Community and cultural tours in Uganda allow travelers to uncover and learn the hidden secrets of the country’s ancient times and interact with locals. You will get an insight into their incredible ways of life, admire their unique architectural designs, and listen to interesting folklore that has stood the test of time.
Uganda has over 54 unique tribes with different and extraordinary cultures and traditions, and at every part of the country you will visit it will be possible to experience the breathtaking unique cultures. In summary, Uganda is a melting pot, and you will need a whole year to explore or pages upon pages of guidebooks to exhaust each of the 54 tribes’ cultures and traditions. Therefore, we bring you the most popular and unmissable community and cultural tours in Uganda. These include: –
Visiting the Karamojong people of Northeastern Uganda
If you have visited the Masai villages of Kenya and Tanzania, then you will most likely be interested in experiencing the culture and traditions of the Karamojong, a nomadic tribe in Northeastern Uganda. Karamojong village tours are usually combined with tours of Kidepo Valley National Park where in addition to the rare wildlife and bird species, visitors get the chance to learn about their warrior life, and tour their traditional homesteads known as “Manyattas”. You will learn about their traditional dishes, admire their art and crafts, unique traditional dressing and also get entertained in their breathtaking traditional dances and songs.
The popular Batwa community tours
The Batwa are the original inhabitants of East and Central Africa’s rainforests known for their hunter-gathering culture. During your community and cultural tour to these people, you will be amazed by their traditional hunting demonstration, and fire-making skills by rubbing sticks. Don’t miss out on the music and dance performances, use of herbal medicine, hut building, Bamboo cup making and other amazing activities.
The Batwa are mainly found in areas surrounding Mgahinga Gorilla, Bwindi Impenetrable, and some parts of Semuliki National Parks.
Coffee plantation tours in Eastern Uganda
The volcanic and fertile slopes of Mount Elgon are known for favoring Arabica coffee growing. So, during our community walks in Uganda, we make it possible for visitors to tour the coffee plantations and learn about how this cash crop is grown, harvested/picked, dried and processed.
These plantations make Uganda the second largest exporter of coffee in Africa. You can also enjoy a cup of organic coffee at the end of this guided tour.
Guided tours of the Kingdoms
Uganda has a number of Kingdoms that include Buganda, Toro, Bunyoro, Busoga, Alur, and others, alongside many Chiefdoms. During your community and cultural tours, don’t miss exploring these Kingdoms by visiting their Palaces to learn about their norms, cultures, tools, and symbols.
The Buganda Kingdom is the most popular and can be visited during your Kampala City Tours, followed by the Toro Kingdom which can be explored by travelers visiting Kibale Forest National Park and Fort Portal Town.
Bigodi wetland and community tours
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is one of the successful stories of community-based tourism and is a project found along the edges of Kibale Forest National Park. The verdant sanctuary is found in the 4-square-kilometer Magombe Swamp, about 6 kilometers south of Kanyanchu Visitors’ Center and home to about 200 bird species.
Tourist activities offered here include guided wetland walks, birding tours, as well as cultural/village walks guided by the locals. The revenue from these activities supports community projects like health centers, water sources (wells), and others.
By visiting this site, you will learn about craft making, enjoy a traditional Ugandan meal, learn about banana beer brewing, and be entertained in some of the traditional dances.
Tours at Nshenyi Cultural Village
Situated in southwestern Uganda on a farm close to Kitwe Town in Ntungamo district, about 10 kilometers from Uganda’s border with Tanzania and Rwanda is the renowned Nshenyi Cultural Village. While here, you will experience the traditional lifestyle of the Banyankole people which is centered on cattle rearing.
Get a chance to immerse yourself in the community by taking part in homestead visits, learning about farming tools and techniques through the years. Guided nature/community walks, local school visits, local market walks, and the chance to visit the Batwa pottery makers are all enjoyable.
Here, visitors are also entertained in the traditional music and dance of the southwestern people and take part in milking the legendary long-horned Ankole cows. You will also learn about the processing and presenting of milk, and honey harvesting from the rocks and caves of surrounding areas. Don’t miss learn about traditional crop cultivation and food processing, to mention but a few.