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 toward a way of traveling that feels respectful, grounded and connected. Intentional - and certainly not perfect!

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

growing together with our Community

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

Youth learning & mentorship

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

Through hands-on learning at Home of Friends, local youth gain experience in guiding, hospitality and small-scale entrepreneurship. Many now lead hikes, host guests or help coordinate Community initiatives - showing 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 shows up in daily practice? Feel free to reach out.

Sustainability in Action

At Home of Friends, sustainability is part of how we live and work - shaped 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 reliable 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

Plastic bottles are banned 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.

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.