The government of Uganda has reached a level where it can no longer sit in complacency in absence of the national carrier and the President himself acknowledges the significance of the carrier than without it including its prominent role in increasing safaris to Uganda.
President Museveni while in the 11th Northern Corridor Infrastructure Project Summit held in Nairobi Kenya expressed the desire to revive the national carrier in order to neutralize the exorbitant fares that are met by Ugandans and other travelers connecting to the Uganda route including travelers on Uganda safaris as they fly with carriers of other countries.
Considering the fact that the air fare in the region is high despite that initial arrangements under the Northern Corridor Infrastructural Project (NCIP), the desire to revitalize the national airline to counteract such fares is by all means necessary. In addition, Ugandans need easy access to regional market which is a necessity that is vital for all Ugandans doing business.
The reports from the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) represented by Mr. Ogene Fred the acting chief executive officer indicate that the President has already directed the revival of the Ugandan Airlines. The Corporation has already passed on the task to the Ministry of Transport to oversee the Uganda Airlines revival.
The Ministry of Transport has already hired the International Audit firm the Ernst & Young to undertake the evaluation of the viability of the Ugandan Airline and the results were very promising which indicates the potential of the carrier to succeed and run sustainably thus ensuring long term use even for the Uganda safari undertakers
The government is in quest of about $300m as the startup investment in the revival of the national carrier. Once revived, the Ugandan Airlines will be the only business venture of the government under the supervision of Uganda Development Corporation and the body will sell off shares gradually up to when it completely private sector controlled.
The Ugandan Airline saw its liquidation in the month of May 2001 and at the time of its liquidation; the Uganda Airline had a debt of $6million. The closure of the Airline affected the country’s visibility on global scale and the Air connection as well. The travelers to Uganda including those coming for safaris in Uganda require connecting to the neighboring countries before connecting to Uganda.
Monthly Archives: October 2015
Ugandan youth exploring the benefits of tourism development
The Tourism sector is currently among the significant contributors to the Gross Domestic Product of Uganda generating considerable sums of foreign exchange gathered from the Uganda safaris. The sector is also re-known for its immense multiplier effect that trickles down the value chain creating a lasting impact on the lives of both the educated and the less educated citizens.
The Youth population 7,310,386 individuals in Uganda are noted to be in between the age of 15 – 24 years which makes the population pyramid in Uganda triangular presenting a high population growth rate that requires sustainable measures to contain and engaging the youth in tourism is one way to achieve this.
The safaris in Uganda featuring a range of products including the wildlife, people and culture, mountains and adventure, water and recreation and events and conferences present enormous opportunities for the youth. Uganda crowned the Pearl of Africa is a traveler’s paradise with mountain gorillas that are globally endangered, the Chimpanzees, the Big five of land animals, the diverse cultures presented by 65 tribal groups, the 50% of the African bird species, water bodies including the gigantic Victoria lake – the second largest fresh water lake in the world and great Mountains like Rwenzori standing as the third highest on the African continent.
The above mentioned diversity presents diverse scope of opportunities that can be explored by the youth especially the employment aspect both paid and self. The youth are embarking on the venture of souvenir trade where they participate in making of arts and crafts along with operation of craft centers and hawking the craft products which in turn has provided them with source of livelihood. Instead of the Uganda safari undertakers again taking the products gathered from other countries, it would be wise if the youth close the gap and supply the authentic Ugandan made souvenirs to the traveling world.
Besides the souvenir trade, strategizing to acquire the required skills in the technical operations of the tourism and hospitality industry is one way of guaranteeing the youth of sustainable livelihood. The hotels and lodges which offer accommodation to the travelers on safari in Uganda require the skilled chefs, the service staff, the front office staff and the prominent housekeepers of which the Ugandan Youth can ably tap into. The travel part presents the opportunities for tour guiding, travel consultancy and general operations which is a suitable exploration ground for the youth in Uganda.
Tourism relies in conservation and the range of conservation sites in Uganda ranging from the National Parks to the game reserves, Sanctuaries, Zoo and other protected areas require personnel to ensure their smooth existence and no one can ably satisfy these positions other than the youth. This presents a rich ground for the youth to tap into the benefits of tourism development in Uganda
Uganda wins at magical kenya tourism expo
The destination Uganda is among the popular tourist sites in the region with remarkable visitor products that form the ground for memorable encounters including Uganda gorilla trekking safaris. Having enrolled herself to participate in the magical Kenya tourism expo that took place from 15th – 17th October 2015, little did she know that her products would mesmerize the world and attract a crowd to her stand.
Like how she had scooped the award at the Indaba Fair in South Africa close to the middle of this year, Uganda again emerged the best at the magical Kenya tourism expo an event that was attended by a myriad of participants both from the region and the International looking for the means of how to sell the East African leisure and travel products to the traveling world including the Uganda safaris.
This is a considerable strength that is being added onto Uganda complementing a range of accolades that the nation has been gathering overtime including being the 2012 leading destination, the winning at Indaba fair, her destinations being famous internationally like Bwindi being the number one birding spot in Africa, Mount Rwenzori being among the challenging mountains to climb in the world and Kidepo Valley National Park being the third best park in Africa. This has in turn influenced a range of world travelers to take safaris to Uganda.
The Magical Kenya Expo which was conducted close to the Mombasa Coastal City in Diani saw Uganda take the Grand Award for possessing the Overall Best Exhibition stand along with the best stand design at the 5th edition of this International travel expo. The winning was attributed to the general appearance of the stand along with the customer services made Uganda to attract great count of local and international attention from the hosted buyers to her stand as noted by the Chief Executive Officer of the Marketing Society of Kenya Waithera Ng’ang’a.
The Magical Kenya Tourism Expo 2015 was a successful event having attracted a count of 120 participants from a range of countries world over including national tourism boards, the hosted buyers along with suppliers.
The Uganda Tourism Board Chief Executive Director Stephen Asiimwe acknowledges the award noting that it is as a result of deliberate marketing and promotion that the body has invested in overtime with the intention of increasing Uganda safaris.
Over sixteen (16) Ugandan firms participated at the Expo including the Prime Uganda Safaris and Tours Ltd represented by its owner Samuel Makanga. Uganda also intends to run an expo titled the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo that will run from November 17th – 19th 2015 and with the growing fame of Uganda, the participants in the forthcoming expo are anticipated to much more than those of last year.
SIMPLE FACTS ABOUT MOUNTAIN GORILLAS – UGANDA GORILLA SAFARI NEWS
Mountain gorillas are among the Primate Species that are apparently thriving in the world and they are listed as critically endangered due to their low populations and confined habitats which are threatened by encroachment and yet the gorillas themselves take long to produce and multiply as noted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Scientifically named Gorilla gorilla beringei and also locally referred to as Ngagi in Rukiga, the mountain gorillas have become a popular attraction not only in Uganda but Africa at large prompting a range of world travelers to undertake gorilla trekking in safaris in Uganda.
Noted to be weighing 300 to 425 pounds, the mountain gorilla’s life span is given at 53 years and it thrives in a dense rain forest with vegetation forming much of its food component while its life is threatened by humans and leopards. This makes mountain gorillas impressive to encounter while on gorilla safaris in Uganda
The mountain gorillas apparently live in the dense jungles of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the south west of Uganda and in a thread of forested mountain landscape of the eight (8) Virunga Volcanoes that stretch from south western tip of Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo passing through Rwanda. A population of 880 mountain gorillas is known to be living in the wild with none known to exist in captivity. The Uganda’s Bwindi alone contains 400 out the mentioned number. This makes it a popular Uganda gorilla safari destination.
Mountain gorillas are known to be gigantic powerful short creature that is marked by a large head and a hairless black muzzle. Its arms are rather longer than the legs and a fully grown male can be twice the female one in terms of size. The male gorilla is called a silverback because of its silver patch on its back that makes it impressive to look at while on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.
Mountain gorillas are among the Primate Species that are apparently thriving in the world and they are listed as critically endangered due to their low populations and confined habitats which are threatened by encroachment and yet the gorillas themselves take long to produce and multiply as noted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
BOOKING A GORILLA TREKKING PERMIT IN UGANDA
Gorilla safaris in Uganda are noted to be among the lucrative activities of tourism in the country Uganda today. The encounter allows the travelers from different parts of the world to have moments with the mountain gorillas whose fate is still listed as critically endangered by the IUCN on its famous red list.
Undertaking a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda cannot be effected if one does not have in possession of the gorilla permit. The gorilla permit which is a document that has been summarized into an electronic card as part of the innovative systems that have been on going at Uganda wildlife Authority to make the access to the protected areas easier is issued by the same Authority under sole arrangement that only allows one to purchase it directly or through an agent.
Gifted with two destinations where Uganda gorilla safaris can be conducted namely Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda has in total 104 gorilla permits that are distributed in her thirteen (13) gorilla families that are habituated. These Permits are always available every day and they are sold out on the arrangement of first come first serve which at times take people by surprise to find out that they cannot get even a single permit to track gorillas on a particular day because of their late booking.
As a result of the high demand, the travelers interested in gorilla trekking safari tours in Uganda are advised to undertake the reservation of the gorilla permit way in advance so as to guarantee themselves the trekking experience. Also earlier booking enables one to select the region of his choice from the four trekking regions of Bwindi where he / she intends track the gorillas from. This too has an effect on the accommodation as earlier booking enable you to book the permits in the respective region where your preferred lodge exist.
It can be noted that it is a requirement from the Uganda Wildlife Authority that the permit is not yet booked until one has deposited on it. Normally, the issuing organization allows a 30% deposit for the booking that is 3 months to the date of tracking and beyond this period the full amount is required. However for the Mgahinga trekking permits are paid on ground as a result of the family former crossing to the adjacent Congo. Thus, one pays when the park authorities have fully ascertained that the group is available.
The gorilla permit in Uganda is still standing at $600 for the foreigners that do not stay in the East African community, $500 for the foreigners that stay in the partner states of the East African Community and then 250,000/= for the natives of the partner states of the East African community. Most times, the Uganda Wild life Authority (UWA) offers discounts in these prices and this is always done for the wet season months that run from April to May and then November. This offer is always announced at the beginning of the year. When the discount is extended, the $600 reduce to $350, the $500 reduce to $300 and the 250,000/= reduce to 150,000/=
The booking process is followed by gorilla permit printing process and at this point the Uganda Wildlife Authority requires your passport details including the name, nationality, passport number and date of birth to enable them keep a clear track of the records. The foreign residents need to show the proof of their resident status in the region and the citizens as well to be allowed to undertake a gorilla safari in Uganda at a reduced price.
KYAMBURA GAME LODGE; A TYPICAL BLEND WITH THE WILDERNESS
Located at the boundary of the Uganda safari destination of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Game Lodge is a typical safari lodge that ultimately blends with the wilderness that surrounds it.
Queen Elizabeth National Park in the south west of Uganda is one of the commonly visited micro destinations by travelers on safaris in Uganda and as thus understanding accommodation that surrounds it is a positive step to offering these travelers the much needed information about the destination.
Kyambura Game Lodge overlook the a deep gorge below and distant escarpments not forgetting the views of Rwenzori Mountains and the rolling savannah that mark the Albertine rift flats thus presenting and ideal relaxing environment for travelers that would prefer a less spoilt atmosphere.
The accommodation at Kyambura Game lodge is offered in seven (7) well designed luxury cottages that are grass thatched en suite with showers and bath tubs overlooking the park, fitted with a wooden private balcony, 220v electricity inside the cottage and a private environ that apart from the next cottage thus presenting travelers on Uganda safaris and tours a total private atmosphere which is a typical characteristic of a luxury safari lodge.
The cottages feature environmentally friendly materials that have been crafted by the local artisans and crafts men with considerable dexterity which they have gathered for centuries past when building their traditional huts. Kyambura Game Lodge also features a swimming pool that is suitable to the at times high temperatures that mark the area and the travelers can always make a swim after a rewarding wild game viewing in the park.
The camp fire fully set with the possibility the Banyaruguru dance troupe make the stay at Kyambura Game Lodge a memorable encounter and a close touch with nature and culture which is a unique factor that most travelers are always in quest of.
The lodge features a restaurant, bar and a reception area and its Kitchen is fully set to handle domestic and International Cuisine meal orders. The staff is very friendly and set to serve according to your interests. This combines to make Kyambura Game Lodge worth of stay while on a safari to Uganda.
CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION; A DETAILED ENCOUNTER WITH CHIMPANZEES – UGANDA SAFARI NEWS
Uganda has got dense tropical forests that supports counts of primates among which include the critically endangered mountain gorillas that form a ground for gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Common Chimpanzees that form a ground for chimpanzee trekking and Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park among other wildlife. The existence of these primate concentrations has qualified some of the protected areas like Kibale National Park as the primate capital of the world.
In order to ensure the encounter of Uganda safari undertakers with these species, they have been habituated to tolerate human presence. The fully habituated chimpanzees are always encountered on chimpanzee trekking safaris that offer one hour of direct encounter with Chimpanzees which are regarded as man’s closest relative sharing 99% of DNA.
However, travelers who have plenty of time on their safari tour in Uganda can opt for a more detailed chimpanzee habituation experience that lasts for a full day to enable them explore chimpanzees in detail. The encounter starts as early as 6am to catch up with Chimpanzees as they leave their nests heading out to copulate, feed, breastfeed, hunt, patrol and display up to 7pm when they build their new nests. This allows the travelers to explore the chimpanzees in detail and the activity is best done in Kibale National Park – Uganda and can be incorporated in your Uganda gorilla safari or in your wildlife safari in Uganda.
Exploring the nshongi gorilla family
The Nshongi gorilla family is one of the twelve habituated gorilla families that are found in destination Bwindi explored on gorilla safaris in Uganda. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the largest mountain gorilla habitat not only in Uganda and the region but also at the international level.
Nshongi gorilla family with a count of eighteen (18) members features a considerable rich history basing from its status of being the largest group of mountain gorillas ever been habituated. The travelers planning to take gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are always taken by the writings about Nshongi gorilla group prompting them to develop immense desire to track it once they are in Uganda.
Positioned in Rushaga to the Bwindi south another region in Bwindi where gorilla trekking in Uganda is also conducted, Nshongi gorilla family is part of the five gorilla groups that mark the area. Being the founding family and the base for these other gorilla families of Mishaya, Bweza, Busigye and Kahungye, Nshongi gorilla group is very respected and historical.
The Nshongi gorilla group at the time of habitation had over 36 members and the intense habituation experience saw the group introduced for tracking in the month of September the year 2009. The group derives its name from Nshongi river where it was first spotted. The male Silverback took over the name Nshongi and maintained the dominancy of the group.
Like many gorilla groups of its caliber, the Nshongi gorilla group could not hold together anymore beyond July 2010 when the Mishaya Silverback decided to separate to form the Mishaya gorilla family that is apparently explored on Uganda gorilla safaris reducing the former group to 26 members. The separation of Mishaya opened the doors for other members and in the year 2013, the Bweza Silverback also separated to establish the Bweza gorilla group with a count of 10 members which reduced the Nshongi group to the 18 member status.
Tracking Nshongi gorilla group on gorilla safari in Uganda requires you to buy the Uganda gorilla permit for Rushaga region from the Uganda Wildlife Authority standing at $600 for the foreign nonresident and the $500 for the foreign resident and then 250,000/= for the citizens of the member states of the East African community and its encounter commences from 8am at the park headquarters and the duration may range from 2 – 8 hours depending on the gorilla movements. Interestingly, the gorilla group thrives in verdant vegetative region that offers chances for exploring other Primate species, butterflies and a myriad of birds.
Exploring mantana’s tented camp in lake mburo national park
The Lake Mburo National Park to the south west of Uganda stands among the famous Uganda safari destinations that present diverse flora and fauna worth exploring. The Mantana Tented Camp compliments the wilderness of Lake Mburo to derive a remarkable stay in the park.
Mantana Tented Camp impressively located on the hill of Rwamahungu with the views of Lake Mburo National Park stands as an upmarket or call it luxurious accommodation for the travelers visiting Lake Mburo on safaris in Uganda.
This intimate small serene wilderness camp features a typical African safari atmosphere which makes its stay an encounter of its own presenting an ideal for the exploration of Lake Mburo National Park including taking activities like walking Uganda safaris, the game drives, the night drive, birding and boat cruise on the calm looking Lake Mburo.
The wilderness affluent accommodation at Mantana Tented Camp is presented in environmentally blending spacious and lush tents that stand on raised wooden decks equipped with the sitting room along with the dining area and the bar.
The count of the nine (9) tents that thrive at the site boast of private verandah, en suite toilet and bush shower along with a dressing room, showers and the hot water making each accommodation unit self-sufficient generating a complete experience on safari in Uganda.
The Mantana Tented Camp has never been short of impressive towels and bedding, soap and other toiletries that keep your stay comfortable. In your private tent, you enjoy the natural lighting generated from the intense sun radiation that is common in the rangeland of Ankole where Lake Mburo National Park is located. The bar and dining facilities are also positioned on the raised platform offering the views of the park’s savannah landscape while taking your thrilling lunch, dinner or an evening sun downer on a Uganda tour.
The Mantana Tented Camp is a surrounded by an area which is a common dwelling ground for the warthogs, the Burchell’s Zebra, Buffalo, Impala, civet cats along with a myriad of birdlife. The Lake Mburo Camp of Mantana group that operates a range of safari camps in the region stand as at an altitude of 4,308 feet and the geographical coordinates of 00.37’01.16”S and 30.58’48.04”E.
Lake Mburo National Park remains the smallest savannah game park in the destination Uganda with an extended wetland system that is part of the greater Lake Victoria catchment. The greater section of the park is marked by acacia species and the open savannah grassland that is increasingly being reduced by the ever increasing woodland accruing from the absence of large shrub consumers like elephants to tame it. The park supports counts of Rothschild giraffes that have been re-introduced from Murchison Falls National Park, the great counts of Burchell’s Zebra in Uganda, the Topi antelope, Impala, warthogs, the defassa water bucks, the bush bucks, leopards, the Buffaloes among other species. The ancient rocks that date back to 500 million years ago common dwelling for the Klipspringers combine with the rest to generate a remarkable experience in Lake Mburo National Park which using Mantana Camp as your base.
The fascinating historic moment when mountain gorillas were encountered drinking water
The mountain gorillas unlike other wildlife always explored on gorilla safaris in Rwanda are noted not to be fans of water drinking especially from the streams and lakes since they get most of the moisture from the food along with morning dew.
In acknowledgment of this, the International gorilla researcher Dian Fossey had noted in her journals that the mountain gorillas featured a dislike for rain and could dislike the water in general as they try to cross the streams in their habitats without getting themselves wet as at times explored by travelers on Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris.
However as wildlife remains wildlife despite the considerable human encounter, the mountain gorillas were one day found in the 2013 rainy season drinking water in the massif of Virunga by Jean Felix Kinani a Rwandan Researcher which was a fascinating moment not only to him but to the world that received the breaking news of the event that had been noticed.
Kinani on his routine check for gorilla health was tracking the Hirwa gorilla group one of the ten gorilla groups that are explored on gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda on 16th April 2013 in his capacity as a veterinary doctor came a cross Munyinya Silverback along with other individuals utilizing the back of their hand to drink water which was a unique observation ever recorded among the mountain gorillas which are noted to be ascertaining great count of their fluid consumption from the vegetation that they consume.
The researcher encountered the group along the Rwebeya stream that traverses the Volcanoes National Park and is always a river of considerable size in the rainy season at times causing damage to the houses adjacent to it. The observation was notably unique and the first of its kind to be recorded among the critically endangered apes – the mountain gorillas.
At times the mountain gorillas especially the infants play in shallow water pools in the dry season. They like viewing their reflections at times pondering that it might be another gorilla down there and they tend to make gestures and attempt to touch their viewed reflection. But the case of encountering them on the stream in the rainy season drinking water was rare and the first of its kind.
The mountain gorillas with about 880 populations noted to be remaining in the wild are spread in three locations namely the Virunga massif connecting Rwanda, Uganda and Congo and forming a rich ground for gorilla trekking safaris and tours in Rwanda and Uganda and the second habitat being Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that form the ground for gorilla safaris in Uganda.
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