Batwa trail safari experience in Uganda : Among the most intriguing aspects about Africa is the people; most of the African countries have very friendly and hospitable people especially to travelers. The variety of societies in Africa is one of its most exciting parts. The Batwa trail opened on June 7, 2011, to save the Batwa culture and traditions, which were in danger of dying out. People from the Batwa tribe used to live on the slopes of the Virunga massifs. They are thought to have lived on these forested hills for more than 500,000 years before the area was set aside as a protected area. The Batwa mostly got food by hunting and picking fruits.
The Batwa tribe people are additionally referred to pygmies by most individuals, the Batwa people were driven out in order to preserve/maintain the endangered mountain gorillas and the only time they can now access their ancient forest is as tourists’ guides. Tourists who want to see gorillas in Uganda during a safari should always add the Batwa trail to their plans for a thrilling culture experience. The Batwa guides are capable of pointing out medicinal herbs that have been scientifically proved by pharmaceuticals to be rehabilitation specific diseases and they have used this for several years.
The Batwa people have a lifestyle that is very different from most of Africa culture, and they can show tourists how they hunt. One of the things that is most fascinating is how they use different plants to make beautiful handicrafts, like making local cups out of bamboo. Tourists can also go to Nagarama cave, during a cultural safari which was once the home of the Batwa king. There, women perform traditional music and dance, and tourists can also learn a lot about the Batwa culture.
The Batwa trail safari experience starts with a Batwa guide, who is usually dressed in traditional clothes, kneeling down to their god, Biheeko, who they believe can protect them from life and death as they hunt, raid, gather food, and do many different activities.
Batwa guides likewise demonstrate away their own distinctive methods for creating fire through two dried sticks by rubbing on towards the other. When tourists go to see the Batwa, they can watch their beautiful traditional dances and maybe buy some handicrafts to remember their safari or give to their loved ones. Tourists who want to see the Batwa people shouldn’t miss gorilla trekking safari, which is among the most popular safari activity to do in the parks. For only $700 per person for one hour of gorilla trekking, they can see the unique mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Tourists can also go golden monkey trekking safari at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Golden monkeys are a unique type of monkey that can be seen in mount Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for less money than mountain gorillas. Bwindi and Mount Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks can be visited at any time of the year, but the best times are from December to February and June to September, when the hiking trails are dry and easy to use. In addition to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, guests can also see colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, forest hogs, bush pigs, and many other animals. The Batwa trail can be attained in 520 kilometers coming from Kampala, as this gives you the most intriguing safari experience while sighting the beautiful scenery.
Important Things to Know
This interesting Batwa cultural trail was launched on 7th June 2011 as a way of preserving the Batwa culture and traditions and as a way of integrating conservation with cultural development. On top of tourists relishing this conventional cultural experience, it offers employment to those Batwa who are engaged in the day-to-day activities in the Batwa trail such as dancers and guides. After your thrilling gorilla trekking tour in Mgahinga or Bwindi National Park, you can engage in this splendid cultural trail and you will not regret every second of your time and is worth every penny spent.
You would miss a lot of captivating things if you left Uganda without tasting the exhilarating feeling of the Batwa Cultural experience. During this invigorating trail, tourists are taken though the original Batwa grass-thatched huts, they will also demonstrate how those huts are constructed, will also showcase the traditional herbs that they used in the past and still use, hunting skills, demonstrations of how water is fetched using bamboo cups/mugs, skills of gathering honey and how to make fire by friction using sticks. Even when these people see or go to these forests, you can clearly see the pain in their eyes as they become strangers to their once cherished homes. The only chance they have to go back into the forest is as tour guides for the Batwa trail.
This incredible trail runs across the dense forest of Mgahinga National Park and pass by the foothills of Mount Gahinga and Mount Muhavura in Mgahinga National Park. The Batwa trail starts with the guide stopping and kneeling down at a certain hut to pray to the gods to bless the walk. This same spot is where the men in the ancient days used to kneel and pray to the gods before they venture into the forest to hunt.
As you continue with the walk, you will stop to pick some berries that the hunter of olden days used to consume as a meal before hunting. You will be taken to a natural Pharmacy (local herbs in the forest). Here you will learn about the different plants and roots that the Batwa used as medicine to stop bleeding after child delivery, herbs for malaria, blood pressure and other ailments/diseases.
For example the black cover of ant nests were used for treating skin fungal infections. I cannot exhaust all the plants, but just so you know, you will see a real pharmacy. Just natural herbs for almost all illnesses. You will also be shown the leaves that are always ground into paste and used to get rid of evil spirits. Surprisingly no plant within the forest is a waste or not important. What seems as a wild yellow fruit or plant, the Batwa see it as a delicious vegetable sauce or even ingredients of a natural soap. These friendly people will also demonstrate how to make bamboo cups and you will be totally touched by how they exhibit their skillful tactics.
