Discover responsible tourism in Uganda. Enjoy wildlife safaris while supporting autistic children at Kelom Children Centre. Travel with purpose.
At Skymate Tours & Travel, we believe a safari should enhance both nature and communities. That’s why we’ve partnered with Kelom Children Centre, an inspiring organisation caring for autistic children and families with mental health challenges in Uganda.
Through this partnership, every tourist we serve contributes at least USD 1 to Kelom Children Centre. When you choose a Uganda safari with community impact, you help support vital autism services while enjoying a remarkable wildlife experience.
This initiative is at the heart of our commitment to responsible tourism in Uganda, travel that leaves a positive and lasting effect on local people and places.
What Is Responsible Tourism in Uganda?
Responsible tourism in Uganda means visiting in a way that conserves the environment, respects culture, and benefits local communities. It’s about ensuring your journey contributes more than it consumes.
Our Tulambule Uganda Safaris are founded on sustainable principles:
- Hiring local guides and staff to ensure your payments support families
- Promoting eco-conscious lodges and camps
- Supporting community projects such as Kelom Children Centre through donations
When you choose to travel with purpose in Uganda, your safari becomes more than a holiday—it becomes a catalyst for social change.
What Is Kelom Children Centre?
Kelom Children Centre is a Christian-based, community-led charity in Uganda dedicated to supporting autistic children and those with special needs.
Their work includes:
- Specialised education tailored to individual needs
- Therapeutic services, including speech, occupational, and behavioural therapy
- Family support, with counselling and skills training
- Community outreach campaigns aimed at reducing stigma
In a country where autism is often misunderstood and support services are scarce, Kelom Children Centre offers hope and essential care.
By choosing a Uganda safari supporting autistic children, you directly fund these transformative programmes.
Understanding Autism in Uganda and Globally
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects communication, interaction, and behaviour, and presents uniquely in each person.
- Globally, approximately 1 in 100 children are autistic, with boys diagnosed around four times more often than girls.
- In low-income countries, over 80% lack access to specialised services.
- In Uganda, estimates suggest 0.7–1.3% of children may be autistic, though many remain undiagnosed.
- Families often face social exclusion, financial strain, and limited access to care and education.
These challenges highlight the essential role played by Kelom Children Centre, and why your sustainable tourism contributions matter.
Tulambule Uganda Safaris: Travel with Community Focus
Our Tulambule Uganda Safaris (“Tulambule” meaning Let’s go Safari in Luganda) offer awe-inspiring wildlife experiences and deep community engagement.
Beyond gorilla trekking, chimp tracking, and game drives, we facilitate community-focused activities that enrich travellers and locals alike:
- Visiting Village Enterprises: Meet women-run crafts and weaving cooperatives to learn about local traditions and support income generation.
- School and Classroom Visits: Engage with pupils at local schools, participate in educational activities, and witness the transformative power of community investment.
- Cultural Homestays: Enjoy shared meals with families, learning about Ugandan customs and daily life—building genuine connections beyond the safari.
- Birding and Citizen Science Projects: Join rural conservationists to monitor bird or butterfly populations, contributing to environmental knowledge while exploring Uganda’s biodiversity.
- Community Conservation Volunteering: Help with planting trees, maintaining footpaths, or assisting at local clean-up projects near parks.
These experiences embody the essence of Uganda safaris with community impact, forging meaningful and sustainable connections.
7-Day Signature Safari with Kelom Visit
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe / Kampala
Celebrate your arrival with a transfer to your hotel, followed by a brief cultural experience—perhaps a visit to the Ndere Centre for traditional dance and storytelling.
Day 2: Village Enterprise Visit – Transfer to Kibale
Visit a local women-run enterprise, then journey through scenic countryside to Kibale Forest. Overnight ready for chimp tracking.
Day 3: Morning Chimp Tracking – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
Track chimpanzees early in the morning, then travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park, lodging in Kasenyi or Kasese.
Day 4: Game Drive & Kazinga Boat Cruise
Experience wildlife on a sunrise game drive. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, rich in hippos and birdlife.
Day 5: Cultural Homestay – Transfer to Bwindi
Meet a local family for an immersive homestay experience before travelling to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest via Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking – Conservation Volunteering
After an unforgettable gorilla trek, participate in a community conservation project near your lodge. Overnight en route back to Kampala.
Day 7: Visit Kelom Children Centre – Departure
Arrive in Kampala early. In the evening, visit Kelom Children Centre to meet children, learn about autism programmes, and witness the impact of responsible tourism in Uganda. Transfer to the airport afterwards.
4-Day Mini Safari with Kelom Visit
For those short on time, this concise itinerary still delivers community and wildlife highlights:
Day 1: Arrival – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
Arrive and transfer directly into the park. After settling in, take part in a birding walk or village visit nearby.
Day 2: Game Drive & Kazinga Cruise
Enjoy a morning game drive in Kasenyi Plains followed by an afternoon boat safari along the Kazinga Channel.
Day 3: Return to Kampala via School Visit
Head back to Kampala, stopping at a community primary school for a classroom visit before continuing to the city.
Day 4: Evening Visit to Kelom Children Centre – Departure
Spend the evening at Kelom Children Centre forging connections with children and staff before your flight.
How Your Visit Makes a Difference
When you book a Uganda safari supporting autistic children with us:
- Skymate contributes a minimum of USD 1 per tourist to Kelom Children Centre
- We foster village enterprises, school support, homestays, and conservation projects
- You support autism therapy, education, and family counselling
- Your profile is raised as a responsible traveller, encouraging others to follow suit
Why Choose a Safari with Community Engagement?
Because it makes a difference. A safari is more than wildlife and landscapes: it’s an opportunity to:
- Support local economies through direct income and employment
- Promote wildlife and environmental conservation via citizen science
- Improve social services like autism care and education
- Foster cultural understanding through immersion experiences
- Ensure tourism longevity, where communities see clear benefits
A journey with us becomes a legacy of impact—where your travel enriches both you and the places you visit.
Ready to Travel with Purpose in Uganda?
Choose Tulambule Uganda Safaris by Skymate Tours & Travel to explore Uganda’s gorillas, chimpanzees, and savannas—and provide hope to autistic children.
Your safari counts. Your impact matters.
Contact us today to plan your responsibly guided, community-engaged safari. Let’s wander, learn, connect, and give back—together.