Batwa Cultural Experience

August 29, 2023 | Bujo Safaris

Batwa cultural experience 

The Batwa cultural experience is the best way to spice up your Uganda gorilla safari and also experience the world of a living museum telling an unforgettable story. 

The Batwa people also known as the ‘’TWA people’’ are the African endemic pygmies who stayed and lived in Maghinga and Bwindi national parks before they were set aside as national parks and these are known as the keepers of these forests. The Batwa people are like other pygmies with an average height of about 1.5 m. After being considered as poachers and a threat to wildlife by the government, the Batwa people were forcefully relocated out of both the Bwindi and Maghinga forests. They were made to leave behind their customs and cultural heritage and were introduced to new ways of living.

  Even though they were introduced to new and different lifestyles, till today many of them have failed to embrace the new normal. This is because the new normal is filled with a lot of poverty and drunkenness which they were not used to at all. Their lifestyle in the forest was all about gathering fruits and hunting which many of them miss a lot and wish to go back. On top of all the hardships in coping with the new normal, the Batwa people are also being discriminated against by their Bantu neighbors. And they still find it hard to interact with them due to segregation. The difficulty in the way of life for the Batwa was recognized by different people and organizations came on board to help out. Hospitals, schools, and safe drinking water were some of the things that were set up to help improve their lifestyle. 

The Batwa people have lived and existed in these forests for more than 60,000 years. They are some of the poorest people whose lives depend on fruit gathering and hunting using bows and arrows. Despite everything, these people decided to keep and protect the rainforests without practicing deforestation. 

The Batwa people in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi National Park gives you a gorilla experience and a chance to learn about these people since they are regarded as the first dwellers of this forest even before it was gazette as a national park. The unfortunate part of it is that the Batwa no longer stay in this forest because they were transferred by the International Gorilla Conservation Program. This was because they were considered to be poachers of the gorillas as well as cutting down the trees. However, the Batwa people protected the forests without practicing any form of deforestation or hunting the endangered gorillas. 

During this encounter, you can learn about the daily life of the Batwa. This includes their culture, hunting the tiny animals, preparing local food, building their houses with grass, and visiting some of their caves. You will also get a chance to taste their local food, listen to their stories, and watch the traditional dances you can also feel free to participate as a sign of unity and love shown to them. You will be able to learn hunting skills on how to use an arrow and a bow all giving you unforgettable memories.

The Batwa experience in Maghinga Gorilla National Park

This cultural experience introduces you to the ancient people who stayed in this forest years ago before any ethnic group was introduced and before this place was protected and conserved as a national park. The Batwa cultural experience in Maghinga National Park takes you on a journey back into the old ways of the Batwa tribe, the first people who inhabited these forests. These people lived as hunters, and fruit gatherers who protected this forest and the territories with their hearts without poaching the wildlife and without practicing deforestation. As we speak, the Batwa people stay in the outskirts of the forest where they have learned new ways of living like adapting to the new agriculture skills and cattle rearing leaving the ancient cultural ways of doing things.

The Batwa trails in Maghinga teach you the history and the cultures of the old people. It exposes you to traditional forest life among other things. Before embarking on this trail, you are requested to kneel before a certain god to pray for blessing and then continue the journey. You can learn about different things like diseases such as blood pressure, malaria, and fungal infections. Learn about plants and the fruits that these people used to feed on as food, and other ways how they used to live their daily lives. 

The Batwa people will show their hunting skills and techniques of honey and fruit gathering. You shall be able to visit the archaic grass thatched huts and see how they were built out of grass and maintained without losing shape. Don’t forget that the Batwa women will show off some of the family rites of cooking and family care plus a traditional dance performance which you can feel free to join and participate in. The Batwa trail in Maghinga National Park takes about 3 to 4 hours to learn about the old traditional culture. 

The Batwa trails in Maghinga will also lead you to the shelter cave known as the Ngarama cave where the king used to hold his meetings with the elders. These caves were also hiding places where women and children hid during times of battle and war. The cave always had water and the fires were lit to lighten up the area in case some people sought safety and protection in them. While here, you will hear songs and voices of women in the dark singing about the loss of their ancient home which was turned into the present Maghinga Gorilla National Park. 

Some of the other activities that can be done are gorilla trekking and habituation, day hikes which consist of volcanic climbs, nature walks, bird watching, and golden monkey trekking among others. The Batwa cultural experience can be put along with gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Maghinga National Parks to spice up your gorilla trekking experience on your Uganda gorilla safari.