For a number of years we have classified hotels in Uganda by the prices they charge. If it charges Shs 5,000, then it is considered lodge, and if it charges from Shs 150,000 and more, then it’s a considered a hotel. This has been affecting the image of Uganda as safari destination since the hotels couldn’t offer services and facilities in regard to their assumed stars. However, a new drive started for Kampala’s hotels last Friday – with government rising up to its role to classify hotels will help to categorize the hotels in accordance to their suitable stars.
The classification which is the first of its kind in Uganda was carried out by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) a body responsible for marketing Uganda as number one safari destination. The classification was done in accordance to the mandate of 2014 Uganda Tourism (Registration and Licensing of Tourism Accommodation) regulations. From the classification results, the country described as the pearl of Africa has three (3) five-star hotels namely the Kampala Serena hotel, Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort and Sheraton Kampala hotel.
The four-star hotels in the country include: Protea hotel, Imperial Royale hotel, Hotel Africana, Royal Suites Bugolobi and the famous Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Addressing at a special dinner evening organized at the Kampala Serena hotel, UTB’s deputy CEO John Ssempebwa put it clear that for the beginning, the assessment, classification was carried only in Kampala-Uganda’s Capital city. According to the assessment process, 73 hotels were scrutinized, of which 70 per cent never met the requirements of the regulations and only 26 hotels qualified for the stars.
The hotels were evaluated or assessed on sixteen (16) grounds, with emphasis put on hotel location of the facility. Ssempebwa clearly noted that a five-star facility can’t be situated in a dusty and noisy place.
The team in charge of classifying the hotels also considered the hotel’s front office, which must be delightful- with a receptionist who can fluently speak both English and Kiswahili. The restaurant must be sufficient in regard to the capacity of the hotel, on addition of being well furnished and clean. The other places they considered at hotel were the bar, bathrooms, guest rooms, hygiene and sanitation as well as human resource and kitchen, among others.
The chairperson Uganda Hotel Owners Susan Muhwezi, congratulated UTB for the drive noting that: “It is easier to market a classified hotel.” She also added that for many times we have been accusing UTB for not marketing our hotels but where would they market unclassified hotels?”
I belief that, the move taken by UTB to classify hotels is good move which will help to improve services and facilities offered by hotels to visitors on Uganda safaris. The drive should be done country wide to help identify the particular hotels with specific facilities and services.
Uganda Safaris /Uganda Safari News
Prime Uganda Safaris and Tours Ltd
Monthly Archives: June 2015
Serena hotel tops the ranking of hotels – Uganda safari news
Kampala Serena Hotel which is located at the heart of Kampala city presenting a remarkable stay for traveling world including those on safaris in Uganda is in moments of joy after securing the top position in the hotel rankings that were concluded on last Friday.
The ululations and celebrations were at the peak in Victoria Hall of Kampala Serena Hotel when the Ministry for Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities was announcing the outcomes of the ranking of hotels in Uganda. The first ever hotel classification to ever happen in Uganda caught every one by surprise and it was considered as one of the positive move towards a sustainable service industry that will see travelers that plan safaris to Uganda increase.
The classification which were issued in the categories two (2), three (3), four (4) and Five (5) star were ranked by the East African Assessors under the Uganda Tourism Board, a governmental has responsibility of maintaining quality assurance in the country’s tourism sector so as to ensure continued satisfaction of Uganda safari undertakes.
The hotel classification featured among others the efficiency and quality, buildings, location, lunch, buildings, restaurants, lobby and bars. Kampala Serena Hotel fortunately rose to the best position in the five (5) star category along with Munyonyo Common Wealth Hotel and Sheraton International Kampala Hotel which are other upmarket accommodation establishments that travelers on safari in Uganda tend to use.
The Minister of Tourism Hon Maria Mutagamba who presided over the function noted that the initiative to recognize and standardize the hotels aims at scaling up the tourism industry and as a means of ensuring the International travellers that there is safe, secure and confortable accommodation, food along with other while on Uganda safaris and tours.
The move which started with Kampala will roll out to other parts of the country and the hotel located there will be graded also according to Mr. Asiimwe Stephen, the Executive Director of Uganda Tourism Board. The President of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association Mrs. Susan Muhwezi noted that the initiative will see the marketing of the ranked hotels made easier since their standards would be recognized and known like other hotels of International stature.
The total of 76 hotels was tried out and inspection carried out. Unfortunately most of these were left out and only 26 were categorized. Those that missed out could not meet the standards that were required for the ranking. However, some of the big hotels did not take part in the ranking exercise. Other hotels that tend of awarding themselves stars were warned of the act as it considered illegal and thus risked prosecution.
The categorization of Hotels in Uganda is one of those new endeavor the sector is attempting to bring the sector to the minimum level and consider the minimum international standards to match with the standardization of the product that has become common on the global market and in the minds of the regular travelers not forgetting the aspect of uniqueness that would definitely give a selling preposition for individual establishments and the country as destination. Uganda is a rich destination for a range of safari packages including Uganda gorilla trekking safaris.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd
THE GOLDEN “GOLDEN MONKEYS” OF MGAHINGA– UGANDA SAFARI NEWS
Restricted to the highland bamboo areas of East and Central Africa in four National parks, can we only find the world’s endangered Golden Monkeys. Tourists will only see these monkeys in three African countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo DR. Like many other monkeys, the local people call them enkima in Uganda and the Banyarwanda use the word Inkima to mean the same.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a refuge to these little adorable creatures, a total of sixty (60) habituated golden monkeys which can be seen by tourists during the Mountain Gorilla Safaris and Tours in Mgahinga National Park.
Like their name, these monkeys really glitter like gold. They have a round face, dotted with two cute bright eyes and with a soft golden fur coat. Their faces also have a golden color and when illuminated by the sun, your camera can never fail to capture the golden “golden monkeys”. The males are darker than the females.
A Uganda Primate Trekking Safari and Tour will lead tourist to the highlands where these “pieces of gold” like to stay. They have the resilience to live at an altitude higher than any other primate (4,500 meters) although a number of times they bring their settlements lower when the conditions become too cold up high.
Incredibly, the golden monkeys give birth to live young ones; which are born with their fur and eyes open unlike a number of other mammal . Also at birth, the mother eats the placenta and cleans up its young (you wouldn’t expect Golden monkey to be a bit gross); no need for a midwife.
Like the mountain gorillas’ families, the golden monkeys live in communities ranging from 3 to 62 members. They never walk alone and therefore build strong social ties with other members of the community. Mgahinga’s habituated group is becoming more and more used to people with an increase in Primate Trekking Tours and Safaris in Uganda to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Their swift nature of movements makes it challenging to click at the right time to take the perfect photo, but once trapped by the lenses, a tourist will have taken a photo to remember.
The golden monkeys are the perfect complement of the famous mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Seeing the Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family and then seeing the golden monkeys; or seeing the golden monkeys and then seeing the Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family paints a beautiful magical image of silver and gold in the mind of the tourist about a Uganda Safari and tour he will never wish to forget. It doesn’t matter in which sequence you see the mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys; either way, tourists should prepare to make jaw-dropping observations of the beauty in Uganda’s smallest National Park (Mgahinga). The golden monkeys share their illuminations with Mgahinga National Park, lighting it up and making it glitter as beautiful as Gold.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd
Ziwa rhino ranch; a home to the fascinating white rhinos – Uganda safari news
When the world “only” is used to explain something, then that particular “something” is worthy exploring. Located 176 km from Kampala using the Kampala – Gulu highway is the “only” place in Uganda where wild rhinos can be visited in their natural habitat. And to our advantage the sanctuary is open to Uganda tours and safaris. Ziwa Rhino Ranch was established in 2005 in a bid to reintroduce the wild rhinos which had ceased to exist in Uganda. Thanks to the efforts of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Rhino Fund, Uganda today has a total of 15 wild rhinos living in their natural habitat.
Unfortunately, a number of people in the past have not seen the value in keeping them alive. Rhinos have continually been hunted down because of demand in Asia for their horns. A number of doctors in Asia have claimed that the horns can be used to cure diseases like epilepsy, malaria and impotence but this has not been proven to work, yet so many rhinos have been lost in the process.
Let us talk about few interesting things about white rhinoceroses. The rhino is a very interesting mammal; one the most fascinating animals you will see while on your safaris and tours in Uganda.
White rhinos in particular are the largest land mammals after the elephants. They are plant eaters and use their senses of smell and hearing more than they use their eyes. Despite the size of their brains which is very small compared to their body size the rhinos are very wise animals which cannot easily be fooled.
Surprisingly, female rhinos carry their babies for a time way longer than many other animals (15 to 16 months); including the dearest lionesses which only suffer the burden of pregnancy for a mere four (4) months, often less. After giving birth to her calf, most mother rhinos will never introduce their young ones to their fathers.
If fortunate enough, but from a distance, tourists will confirm that rhinos are awesome sprinters while on their Uganda Safaris to Ziwa Rhino Ranch. It is highly advisable to keep a reasonable distance away from the rhinos because if annoyed, man cannot out run them. Researchers have established that rhinos accelerate to a speed between 30 and 40 miles per hour (mph); faster than Usain Bolt’s 23.7 mph record. I was also able to establish that the rhino’s horn is not made out of bone, but is from a protein called Keratin, which is the same material in our hair and nails. Under the leadership of a ranger guide, tourists can enjoy rhino safaris in Uganda’s Ziwa Rhino sanctuary without putting their lives at risk.
Adding to the rhinos, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has over 250 bird species including the rare shoe-bill, crested francolin, the African morning dove and the Abyssinian ground hornbill making it an ideal destination for birders.
Tourists on their way to Murchison falls National Park can also make detours to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to encounter the amazing creatures. Visitors should not worry much about where to stay because the Rhino ranch offers accommodation to her clients in its guest house and campsite. Meals are also served in the restaurant. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a place worth visiting. It is one of the few places around the world where wild white rhinos can be seen in their natural habitat.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd
Kibuye town- The Home of tranquility in Rwanda –-Rwanda Safari News
The land of thousand hills may be famous for its unique landscape, but its diverse lakes are too splendid and provide the best get way for domestic and international visitors on Rwanda safaris.
As one of the outstanding water bodies in Africa, Lake Kivu is not ordinary; the wonderful lake is located on the western corner of Rwanda and forms the frontier with DRC. Dotted or distributed a
long the shore lines of the lake are delightful, charming towns and villages ranging from bustling Gisenyi suited in the north, to the industrious Cyangugu in the south.
These two towns are more popularly visited by tourists on Rwanda safaris, but there are some unexplored or less visited places along the lake. Among these include Kibuye town, which is without any thinking or doubt the perfect home of tranquility in the land of thousand hills.
Located on the western province of Rwanda just 2-3 hours’ drive, Kibuya town strategically lying between Gisenyi and Cyangugu is blessed with breath taking views, relaxed atmosphere as well as picturesque sunsets. The first thing you notice as you drive to Kibuye is Nyabarongo River with the picturesque water falls, past historical Nyange and Murrambi famous for the 50,000people who were mercilessly killed during the bloody 1994 Genocide waged against the Tutsi.
The town offers views of spectacular Lake Kivu and its convenient location in hills offers wonderful views from all over vantages /viewing points. The town has tranquil feel, helped or assisted by relaxing way fishing boats, nestled with natural beauty and landscape that will take visitors breathe way. Kibuye is the only place in Rwanda that can refresh and rejuvenate souls.
For those planning to undertake Rwanda Safari to explore the tranquil Kibuye, the town has number of accommodations options that cater for all kinds of travelers .The most outstanding include Cormorant Lodge, Moriah Hill resort and Rwiza guest house.
Rwanda Safaris/Rwanda Safari News
Prime Uganda Safaris &Tours Ltd
ndahura’s family called bitukura- uganda safari news
More and more facts about mountain gorillas continue to unveil as the days go by, especially facts that denote some traits of similarity with man. Today we will take our minds on a Uganda mountain gorilla trekking Safari to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bitukura was named after a stream of clear water where the group was first spotted. This mountain gorilla family surprised Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) experts at how fast it was habituated. The average habituation period is around two years but this group’s habituation started in July 2007 and by October 2008, just 15 months later, they were set to receive their first guests on a Mountain Gorilla Safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Perhaps this speedy habituation was because they often saw UWA rangers heading to the Kyaguriro mountain gorilla family when it was still undergoing habituation.
At its first sighting, the family had up to twenty four (24) individuals previously led by Karamuzi as the alpha silverback. However Karamugi has grown old (over 40 years) and the group needs a stronger and a more agile leader. Normally the leader of the family is the oldest silverback but this is not the case for this mountain gorilla family; the group’s second youngest silverback called Ndahura is now the leader.
Sadly, the big numbers have been reduced to 14 members over the years, with cases of some traitors joining other mountain gorilla groups. Ndahura is followed by three other silver backs including Karamuzi, Rukumu and then Rukara the 4th silverback. They have two infants a number of females, juveniles and two stubborn blackbacks.
Amusingly, about two years back tourists got to physically see the wrath of an angry mountain gorilla parent. Just as parents sometimes give their kids a spanking for misbehaving, so did Ndahura give Obia (one of the blackbacks) the beating of his life. Ndahura was in his solitude times but Obia kept on pestering him, like he was suggesting a fight. Well he will surely not be seen doing anything similar pretty soon because of the weight of wrath and strength that he felt descend on his body from the mighty Ndahura silverback.
Basically the family is nonviolent especially with an alpha silverback like Ndahura who leads like he has the perfect blueprints to leadership at the back of his head. The group schedules termly, sometimes monthly get-togethers with their neighboring mountain gorilla family called Kyaguriro. Today tourists can purchase tickets in order to enjoy a Uganda Mountain Gorilla trekking Safari to Ndahura’s Bitukura family in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Uganda safaris / Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd
encounter akagera national park – Rwanda safari news
Akagera National park is located in the Eastern part of Rwanda along the frontier of the Neighboring Tanzania. The park was established in the 1934 to help protect and conserve the diverse fauna and flora commonly in the three (3) eco-regions the rolling hills of Acacia and Brachystegia Woodland, the sparsely distributed grassland and swamp-fringed Mountain. This famous Rwanda Safari destination famous got its name from the prominent Kagera River that flows along the frontiers of the park supplying / feeding water to different water bodies mainly to Lake Ihema which is the second largest lake in Rwanda.
Akagera National Park consists of a total area of 1,200km² and it is one of the ancient and oldest Safari national parks in the great Africa Continent. The northern section of the park is commonly occupied /covered by fairly savannah plains and the low-lying grasslands which combine to constitute the Rwanda‘s Safari park indistinguishable from other traditional/ancient safari destinations of East African region. On the western section or part of the park, it’s en-compassed with rolling hills and valleys, while the eastern side supplies and feeds arrange of papyrus swamps, marshes and lakes that constitute the vast protected wetlands in the east and central Africa.
In 1990s, Akagera National Park was occupied / settled by the refugees who were victims of the Rwanda’s civil wars. This group of people who were displaced by the war returned to stay /settle in the land covered by the park after the civil war in1997 .This resulted to reestablishment of the western boundary so that some part of the park’s land could be allocated to the Refugees. The park area was decreased in size from the first gazzated total area of 2,500square kilometers to the 1,200square kilometers currently covered by the park.
Akagera National Park is currently managed by Rwanda Development Board together with the conservation organization of African Parks, which is playing a tremendous part of restoring or making the park regain back its status when it was first established in the 1934.The management of the park has initiated new developments like anti-poaching mechanisms and perimeter fences to help protect the different wildlife species housed in the park. The new management changes initiated/introduced have made enormous change to the park’s wildlife populations and the national park is now trying to gain its original status.
The park also boasts of wide-range of wildlife species including the Herds of elephant and buffalo that thrive from the woodland to drink at the lakes, spotted hyenas, a stray lion, Giraffe and zebra that wander through the savannah, a dozen types of antelope as well as chestnut-coated impala, diminutive oribi and secretive bush-buck, eland. The park’s diverse vegetation full of wildlife complements the afro-alpine habitats of Volcanoes National Park-Rwanda’s gorilla trekking destination in the north and the humid forests of Nyungwe National Park-Rwanda’s Chimpanzee trekking safari destination in the southern part of Rwanda.
Rwanda Safaris/Rwanda Safari News
Prime Uganda Safaris and Tours Ltd
Here’s what our lovely flag means – Uganda’s safari news
Many symbols in this country tell a story, or two or three ranging from the spears, cooking pots, musical instruments, clothes; to mention just a few. These in addition to the many that cannot be mentioned today tell a bulky mixture of stories which if someone sat down to listen to, they would not exhaust. This is an attention-grabbing country and for this, many people continue to schedule Tours and Safaris to Uganda.
The Ugandan Flag however helps to give a brief summary of Uganda’s main components. You could easily mistake it be like the German flag which features the colors of black, red, yellow; Uganda’s flag instead showcases black, yellow and red as the dominant colors with a circle in the middle and an elegant crown crane, all purposely chosen to tell a short story about this country that “flows with milk and honey”.
Black represents the skin color of the Ugandan people similar to what you can expect to see in an African country; but we are definitely not that dark. On your Uganda Safari and Tour you will be able to agree with me that there are many shades of black, explaining the diversity in color, tribe and kind.
Yellow signifies the sunshine, which we are blessed to see every day. Even on rainy days, the sun comes out to provide the light of day and to keep us warmed up. Our climate is one that you would love to take home with you after your Safari Tours in Uganda; we have average temperatures ranging between 16°C/61°F in the morning and 27°C/81°F after midday. It’s so nice to have equal days and nights all night long, thanks to the equator along which our country is located.
The red denotes the essence of friendliness and brotherhood which is a characteristic of Ugandan people. These guys do not have to go to school to take a course in hospitality management; it is inborn, and is perhaps another ingredient in their genes. From the time your Safari in Uganda sets off, to your checkout time you will see smiles, a sense of attention and utmost conviviality from the few Ugandans you will meet; who are just a sample of the greater hospitable Ugandan population. We will love you like our own blood brothers and sisters on the very first day irrespective of your skin’s color, or your nationality.
The crown crane, a carefully chosen gentle bird species echoes a message about how gentle and calm the Ugandan people are. This is a true description of the political stability which Uganda boasts of today. Ugandans do not push people around; they know the true meaning of the word kind.
The bird is seen standing on a single leg implying that Uganda is not a boringly stagnant country. Developments in infrastructure, economics, social and political spheres continue to unveil themselves with the day ensuring that tourists will enjoy each and every Safari that they book for Uganda. The beautiful Ugandan flag explains a lot about its people; but more of the beauty has to be physically experienced. This is Uganda “a medley of pleasantness”.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd
Mountain Gorilla trekking Safaris-Uganda Safari News
A Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park. Mountain gorilla safaris are the highlight of all safari tours to Uganda and certainly mountain gorillas are the major reason as to why very many visitors under take safaris to Uganda. On the other hand, Uganda is considered as a very secure and more so safe, hospitable country in the whole world where one can see these worlds endangered Mountain Gorillas in serene surroundings.
Almost half of the mountain gorilla population is protected in Uganda. According to the November 2012 census results released by the Uganda’s Minister of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, the number of mountain gorillas is increasing. The results showed that there is a minimum of 400 Mountain gorillas from the 302 of 2006 in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park alone and about over 80 in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park making total number of mountain gorillas to be over 480 in comparison to a world total of 880 which are shared by the three (3) African countries i.e. Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Currently, there is a total of 36 gorilla families or groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, however, only eleven (11) of these are habituated and can be visited by travelers on Gorilla trekking safaris. The other migratory gorilla group lives in Mgahinga Gorilla Park. This gorilla group in Mgahinga is considered to be very nomadic always roaming between Uganda and the DRC and very unpredictable. However, good news is that the group is now settling in Uganda and ground news shows that since last year it has not crossed borders and hence this too can be trekked by visitors on Uganda gorilla safari tour to Mgahinga Gorilla National park. Gorilla habituation is a process that usually takes 2 years. During this time Mountain gorillas get used presence of human beings .This is continuously done in the wilderness to make the ape species used to human trekkers. In regard to UWA conservation rules, only eight (8) adult visitors on gorilla safaris to Uganda can be allowed to track one or each of the habituated gorilla family or group each day.
I therefore hearten all world travelers to come and be included in the list of few world travelers who have had chance to encounter the world endangered apes in the pearl of Africa –Uganda.
Uganda Safaris/Uganda Safari News
Prime Uganda Safaris &Tours Ltd
Foods to try out before you leave Uganda – Uganda safari news
Do you like to eat; well I personally love to eat. And I have a few favorite dishes that I could uncomplainingly eat for the next many years of my life. We travel a lot, and the familiar and unfamiliar foods we eat while on the road greatly add or reduce on our levels of pleasure.
There are just so many unique known and unknown foods that define countries, regions and continents around the world today, ranging from the Italian Pizza, El Salvador’s baby shrimps, the authentic American burgers, to the spice in Mexican tacos and tortas and Indian Panjabis. Well it doesn’t matter whether you love or don’t love to eat; I am putting up a dining to-do list for you while on your Uganda tours and Safaris. But the first precaution I have for you is to make sure that you can order the dishes from a descent and clean eating area.
Matooke is one of the common foods you’ll most definitely hear Ugandans ordering for on a daily basis. Matooke is similar to plantain and perfectly resembles a yellow banana but in a green color. It is harvested in a bunch, and then peeled excellently mostly by ladies. Some people prefer it boiled, others fried while the majority prefer to cover it with banana leaves and just steam it. The result is a yellow soft tasty cake which can be eaten with almost any sauce. You will get a better opportunity to eat this food when your Safari and Tour in Uganda is still around the Kampala region.
Kalo is a dish made from mingling millet and cassava flour with well boiled water. The result is a brown (sometimes sticky) piece which can be eaten with sauces like fish, beef stew and chicken.
Nsenene (the luganda word for grasshopper) is a seasonal dish due to the migrating nature of the dominant members of the recipe (the grasshoppers). If you ate these fried grasshoppers while being blindfolded, you wouldn’t believe the lip-licking crispy taste. If your Uganda Safari Tour is scheduled at a time when they are in plenty, you’ll be lucky to enjoy at least a thousand grasshoppers.
Make sure to find some well-done Muchomo/Nyama Choma (barbeque). Like preparing marshmallows, pieces of meat (whether cow or goat) are placed on a stick or metallic rod and then put over the fire to roast. By calling it barbeque, I am not being honest about the real taste. I have tasted both barbeque and Muchomo, and I am still researching on what it is that these chefs put in the Muchomo that makes it so tasty.
My shortlist ends with a few fruits. On your Uganda Safari, try to inquire from your guide about where you can get some good Fenne (jackfruit). Fenne is actually the biggest fruit that is tree-borne, so don’t be bashful; have as much as you can. I also recommend paw paws, mangoes and the authentic taste of the ripe yellow bananas. After tasting Uganda’s bananas (which actually are available almost everywhere you go) you’ll agree with me that inorganic bananas taste pathetic! So that’s my long-short dining to-do list to guide your holiday.
Uganda safaris/Uganda safari News
Prime Uganda safaris & Tours Ltd
gorillasafarisandtours 