Filming The Batwa Experience in Uganda

Filming The Batwa

Ever heard about the Batwa pygmies- the forest dwellers? The Batwa pygmies are some of the interesting people Uganda safari holidaymakers should expect to interact with after gorilla trekking. Visiting the Batwa local community on a filming tour is a great opportunity for filmmakers, production companies, or if you are interested in documentaries to have the best experience about the Batwa pygmies.

The Batwa pygmies inhabit the Southwestern part of Uganda and some parts of the Eastern D.R. Congo and Burundi, Rwanda. About 70,000 Batwa exist in Africa with only 3000 of them living in Uganda making them an endangered tribe. When Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park were gazetted as National Parks in 1991, the Batwa pygmies were displaced and they found their way to the adjacent local communities.

The Batwa pygmies in Uganda lived in the forest for 500,000 years as hunters and gatherers. Batwa lived harmoniously with wildlife and left without leaving any negative impact on the environment. Filming Uganda safari experience through the Batwa communities offer deep insight into the Batwa pygmies’ unique cultures, traditions, practices, their local communities, and language etc. The Batwa lived as hunters and fruit gatherers, and a visit to their local community lets you explore and experience more about their unique techniques for hunting and gathering.

Best places to film Batwa in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After or before trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there is an opportunity to visit the Batwa pygmies in their community. This is while on Batwa cultural experience or Batwa cultural walk, an amazing experience that lets you interact with the original keepers of the forest.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, found in Southwestern Uganda was officially gazetted as a National Park in 1991 and as a UNESCO Site in 1994. Before Bwindi officially became a National Park, the Batwa pygmies had lived in its jungles for over 500,000 while hunting and gathering fruits. It was due to needing to establish the area as a park that led to their displacement and now lives in the adjacent communities.

The Batwa pygmies largely depended on the natural resources in the forest for their survival and lived harmoniously. Today, visiting them after gorilla trekking in Bwindi is great for enthusiastic cultural travelers to learn more about the Batwa pygmies, how they lived, the ancient tools they used for hunting or gathering, and enjoy the dances, learn more about their traditions etc.

Bwindi Impenetrable NP is an important Uganda safari destination and designated UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting several wildlife including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, 360 bird species, and more. Visitors interested in the Batwa experience pay USD80 as a single person, US$70 for visitors in a group of 2-3 people. Batwa pygmy interaction at Bwindi is possible while at Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Rushaga.

Batwa trail experience Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The Batwa trail experience offers culturally enthusiastic visitors a chance to visit, interact and explore more about the Batwa pygmies. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits in Southwestern Uganda, established in 1991 and a visit to this park isn’t only for you to watch mountain gorillas but also to interact with the Batwa pygmies.

Visiting the Batwa at Mgahinga NP is possible on Batwa trail that ushers you into their community led by a local guide. The residents will demonstrate to you how they used to live as hunters or gatherers and visit the Garama cave previously served as refuge to the Batwa king.

For all visits to be made to film Batwa pygmies n Uganda, film crew or production companies require valid filming permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority plus other key authorities such as Uganda Media Council to obtain media cards.