A true East African showcase.
POATE’s pulling power was on full display from Thursday morning. Operators, accommodations and destinations from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi filled the Convention Centre. From Magical Kenya to Visit Rwanda to Destination Diani, the East African spirit of Pamoja — togetherness — reverberated through every corridor.
This collective branding push positions East Africa as a single, seamless safari destination — exactly the message visiting tour operators from Europe, Asia and the Americas are increasingly looking for when shopping for multi-country circuits.
Booth FG23 — Everbased × Kristy Kreatives.
The Tours Department of Everbased partnered with Kristy Kreatives, a Ugandan bamboo-product and customisation company, taking up booth FG23 at the Flag Mast tent. The pairing turned heads: handcrafted bamboo gifts, branded keepsakes and curated safari itineraries side by side — a perfect blend of culture, craft and adventure.
Find us — FG2301
Back to the Source02Under the company’s Visit Rwanda theme, the booth pulled in a steady stream of regional businesspeople, hotel reps and lodge owners interested in cross-border partnerships.
POATE 2026 made one thing clear — East Africa’s travel industry is moving as Pamoja. One region, one story, one safari circuit.
Field note — Munyonyo, Day 03
Government endorsement & industry presence.
This year’s POATE was graced by major industry players and government officials. The presence of leadership at this level confirms what the industry has long argued — tourism is moving up the national agenda.
The room had the right people in it.
For tour operators in Uganda and across East Africa, that translates into clearer policy support, better infrastructure investment, and stronger international promotion of the region.
On the floor — building connections.
The Everbased Tours team worked the floor relentlessly across all three days, moving booth to booth and stage to stage. The mission was clear: build relationships with operators, hotels, lodges and associations across the region, and position Everbased as the go-to operator for multi-country East African itineraries.
- Cross-border partnerships with Rwandan and Kenyan operators
- Lodge contracting in Bwindi, Volcanoes National Park, Serengeti and Maasai Mara
- Multi-country circuits tying gorilla trekking, Big Five safaris and beach extensions
- Agent partnerships with European and Asian inbound specialists
Day One — ArrivalDay Two — GalaDay Three — FloorThe rise of agro-tourism.
One standout theme this year was agro-tourism — a fast-emerging niche where travellers experience African farm-to-table culture. Spots like Sentema Farm Lodge are leading the charge, offering visitors hands-on farming, cooking and craft experiences that go far beyond a standard game drive.
Everbased is actively building itineraries that bake this into the safari experience. The goal: tours that don’t just showcase Uganda’s wildlife but also share its everyday culture, cuisine and community — the kind of meaningful travel that visiting tourists are increasingly asking for.
