Batwa Cultural Experience
Tourism is among those main backbones that contribute a lot to Uganda’s economy Uganda is among those countries that have plenty of tourist attractions that generate a lot of tourists. Today different people go on adventures in many countries for various reasons.
Some of the things that make the country outstanding include endangered mountain gorillas, River Nile, chimpanzees, and many others.
However, on the other hand, culture is also among those aspects that make Uganda an amazing destination for touring. Culture refers to something that describes a particular area. The country has over 50 tribes each with different aspects of culture it follows.
This article is mainly talking about the Batwa people who are mainly found in the southwestern parts of Uganda.
In the past years, the Batwa mainly settled in the forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga however due to the need to conserve the forests they were pushed out from the Batwa people and have so far stayed in the African Equatorial forests for over 60000 years and more.
Batwa Cultural Experience
Way of life of the Batwa
The Batwa are described as very short people who used to reside in the forest but later, they were pushed out. They used to live in grass thatched huts which were always temporary.
Their main source of food was the fruits, vegetables, and plants that grew in the forest. They also used to make fire by just rubbing sticks and also used local trees as their medicine.
Today these amazing people can be traced in the nearby areas around Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Who are the Batwa?
The Batwa, are popularly known because of their short stature. They mainly settled in the mountainous areas along the borders of western Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They are popularly known as the Twa people of Uganda and were mainly hunter-gatherers. Hunting was mainly done by men with the help of handmade spears, bows plus arrows to attain food.
Visiting the Batwa.
This is an interesting activity that was introduced to bring development to the Batwa community. Through this experience, the Batwa have been able to acquire education, attain medicine, and many others.
Today the Batwa have gone to spread their amazing cultures to the world and interacting with them on a safari is completely an incredible lifetime experience.
The experience takes place outside of the park in the old-growth forest on land next to Bwindi. Seeing the Batwa is done 2 times a day which is very early in the morning and then late afternoon.
The Batwa cultural experience involves hiking with the Batwa guide to their homelands. The guide will take you through different trails giving you details about certain information about each plant and tree seen. The Batwa experience mainly entails tourists knowing the past and way of life of the Batwa.
The Batwa are extremely amazing people with an interesting rich culture to explore. Upon reaching them, they will come and welcome you with smiles and songs.
Then the Batwa head will give you detailed information about their culture. From here they will showcase their culture through music, dance, and then storytelling.
The Batwa will show you various techniques of how they used to hunt to get food, then demonstrate how they could make fire by just rubbing sticks.
Batwa Cultural Experience
What to know before going for the Batwa cultural trail
Difficulty levels.
Hiking into the Batwa community may be a bit strenuous since it requires passing through steep slopes, hilly areas, and also dense forests. This means you must be physically fit so that you will be able to complete the walking trail.
The cost of the Batwa visit.
A visit to the Batwa is one of those amazing experiences. You must pay certain amounts of money before you visit the Batwa.
The Batwa can only be found in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga. The cost of the Batwa in Mgahinga is.
Foreign non-residents pay 80 dollars.
Best time to visit the Batwa pygmies.
There is the best time for visiting the Batwa. This is because the various tourists combine the Batwa with gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The suitable time is the dry season. The dry season entails months such as January, February, June, and August.
This is because, during the dry season, you can view mountain gorillas that can be spotted since the vegetation cover is exceedingly clear.
During the dry season, the trails are not slippery, and mud does not inconvenience.
Where to stay during the Batwa Pygmy visit
People who want to visit the Batwa pygmy shouldn’t worry about where to stay. There are many comfortable places for people to sleep in when they decide to stay in Bwindi.
While looking out for lodges while you are willing to visit the Batwa check out lodges near Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors.
Some of the lodges to see include Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mutanda Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, and many others.
Why book with Active African Vacations for your trip
Active African Vacations is a legally registered company that deals mainly in offering the best to its clients.
The company has trusted knowledgeable guides who will give you information about various creatures seen on a safari. Kindly book with Active African Vacations for your interesting safaris.