What You’ll Do
The Batwa Trail Experience is an opportunity for visitors to the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to experience the Batwa culture and history. It offers a glimpse into the historical lifestyles of this marginalized community from the perspective of ancient forest life.
The Batwa Trail Cultural Tour explores how the Batwa indigenous communities lived in the gorilla forests before eviction in the early 1990s. Trained Batwa cultural guides will lead the cultural experience and showcase the ancestral practices such as hunting, fruit gathering, fire making, and the construction of grass thatched huts. The tour ends with an exploration of the Garama Cave, a site where the ancient Batwa king used to reside. At the cave’s entrance, you can find a group of Batwa people singing songs of grief and sorrow for the loss of the forest lands.
The Batwa are currently residing on the outskirts of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park as well as on the periphery of Bwindi National Park. The Batwa, who no longer access the forests for economic survival, struggle to meet the necessities of daily life. The income collected from the Batwa Trail Experience supports Batwa families to get the basic household necessities. The Uganda Wildlife Authority manages the revenue distribution of the Batwa tour.
Tour Highlights
Explore the historical significance of gorilla tourism on the lives of the Batwa indigenous communities of Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks
Learn about the traditional lifestyles of the Batwa people
Discover the traditions of ancient forest life
Learn about the eviction of the Batwa indigenous communities in the early 1990s
An opportunity to support indigenous groups and give back to the community
Get a complete perspective of the area and its history
Trip Details
Price
Adults (10-80): $100
Departure Time
8:00 am
Meeting Point
- We offer pick-up from your guesthouse or lodge in Kisoro town
Availability
Monday to Sunday, year-round
Duration
4-5 hours
Difficulty Level
Moderate
Group size
1 to 5 persons
Included
- Admission fee
- Activity fee
Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Transport
What to Bring
- Raincoat
- Comfortable walking shoes
Participation Requirements
Age limit: all participants must be aged between 10 and 80 years old