This Village walk can be participated in by travelling through a murram road located on the steep hillside that even makes up for its remoteness due to the friendliness and warmness of the inhabitants. This Village Walk takes tourists through a Swamp to a small homestead where tourists get the chance to encounter the local community residents and learn about life in the Rubuguri Village as well as engage in craft making demonstrations. While on this Village walk, you can also visit the nearby St Peters Primary School to meet the pupils and their teachers, and get entertained by these youngsters in the exhilarating Kikiga dance.
Other cultural experiences around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park worth visiting include, the Nyundo Community Eco-trails and Conservation through Public Health (CTPH)
Rubuguri Origins Trail
Rubuguri Origins trail is a complete 2-hour walk (2.5km), an amazing route worth exploring by nature enthusiasts or adventure seekers. Adventure seekers on a journey to conquer this trail begin their expedition from the Rubuguri hills up to the Southern edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
While on Rubuguri trail, expect to explore more about the origin and the daily way of life of the Rubuguri people, visit the local market, honey apiary, local wetlands to watch some interesting birds, and do not forget to learn the different agricultural activities.
The journey to conquer Rubuguri origins trail begins from Rubuguri town around the market area and hikers end it at the town at the Bwindi Honey Shop.
Rubuguri village walk
A guided village walk at Rubuguri village involves exploring the surrounding village in the Southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This village lies between Rushaga and Nkuringo regions of Bwindi and a significant population of people live here. Surrounding it are some breathtakingly undulating hills and you can have access to the village by road.
While on a guided village walks at Rubuguri, expect to have the best of the traditional songs and dances as the locals perform before you as one way to welcome you into their community. In addition, you will be told legends, stories, riddles that describe the prehistoric way of life of locals. This involves you interacting with locals and through the direct engagement, you get to learn a lot from each other.
The Rubuguri village walk also allows you to encounter the Batwa people. The Batwa pygmies are renowned as the forest dwellers of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. They also have unique stories to share with the rest of the world, especially on their ancient way of life, how they used to sleep on tree houses and expect to learn their hunting and gathering techniques.
Additionally, the village tour in Rubuguri also includes visits to the local schools. Some of the schools you may pay a visit include St. Peter’s Primary School where you will have good time interacting with the pupils and their teachers. You will be warmly welcome by the inspiring songs and Kikiga dances.
The village walk also takes you to explore some of the local arts and crafts projects. Get to know the various handmade items like huts, bags, baskets, and mats. Beyond seeing what was already made, you will also have some learning on to make one –hands-on experience awaits. You can purchase some of the products here and this will mean a huge contribution towards supporting the local initiatives in Rubuguri village.
The key highlights of the Rubuguri village walk
- Paying a visit to the traditional homesteads of the locals.
- Close interaction between visitors and locals.
- Exploring the various local projects and local schools.
- Exploring and experience the unique cultures and traditions.
- Enjoying the breathtaking view of attractions within Rubuguri and its surrounding.
What else should you expect on Rubuguri village walk tour?
Beyond a guided village walk in Rubuguri, you will also have a chance to explore different activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These include mountain gorilla trekking both in Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors in the Southern side of Bwindi National Park, gorilla habituation experience at Rushaga sector, birding and forest walks.
The gorilla families to visit in Rushaga sector for instance include Busingye, Bweza, Kahungye, Kutu family group, Nshongi, Mucunguzi gorilla group, Rwigi group, Mishaya, Bikingi and more. At Nkuringo gorilla sector, the groups worth exploring include Christmas gorilla group, Nkuringo group, and Bushaho gorilla family.