CTP Trainees: 142. ROBANDA Cultural Tourism Programme.

Welcome to Page 137 for

ROBANDA

CULTURAL TOURISM PROGRAMME.

Welcome to Robanda a home of Ikoma Tribe.

Established with the vision of improving the livelihood of Robanda Village Community and enhancing western Serengeti Environmental Conservation through tourism.

Robanda CTP welcomes you to enjoy the Cultural and Natural heritage of the place.

Above: Mr. Paul M. Kehengu, Robanda CTP Coordinator.

Robanda Cultural Tourism Offers you:

A guided village walk - Bomas, local school, Health Centers, etc.
A Village Biking Tour.
Trekking to Ragana hill rich in Ikoma people pre-colonial history.
A trekking tour to Gesigeta hill used by soldiers in pre-historic times as a view point - radar!
A visit to oldest Ikoma tribe people fort.
A visit to Fort Ikoma - used in colonial times by the Germans.
A visit to the Caves used as hiding places during the First World War.
An opportunity to learn Waikoma relics, stories, old tool and weapons.
Listen to air raising stories about our culture.
Get entertainment of Waikoma most popular traditional dance. You will learn how to dance and be part of the dancing team.

Village Walk

2 - 3 hrs.
Walking tour around Robanda Village to Ikoma Fort where one will explore traditional homesteads and get great interaction with local people of the western side of Serengeti. Explore the scenery of Serengeti Plains with its great wildbeest has a great history together with its cousin German Fort Ikoma.

Village Tour, Biking & Hiking to the peak of Gesigeta Hill (1900 m.a.s.l)

(4 hours)

Biking to the peak of Gesigeta Hill one can jump on a mountain bike and ride 7 km from Robanda centre towards this hill with hundreds of tales. The hill was used by the British soldiers as a radar (view point) during the First World War. At the top, one will enjoy a breath taking panoramic view of the vast Serengeti plains and the Grumeti River

Above: Gesigeta Hill.

A trekking Tour to Ragana hill

(2 hours)

Ragana hill is rich in Ikoma people pre-colonial history. The hill is known as a punishment hill used to punish witch doctors (witch crafts) the habit was ended in early 1892 during Germans colonial rule. Get to know the reasons and methods used to punish the witch doctors at Raghana hill.

Above: Ragana Hill.

Visit to Oldest Ikoma tribe People Fort
(Ikoma Tribe Traditional Fort)

4 hrs visit

A visit to traditional Forts used by Ikoma people as hiding places from Maasai warriors during inter-tribal wars. The forts were made artistically with stones only. Forts were made without using any binding materials like soil, gravel or cement. The forts are found in Masasi, Muragho and Gegambasage.

Above: Traditional Forts.
Also on the way you will visit the highly respected traditional ceremony meeting point, that have been used for many years by our ancestors. Astonishing flat rock is our sacred place used by the elders to introduce new age groups in the society. Listen to hair raising stories about the rock and the way new leaders were appointed by elders.

Above: Flat Rock that was used for Cultural Meetings (1600 - 1900).

View of Traditional & old Tools at Robanda Cultural Centre - Museum.

1 hour.

Viewing of traditional and old tools used by Waikoma. Its the opportunity to learn Waikoma relics, stories, old tools and weapons.

Above: Museum at Robanda Cultural center.

Traditional Dances

3 hours

Get entertainment of Waikoma most popular traditional dance, you will learn how to dance and be part of the dancing team.

"Bring the people to the dance or take the dance to the people"

Both of the options are possible.
We welcome all visitors to our cultural centre where they’ll meet our dancers and enjoy the dance.
On the other hand visitors looking for the real African set up of traditional dance may chance

the dance in the Village Ceremonies.
Here authentic dance can be experienced as Singori and Risiwa dances.

Other Attractions:
The World famous Wildebeest Migration passes through the village.

Above: Plains crosses by the famous Wildebeest Migration every year.

Rich History:
The German Fort Ikoma ruins (below) show that this area was a choice for early colonizers.

Facilities:
The newly built Center of the Wildlife Management Area - WMA (below) is an added value. Curio Shops and other facilities are available to visitor.

Training
The Cultural Tourism Enterprise is Coordinated by Mr. Paul M. Kehengu, a very experienced and diligent person in the area. He has attended several seminars on Cultural Tourism Entrepreneurship and Tour Guiding Skills.

Above: Training: Our Coordinator and guides have gone through various training - courses, workshops and seminars. Graduation at Mugumu.

Guides:

Mr. Kehengu is assisted by three local guides: Boni, Sikujua and Siwema.

Boni Massawe:

Above: Boni.

Sikujua:

Above: Sikujua.

Siwema:

Above: Siwema.

Getting There:

Robanda CTP is located 3km from Ikoma gate on western side of the famous Serengeti National Park. Its 10 minutes drive from the gate. The CTP office is located few meters before the center. As one drives away from the park gate. The village is very close to the key areas used by Migratory wildbeests of the Serengeti Ecosystem as they venture on the western side (Western Corridor).

Contact Us:
Please contact your tour operator or locate Robanda CT which is located near Robanda village Center at Kehengu P.M's Building.