Visiting the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda

Visiting the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda can be done in areas Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Ichuya Forest, Lake Mutanda, Lake Bunyonyi, Kabale and Kisoro. Batwa cultural encounters and experience is one of the best activities to do after gorilla trekking. On Batwa cultural experience tour you will be guided by one of the Batwa guides giving you an opportunity to learn about the traditional forest life of the Batwa in Bwindi Forest which is historically the home of the Batwa, you will also enjoy the traditional dances of the Batwa and Stone Age including making traditional fire making among others.

Batwa in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in the southern part of Uganda sharing a border with Congo, it is one of the only two national parks in Uganda where you can trek and see the magnificent Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat in the world, it is home to more than half of the only remaining Mountain Gorillas in the wild making it famous and best place to trek the Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi Forest National park is divided into different sections/sectors where you can do the Gorilla tracking experience namely Rushaga, Buhoma, and Ruhija and Nkuringo sector.

Bwindi Forest National Park has different habituated gorilla families open for gorilla tracking experience, each gorilla family has different gorilla individuals, and each gorilla family is headed and controlled by the dominant male gorilla the Silverback. For you to go on the trek, you are required to have a Gorilla permit valid for trekking that day. Gorilla permits are limited in number per day given it is only 8 people allowed to trek per gorilla family per day in Bwindi Forest National Park.

Batwa in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga National Park is found Kisoro district southwestern Uganda, East Africa. Mgahinga gorilla national park is among the Virunga volcanic mountain chain of Rwanda, Congo and Uganda famous for Mountain gorilla safaris. The park is Uganda’s smallest national park which is boarded by Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda. Mgahinga gorilla national park has three volcanoes namely Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo and Mountain Muhabura all of which are part of the six Virunga Mountains and conservation area. Mgahinga National Park harbors the endangered mountain gorilla and the Golden Monkeys.  The park is a tropical rain forest comprised of lowland equatorial evergreen forest, tropical seasonal forest, montane rain forests and mountain Bamboo.

Other activities to do while Visiting the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda

Nature walk

The Nature walk is done in Bwindi forest it is a very exciting activity to do apart from gorilla habituation which gives you an opportunity to learn more about tree species as well other wildlife species in the forest. In Ruhija you will also visit the Mubwindi swamp great for sighting birds.

Bird Watching in Ruhija

At Ruhija you can do Bird watching after gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest which has over 400 bird species while your stay here you will have a chance to spot some birds, you can as well organize with the lodge for a full day birding activity. The main birding trail in Ruhija is Mubwindi Swamp.

Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park Ishasha and Mweya

Ruhija sector is located close to Queen Elizabeth National park, with this your stay here during your gorilla trek you are able to visit both sections of Mweya and Ishasha for wildlife viewing and game safari.

Cultural Community Encounters

After gorilla trekking in Ruhija you can enjoy the traditional cultural dances from the local people and Batwa pygmies, visiting the Iron smelters, basket weavers and honey collectors, and storytelling from local elders about the rich history and culture of bakiga which is done over a camp fire in the evening at your lodge. The community encounter completes your African trip and we shall be glad to organize this for you.

Mountain Bicycle Tours

While at the camp after your gorilla trek we can organize for you guided bicycle tours where you able to visit the communities and villages neighboring the Camp, This can be organized in advance at a small cost.

Local community visits in Ruhija will take you through local villages which provide insights into the lives of the Bakiga and Batwa pygmy people living beside the Bwindi forest. Other activities that can be done in Ruhija after gorilla trekking include yoga at the Lodge, volunteering which is done in the local community schools and projects and Butterfly watching which is done at night among others.

Where to stay in Ruhija sector

Lodges where to stay during your gorilla trek in Ruhija include Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Trekkers Tvern Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Ruhija Campsite and Agadi Eco Lodge among others. Contact us here for reservation and booking details.

What is the best time to Visit the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda

Visiting the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park the best time is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this is makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of mountain gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown

How to get to Ruhija for Visiting the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda

By road: You can get to Ruhija sector from Kampala/Entebbe by private and public transport which is approximately 8-9 hours, for public transport you will need to board buses that go to Kanyantorogo or Butogota and Buhoma towns then from here you can hire a motorcycle (boda bodas) to take you to Trekkers Tavern Cottages which costs around USD10.

By air: You can get to Ruhija sector by flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro, or from Kajjansi airstrip and Garuga airstrip to Kayonza airstrip from here you will be transfer to the hotel, the hotel can as well organize for you the transfer

How to book a gorilla permit for trekking in Ruhija

All gorilla permits are sold at Uganda Wildlife Authority, for you to book a gorilla permit for trekking in Ruhija sector of Bwindi, you will need to follow a simple procedure as explained. Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email here so that we check for availability of gorilla permits online with Uganda Wildlife Authority once we confirmed permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for Gorilla Trekking in Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Why book your Visiting the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda with Eco Adventure Safaris?

Eco Adventure Safaris will help you book your gorilla trek in the Ruhija sector Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park contact us and we advise you on the booking process. We as well have different gorilla safari packages to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury options that we can book for you including the gorilla trekking permits. Feel free to checkout our TripAdvisor reviews and read from a community of happy satisfied clients. With us, you can be rest assured of a memorable Uganda safari holiday. We are devoted to providing excellent service and customer satisfaction. Our team of excellent tour consultants is always willing to help answer all your safari questions. We guarantee you a great gorilla tour in Bwindi with us. Contact us about Visiting the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda