Volunteer tours in Uganda are often referred to as voluntourism, it’s another form of travel that is taking shape in Uganda. Voluntourism involves travel to places or residences of people who are less privileged to perform humanitarian work.

Volunteer tours in Uganda therefore mix travel with humanitarian work. Visitors through their tours perform acts that help uplift the living standards of people who are less privileged in society. Volunteer tours include providing various items to support the daily lives of the less privileged in the society including food, items for shelter, clothing, and funds for education name them. 

What are the advantages of volunteer tours in Uganda?

 Volunteer tours have quite a large range of advantages associated with them since they are done in good faith to help uplift the standards of the less privileged in society. Some of the advantages associated with volunteer tours encompass; 

Volunteer tours create jobs for local people, especially tourist guides, managers and drivers. These take on the tasks of guiding and driving the tourists to the local settlements of the people in society who are less privileged and find it hard to keep up with life. The workers are later paid for doing good work as they transport the tourists to the regions of the people.

 Volunteer tours help the local people realize how tourism is important to them. It is because of tourism that their lives get uplifted through volunteering and all sorts of humanitarian work. This in turn makes them participate in sustainable tourism activities which help conserve the destinations for the generations to come.

Volunteer tourism helps boost the economy since it plays a big role in the circulation of funds throughout the sectors of the economy.

 Voluntourism also plays a big role in uplifting societies. People who used to see themselves as less privileged in society later find purpose in their lives after talking to the tourists and being given a helping hand. People later find value in themselves and become valuable to society.

 Volunteer tours help keep the masses hopeful about life since they are provided with food and other basic needs that can sustain lives. 

 Volunteer tours further help boost the sustainability and cultural heritage since most of these communities where humanitarian work is done have interesting histories attached to them. A case in point is the Karimojong people who have an interesting cultural heritage associated with them. Their traditions are also interesting especially the beautiful dances they perform for the humanitarians who come to do volunteer tours in their land. 

Best places for volunteer tours in Uganda.

There are various places in which volunteer tours can be performed in Uganda but the very best ones incorporate; 

Karamoja. This region is known for the residences of the hereditary Karimojong people who have over the years suffered with the responsibility of fulfilling their basic needs due to the various hindrances with climatic conditions. Visitors carry out volunteer tours to this region to help uplift the lives of these people. Volunteer tours in Karamoja are usually combined with trips to the magnificent Kidepo National Park which is a renowned place for giving the experiences of the African wilderness.

Batwa residences. The Batwa People are some of the most indigenous tribes who have inhabited the Ugandan land over the past millenniums. These local people inhabit the areas of southwestern Uganda and they are known for their hunter-gatherer life. However, it is evident in their societies that they cannot afford modern-day life and that is why volunteer tours are usually launched in their villages. The Batwa people explain their folklore to the visitors and in turn, the visitors perform humanitarian acts to help uplift their living standards. Volunteer tours to the Batwa people are usually combined with gorilla tours in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga.

How interesting are volunteer tours in Uganda?

Volunteer tours in Uganda are so interesting and this lies entirely in the fact that they give satisfaction to the tourists especially because seeing someone smile because of you gives some sense of happiness to the soul of the giver. It is important to note that the givers are usually the happiest people. The fact that visitors get to add something to society further makes it interesting.

 Volunteer tours also help people to live better lives since the humanitarian acts conducted within the tours help uplift the lives of others through the things provided ranging from clothing, funds for shelter food to mention but a few.

 Volunteer tours are further interesting since they help the visitors see the other side of life which in some way helps them appreciate theirs. This entirely lies in the sense that seeing someone in a much more difficult life than yours at times makes you appreciate where you are in life. 

How much do volunteer tours cost?

 Volunteer tours in Uganda are usually done in trips and they normally range from between $400 to $750.