The Rwanda safari destination is destined for touching the sky when the efforts of upgrading Kamembe Airport in the western province materialize. The sum of Rwf 5.1 billion has been already earmarked to facilitate the commencement of this exercise in November, 2014. This is targeting the expansion of the Airport runway from 1.5km to 2.2km in order to enable the big crafts carrying those coming for safaris in Rwanda to land and also to decongest the Airport which will in turn create conducive atmosphere for the Rwanda safari undertakers thus winning their first impression.
Tourism is seen as the main reason behind this upgrade in that the government of Rwanda is determined to making the up country tourist sites accessible. With consideration that Rwanda is a land locked country, it is very significant to enhance air travel so as to enable easy transfer of those planning safaris to Rwanda.
The sixth month Airport up grading project is to be executed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation Company which will resurface the runway, upgrade the taxi way, mark the apron and air field so as to make the airport attractive and secure. The Tunisian company STUDI in conjunction with Gasabo 3D Limited will supervise the project.
However, it can be noted that the same initiative will hamper the Rwanda‘s tourism industry in the short run since the Rwanda safari flights to the Airport will be temporarily halted with the beginning of November. This inconvenience is thought to be neutralized by high returns that are expected out of this project in the long run.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd safari News.
By Siima simon peter
Monthly Archives: September 2014
UGANDA’S TOURISM POTENTIAL; A GREAT ECONOMIC TREASURE – UGANDA SAFARI NEWS:
Tourism is basically a set of activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. The term usual environment is intended to exclude trips with in the area of usual residence, frequent and regular trips between domicile and the work place and other community trips of routine character. People have been undertaking safaris to Uganda on such purposes thus leading to tourism development in the country.
Interestingly to note is that currently, tourism is the leading export earner for Uganda taking over the traditional earners like remittances from abroad and coffee as per the August 2014 monetary policy statement by the Bank of Uganda. This automatically shows that there has been substantial increase in the number of those undertaking Uganda safaris. The tourism sector generated $1.4bn in the financial year 2013/14 rising from $1.1bn fetched in the year 2012/13. The other earners like remittances followed with $800m while coffee followed with $415m. This ranking in turn shows the potential of the tourism sector as a great economic treasure for Uganda.
Considering all spheres, Uganda is a beautiful country dotted with amazing hospitable people and their cultures over 65 tribes, great scenery like the snowcapped mountains of Ruwenzori and the Albertine rift valley, rich fauna including the endangered mountain gorillas that pull great numbers of gorilla trekking safari undertakers, chimpanzees which form the basis for Chimpanzee trekking safaris, golden monkeys, tree climbing lions, white rhinos, savannah and African elephants, impala, zebra among others which form the basis for wildlife safaris. The remarkable flora that range from the Savannah landscapes of Kidepo, Murchison, Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth to equatorial forest landscapes of Kibale, Semuliki and Maramagambo, Afro montane lowland forest landscapes of Bwindi without forgetting the montane flora of Rwenzori, Elgon and Virunga volcanoes stand to surpass the expectations of Uganda safari undertakers. Remember, Uganda is a center where the East African Savannah meets the West African jungle.
However, it should be noted that despite this great potential, little has been realized so far compared to other destinations like Kenya. This therefore, necessitates a combined effort particularly to do with investment in the tourism sector. Infrastructure has to be developed to the standards of those undertaking safaris in Uganda while marketing efforts have to enhanced, policy and legislation has to be favoring the tourism sector while political stability should be given priority. With these, the tourism sector has the potential to even surpass the fore thought gains from the oil industry.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd safari News.
By Siima Simon Peter.
WORLD TOURISM DAY CELEBRATIONS IN MBALE – UGANDA SAFARI NEWS
On 27th September, 2014, Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate the World Tourism Day – an annual event that is jubilated worldwide. The celebrations were to mark the contribution of those who undertake safaris in Uganda since they form the wheels that keep tourism in Uganda moving.
The celebrations were conducted in Mbale with Tourism and Community Development as the theme. This features the contribution of tourism to development of sustainable livelihoods among the locals at the destination. The local communities have to take advantage of tourism that brings for them jobs, market for their produce and cross cultural interaction with Uganda safari undertakers.
The celebrations for World Tourism Day in Uganda are arranged on regional basis to enhance community awareness of the significance of tourism and encourage them to exploit their potential so as to benefit from those that plan safaris to Uganda.
It is against this background that animals were seen parading in Mbale including the King of the jungle – Lion, ostriches, leopard, monkeys, peacocks, crocodiles, bushbucks and pythons some of which are prime products that are always sought after by those on Uganda safaris.
Alongside these animals, culture and heritage attractions of the eastern region were exhibited during the event. And more interestingly, the hot air balloon also operated flights across Mbale town during the event – something unique to the revelers.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd safari News.
By Siima simon peter
COMMUNITY APPROACH; A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO SOLVING RESOURCE USE CONFLICT AROUND LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK – UGANDA SAFARI NEWS:
The Uganda safari National Park of Lake Mburo is located in the traditional rangelands of the Bahima pastoralists who inhabited the area right from the pre-colonial era. The area is comprised of an open savannah landscape dotted with scattered species of acacia wood which provided a perfect grazing ground for the Ankole Long horned Cattle, the unique breed of the Bahima which can be seen while on safari in Uganda.
Nshaara area like the whole of Ankole was hit by the Rinder pest epidemic which led to the massive loss of livestock and the resultant famine that claimed the good number of human lives. The decreased grazing pressure that resulted from decrease in cattle numbers led to the regeneration of vegetation and bushes in particular which ultimately resulted in the outbreak of tse tse fly infestation of 1910. The combination of these led to migration of the people particularly the Bahima pastoralists to other areas abandoning their traditional rangeland.
As a result, the colonial government established part of this wilderness area as a controlled hunting area in 1935 though regulated hunting and traditional human activities were allowed in this gazette. Unfortunately, after ten years another epidemic broke out with combination of Glossina morsitans which spreads Nagana to cattle and Glossina palpalis that spreads sleeping sickness to humans forcing the remaining populations of the people to vacate the area. The colonial government respondent by passing a decree that every wild animal in the area should be exterminated to starve the blood sucking tsetse fly which would lead to its extinction and its final eradication. This was during 1950s. It should be noted that this strategy did not yield positive results since elusive animals like bushbuck and the duiker could not be totally exterminated thus providing food for tsetse flies.
In return, the authorities adopted another strategy which included eradicating all the shady bushes and trees to get rid of tsetse fly hideouts and this resulted in to cutting and burning of substantial square kilometers of bush in this area however the quick establishment of secondary undergrowth rendered the strategy useless. Determined like never before, the colonial authorities declared that every inch of Ankole should be spread with insecticide and teams of local people were employed to do this which eventually resulted in the extermination of tsetse fly species in the Mburo area though at a great cost to the ecology since the insectivorous birds, small mammals and other insects could not with stand the killing power of the applied chemicals.
In return, the Bahima pastoralists started to come back to their traditional beautiful place which they had dubbed Kaaro Karungyi – the beautiful settling land. The Authorities recognized that the remaining wildlife had to be protected and the area was up graded in to Lake Mburo Game Reserve though the pastoralists were allowed to access the water points in the park that is Lake Mburo which is the only permanent water source in the area – which apparently provides a boat recreation activity for Uganda safari undertakers.
The conservation efforts in Uganda at that time were very weak which made the communities to encroach greatly on the game reserve resources. The wildlife that was recovering from the previous massacre were now being poached by the farming communities mostly from Koki while the lions were at cross roads with herds men over their cattle and for their long standing fame as man eaters that had terrorized the locals in 1960s. In fact one re-known male lion locally known as Kamuhegyeyo claimed the lives of about 80 people during that time and thus with this back ground, the locals were not ready to dine with them again which resulted into their extinction – a reason why they cannot be seen in Lake Mburo National Park while on safari in Uganda.
When Obote returned to power in 1980, he evicted 45,000 families that had re-settled in the reserve without compensation in 1983 and he upgraded the reserve to Lake Mburo National Park maintaining the boundaries of the former reserve. Unfortunately, enforcing this move was too difficult since it was a turbulent time when the NRA bush war had reached its peak and by 1986, the Lake Mburo National Park was more less like any other community and was fully resettled to the maximum leading to the destruction of park infrastructure and intended poaching with the aim to exterminate the wild animals which the locals viewed negatively to have caused their suffering.
After the change of guards in 1987, the NRM government degazetted the park by 60% to accommodate the people that were displaced by the war. The new boundaries of the park were established and the people continued to roam around it with illegal grazing and poaching. All this happened because the locals were not aware of the importance of this protected area and viewed it as a waste land.
The turning point came in 1991 with the establishment of Lake Mburo Conservation Unit with support from Africa Wildlife Foundation when a representative from every neighboring parish was appointed to participate in crafting of the future of Lake Mburo National Park. This was the beginning of community approach in the management of Lake Mburo National Park. From then, the revenue sharing scheme was introduced with 20% of the Park entrance collections going to the surrounding communities which has contributed in building of health centers and schools which can be evidently seen in Rurambira while on Uganda safaris. The local people have been incorporated in the park management and have been given priority in the recruitment of tour guides and in decision making, controlled resource use is permitted like medicinal herbs collection and access to water points in the dry seasons is allowed through the designed corridors. This in return has changed the perception of the local people about the park and one can say that the future of the park is much brighter than it’s past.
Visiting Lake Mburo National Park is one of those rewarding decisions that you can have while planning safaris to Uganda. Its amazing populations of Zebra, Impala, Eland, Bush buck, duiker, buffalo, amazing birds like African fin foot, Crested crane, great scenic landscapes dotted with great acacia species and the entire heritage that surround it vested in the protruding ancient rocks like Ruroko and Rwakobo combine to make your Uganda safari memories a remarkable treasure. The park can also be visited alongside your gorilla trekking safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Chimpanzee trekking safaris to Kibale National Park or wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
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Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd safari News
By Siima Simon Peter.
CLOUDS MOUNTAIN GORILLA LODGE; AN UPMARKET GEM IN BWINDI – UGANDA SAFARI NEWS:
Positioned in Nkuringo area of the gorilla trekking haven of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the Clouds Mountain gorilla lodge is an upmarket facility that has set its self to arrest the worries of the upmarket Uganda gorilla safari undertakers.
Standing at 2,000 meters in elevation, the Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge has got the stunning views of the Virunga volcanoes that stretch from Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda to Rwanda famously known to inhabit the world’s endangered mountain gorillas alongside Uganda’s Impenetrable National Park of Bwindi.
The clouds mountain gorilla lodge is a distinguished luxurious accommodation unit with magnificent architecture, spacious villas coupled with the ultimate friendly staff, the cozy atmosphere both internal and external all of which combine to satisfy the interests of travellers on gorilla safaris in Uganda. The modern bar and restaurant serving three course meals, fire place, health spa, spacious lounge and internet connection are all designed to ensure the comfort and ultimate holiday relaxation for those who have chosen to do their gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.
Being closer to Nkuringo tracking region, the clouds Mountain gorilla lodge provides a perfect ground to trek gorillas on this side of Bwindi. Therefore, while planning gorilla trekking safari to Uganda, this lodge should not miss out on the list of your overnight units in Uganda.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd safari News.
CLOUDS MOUNTAIN GORILLA LODGE; AN UPMARKET GEM IN BWINDI – UGANDA SAFARI NEWS:
Positioned in Nkuringo area of the gorilla trekking haven of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the Clouds Mountain gorilla lodge is an upmarket facility that has set its self to arrest the worries of the upmarket Uganda gorilla safari undertakers.
Standing at 2,000 meters in elevation, the Clouds Mountain Gorilla lodge has got the stunning views of the Virunga volcanoes that stretch from Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda to Rwanda famously known to inhabit the world’s endangered mountain gorillas alongside Uganda’s Impenetrable National Park of Bwindi.
The clouds mountain gorilla lodge is a distinguished luxurious accommodation unit with magnificent architecture, spacious villas coupled with the ultimate friendly staff, the cozy atmosphere both internal and external all of which combine to satisfy the interests of travellers on gorilla safaris in Uganda. The modern bar and restaurant serving three course meals, fire place, health spa, spacious lounge and internet connection are all designed to ensure the comfort and ultimate holiday relaxation for those who have chosen to do their gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.
Being closer to Nkuringo tracking region, the clouds Mountain gorilla lodge provides a perfect ground to trek gorillas on this side of Bwindi. Therefore, while planning gorilla trekking safari to Uganda, this lodge should not miss out on the list of your overnight units in Uganda.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd safari News.
GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING; AN ENCHANTING ACTIVITY IN VIRUNGA VOLCANOES – RWANDA SAFARI NEWS:
The Virunga massifs that comprise of various volcanic ranges have been set as a gazette of Virunga Conservation Area by interstates of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The area is covered by the National Parks of Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes in Rwanda and Virunga in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Not only are these areas known for the populations of mountain gorillas which have formed the base for gorilla trekking, the Virunga area is also known for sheltering the rare and endangered golden monkeys that only exist in this area which have also formed the basis for golden monkey tracking.
The golden monkeys are descendants of ancestral monkeys and belong to the group of primates. They are endowed with stunning golden skins and unique nose structure which always leave travellers on safari in Rwanda who wish to do golden monkey tracking in state of happiness. The golden monkeys dwell mostly in the bamboo zone on the slopes of these volcanic highlands which are slightly easy to reach than some of the gorilla families that dwell in the higher slopes of Karisimbi which tend to pose a challenge to those trekking gorillas in Rwanda .
The golden monkey tracking is well developed in Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park and the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. In Rwanda it starts at the Park headquarters – Kinigi at 08:00am and tend to go for 4 hours. It can be done alongside gorilla tracking , Dian Fossey hiking, Karisimbi mountain climbing, Twin lakes walk, caves walk or can be incorporated in the general Rwanda safari tour alongside Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park and Wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd safari News
GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING; AN ENCHANTING ACTIVITY IN VIRUNGA VOLCANOES – RWANDA SAFARI NEWS:
The Virunga massifs that comprise of various volcanic ranges have been set as a gazette of Virunga Conservation Area by interstates of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The area is covered by the National Parks of Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes in Rwanda and Virunga in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Not only are these areas known for the populations of mountain gorillas which have formed the base for gorilla trekking, the Virunga area is also known for sheltering the rare and endangered golden monkeys that only exist in this area which have also formed the basis for golden monkey tracking.
The golden monkeys are descendants of ancestral monkeys and belong to the group of primates. They are endowed with stunning golden skins and unique nose structure which always leave travellers on safari in Rwanda who wish to do golden monkey tracking in state of happiness. The golden monkeys dwell mostly in the bamboo zone on the slopes of these volcanic highlands which are slightly easy to reach than some of the gorilla families that dwell in the higher slopes of Karisimbi which tend to pose a challenge to those trekking gorillas in Rwanda .
The golden monkey tracking is well developed in Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park and the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. In Rwanda it starts at the Park headquarters – Kinigi at 08:00am and tend to go for 4 hours. It can be done alongside gorilla tracking , Dian Fossey hiking, Karisimbi mountain climbing, Twin lakes walk, caves walk or can be incorporated in the general Rwanda safari tour alongside Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park and Wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd safari News
UGANDA TOUR OPERATORS PETITION PARLIAMENT OVER ISIMBA DAM PROJECT – UGANDA SAFARI NEWS:
The wholesalers of Uganda safari products – call them tour operators have petitioned the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga over the building of Isimba Dam project. Under their Umbrella Save Adventure Tourism in Uganda (SATU) – one of the leading associations that are meant to champion the adventure safaris to Uganda, the tour operators have remarked that the project that is to be set up between Jinja and Kayunga districts would greatly impact on the adventure safaris in Uganda.
In this regard, the tour operators recognize the significance of electricity generation and its role in the national economic development but also put in consideration the harm that this project could pose to the adventure tourism in Uganda.
Thus, to balance the two, the tour operators in their petition propose that the government consider downsizing from the set dam level of 1: 1055 masl to 3: 1043 masl. The government proposed level would affect the Uganda safari activities like white water rafting in Jinja according to the tour operators while their proposed level could have little effect on these activities and the people that derive survival from them.
Jinja which used to be a land of water falls has been undergoing change loosing much of these natural features due to power developments which has had an effect on various Uganda safari products particularly adventure activities. It is upon this back ground that Uganda tour operators under the body Save Adventure Tourism in Uganda have decided to undertake this move so as to ensure long-term sustainability of safaris to Uganda. The Isimba power plant is set to be accomplished in three years to deliver 183 megawatts and is estimated to consume 57 million dollars.
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Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd safari News.
The Ssese islands are among the magnificent Uganda safari holiday islands that are found within the fresh waters of Lake Victoria. Accessing the Ssese islands has been all along by water and the relevance of MV Kalangala ferry cannot be skipped regarding its transfer role.
The fate of this ferry that used to transfer travellers undertaking safaris in Uganda to Ssese islands is surrounded by mystery after its grounding for close to one year at Mwanza port in Tanzania. What to worry about is that the ferry was supposed to be there for three months for repairs but unfortunately it is coming to a year without returning home.
People allege that the engineers were demanding a lot of money inform of debts from the Government of Uganda prompting their reluctance over the ferry repair. However, the authorities say that the ferry requires more new parts as it had been worn out than the initially expected which prompted the government to first undergo the process of procuring these parts from distant places like Europe thus contributing to its delay.
Whatever the cause, it should be noted that the MV Kalangala’s absence has hampered the flourishing of Ssese island tourism as the transfer of Uganda safari visitors have had a serious problem. The ferry which has been operating between Nakiwogo in Entebbe and Lutoboka in Kalangala since 2006 had prompted many travellers planning safaris to Uganda to include Ssese islands on their itinerary due to easy and reliable transfer. After its grounding, the arrivals plummeted from over 30 tourists a week to 5 tourists according to Chairman of Ssese Islands Tour Guides Association – Abraham Thompson.
This in turn calls for immediate intervation from the respective authorities to quicken the process of repairing MV Kalangala such that the travel between these two points can flourish again which would ultimately increase safaris to Uganda and lead to the betterment of the lives of the Islanders.
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