Batwa Experience- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
BATWA PEOPLE – BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
Batwa Experience – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park : The Batwa also termed as pygmies are one of the largest community of people living around Bwindi Impenetrable national park alongside other tribes like the Bakiga. The Batwa people previously lived with in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park before the Government of Uganda forcefully expelled them from the forest to protect the endangered Mountain gorillas that were at a point of total extinction in the wild.
The Batwa greatly depended on Bwindi impenetrable national park for food and shelter as hunters and gatherers before they were evicted out and as of now the only time they return to the forest is as tour guides offering all the adequate information about their previous standards of living.
As stated above, the Batwa lived within Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks all situated with in south western part of Uganda the pearl of Africa where the Mountain Gorillas thrills. This is yet the reason as to why most people on a Uganda safari to visit mountain Gorillas end up adding on a visit to the Batwa either on a Batwa trail enjoyed in Mgahinga Gorilla national park or Batwa experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park. The other population of Batwa lived in Semliki national park at the foothill of Rwenzori mountain ranges before they were as well evicted by the government.
Batwa Trail and the Batwa Experience
Batwa trail and Batwa experience: These are the major cultural activities enjoyed while on a Uganda safari enjoyed while on a Uganda Gorilla safari either in Mgahinga gorilla national park or Bwindi impenetrable national park as a best way to interact and learn more about the culture of the Batwa.
The Batwa trail is conducted in Mgahinga Gorilla national park where tourists enjoy a forest walk alongside armed rangers and local Batwa guides deep into the forest following the trail that was used by the Batwa while they lived in the forest before it was declared a national park. The Batwa trail is a practical adventure that enables tourists to get the basic information of what exactly happened in the forest and how the Batwa used to survive using the handmade tools for hunting small animals in the forest and gathering fruits and honey.
During the Batwa trail the local Batwa guides will be able to spot out different plant species that were being used to heal different diseases since they had no hospitals in the jungle. They will as well show you how they used to set up fire to roast their meat. The Batwa trail as well leads to Garama caves they were used as the offices for the Batwa and the hiding place during the attacks while raiding cattle of their neighboring communities.
This Batwa trail was introduced in the year of 2011 as a way of enabling the tourists to get to know more about this minority group of people that thrill in south western part of Uganda just like the Minority group of the IK that thrill on top of Mount Morungole in Kidepo valley national park. The Batwa trail can be enjoyed a day after the gorilla trek either in Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Apart from the Batwa trail in Mgahinga gorilla national park, one can as well enjoy golden monkey tracking, volcano hiking and many more obviously without forgetting the Mountain Gorilla trekking.
Batwa experience on the other hand is conducted with in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is a famous destination for mountain Gorilla trekking. Unlike the Batwa trail, Batwa experience takes you on a village tour to meet with the Batwa in their homesteads, spend time with them interacting as they narrate about how life in the forest was and the life outside the forest.
The entire Batwa experience is so fascinating in that it enables tourists to have a taste on the local foods, local beer, visit the local community project and close the adventure with a breathtaking traditional dance and drama. With the Batwa experience. One can enjoy a full day gorilla trek and have the Batwa experience in the evening.
Apart from the Batwa experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park, the park is as well the best destination for Mountain Gorilla trekking, Gorilla habituation, birding and forest walk among others.
Conclusion,
A visit to Batwa for a Batwa trail or Batwa experience is such a memorable experience that you ought to add on your travel itinerary to Uganda the pearl of Africa at any given period of time all year round. At Achieve Global Safaris, we are always ready to tailor out the best itinerary for you including the Batwa and many other fascinating tourist attractions in the pearl.
