Batwa people are one of the popular cultural tribes to visit in Uganda and Rwanda while on your cultural safari in Africa, they are known as popular hunters who were using forests as their Shelter and used to feed on bush meat.

They are believed to have migrated from the Ituri forest reserve of the Democratic Republic of Congo searching for what to eat and they settled in Echuya Forest Reserve in Kisoro where they discovered wide range of Wildlife primates like Kobs, Impala, Cheetah and more suitable for hunting.

After the establishment of both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes and Mgahinga Forest National Park made the authorities to evict these Batwa people from Forests.

This made them fill discriminated in the Society, but the intention of the responsible authorities was to prevent Wildlife primates from hunting and poaching since these people were ground dwelling hunters & gatherers.

Batwa Cultural Experience in Uganda

When it comes to Batwa people they are commonly known in Uganda and Rwanda, these people in Uganda are commonly found in Mgahinga National park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where they settled after migrating from Ituri Forest reserve of Democratic Republic of Congo.

These people are un exceptional to visit if you intend to do a cultural tour in Uganda because of their authentic cultural performances like dances, Cultural instrumental playing  and activities practiced by them like making  fire out of stones, preparation of some local food, use of hunting tools and more.

In Uganda this Batwa cultural experience is only done in Mgahinga National Park where you visit these people in their local communities and interact with them, this experience costs $80 USD per person.

These people are collaborative and welcoming only that they used to feel discriminated after being dismissed from the suburbs of the parks but now they are used to it after frequent visits by people from different societies to their local communities and interact with them.

Batwa Cultural Experience in Rwanda

After migration by these people from Democratic Republic of Congo some part settled in Uganda and others settled in Rwanda, therefore while in Rwanda for Cultural tours it’s a mess finishing it without visiting these people in their local communities.

In the past these people were great hunters who used to hunt wildlife primates like Kobs, Impalas, Monkeys, cheetah and more which was a dangerous practice to the Wildlife diversity and it led to diminishing tourism in the economy but after a great sensitization about the beauty of Wildlife to these Batwa people they are now upgrading into real people in their communities who are now enforcing conservation programs.

Regarding Rwanda these Batwa people are found in Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village where all cultural performances are done like dances, use of some Cultural tools, moving around the Village, interacting with these people and more.

This Iby’Iwacu cultural experience takes about two hours and to do it you must pay some money towards the funding of these local people in their communities which goes for $20 USD per person but if you decide to do a full day experience while with these local people it goes for $30 USD per person.

After this visit you will be left with a great memory to remember including some photos taken while in contact with these people.