Community tourism is a sustainable form of tourism that allows visitors to closely connect with the local communities visited. It aims at strengthening the relationships between the host country and the visitors, fostering opportunities for the local people wishing to engage more in the tourism industry.
Most Safaris in Uganda have mostly been offering wildlife experiences, white water rafting and views of the beautiful sceneries. Probably all tourists in Uganda have majorly come for gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, but there is much more that Uganda can offer other than wildlife.
With the increasing number of tourists perceiving Uganda as a unique and thrilling tourism destination, there is no better time for community tourism to blossom other than now. A form of tourism that supports community development in partnership with tourists.
Community tourism in Uganda includes tours, performances, workshops, dining, accommodation and homestays presented by the local people. And a percentage of the income from tourists in these communities is often put into community funds.
The Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) frontiers the development of community based tourism in Uganda. It helps local communities to better their lives through selling handcrafts, traditional performances, provision of accommodation and tour guiding.
UCOTA in conjunction with the tour operators of Uganda work tirelessly to promote community based tourism. So every time travelers buy UCOTA product, they are building lives of the people in the hosting local communities.
Community tours in Uganda offer visitors a unique and authentic experience of Ugandan lifestyle. Feed on the local food, play with the kids, meet the villagers on community walks guided by experts who have for long lived here, if not the whole of their lives. Also directly engage in village projects like school or clinic construction by working with the construction team or you can even donate to the project.
Uganda community safaris present thrilling experiences to the travelers as well as enabling the generated revenue from tourism to remain in the rural and poor communities. Village projects operate small enterprises like craft making, music, dance and drama managed by local people hence creating job opportunities in the regions.
For community ecotourism is a particular feature of community based tourism and most of the activities are natural resource based, benefiting both environmental conservation and local communities. It encourages both cross cultural understanding between the host and visitor as well as environmental protection.
Uganda’s major community tourism destination is Bwindi impenetrable national park. A cultural walk gives visitors a taste of the Ugandan lifestyle. Meet the local people and see the way of life through their eyes. Visit the traditional healer as well as Dr. Scott’s clinic. A taste of the local food and a homestay is a guarantee except to those that don’t want to.
Other community tours in Uganda go to the Ankole Cultural Center surrounding Lake Mburo National Park, the salt plains and fishing villages in Queen Elizabeth national park, Bigodi wetland outside Kibale national park and many other communities.
Indeed, community trips in Uganda furnish once in lifetime experiences, exploring the African authenticity from its roots than any other safari in Uganda can offer. It’s high time you booked your trip to Uganda and visit a community.
