26/05/2023
Uganda Local Community Tourism Experience
META DESCRIPTION: Experience the local community on a cultural and social level, gives opportunities to all stakeholders to share their benefits. Experience the real Uganda.
Experience Community tourism is a responsible form of tourism that allows visitors to closely connect with the local communities visited. It aims at strengthening the relationships between the host country and the visitors, fostering opportunities for the local people wishing to engage more in the tourism industry.
Most Safaris in Uganda have mostly been offering wildlife experiences, white water rafting and views of the beautiful sceneries. As most tourists in Uganda come for gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, but there is much more that Uganda can offer other than wildlife and one of them is Experience community.
With the number of tourists perceiving Uganda as a unique and thrilling tourism destination to experience community tourism locals are becoming more sustainable. A form of tourism that supports community development in partnership with tourists.
Experience Community tourism in Uganda includes many activities as mentioned in this website and these include performances, workshops, dining, accommodation, homestays and many more presented by the local people. And a percentage of the income from tourists in these communities is often put into community funds.
The Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) frontiers the development of community based tourism in Uganda. It helps local communities to better their lives through selling handcrafts, traditional performances, provision of accommodation and tour guiding.
UCOTA in conjunction with the tour operators of Uganda work tirelessly to promote community based tourism. So every time travelers buy UCOTA product, they are building lives of the people in the hosting local communities.
Community tours in Uganda offer visitors a unique and authentic experience of Ugandan lifestyle. Feed on the local food, teach the kids in the local school, meet the locals on community walks guided by experts who have for long lived here, if not the whole of their lives. Also directly engage in village projects like school or clinic construction by working with the construction team or you can even donate to the project.
Experiencing local community brings thrilling experiences to the tourist as well as enabling the generated revenue from tourism to remain in the rural and local communities. Local projects operate small enterprises like craft making, music, dance and drama managed by local people hence creating job opportunities in the regions.
Uganda has many community tourism destination and one of them is Bwindi impenetrable national park , where a cultural walk can be arranged after your hike from seeing mountain gorillas which gives visitors a taste of the Ugandan lifestyle. Meet the local people and see the way of life through their eyes. A taste of the local food and a homestay is a guarantee except to those that don’t want to.
Other experience community destinations in Uganda include; the Ankole Cultural Center surrounding Lake Mburo National Park, the salt plains and fishing villages in Queen Elizabeth national park, Bigodi wetland outside Kibale national park, Kanyanda community experience near Kampala and many other communities.
Uganda community Experience destinations
Being in sustainable tourism and conservation industry we feel it is the duty of everyone in our realm of business to support organisations who are going the extra mile to conserve out wildlife from extinction either through poaching or human encroachment and mismanagement of our magnificent world. We also feel that the way forward is through education and development of the under privileged and rural communities many of which have little if any education and food supplies.
Please take a look at the following sustainable community groups and support these well established, ethical and honest programs .
1. Kiryandongo Community Sustainable tourism village.
Kiryandongo Community Sustainable Tourism Village is a place where you'll find the perfect mix of culture and adventure.
The culture of the Batooro people: an informative page with the history and details of their tradition. The Kiryandongo community tourism village was found in the year of 2007. The founder of the village is the king of Batooro chief- Sir Bartimuuso Kayoonza Tooro.
If you're looking for an adventure that will put your skills to the test and give you some bragging rights, then Kiyrandongo Community sustainable tourism village is the place for you.
While here one is able to do some challenging trekking chimpanzee activity where you shall have a chance of the vast number of primates in Kibale forest National Park. You can also have an amazing Cultural Dance and Musical experience that is organised by the local people of the community whereby the tourists would also be a part of the dance completions and lots of musical songs.
It is here that one can visit the pink blossoms tea plantations as you’re on your way on the Kiryandongo Community experience. One can also participate in the traditional ancestral Hurting where tourists would be able to watch and learn about how these local people react when they are hurt or injured in their bodies from fighting with their enemies.
More so, tourist can carry out nature walks through beautiful plantain forests as well as community walks whereby tourist would be able to observe these various local people livelihoods
2. KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
BIGODI WETLAND SANCTUARY: One of the best guided bird trails in East Africa make your trek through the wetland a journey of discovery. Visitors can expect to see at least 5-6 different primate species which reside in Kibale Forest National Park including chimpanzees, gorillas, baboons and red colobus monkeys at over 730sqkm. The swamps are a haven for a huge number of bird and butterfly species and so ornithologists will be in great delight as they trek through the rich wetlands accompanied by the great diversity of sights and sounds of the beaked and tuneful residents.
CULTURAL / FARM WALK: A popular option for tourists wishing to explore the local culture, this tour begins and ends at the Lodge, which is located in the lovely tourist city, Fort Portal. The walk includes visiting the tea plantations, where lodges grow buy tea locally made. On the walk you also encounter farm gardens, a wide variety of birds and some small primates. After this you have time to relax before returning up to the lodge during sunset.
3. Nshenyi Community Cultural Village.
Nshenyi Cultural Village is a cultural village located on a farm near Kitwe Town on the edge of Ntungamo District. It is a thirty minute drive from Ntungamo Town centre, or an hour’s drive from Mbarara. Traditionally, Nshenyi is a pastoralist area. The terrain is characterized by endless rolling hills, savanna grass and acacia trees, an environment that is ideal for rearing cattle.
You will experience the traditional lifestyle of Banyankole people when you visit this cultural village in Uganda. Through the various activities, you will immerse yourself in the community through nature walks, visiting homesteads and learn about the farming tools and techniques passed on through the ages, participate in likes of milking of long horned Ankole cows visit farmers that harvest honey from the caves and rocks of the surrounding hills, traditional homestead crop Cultivation and food processing, pottery works. You will also experience local homesteads, markets and schools where you can interact with people from different walks of life such as teachers, students and farmers.
Take nature walks through the farm where you can see indigenous trees being planted like Baobab tree which gives us food for shade during rainy seasons.
4. Entandda Community Cultural Adventure
The Entanda Cultural Adventure has been established to preserve, exhibit and educate people about the Buganda Cultures
Entanda Cultural Adventure is a Buganda cultural Adventure center that was founded with a basic core objective of preserving, exhibiting and educating people about the Buganda Cultures Norms and tradition to travels. The Entanda Cultural Adventure is dedicated towards creating a platform to share the Baganda Cultural values to travelers as well as developing the livelihoods of the fellow kings’ men that participate in the Entanda Cultural Adventure projects. In the process the community manage to mobilize its members under supervision of community Elders and come up with numerous activities of which to entertain guests alongside boost the Cultural valves of Baganda Kingdom.
5. Ruhija Community Tourism Village
Ruhija Community Tourism Village is a community based tourism project that is working hard to promote tourism in the area, create employment, give the local people a new source of income and to help them protect the environment.
Join us on this walk as we help support new ways to make a living in Ruhija in the beautiful Bwindi Impenetrable Forest N.P. by creating opportunities for tourism to create new possibilities by getting closer to the local people and making their lives better through community tourism. The goal is to give support to Batwa and an orphan and disadvantaged children's school.
At Ruhija Community Tourism Village, you will see their traditional dances, huts, fire making and hunting technique which is too interesting to hear," said a guide guiding his clients to the site. There is also a rich story about how they had lived in the forest.
6. Ruboni Community Tourism Village
The Ruboni Village is one of the most fascinating places to visit while on a safari in Uganda. The place is located on the foothill of Rwenzori Mountains, a short distance away from Queen Elizabeth and Rwenzori Mountains National Park. It offers a lot of activities for tourists to participate in such as; you will get to see some of the wildlife on top of experiencing breathtaking cultural encounters, hence making it a perfect place for going off the beaten track. While here, you will get the opportunity to experience a typical Ugandan rural life as you meet the elders of the Village who will narrate about some of the ancient traditions of the Bakonzo people, get the chance to taste some of their local cuisines, visit black smiths who curve metals into different tools including knives and visit traditional healers among other activities.
It is a place where tourists can experience Ugandan rural life, meet the elders who narrate about some of the ancient traditions, visit the black smiths who curve metals and visit traditional healers among other activities. The village also introduces tourists to several hikes and homestay facilities.
7. Queen Elizabeth National Park
The Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most fascinating experience in Uganda. It is a must to visit this park and spend some time in the village of Katwe. Experience the culture, history, and tradition of Uganda through this amazing African park that is home to more than 50 ethnic groups. The land here is rich with evidence of ancient civilizations that have left their mark on mankind. Katwe is home to Uganda’s oldest industry. Here salt is mined in the traditional manner and the salt ore looks the same as it did in the 14th century. The Salt Mine has been divided and distributed to various tribes in Uganda according to traditional cultural expectations.
8. Lake Mburo National Park
The Banyakole community surrounding Lake Mburo National Park have created the ‘Ankole Cultural Centre’ to highlight the customs and history of their kingdom. A visit to the Centre will introduce you to the traditional culture of the area and the local way of life. Distinctive Ankole handmade crafts can be purchased as souvenirs. Typical village houses can be visited and Ankole guides will explain their people’s history and lifestyle. Distinctive Ankole handmade crafts can be purchased as souvenirs.
The centre also has a restaurant which serves local food including grilled chicken, peanut stew and rice with fish soup, all cooked in an authentic way using local ingredients. If you are looking for something different from tourist traps then this is a great way to experience local life at its best!
9. Murchison falls community experience.
The remote community of Mubako is located beside the sprawling savannah of Murchison Falls National Park, in the sun-drenched northwestern region of Uganda. The village is a collection of traditional thatched mud huts around a central clearing, where villagers gather to escape the midday sun and the shade of a large tree. In this dry climate, Mubako has a small craft shop selling carved wooden sculptures and handwoven items made by community members. At dusk, the local cultural groups Alur and Campfire perform vibrant songs and dances around the campfires of local lodges, accompanied by the beautiful sound of the adungu. This instrument, originating from this region, is made of cowhide and twine, and the harmonies of various-sized adungus against a sunset backdrop is wonderful.
Highlights: With friendly local guides, you can enjoy the unique sounds of the adungus and percussion – all made by hand! Hike to the nearly deserted Mubako Hill and watch the young dancers put on a lively show as the sun sets over the backdrop of the Nile.
10. Kidepo National Park Community Visit Experience
If you're looking for a chance to experience the rich cultural heritage of Uganda, then Kidepo National Park Community tours are for you.
The Karamojong people are similar to the Masai people of Kenya and Tanzania described by their pastoral activities. They have a range of traditional instruments like the costumes, jewelry, stools, spears, bows, knives and beads.
The homesteads are constructed inform of grass thatched and a community is composed of an extended family, each with their own house and family. The community tours include the Lorukul village that is situated just outside the park boundaries and the Ik people are can only be seen on a hike to mount Morungole. Physically participate or explore in the cultural activities/practices of the communities in Kidepo where you will enjoy doing and learning the cultural traditions and lifestyle of the community while on your safari tour in Kidepo National Park Community Tours!
11. Ndere Cultural Dance Experience
The Ndere Troupe was founded by Rwangezi Stephen in 1986 as a cultural organisation for universal unity through music, dance and drama. The troupe is among over 1600 Uganda development theatre association groups entertaining and educating people through music , dance and drama. Have a look at our cultural dance experience, you will receive special privileges and perks across many parts of at their facility every time you pay us a visit. You will be immersed in African Dance, Local Cuisines and the exotic culture of Africa. We will help you make memories that last a lifetime!
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