The Batwa people are known for their settlements in the forests, They present a unique culture along the slopes of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, The Bwindi is home to half the population of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, These roam throughout the park freely and not in captivation together with other forest creatures, the park was gazette in the 1994 and declared a UNESCO world heritage site as a way of protecting the critically endangered species, the Batwa lived in the forest however due to conservation purposes they were evicted and continued living along the slopes of the highly areas of Bwindi, they are a group of the last short structured people in the country.
The Batwa people are some of the first settlers of Africa, they are known as the keepers of “the forest” Experiencing the community is an amazing time, the intriguing visit gives you a close feel of the forest, they are historical when it comes to the forest tell they give a detailed description of how they used to live while in the forest, they have a rich traditional music and dance preserved and has been passed on to new generations, their performance is quite energetic and thrilling. This experience typically starts with visitors learning the way of life of these special people, guests are allowed to participate in the dance in case they are interested as a way of appreciating their culture.
Visitors experience a perfect forest walk if in Nkuringo the Buninga forest walk is one of the best experiences as you get to see the forest at large as well as the people of the forest, the guides are usually community members or even the Batwa who will show you the forest through their eyes, going to the Batwa community is blended with the famous gorilla trekking safari experience in the Bwindi impenetrable national park, There are habituated gorilla families that have been made used to human presence for guest visits, and tracking is done beginning in the morning at 8:00 am it takes 2-8 hours doing the activity depending on how far the gorilla families have moved, birding is also done while at the destination and guided nature walks, these are guided by the Uganda wildlife authority team.
Bwindi impenetrable national park can be visited all year round but is best during the dry seasons between June-September and December-February, it is approximately +/-9 hours’ drive to the destination, and flights can be arranged to the Kisoro airstrip they can be charter by scheduled flights through the domestic flight handling companies, it takes 2hr 30 minutes to fly to the destination. It is important to pack right when thinking of visiting the national park including warm clothes, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, waterproof covers for phones and Cameras, rain gear, and any other items of a personal nature.
Trips to Bwindi impenetrable national park can be combined with other national parks, like the Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park, and Kibale forest national park.
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