UGANDA | KALITUSI BACKPACKERS | TRAVEL RECOMMENDATION
Kalitusi Backpackers, Your Home Away From Home In Uganda
In our opinion, a stay here should not be missed!
I will start this article with a disclaimer: We lived on this property for 2 months in 2022. This is not an affiliate post, and I am not getting paid to write it. We just loved our experience so much, and feel as though we want to share it so that others will know that this is a great place to stay while visiting Uganda.
Location: Fort Portal, Western Uganda.
Kalitusi is the Lugandan (Uganda's most common language dialect) word for Eucalyptus. You can see them growing in the above photo on the right. Eucalyptus is the main wood that is used for building in Uganda, and similar to Costa Rica’s Teak, it grows very fast and is incredibly durable, hard, and pest resistant.
Most Ugandans cut these trees down to use them for building materials, but not Martha. When she purchased this land 8 years ago, she left the old Eucalyptus trees standing, a move that gives you a hint of the values that she holds close to her heart.
In fact, the longer you stay, and the more you get to know what Kalitusi Backpackers is all about, the better you will understand that most things happening on this property keep the environment in mind.
When she bought the land, it was a cow pasture. Most of what was there were just the big eucalyptus trees, and a few others that framed the plot of land, which by the way is 2 hectares in size.
She immediately started planting plants and has since grown it up to be a lush and stunning tropical oasis.
Spending as much time there as we did, we spoke with many other travelers coming through, and one thing we all agreed on was that there is no other property like this in Uganda.
Ugandans don’t typically worry about aesthetics. It’s just not a part of their culture, so to find a place that has invested so much into its beauty, is a rare thing indeed.
Organic Food
While staying at Kalitusi Backpackers, we painted murals and artwork around the property, and one such project included a sign telling people that their food is made from scratch and mostly picked from their organic garden.
Yes, you read that correctly, ORGANIC GARDEN. This is also something that is not common in Uganda as many have been taught that they need to spray pesticides and fertilizers on their plants to get them to grow.
But not Martha, she knows better.
She also has her own chickens that produce nutritious organic eggs!
We ate meals from her delicious restaurant each night, and the love and care that the kitchen staff puts into the food is certainly noticeable. The menu caters to all sorts of people and features not only typical Ugandan cuisine but dishes like fish and chips, lasagna, lentil curry, wraps and more.
They also serve delicious coffee that is grown in the local area.
Not Just a Backpackers
While the property started out as a backpackers, and still serves that crowd, it has grown well beyond that and can now serve even the higher-end clients. She has adorable cottages on the property complete with ensuite bathrooms, hot water, and mosquito nets to make your stay enjoyable.
She even has a small creek running along one side of the property which goes past the Basil and Oregano cottages.
How cute are the names of the cottages?
But you can also camp if you want to and the sprawling areas of green grass provide for that experience. They even have tents you can rent if you don’t have one and want to experience the thrill of sleeping out under the equatorial stars.
The property offers dorm options as well, and has a beautiful, and very clean, communal shower house that ALWAYS has piping hot water!
Overlanders also make Kalitusi one of their stops and it is highly recommended on the ioverlander app.
Event Venue
The sprawling gardens and beautiful environment of Kalitusi Backpackers make this a great event venue. There is a volleyball net set up, a remote bar, bar-b-que, and kitchen area, plus a private covered shelter where you can host all of your guests.
We didn’t see a wedding here, but it sure would be a fabulous location for one!
There is even a beautiful covered fire pit area where you can sit and meet other travelers on those cool evenings.
If you are lucky, her staff member, Brian, will sing you some lovely mellow songs while strumming his guitar as the fire blankets you in warmth.
Yoga
Above the bar is a stunning yoga studio that looks out onto the greenery below. From here you can see the birds flitting about in the trees and it provides a serene and peaceful sanctuary for you to practice your yoga and meditation.
If you happen to be there on a Sunday, Martha hosts a yoga class where she collects donations that will eventually provide more lights on the street outside the property, hopefully increasing the safety and security of the area for residents.
Bird and Nature Watching
We spent many days down by the creek, and even sitting in the restaurant, watching the birds flit about. Since she has created such a wonderful oasis, the birds, bees, and butterflies enjoy it as well.
Birds that we saw on a regular basis were Mousebirds, Weaverbirds, Hammercrops, Ibis, multiple varieties of Sunbirds, and the famous Turacos. We even painted a Turaco on our large mural project that we completed in the bar area.
We also saw many other adorable creatures that roamed the property including this beautiful chameleon.
Martha is also an animal lover and has a cat and three dogs on the property. They are all well-behaved and family-friendly.
Great Location
We met many travelers here that made Kalitusi Backpackers their base as they explored the surrounding area. Being just 2–3 hours from parks even as far-flung as Queen Elizabeth National Park means that you can stay here, and still experience other areas of the country.
Closer to Fort Portal are parks like Kibali National Park where you can see the chimps and Rwenzori National Park where you can witness Uganda's rugged mountain peaks.
Uganda is dubbed ‘the Switzerland of Africa’ and this area is why.
There are also waterfalls, crater lakes and hotsprings nearby. Fort Portal is Uganda’s first tourism city, so you can be sure that there is lots to see and do here for every type of traveler.
The Staff
Kalitusi Backpackers’ staff are simply above the bar.
They are kind, patient, and generous and go well out of their way to make sure that your stay is enjoyable. Unlike many places in Uganda, her staff all speak excellent English and they are not shy like you will find elsewhere.
Family Friendly
We witnessed many different families come and stay at the property and all of them appeared to enjoy themselves. Children are free to run around on the grass, and even have the option of playing on the onsite trampoline. Plus, as stated, there is a volleyball net set up for full family games if you so desire.
The Overall Ambience
In case you haven’t figured it out by now, Kalatusi Backpackers offers a very chill and relaxing experience.
You will truly feel like you are living in a beautiful park that is serene and peaceful, while you enjoy the many things that Uganda has to offer.
Have I convinced you yet?
If I haven’t convinced you that you should stay at Kalatusi Backpackers, I give up. Haha! No, honestly, you can’t go wrong by booking a few nights at this wonderful property.
To learn more about what Kalitusi Backpackers has to offer, you can visit their website by clicking below.
We truly LOVED our 2 months spent there, and we know that you will too!
Enjoy Uganda!
xo Jill and Chris
A few other articles about our experiences at Kalitusi:
Hi there, we are 2 Canadians, Jill and Chris from Artistic Voyages. We have been nomadic since 2017 living in numerous different countries, and experiencing the life and diversity of our planet on the ground and firsthand. We paint FREE murals in exchange for accommodation. Consider tipping us on Ko-fi!
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