
Your safety is very important to us. Most camps are in locations that are completely safe for you to travel to. Some camps are in locations where there is civil unrest, higher levels of crime, or in areas where there could be severe nature events (earthquakes, tornados, vulcanic eruptions). We strongly advise you to check with your national authority’s travel advisory service to see if there are specific travel advisories for the region you are travelling to. We strongly advise you to comply with that travel advisory. If there is a negative travel advisory for the area you plan to go to, we want to impress on you that it is your decision to not heed the warnings and go. ERC can then not be liable in that situation if something happens to you.
Work at camps is usually safe. The camp coordinators make your safety their highest priority too. But you will be working with tools and sometimes even (heavy) machinery. Sometimes the terrain can be slightly treacherous. Heat or cold can become a problem for people at work that do not take the necessary measures to prevent injury from weather conditions. Especially in remote locations, all people at an Ecosystem Restoration Camp will need to watch out for eachother’s safety. For this reason we ask you to also sign our Code of Conduct, through which you commit to contributing to a safe environment at camps for all that are there with you. Take yours and all other camper’s safety seriously! Together, while watching over eachother, we can restore our ecosystems safely and successfully.