The dense forests at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes were home to the Batwa people: hunter-gatherers and fierce warriors who depended on the forest for shelter, food and medicine thanks to ancient knowledge passed down for generations.
The Batwa Trail is located in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda where the Batwa people, a group of indigenous people, used to reside. This nature walk tour introduces visitors to this African tribe’s life. During the trek, visitors learn about the Batwa’s cultural heritage including their past ways of living! This cultural encounter is one of the most memorable experience of a Uganda tour to see the mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, a lesser known gorilla trekking destination in Uganda. The funds from this tour are part of a give back program that supports the indigenous people’s cultural heritage by helping them purchases new land, provide education and books.
During this moving tour, the Batwa demonstrate their unique cultural heritage through various activities and discussions, such as hunting and bamboo cup demonstrations. Medicinal plants and their usage are pointed out as well. Guests are finally invited to the sacred Ngarama Cave, once home to the Batwa King, where the women of the community perform a sorrowful song which echoes eerily around the depths of the dark cave, and leaves guests with a moving sense of the richness of this fading culture
Dr. Andrew Seguya, Executive Director of UWA, said, “We are happy to be associated with the development of our partners, the Batwa people, and with projects such as the Garama Cave and short trail, which will enhance income for them. We will strive to add more products to give our visitors a fully rewarding experience.”
