How To Support The Community During Gorilla And chimpanzee Safari in Uganda

When on a gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda, you can support the community by hiring a porter. A porter during gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari is a person who helps you carry your gears so that their weight is lifted off your shoulder at an affordable cost. He or she can give you a push when tired or a hand to help you cross some streams or rivers. Request A Qoutation

Volunteering in the community is also another way to support the community while on gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda. In a bid to bring the communities around the wildlife conservation areas in Uganda, community sensitization is one way to include them. As a tourist through volunteering in the communities you can contribute to this.

Visiting community projects during gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking to support the works of the locals. Many communities around the parks have set up community bases projects like crafts shops, organize a day in the community, Visit special communities like the Batwa around Bwindi, and more. These give a glimpse into the life of the local people and majority are conducted by local guides.

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What community activities to engage in during gorilla and chimpanzee safaris in Uganda

Batwa Community Visit

The Batwa are a unique community of pygmies and some of the victims of mountain gorilla conservation. The Bwindi forest and Mgahinga forest were the ancestral homes of the Batwa where they co-existed with the mountain gorillas.

In the 1990s, when conservation of Mountain gorillas took center stage, the Batwa were evited and left with no place to go but find space in the close by communities where they are marginalized. Some Batwa community projects have been set up where they demonstrate how they used to survive in the jungle.

When on a Batwa community visit, they engage you in activities including hunting demonstration, wild honey harvesting techniques, wood fire making demonstrations, folk songs, dance performances and more.

Over time, the Batwa community tour has picked, momentum especially from tourists and the proceeds accrued are used to support their community projects. The Batwa need to be sensitized about the relevancy of mountain gorilla conservation and other forest inhabitants so that they can appreciated.

Bigodi Community Visit in Kibale

While on chimpanzee safari in Kibale National Park, a visit to the Bigodi community on the outskirts of Kibale National park is one way to give back to the community. While on the community tour in Kibale where you engage in homes stead tourism community projects, you may engage in beer tasting, basket weaving, wine tasting, local food tasting and more.

The Bigodi community project is run by the locals and the funds collected are used to support community projects.

Kibale Association For Rural and Environment (KAFRED)

Before are after chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park in Uganda, you may choose to do a community visit like a visit to Kibale Association For Rural And Environment which aims at including the community in the conservation of the chimpanzees and other forest inhabitants. This community based project in Kibale offers a unique swamp walk in Magombe sanctuary where keen birds have a chance to spot a wide range of bird species from the population of 200 species identified as residents of this area.

More than 8 primate species can possibly be identified while in Magombe swamp, a village walk, home stay in the basic community bandas and more. Advance booking is necessary for better preparation.

Mgahinga Community Camp ground

This is a community-based project is a community based camping venue on the Mgahinga national Park gate. The camping grounds are also have self-contained and non-self-contained Bandas. By using this accommodation while on a gorilla trekking safari in Mgahinga National park, you support the community

Kabarole Tourism Association (KTA)

The Kabarole Tourism Association encompasses districts including Kasese, Kamwenge, Bundibujo and Kabarole and more. While on a chimpanzee trekking or Chimpanzee habituation Experience in Kibale National Park, you may choose to visit this community project. It is a tourism network which includes accommodation, guided nature walks, cultural experience and the proceeds collected are used in community bases projects and boost incomes of members.

Hiring a Porter During gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking

The porters who assist carry your bags while on a gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking adventure are from the community. Some of the porters are ex-poacher who have resorted to using the forest to the better good instead of stealing from them.

A porter during gorilla habituation experience or chimpanzee habituation experience is hired at an affordable cost. Money acquired from being porters is used by the local to support their daily life. 

Booking community based accommodations during Gorilla Trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

At the gorilla trekking destination and chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda are community based accommodation facilities which you may choose to stay at. Majority of these facilities are basic with shared facilities so you need to contact them to know in details about the services they offer before travelling.

Some of the community based accommodations include Buhoma Community Based Rest Camp, Ruboni Community Camp, Nkuringo Cultural Center.

Enjoy A Cultural Performance Before Gorilla Trekking or Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda

Before the gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee trekking, there are usually cultural performances including dance, folk song performances and more from the community. We encourage our tourists to generously tip the performers to encourage them to continue these performances. This is one way to promote community based tourism and include the local communities in the wildlife conservation initiatives.

The benefits stay in the local community which promotes community sensitization.

Nkuringo Cultural Center

In the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National park is the Nkuringo Cultural centers aimed at promoting mountain gorilla conservation through community sensitization. Through community awareness, the center is trying to include the community in the conservation plan.

At the center there are accommodation, restaurants, offer village walk, entertainment and more. While in the southern area of Bwindi forest, you may engage with the community through this center. Nkuringo Cultural Center is situated 40 kilometers from Kisoro town.

Kikorongo Women’s Group

Lean how to make local crafts like basket weaving, making local mats, table mats, homestead visit and more while on safari. This supports the life of the members in this group and boost their income.

Bwindi Community Hospital

The Bwindi community hospital is one of the closest health facilities where you can receive treatment as an emergency. The locals also receive treatment at The Bwindi community Hospital but more support is still needed to equip the health center with modern equipment.

You may decide to visit the hospital to see how they run the facility and offer support where you can. It is one way to support the health care of the community.

Support local crafts shops around the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda

During gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking, you come across crafts shops run by the locals and in case you wish to purchase souvenirs, you can support the communities by purchasing their crafts. Hiring a local guide to take you around the communities is another way to support community based initiatives. The communities still need to benefit from the parks that border them.

Pay Park Entrance and other conservation fees at the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda

Part of the annual benefits accrued by Uganda Wildlife Authority is shared with the community to support their community projects. By choosing to do any gorilla or chimpanzee safari activity in Uganda or other safari activities in these parks including birding, nature walks and more you indirectly contribute to the community.

How safe Are Communities Around Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Destinations in Uganda

Through community sensitization, the locals have been included in the conservation process of wildlife in their spaces and so see tourists as people with good intensions in their societies.

Ugandans are generally friendly people welcoming to strangers as this behavior is taught from childhood so you are safe even in the community although you have to keep your valuables away from public access.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has a team of ranger guides who do routine security check ups in and round the safari destinations in Uganda. The ranger guides often return straying wild animals into the park from the community when communicated to.

By using the local guide during the village walks, you are safe as they can communicate with their fellow tribemates about your reason for visiting so that you are not misunderstood.

During the rainy seasons in destinations around the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, the ground gets soft and messy so you need to wear the right gears. For Bwindi and Mgahinga forest the soils are generally softer because they are volcanic soils and the rainy season leaves the ground soggy. Use a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle during the gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safari to avoid getting stuck by the road.

Responsible Community Tour During Uganda Gorilla and chimpanzee Safari Tips

Do not take photos or film while on community tour without permission

Give support to businesses with the community to encourage to even better their services. Do support those that follow environmental and socially responsible tourism practices.

For authentic community experience, use the service of a local guide to enjoy the best and make memories.

Avoid buying products made from threatened animal species or natural resources.

Keep to designated walking and driving trails.

When is the best time to do gorilla, chimpanzee and community visit in Uganda

The dry season which is June to September and December to January services as the best time to do gorilla, chimpanzee trekking and community tour in Uganda. Since all these activities are carried out on foot, it is quicker to traverse the forest and community with less chances of encountering obstacles.

The gorillas and chimpanzees spend most of their day closer to the ground so can quickly be spotted. In the community, the locals are around to help or interact with you during the community walk.

More people visit Uganda to do gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in the dry season so you need to make necessary arrangements in advance.

The wet season which is March, April, May And November is still great time to do gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda though fewer tourists are expected in the country. For community tours, you need to carry rain proof gears incase it falls when still on the way.

What To Expect On A Community Visit During Uganda Safari

While on community visit in Uganda, expect to meet local people and majority are illiterate and conservative with their culture. Try to respect their beliefs so that you get the best information from them. Cultural shock is possible too but be open minded.

Language barrier while on community tour in is expected but hire a local guide who can communicate with the people in the community so that you get the best from the society.

No modern toilet facilities in the community so get ready to use latrines or other alternatives in the community.

There are no or fewer chances of finding restaurants that serve international cuisines while in the community so get ready to taste local cuisines. Ask your driver guide for a restaurant where you can have a meal or organize for packed lunch from your lodge.

During the wet season, the trails, or tracks around the communities get sleeper and quite impassable but you need a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition.

Carry own drinking water when on a community walk because in the community, finding a drinking water spot may be hard. Do carry some hard cash to use for on ground purchases.

When you are in the community, try to be open minded because there is too much information you may need to collect from the locals. People in the community can only open up to you when you show that you are open to interact with them. Try out engaging in the activities happening in the community.