Ruhija, Uganda
We stayed for two nights at the Gorilla Safari Lodge in Ruhija, and enjoyed walking through the village and visiting the local orphanage. We were also introduced to a local family of Batwa Pygmies - people who were displaced from the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest when it was turned into a national park in 1991. Traditionally semi-nomadic hunter/gatherers, the Batwa's lineage is reportedly traceable for 500,000 years! Now unable to hunt in the forest, and shunned by much of the community, their existence is severely threatened.
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Gorilla Dance
The orphanage takes all ages. We learned that there are no opportunities for these children to be adopted. Local people don't want them, and there's no mechanism for outside adoption. As with the rest of the community, the hope is that the gorilla-based eco tourism brings more resources and opportunities.
20181113LeslieRichterPhotoLRZ2854OrphanageOrphansRuhijaSchool for Vulnerable ChildrenUganda
