UGANDA – VISIT TO THE BATWA TRIBE
Departing from Kigali, we cross the border into Uganda where our Ugandan guide will pick us up, and we head to the Bwindi Rainforest. But first, a stop for a Batwa experience. The Batwa are one of the most distinctive tribes in Uganda – and visiting them is an experience that goes beyond classic tourism and connects the traveler with the cultural heart of Africa. Also known as the "people of the forest", the Batwa were the first inhabitants of the ecosystem that we now know as Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. On our visit, with respect and financial support for the community, we learn about traditional hunting techniques, the use of medicinal plants and their symbiotic relationship with the forest. We watch traditional dances and songs, with drums and authentic costumes. We enter traditional huts, and hear stories from the elders of the tribe about what life was like before they were removed from the forests. The experience is not a tourist spectacle – it is a deeply human encounter, highlighting issues of rights, survival and cultural identity. This visit is a reminder that traveling to Africa is not only about animals and landscapes, but also stories of people who stand the test of time. Immediately afterwards, check in to our hotel and rest.