Best places to experience Uganda traditions
Most of the national parks in Uganda have different ethnic groups staying around them, implying different traditions, customs, food and way of life. Visiting these communities gives you an insight on the survival of these people as they take you through their day to day activities that define their livelihood. You can enjoy different cultural counters when you visit the destinations below:
Bwindi Forest National Park
Here you will embark on a 3 hr village walk and also visit the indigenous Batwa Community group that will give you performances through music, dance and drama about their previous ancient lives while in the forest and here you will learn more about the methods they applied to survive in the thick forest.
Semliki National Park
Visit Semliki National Park and involve yourself in the traditional norms and cultures of the indigenous Batwa people/ community who are hunters and food gatherers in Semliki forest. Some of the needs they get from the thick forest include medicine/ herbs, food, shelter and tools which has improved their lives since the ancient times. A cultural village is being constructed to enable the Batwa people present their enriched cultural history through a variety of performances like music, dance and drama relating their lives back in the days when they inhabited the thick forest.
Kibale Forest National Park
The Bigodi community in Kibale National Park offers a guided cultural walk via the Magombe swamp wetlands where you will spot many wildlife species like 8 different primates, bird species, several butterflies, swampy vegetation and the traits of the Batooro people. You will involve in village walks and breaks at local schools, churches, and traditional healing centers as well as the Kibale Association for Rural Environment Development (KAFRED) a community based organization that was founded to improve the lives of people by providing them with education and good health.
Kidepo National Park
Cultural encounters in Kidepo National Park are presented through performances by the local people who elaborate more about their generational existence from way back in time. A variety of traditional dances are performed with the unique African culture including the Emuya of the Nyangia, Naporre ethnic groups with Larakaraka as well as the Apiti dances which are usually presented by the natives of Acholi land.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
The cultural traditions and customs of the indigenous Batwa community that inhabited the thick vegetation forests where they hunted animals, gathered food and got medicine. After the foundation of the park, the indigenous community was expelled from the forest which transformed their lifestyles and the only time they are allowed to penetrate through the forest is during times when visitors want to explore their previous lives.
Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village in Rwanda
The customary Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village experience usually happens after the exciting encounter with the endangered species of Mountain Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park. During the whole experience you will be welcomed with dances and presentations from the local people and you will learn a lot of activities like drumming, shooting a bow, collecting local medicine from the forest, cooking, gathering and hunting techniques that were used to catch wildlife.
Above are just a few Uganda traditions you can enjoy on your safari in Uganda, there is tradition everywhere in Uganda from the way people greet ,dress and different foods incliding the famous Luwombo from Buganda, Eshabwe from Ankole, Atapa from the land of Teso, Malakwang from Acholi and Maleewa from the Bagisu of the East.
Participating in the Batwa trail, stopping by the museum, Igongo Cultural Centre, Ndere Centre, the national theatre, a home visit while at Queen Elizabeth National Park will give you an insight into the tradition and customs of Uganda.
