Guest Bio
Daan Oxener is the co-founder of Home of Friends Guesthouse & Community Experiences Uganda, a community-rooted guesthouse and adventure travel hub based in Kapchorwa on the slopes of Mount Elgon. Originally from the Netherlands, Daan’s path to Uganda began with an early fascination for Africa, later deepened through travel, social entrepreneurship, youth development, and sport.

Over the past seven years, Daan has worked alongside local guides, athletes, families, and community members to shape immersive travel experiences that reflect the strengths of the Mount Elgon highlands. Through Home of Friends, he helps visitors connect with the region through hiking, biking, trail running, cultural exchange, and locally led adventures that support long-term opportunities for guides, youth, women, and local families.

Show Summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Daan Oxener, co-founder of Home of Friends Guesthouse & Community Experiences Uganda. Based in the highlands of eastern Uganda, Daan shares how Home of Friends has grown into more than a place to stay. It is a meeting point for travelers, runners, guides, families, and community members who want to experience the Mount Elgon region in a deeper and more personal way.

Daan talks about the unique appeal of Kapchorwa, a mountain town known for its high-altitude running culture, welcoming communities, waterfalls, remote trails, and strong traditions. It is also the home to world champion runners such as Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo. He explains how travelers can experience the area through multi-day treks, cultural encounters, running experiences, biking, and visits with local families who share skills such as bamboo basket weaving, farming, and honey wine making.

The conversation also follows Daan’s personal journey from the Netherlands to Uganda, including his early interest in Africa, his background in business and human resources, and the decision to leave a corporate path in search of more meaningful work. Along the way, Jason and Daan explore what it takes to build a community-based tourism enterprise in a rural setting, the importance of slowing down, and why the future of adventure travel in eastern Uganda is rooted in relationships, patience, and local strengths.

Big World Made Small guest features are invitation-only and selected based on story, experience, and fit with the show. Guest support helps make the episode possible, but it does not determine who is featured. This helps keep the show free of third-party ads and interruptions while keeping the focus on real, story-driven conversations.

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