DISCOVER UGANDA
Cultural Tours in Uganda
Cultural Tours in Uganda allow you to explore Uganda’s history and origins; from the pre-colonial era to the post-colonial era. Exploring ancient shrines, kingdoms, and palaces is all part of exploring Uganda’s rich culture and heritage.
Being the epicenter for a variety of top African safari tours such as gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, wildlife safaris, and hiking tours, among others, Uganda also offers unique and exciting cultural tours that attract a variety of cultural tourists from all around the world. With over 56 tribes, Uganda’s culture displays the uniqueness of each tribe based on the various traditions including traditional norms, language, cooking styles, dress code, art, music, and drama. Moreover, Uganda cultural tours are often done in conjunction with several Uganda safaris including wildlife viewing, and gorilla trekking experiences, to mention but a few.
Cultural tours in Uganda will give you a glimpse into some of Uganda’s top cultures: get an opportunity to interact with various cultures and spend time in their company. In addition, get to appreciate cultural dances and folk tales, as well as take part in preparing and enjoying the different local dishes. Furthermore, Uganda cultural tours allow you to explore Uganda’s history and origins; from the pre-colonial era to the post-colonial era. Exploring ancient shrines, kingdoms, and palaces is all part of exploring Uganda’s rich culture and heritage. Here are the most popular Cultural Tours in Uganda:
The Batwa Cultural Trail and Experience
Carried in the gorgeous Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park respectively, the Batwa cultural trail and experience are the most sought-after cultural tours in Uganda. The Batwa cultural trail and Experience is an exciting Cultural Tours in Uganda that takes travelers to explore the ancient life and history of the Batwa people. The Batwa also known as the Batwa Pygmies were the earliest inhabitants of the Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable forests, thousands of years ago. Living in the primeval forests, the Batwa were hunter-gatherers who depended on the forest for every single need including food, shelter, and medicine.
The Batwa survived happily in the forest, away from the chaos of other tribes. However, from the 1930s to the 1990s, major evictions of the Batwa out of the forests began. In efforts to gazette these two into National Parks, to protect the dense forests, as well as the endangered mountain gorillas and other creatures, British colonial authorities and later Ugandan governments drove the Batwa out; since they were considered poachers.
Compelled to live in settlement camps and villages outside Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the Batwa were forced to renounce their forest life; thus, giving up their cultural heritage and lifestyle. But despite maximum efforts by several international and local organizations to ensure a smooth settlement of the Batwa, these people failed to cope with the new lifestyle.
The people that were used to hunting and gathering fruit now had to cultivate farms and plantations to survive. They had to adapt to modern styles of living which came with a magnitude of problems including poverty, sickness, alcoholism, tribal conflicts, etc. It is because of these issues that the Batwa still poaches small animals in the park. Meanwhile, others continue to be beggars as they reminisce about their previous forest life.
The Batwa Cultural Trail in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Batwa Cultural Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are exciting tours initiated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). These tours are meant to benefit the Batwa’s livelihoods through the proceeds from tourism. During the Batwa Cultural Trail and Experience, tourists are taken through the Batwa people’s way of life and history while living in the forest.
Besides exploring their indigenous culture, tourists will also learn why the Batwa have yet to adjust to life outside the forest at the end of the session. Nonetheless, the cultural trail in Mgahinga differs from the cultural experience in Bwindi, because the trail is longer and takes place inside the National Park. The Batwa cultural experience, on the other hand, is shorter and it is done on the outskirts of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Led by the Batwa themselves, the 5-hour Batwa cultural trail begins with a Batwa guide seeking blessings from the ancestors for a safe tour through the forest. Thereafter, tourists will be led through the dense forest as they explore the importance of every plant to the Batwa, their unique techniques of hunting, gathering fruit, preparing the Batwa local dishes, making fire, and building their huts, among others. The trail ends with a visit to their ancient Ngarama Caves where the Batwa kings lived. Throughout the trail, tourists will also enjoy the Batwa folk tales, and at the end of the trail, a traditional performance from the Batwa traditional performers.
The Batwa originally came from the Echuya forest of Central and Eastern Africa, which spans through Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Besides southwestern Uganda’s Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks, the Batwa of Uganda can also be found in Semuliki National Park.
Karamojong Cultural Tour
The Karamojong cultural tour is yet another exciting Cultural Tours in Uganda. Often called the Karamojong village tour, the cultural tour engages tourists in a tour of the Karamojong Manyatta villages located near Kidepo Valley National Park in northeastern Uganda. The Karimojong are legendary warriors and herders who formerly roamed wide swaths of Uganda and East Africa. The Karamojong are Nilotic in origin: they speak a language with Nilo-Saharan Kalenjin origins shared by pastoralists in South Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda. Having originated from Ethiopia around 1600, they reside around Mount Moroto. The Karamojong are divided into clans known as the Bokora, Pian, and Matheniko. Their communities follow headed by the and everything is done democratically.
For hundreds of years, the Karamojong have resided in Uganda’s North Eastern area. The Karamojong have been known to not be an easy tribe; during colonial times, British colonial administrations were unable to manage this tribe of people, and their territory was simply declared off-limits. But despite being traditionally migratory, most of the Karamojong tribes are becoming sedentary.
The Karimojong are traditionally nomadic pastoralists: they rely on livestock, which includes cattle, goats, and sheep. Unlike the rest of Uganda, where most people have embraced Christianity or Islam, the Karamojong still practice their ancient religion and worship a god known as Akuj. For a long time now, the Karamojong have, and still believe, that their god AKUJ gave them all the livestock in their known globe or region of existence and that all the cattle, including of neighboring tribes belong to them.
They are very opposed to harming wild animals while transporting their livestock from one water supply and grazing area to another. When visiting their manyattas, tourists that visit the Karamojong get a glimpse into their everyday life, customs, and culture. The Karamojong cultural tour is usually included on Uganda safari itineraries to Kidepo Valley National Park.
Visiting a Manyatta is a one-of-a-kind experience; everything from the village structure, homesteads, people, and language gives you a sense of solidarity and togetherness. During the visit, tourists are greeted by happy youngsters running around the homesteads. When visiting the Manyattas of Karamoja, the ideal way to end the day is to sing and dance around a constructed fire. After exploring the manyattas and observing the nomadic lifestyle of these people, enjoy traditional dances and performances mostly performed by children and women.
The IK Cultural Experience
Like the Karamojong Cultural Tour, the IK Cultural Experience is also offered as part of Uganda safaris to Kidepo Valley National Park. The IK people are the smallest ethnic group in Uganda, of over 10,000 individuals. Referred to as the “mountain people of Uganda,” the Ik people reside on top of Mount Morungole in North-eastern Uganda’s Kidepo Valley National Park, near the Kenya border. The IK are believed to have come from Ethiopia and originally resided in Kenya before moving to Kidepo Valley National Park. They are traditionally renowned hunters and gatherers, but due to cattle rustling by other tribes such as the Karamojong of Uganda, Turkana, of Kenya, and the Tuposa of South Sudan they gave up cow keeping for subsistence farming, bee-keeping, and goat husbandry.
The IK became famous in the 1970s after appearing in the book by British American anthropologist Colin Turnbull titled, “The Mountain People.” Colin was stunned at how these people lived so peacefully and in harmony on top of a mountain. The IK cultural experience is a one-day tour that involves hiking the lush slopes of Mount Morungole to see the Ik people.
Hiking through Mount Morungole provides tourists with breathtaking views of the surrounding surroundings; thus, one ought to be in good physical shape to visit the IK. Visitors get an opportunity to explore this unique people’s community and learn more about their cultural practices including marriage, farming, and traditional norms, among others.
Kampala Cultural Tour
Kampala is one of the fast-growing African cities and one of the best places to go for African nightlife. However, the city also offers fascinating cultural tours. Being the capital city, Kampala is occupied by various ethnicities of people: nonetheless, the city lies in the Buganda Kingdom region. Buganda kingdom is one of Uganda’s ancient kingdoms and the country’s largest. The Baganda are Uganda’s biggest tribe. They are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group that speaks a language called Luganda. The Baganda live in central Uganda and span over the districts of Kampala, Mpigi, Masaka, Mukono, Mubende, Kalangala, Kiboga, and Rakai, among others.
The Baganda were originally farmers who grew bananas, cassava, yams, sweet potatoes beans, cowpeas, and a variety. They also reared domestic animals such as goats, sheep, cattle, and poultry. The Baganda were extremely skilled in hunting and fishing. The majority of home chores and farming were delegated to women, while men focused on fighting, hunting, and fishing. The Baganda have one of the richest cultures in Uganda and the Kampala cultural tour is centered on exploring their culture and heritage.
Aside from exploring Uganda’s top historical sites such as the Uganda Museum, Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, etc., tourists also get a chance to visit the Buganda Kingdom Palace where the Buganda kings reside, the Bulange Parliament, the burial grounds for Buganda’s kings at Kasubi, and the Kabaka’s lake. A cultural tour of the Baganda people is more of a Kampala City tour. Tourists also get to enjoy authentic cultural performances at Ndere Cultural Center to appreciate Uganda’s diverse culture.
Fort Portal Cultural Tour
Popularly known as the tourism city of Uganda, Fort Portal is also one of the best cultural and historical towns in the country. The town is located in western Uganda’s Kabarole District – the home of the Batooro people and the Tooro Kingdom. Cultural Tours to Fort Portal include exploring various sites such as the Palace of the Tooro King, the Omukama, Karambi Tombs, and Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru. Moreover, tourists can also stroll through the local markets and villages to see how the locals live.
Nshenyi Village Cultural Tour
Nshenyi Cultural Village is a community in Uganda about 10 kilometers from the borders of Rwanda and Tanzania, about an hour from Mbarara City, and six hours from Kampala. The village has over the years become a cultural center and a neighborhood tourist magnet. Often visited on Uganda safaris to Lake Mburo National Park, the village is touted as a farmhouse where tourists may learn about the culture and way of life of the locals. Cultural Village allows visitors to learn about Ankole culture while enjoying the gorgeous backdrop of western Uganda’s countryside. Nshenyi Cultural Village, a family-owned business, directly supports over a dozen households in the surrounding region. The cultural village is anchored in the traditions of the people who have historically relied on the elegant long-horned Ankole cow. Tourists get to engage in the day’s agricultural tasks, such as milking the cows before breakfast, cleaning the kraals, preparing ghee, touring the cattle farm and house, as well as visiting a community school during their homestay experience.
In general, Uganda has a variety of cultures that are worth exploring; besides the above popular cultural tours, other ideal Uganda cultural tours include the Entanda Cultural Experience, the Imbalu Cultural Ceremony, Visiting the Boma Women’s Group of Bunyoro, to mention but a few. Best Uganda cultural sites to visit also include the Nyero Rock Paintings, Naggalabi Coronation Center, Sezibwa Falls, Igongo Cultural Center, Bigo bya Mugenyi, and so many others.
