UGANDA CULTURAL TOURS
Uganda is known for its beautiful natural setup blessed with a number of flora and fauna, to topple the angelic nature it has an amalgamation of different cultures each of which presents a unique way of doing things from norms, customs, beliefs and traditions. There are four major kingdoms and well organised chiefdoms in the country, cultural tours give a chance to explore more into the African culture, meet the local communities, interact and share experiences. Tribes present their cultures through traditional songs, dances, and folk telling, most visited tribes include the Batwa, Karamojong’s, Ankole, Buganda, and Acholi.
Ugandans is comprised of four ethnic group of people the Bantu occupying the largest part of the country, Nilotic, Nilohermites, and the Kalenjin. Cultural tours entice your stay especially when seeking to relax and enjoy the moment watching different dances, how these people used to live, telling stories is extremely over whelming. Cultural tours will include visiting the Buganda kingdom, Toro palace, Uganda museum, Batwa cultural experience, Ankole kingdom, The Karamojong people, Religious centres to mention a few.
The Batwa (pygmies) people a group of the last short structured people in Uganda they tend to be the most visited due to their strategic location near the gorilla destinations Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park, experiencing this culture is through songs and dances the Batwa lived in the forest together with other great apes of the forest, they were the original keepers of the area hunting and gathering food, however due to conservation purposes, they were evicted to the neighbouring villages were they continued living and entertaining travellers, adding a cultural experience to your gorilla safari would be a more exciting experience. The Batwa cultural experience is done on the Batwa trail where you get a chance to interact with the pygmies, dancing and singing to traditional songs, make fires locally, and show you how they used traditional medicine. A day spent with these people gives you a chance to hike the forest with people who know and understand the forest, they will make you see the forest through their eyes.
Nshenyi cultural village is placed in the Ankole region towards Ntungamo district, it is a pastoralist’s area characterised by rolling beautiful hills banana and tea plantations, a stay at the village will make you experience the Banyankole traditional way of living you get to the community through walks, visiting home steads and learn about old farm tools that have been passed on to generations, local markets and schools. Nshenyi village cultural activities are passed through experiencing the traditional dance and music of the western part of Uganda, watch or participate in the milking of the Ankole long horned cows, tree planting among other aspects.
The Karamojong is a tribe in the northern part of Uganda, their villages (manyattas) are situated near the Kidepo valley national park, a visit to the Karamojong’s can be very educative and enlightening as many people don’t know of the tribe, a lot has been preserved over the years they are among the few cultures that have not been eroded by western civilization, going to the manyattas is a unique experience it gives you a sense of togetherness in the community barely dressed children will welcome you with a brilliant smile, the older people are not dressed that much but covered in traditional marks and beads.
Buganda is an ancient historical place known for having the richest culture in the country, a tour to the royal kingdom, the Kasubi royal tombs is worth not missing besides the inside Buganda, there are many historical sites and monuments around Kampala, museum, churches and mosques for example the Namirembe cathedral, Bahai temple, Gadhafi mosque, Namugongo church, Idi Amin torture chamber. All this can be experienced on a one day excursion around Kampala.
Circumcision in Uganda is practised by a Bantu speaking group of people the Bagisu and Kalenjin’s, on very even year they perform traditional dances as a way of initiating young boys into adult hood, there is a lot of entertainment as they get to drum, sing and dance to traditional music. It’s advisable to visit in the particular year to witness how they perform.
Cultural tours take place all throughout the year but best during the dry seasons of December-February, June to Mid-September a time with less rains and best to visit. Uganda cultural tours can be organised depending on how many days one would love to spend with these hospitable people, cultural safaris can be combined alongside gorilla trekking adventure safaris.