Buhoma Community Village Walk – Meet the Villagers beyond Gorillas
This 3 hour Village Walk introduces you to the people and their culture living near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the Buhoma Area.
The Buhoma Community Village Walk is about the closest cultural encounter that Gorilla Trekkers will have while staying in the Buhoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The Buhoma Village walk can be done by most after Gorilla Trekking since most often, the Gorilla Trek is over by then.
The Buhoma Community Village Walk is a cultural learning experience for most. Here you find out how the people in this village live. Life is quite different from the lodge where you are staying. The key to a culturally enriching community walk in Buhoma is the guide you will have, and it is good to be somewhat selective.
The three-hour Buhoma Community Village Walk gives you a glimpse into what life is like in the local community.
Is it an Authentic Experience? A question our clients going on Safari asks us. Authenticity is something defined not by us, a tour operator, but by the one taking the Village walk. For most, it is an enriching, interactive learning experience.
The Buhoma Village Walk is one of the famous “things to do and see” for Gorilla Trekkers in the Buhoma area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The Buhoma Community Village Walk gives you insights into the lives of local people in the Buhoma area. It is also a community organized activity that directly benefits members of the community.
The Buhoma Community Village Walk with your guide begins at Buhoma Community Rest Camp and is most informative, rewarding to the average visitor. It will amaze you how resourceful the local people are as you see and learn their ways.
The first stop is observing women create handicrafts at the crafts center, and of you, of course, can buy some of them, and those creating the baskets and other crafts will be most appreciative.
A waterfall in the middle of the farmland provides a respite for the eyes. You will also see how hard women are working in the fields tending to their crops, eking out an existence. There is no rotor-tiller – just a hoe and hard work.
In season see how tea is picked and how the skilled pickers pick just the newest leaves. These serene hillsides lend themselves to growing an excellent variety of tea – and indeed, you can take some home and enjoy it back in your country. As you sip it – you can recall your time at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Stop along the Muyaga River and see women traditionally washing clothes by hand – there is no whirlpool washing machine here – just hands – look on the rocks, and you will see hundreds of multi-color butterflies – a beautiful sight.
Stop in the middle of a Banana plantation where there is local brewing demonstration using Bananas, including the distilling of a local gin made from Bananas (Waragi-a term that comes from War Gin as Ugandan soldiers returned from WWII – they coined it such). Uganda is the original Banana Republic in a literal sense. It produces more Bananas (over 50 varieties) than any other country except Brazil, not bad for a country the size of the state of Oregon. Also, you can sample the local beer made from Bananas – Heineken watch out – here comes-Bwindi Banana Brew-soon to be marketed worldwide.
Traditional Healer -no, he is not a witch doctor but someone who knows what to use from the forest for ailments – you will be amazed at this informative demonstration.
Visit the local Mukono Primary School and meet children and the teachers – amazing how one can learn without electricity, lights, computers – but the most fantastic thing is the beautiful spirit of the children.
Last – there is a visit to the Batwa Pygmy community – the original people of the forest – those who lost their homes when Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park was created – ending with traditional dancing.
Three hours of informative enjoyment – a most rewarding walk, and by taking this walk, you directly supported the local community. This village walk can also be made on a mountain bike guided tour through the “Ride for a Woman” self-help project.
Spontaneous Cultural Encounters are the best and most enriching. Take a stroll on your own down Buhoma Main Street and enjoy it.
If you like to take the Buhoma Community Village Walk while on Safari with us – please let us know.
