Travel with Purpose

Exploring with care, connection and curiosity

A stay with Home of Friends is about connection and care - for each other and for the Community around us.

Since 2017, we’ve been learning alongside the people of Mount Elgon - taking small, practical steps towards a way of travelling that feels respectful, grounded and connected. Intentional - and certainly not perfect!

When you hike, eat, or stay with us, you become part of a local movement that grows opportunities, builds friendships and celebrates a healthy lifestyle in the Land of Champions.💚

This builds on the same Community-rooted approach that grounds our experiences: tourism that grows from local strengths, shared learning and relationships built over time.

👉 We’ve developed a simple structure to make this work in practice.

growing together with our Community

Our journey toward more meaningful tourism is rooted in relationships - with guides, cooks, farmers, storytellers, athletes and neighbours in Kapchorwa and Kween.

Rather than creating opportunities for people, we aim to grow them with the Community, building on skills, traditions and strengths that are already here.

Working together on real challenges

Some travellers choose to go a step further. Instead of only experiencing this place, they spend time working alongside our guides, staff and Community members on specific, real-life challenges.

This is not a traditional volunteer programme. Rather, it is a small-scale and practical way of learning, contributing and exchanging knowledge together.

This may suit young professionals, thoughtful travellers or social impact volunteers with experience in areas such as storytelling, hospitality, digital marketing, guiding, small business development or Community-based tourism.

What matters most is not arriving with answers, but listening first and building from what is already here.

Because of this, these collaborations work best when people stay for a longer period (typically 6 weeks or more).

Youth learning & mentorship

Young people are the future storytellers and guardians of this mountain region.

Through hands-on learning at Home of Friends, Kapchorwa youth gain experience in guiding, hospitality and small-scale entrepreneurship. Many now lead hikes, host guests or help coordinate Community initiatives. This shows that tourism, when done with care, can support real pathways close to home.

Women-led initiatives

Women play a central role in Community life on Mount Elgon.

We support women-led initiatives such as bamboo weaving and crafts along the Mosopisiek Trail, where part of our hiking revenue flows back into local groups. Through shared cooking experiences like Cooking with the Kapchorwa Mamas, women pass on knowledge, culture and confidence.

At Masha Coffee in Kween District, women welcome our travellers into the art and culture of coffee growing - from seed to cup.

Local partnerships

None of this happens alone.

We work closely with native guides, Community farmers and tour operators to develop experiences that feel honest and rooted - from cultural storytelling and cave dances to a Community-based homestay along the Mosopisiek Trail.

What connects these collaborations is a shared belief in teamwork, trust and learning across cultures.

👉 Curious how this comes to life in daily practice? Feel free to reach out.

Sustainability in Action

At Home of Friends, sustainability is part of how we live and work - defined by small, ongoing choices rather than big claims.

☀️ Solar energy

We use solar power for lighting and hot showers in our rooms and restaurant, a practical solution in a region where electricity is not always guaranteed. Step by step, we’re expanding our system with the aim of becoming fully solar-powered.

💧 Rainwater harvesting

Around 95% of the water we use comes from collected rainwater, stored and reused through our own system. It’s a practical way of living closer to the rhythms of Mount Elgon.

🚫 Reducing plastic

Single-use plastic bottles are not used on our compound. Guests are welcome to refill their bottles for free, while empty wine bottles are reused as handmade drinking glasses.

🌱 Farm-to-table cooking

Our kitchen works with what grows nearby. Vegetables and herbs come from our garden and local farmers, supporting healthy meals and local livelihoods. In 2026, we plan to expand the garden further - growing both variety and inspiration.

This is how sustainability shows up in daily life:

Together, Step by Step

Travel with purpose is not about doing everything right. It’s about paying attention, staying curious and growing together. Guests, staff and Community.

We believe lasting change happens slowly, through shared responsibility and many small steps taken in the same direction.