Batwa cultural experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Batwa cultural experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park; Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of the most visited national park in Uganda located in southwestern region in Kanungu district. Bwindi impenetrable national park is famously known for harboring the endangered mountain gorillas which are the major tourist attractions in Uganda. The batwa/pygmies used to live in Bwindi forest before it was gazetted into a national park and they later formed the interesting batwa cultural experience as a way to educate their children and the visitors about their tradition, culture and heritage.
Batwa cultural experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park starts with a guided nature walk in the forest where they used to live and during the cultural experience, you will be accompanied by batwa guides who will show you how they used to hunt small animals for food, their gathering skills, demonstrate how they used to live in small huts made of trees and grass, visit their traditional homestead, listen to their ancient stories and traditional songs, taste their traditional meals prepared by batwa women, talk to the medicine men who treat different diseases with herbs, enjoy their traditional performances among others.
Apart from Bwindi impenetrable national park, batwa cultural experience is also done in Mgahinga gorilla national park in Kisoro district and Kabale district.
Other activities in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is an interesting activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park where visitors will get an opportunity to visit the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of over 20 habituated mountain gorillas which are found in four sectors namely buhoma sector, ruhija sector, nkuringo sector and rushaga sector. Trekking of mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the jungle which takes about 2 hours to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located. Once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them feed, breastfeed, learn more about their behaviors, habits, take photos and record videos to show people back home.
Bird watching
Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of over 360 recorded bird species including 23 of the 24 Albertine rift endemics, forest birds, migratory birds among others. During birding, you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide who will help you to spot different bird species including Kivu Ground Thrush, Dusky Crimson-wing, Handsome Francolin, Honeyguide Greenbul, Cinnamon Chested Bee-eater, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Grauer’s Broadbill, Rwenzori Turaco, Regal Sunbird, Montane Masked Apalis, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Red-throated Alethe, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Great Blue Turaco among others.
Gorilla habituation experience
Gorilla habituation experience is another interesting activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park where the wild gorillas are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Just like gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation experience starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations where after you will start trekking in the jungle which takes a whole day. Once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend four hours with them in their habitat where you will be able to learn and monitor their habits, behaviors, engage in the naming process, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos.
Nature walks
Nature walk is an exciting activity in Bwindi impenetrable national park where you will be able to explore the pack on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and an armed park ranger. During the guided nature walk, you will follow different trails like Muzubijiro loop trail, Munyanga waterfall trail, Rushura hill trail, the Ivi River trail, Buhoma-Nkuringo trail, Habinyanja trail, Kashasha river trail, Bamboo trail among others.
Where to stay in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park has a wide range of accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your safari. The accommodations include Bwindi lodge, Buhoma lodge, Gorilla leisure lodge, Buhoma haven lodge, Bweza gorilla lodge, Gorilla valley lodge, Four gorillas lodge, Rushaga gorilla lodge, Ruhija community rest camp, Ichumbi lodge, Bwindi forest lodge, Ruhija gorilla lodge, Trekkers tavern cottages, Nkuringo Bwindi gorilla lodge, Chameleon hill lodge, Bwindi jungle view lodge, Cuckoo land Tented lodge, Clouds mountain gorilla lodge, Engagi lodge among others.
How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then to one of the sectors in Bwindi impenetrable national park which takes about 9 to 10 hours’ drive.
You can as well access Bwindi impenetrable national park from Kigali Rwanda where visitors will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to the park headquarters via katuna border in Kabale or cyanika border in Kisoro which takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive.
Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be accessed by air transport means where you will book scheduled or charter domestic flight from Entebbe international airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips and then connect to the park headquarters by road.
For more information about batwa cultural experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for various safari packages.
