Friday 10 November 2017

EXPLORING THE GARAMA CAVES AND THE MARGINALIZED BATWA PYGMIES


Located about 342 meters, the Garama caves lie beneath a plateau in the northern side of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, 3 kilometers from Ntebeko. It is established within the former farmland zone but earlier times, the Garama caves were found in the forest when it was occupied by mainly the Batwa pygmies. The Batwa are a few incredible creatures who lived in the forest for more than 500000 years and left it without any damage something unique with the current status. Currently, the Garama caves offer the best site for the Batwa cultural performance at the end of the Batwa trail making the park not only as one of the most exceptional spots for mountain gorilla trekking safaris but also for thrilling cultural encounters in Uganda and the world at large.

As you plan your mountain gorilla trekking safaris to Mgahinga National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, make sure that Garama cave exploration features in the list of activities you wish to enjoy in Uganda. The Batwa trail is available that leads visitors up to the remarkable Garama caves. At the cave, you will be welcomed by darkness and later the most thrilling cultural and musical performance from the Batwa women who will be singing songs of sorrow as “why they were removed from their treasured forest” and pleading to be allowed to go back to their lovely forest. The Garama caves offered refuge to the Batwa during times of trouble like wars especially from the Bantu and also acted as a home to their king at a time. These remarkable caves are 3 kilometers long from the park entrance and the walk through them lasts for 3 to 4 hours.

Your guided walk through the Garama caves allows you to explore lifestyle of these gatherers, hunters who lived harmoniously with the forest without causing any effect. The Garama cave is 342 meters long and 14 meters deep and as you walk through it, do not be surprised to encounter bats. If you are looking for breathtaking cultural safaris, look not further than the Garama cave exploration in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda. The cave is situated 14 kilometers southwards from Kisoro district and leads visitors on rewarding hike towards the base of the great bulk of Mount Muhabura. While on Garama cave exploration, you will be guided by the Batwa who will explain their lifestyle, practices and also lead you to where their cultural performances are done. A face to face encounter with the Batwa pygmies themselves is such thrilling experiences given their unique height that doesn’t exceed 1.5 meters.
THE GARAMA CAVE

In conclusion, Uganda’s history can not be told without mentioning about the Batwa pygmies. The Garama cave is sacred site for the Batwa people who lived in the forest for over 500000 years while hunting and gathering but left without any impact on the environment. For visitors on gorilla safari in Uganda, a visit to the Garama caves is worth for you to add to explore much about these incredible creatures. 

1 comment:

  1. http://discoveryonsafari.blogspot.in/2015/11/uganda-carnivore-program.html#comment-form

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