Have you imagined visiting the “Batwa people of Uganda who lived in the forest before their resettlement”? Have you thought of having a chance to meet the pygmies of Uganda during your mountain gorilla trekking encounter in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park? When you visit them, you will be able to see the forest in their eyes and lives. With the Batwa cultural trail experience at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you will encounter the unforgettable authentic culture, traditions, and customs of the Batwa people, who formerly lived deep in the tropical rain forest, and be free to explore the Batwa people’s ancient cultures.

 

The Batwa people of Uganda were the original bush people of the forests before Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park were upgraded into national parks in 1991. The dense tropical rain forests on the foothills of the Virunga chained volcanoes used to be the Batwa's most comfortable homes, where they used to live as hunters, fruit gatherers, and fierce warriors, relying on the forest for food and herbal medicine.

 

The Batwa Trail experience is a safari activity that is always combined with a mountain gorilla trekking experience at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

 

Highlights of the Batwa Trail experience 

The Batwa Trail takes travelers to the base of Muhuvura Cave. The Batwa Trail Walk is a Ugandan living museum where travelers can easily learn about the Batwa People, a pygmy tribe that was formerly living in the dense tropical forest of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The Batwa people were hunters, fruit gatherers, and fierce warriors that mostly depended on forest products for shelter, medicine, and food for their well-being. 

 

Why the Batwa Trail cultural experiences 

These pygmies were forced to abandon their nomadic and bushman lifestyles during the Batwa eviction. Today, the Batwa people are among the poorest Ugandans; many of these pygmies earn a living by working on other people’s local farms. The Batwa Trail was introduced to educate travelers about the former lifestyle of the Batwa people of Uganda. Travelers will learn how these pygmies used to survive in the dense tropical rain forest of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

 

The Batwa trail walk is conducted by experienced Batwa guides who offer more insight into their former traditional forest life, culture, and new normal. The Batwa people demonstrate all their past hunting skills and techniques for gathering honey and fruits. The Batwa guides will show you most of the medicinal plants that were used for treating different diseases; their experienced guide will demonstrate how they used to make bamboo cups; and then all the travelers are finally invited to the sacred Ngarama Cave, which was once the home of the Batwa King. The Batwa women of the community perform their cultural dances, and visitors are welcome to join them in their traditional dances.

 

Important information to Know about the Batwa people of Uganda

This fascinating Ugandan Batwa people's cultural trail experience was launched on June 7th, 2011 with the goal of preserving Batwa culture and traditions and promoting cultural development. The Batwa Cultural Experience gives jobs to the Batwa people who participate in the daily activities, such as guides, dancers, and all other demonstrators. After your thrilling mountain gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park, travelers can participate in this splendid Batwa cultural trail that is worth every penny spent. You shouldn’t miss out on the captivating things, such as the exhilarating Batwa cultural feel. The Batwa people will also demonstrate how they construct grass-thatched huts, showcase their traditional herbs that were used in the past and are still used to treat different diseases, showcase their hunting techniques, how they used to fetch water by the use of bamboo cups and mugs, their traditional skills of gathering honey and fruits, and how to make fire by friction.

 

The Batwa's incredible cultural trail experience takes travelers across Uganda’s tropical rain forest of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and through Mt Muhavura and Mt Gahinga. The Batwa cultural trail starts with your experienced guide stopping and kneeling down at some huts to pray to their first gods to bless the trail walk. This is the same spot where their men used to kneel in the ancient days to pray to the gods to seek blessings and protection before they ventured into the tropical rain forest to hunt or gather fruits and honey.

 

In conclusion, the Batwa cultural trail experience is an incredible encounter where travelers can engage themselves after mountain gorilla trekking encounters. Besides all the interesting community activities they showcase, such as hunting techniques, honey harvesting skills, how to make bamboo cups, visiting the pharmacy where traditional medicines are made, and the trail walk to the sacred Ngarama cave, travelers can support the local communities and improve the Batwa’s standard of living.