Banana experience is one of the most outstanding and interesting activities done or carried out in Uganda, where tourists or visitors get to explore the variety of ways banana-based drinks and meals are prepared. Banana experience or Rest in Banana eatery is found in Bigodi trading center (Kibale National Park). Bananas are not only among the favorite fruits but also among the staple foods in Uganda, which means that they are grown in large numbers in Uganda. Step-by-step experience is what tourists or visitors always receive when they decide to visit the Rest in Banana eatery, and these steps will start right from the garden, followed by different processes of making a variety of banana products. Here are the answers to the frequently asked questions about the Banana experience (rest in the banana experience) or all you need to know about the Banana experience in Bigodi (Kibale National Park).

Where is Kibale National Park located?

Kibale National Park is located in the western part of Uganda, famously known as the primate capital (home to several primates, but mostly chimpanzees), covering about 776 square kilometers spanning across Kamwenge district and Kabarole district.

What is the Banana experience?

As said before, Banana experience is a tourist activity which gives tourists the chance to experience step by step of making different banana products, starting right from the garden. This experience is offered or done in Rest in Banana eatery, which is always filled with a variety of bananas, crafts, and different banana products. The different products made out of bananas include banana juice, banana gin (waragi), and banana snacks.

How is the Banana gin (waragi), alcohol, and juice made?

The banana waraji or gin making starts or begins with collecting the ripe or ready bananas from the garden, which is done by the local guides whom you can as well join. After collecting or harvesting the ripe bananas, you will head back to the eatery and start peeling the bananas while putting them in a different clean container. These bananas are then mashed to form a porridge, and then the banana juice is squeezed out using banana leaves. The banana juice is then ready to be served or packed. The banana juice has a very sweet smell with a sunset color.

For the banana alcohol, yeast is added to the banana juice and is left to ferment for about 24 hours, then the banana alcohol is made and has about 10% alcohol containment.

Banana Alcohol is then boiled under secondary fermentation to come up with the banana waraji(gin), which will contain about 40% -60%. The banana gin (waraji can also be used as a sanitizer to sanitize your hands or dirty surfaces.

What is the best time to go for the banana experience?

Tourists or visitors can opt to go for banana experience in Uganda during any time of the year but the best time to visit is during the dry season of the year because during this time of the year, the weather is more favorable to out door activities such as banana experience and also the roads will be more accessible than during the wet or rainy season where they tend to be muddy and slippery hence hindering accessibility.

What to pack for the Banana experience safari?

The items or things you need to pack for the banana experience include a backpack, a refillable drinking water bottle, a hat or cape, a camera and extra batteries, sunscreen, insect repellent, comfortable decent clothes, a raincoat or jacket, which will be of use in case it rains, to name a few.

Testing and buying of the banana products will be allowed, but you should not try them out in case you find yourself allergic to the bananas. You can also decide to buy crafts or souvenirs like shirts, sweaters, to name a few. Since this banana experience is also infused with culture, you will also get to have community encounters or get to learn about the history through storytelling.  To have a test of this experience, which is in most cases or goes hand in hand with the chimpanzee trekking activity in Kibale National Park, all you have to do is book with us, and you will get yourself a customized itinerary including all your highlight activities.