When you talk about Uganda safaris, what clicks to most travelers’ minds is either mountain gorilla trekking adventures or big game safaris. However, there are many ways to explore and experience Uganda and cultural safaris are of no doubt most travelers’ bucket-list experience. This makes Uganda an exceptional safari destination with so many opportunities offering everyone on Uganda safari holiday possibility to realize his or her travel dream. Cultural safaris in Uganda are considered a must-do by most tourists on Uganda safaris to national parks or other protected areas.
Cultural safaris in Uganda provide tourists a chance to enjoy the country’s unique cultures, dances, traditions and a lot more. Uganda is well-known as a boiling pot of cultures, hosting over 65 variant tribal groups. The country’s cultures feature a mixture of art, music, dances, traditional practices to mention but a few. The diverse tribal groups live harmoniously despite the fact that they speak distinct languages, something that sets Uganda as one of the best and the most preferred safari destinations in Africa.
If you are enthusiastic about cultures, then cultural safaris in Uganda are worth your trip to Africa. Not only will you have a close interaction with local residents but you will get the best definition of authentic African experience. Ugandans are generally warm welcoming, humble and the rated as the friendliest.
Unlike other African states, every tribal group in Uganda has its culture represented by the Centralized Monarchical Kingdoms and Chiefdoms, most of which have existed before even colonial era. These include Buganda (covering Central Uganda), Acholi in the North, Tooro and Bunyoro. While on cultural safaris in Uganda, you get exposed to the country’s distinct history worth sharing, plus different traditions, norms, music performances and many more.
Best places to go for cultural safaris in Uganda
When it comes to cultural safaris in Uganda, you won’t run out of choice. There are many most amazing cultural sites worth exploring. Among the many iconic cultural sites and cultural safari experiences in Uganda the pearl of Africa includes;
The Batwa trail in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The Batwa trail is one best trail tourists on gorilla trekking or golden monkey tracking safaris to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park shouldn’t miss hitting. If you have ever heard about the Batwa pygmies with their unique cultures, traditions, lifestyles then hitting this trail lets you have an in-depth exploration about these famous forest dwellers.
The Batwa community experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The Batwa community experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park also presents an incredible opportunity for tourists on gorilla safaris in Uganda to explore about the Batwa pygmies. The Batwa are well-known to have spent more than 500000 years of their lives hunting and gathering fruits but lived harmoniously with wildlife including mountain gorillas before the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest was designated a national park to offer refuge to the endangered mountain gorillas and other wildlife.
The IK people on Mount Morungole.
The IK people make up a population of about 10000 and they live on Morungole Mountain Northeastern Uganda. Visiting their community involves you hiking to the top of the mountain. However, you will have the best of your cultural safari experience in addition to big game viewing tour experience in Kidepo Valley National Park or Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve.
Bugisu region
The famous cultural practice in Bugisu region, eastern Uganda is the Imbalu circumcision. It is a distinct cultural experience in Uganda and partially Kenya where some Bagisu dwell. The event is carried out after each even year and it is a practice aimed at initiating boys into adults. To be respected or considered a man in Bugisu region, you must have been circumcised. The event is accompanied by dances, music performances and cerebrations.
Kasubi tomb site
Kasubi tomb isn’t only one of the best cultural sites in Uganda but also one of the world’s gazetted UNESCO Heritage sites. It serves best as a burial centre for Kabakas of Buganda.
Uganda Museum
One of the biggest museums in East Africa lies in Uganda, Kamwokya, Kampala just next to Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Head offices. Uganda museum is also one of the oldest museums in East Africa and it is an ideal point worth visiting to explore the country’s distinct history, heritage and a lot more while on cultural safaris in Uganda.
Other most amazing cultural sites in Uganda include the Kings Palace in Mengo and the parliament, Kabaka’s Lake one of the beautiful man-made lakes in Africa but holds unique history and cultures of Buganda, Igongo Cultural Centre which also serves best as a stopover point for most tourists on Uganda safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Lake Bunyonyi.
You may also visit the Ssezibwa Falls on cultural safaris in Uganda especially as you head to the source of the Nile in Jinja for white water rafting; Bigo bya Mugenyi in Mubende district, Ndere Cultural Center, Karambi tombs in Fort Portal, Mparo tombs in Hoima district, Katereke Prison ditch, Nyero Rock Paintings in Eastern Uganda, Nakayima tree in Mubende-a perfect point to make a stopover while on chimpanzee tracking safari to Kibale Forest National Park; Nkokonjeru tombs and Itaaba Kyabanyoro in Mbarara district, coronation site in Buddo.
What else can you do besides cultural safaris in Uganda?
There are a wide range of activities you can engage in besides cultural safaris in Uganda and these include among others rhino tracking at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, game viewing/wildlife safaris in savanna parks (Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park), nature walks, birding, chimpanzee tracking (Budongo Forest, Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge and others), golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, adrenaline adventures in Jinja (including among others boat cruise, bungee jumping, white water rafting, kayaking, jet boating).