Planning for Community tours and village walks in Semuliki National Park? Experience the culture of the Batwa pygmies and the Ntoroko fishing community near Semuliki National Park. These communities are only a few minutes’ drive from the park and can be visited any time of the year.
Local guides lead the walks and act as interpreters, making the cultural tour easy and enjoyable. You will also get a chance to join in the daily activities at the Boma Cultural Village located at the park boundaries.
During the tour, you will learn about Batwa traditions, their way of life, and how they once lived together with wildlife before the area was gazetted as a national park by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. For many years, the Batwa depended on the Semuliki forest for food, medicine, perfumes, and bark cloth.
When the area was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1932, the communities were evicted and forced to settle along the park boundaries. Today, the Boma Village is growing and welcomes many visitors each year. Guests enjoy listening to traditional stories, watching dances, and hearing songs backed by drums.
Before starting the village walk, you will rest after a short entertainment session. During this time, you may be served some of their local dishes. Afterward, you set off to visit different homes and learn about how people live in the area. The homes of the elders are especially important to visit, as they share stories about life in the forest. They explain what foods they used to eat, which plants served as herbal medicine, the tools they used, and how they hunted animals for meat.
Before leaving, it is encouraged to support the villagers by buying some of their crafts or items. Giving support not only helps the community but also strengthens the bond between visitors and locals.
Community tours and village walks in Semuliki National Park give you a chance to take home stories and memories you will always remember.
