UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY REMITS $42000 KIDEPO PARK COMMUNITY

The Uganda Safari tour National Park of Kidepo of recent received $42000 approximately 143,850,000/= for the 2015 / 2016 financial year to undertake the implementation of livelihood projects in the area.

The submitted funds were released by the Kaabong District administration and it is generated from the 20% revenue sharing scheme with the park as entrance receipts. This total amount had accumulated for the last three (3) years until they were eventually released. The 20% revenue sharing is provided for in the Uganda Wildlife Act to enable the community realise the significance of conservation and the Uganda Safaris and tours.

According to Johnson Masereka Conservation Area Manager of Kidepo Valley National Park, there are three (3) sub counties set to benefit from the scheme and these include; Kawalakol, Kamion and Karenga. The Sub counties submitted a range of projects and the District government had to undertake keen vetting and endorsement was reached for the following projects;

The Karenga Sub County resolved to put up a cultural centre with an estimate cost of 46million Uganda Shillings located at Opot Pot while in the Sub county of Kawalakol a similar project was endorsed at Moruita at an estimate cost of 45 million Uganda Shillings. For Kamion Sub County will get solar power system at a cost of 21 million at Lwakwakaramoe primary school,  Lwakwakaramoe health center II at a cost of 10 million Uganda Shillings and eventually a grinding mill in the Parish of Morungole at a cost of 15million Shillings. These new cultural centers would definitely bring the unique culture and heritage of the Karimojong for the exploration of the travelers on safaris and tours in Uganda.

The Supervision cost shared at Sub County and District level stands at 6,850,000/= and is part of the total sum remitted. Supervision and Monitoring is in line with the guidelines of the revenue sharing scheme.

The Kidepo Conservation Area Management at the very function disclosed another 116,362,841/ = set to be utilized in the year 2016/17.   The general District management applauded the Uganda Wildlife Authority initiative and called upon the community to make proper utilization of the remitted funds and gain a wider picture towards conservation and utilization of protected areas like Kidepo Valley National Park for sustainable development.

NYORE HILLSIDE RETREAT; A TRANQUIL STAY IN MBARARA

The Nyore Hillside Retreat is one of the recent additions to the list of Uganda Safari accommodation units in the peri-urban environments. Positioned in the district of Mbarara at 16 miles along the Mbarara – Kabale Road, the Nyore Hillside Retreat presents a lush tranquil accommodation for those interested in a serene experience away from the urban hassle of Mbarara town.

The Accommodation at Nyore Hillside Retreat is featured in lush en suite cottages crafted in traditional setting with grass thatch which are tranquil and suitable for the stay of travelers on safaris in Uganda wishing to break the journey to or from the south western destinations of Bwindi, Mgahinga or Queen Elizabeth National Parks. Every cottage is impressively designed by expert local artisans featuring African antiques along with customized furnishings bringing in a profound connection between heritage, nature and modernity.

The four Cottages named Mango Cottage, Ovacado Cottage, Peanut Cottage and Family Cottage feature King sized beds, en suite shower and toilet, lounge equipped with a leather Sofa, Mosquito Nets and clothing and storage facilities. The Honey moon features a relatively larger space compared to other cottages and contains a bar thus ideal for couple on holiday safari in Uganda.

Nyore Hillside Retreat leaves no one in inadequacy as it also features well set Restaurant, Bar, curio shop, extensive exotic flower garden tranquil for relaxation, laundry service, adequate outdoor parking, pitches and tents and the cribs for infants.  For those interested in outdoor activities, the Nyore Hillside present remarkable bird watching encounters, community walks and camping. The Nyore’s panoramic location also presents impressive sightseeing experience on Uganda tours.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA HABITUATION; A NEW ACTIVITY IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

For all along the world travelers on gorilla safaris in Uganda have been primarily engaging in mountain gorilla trekking which provides for only one hour of direct encounter with these species. The introduction of mountain gorilla habituation is seen as a detailed encounter which many have been waiting for so long.

Unlike the gorilla tracking, the travelers on Uganda gorilla safari interested in gorilla habituation have got the opportunity to last four complete hours with the giant apes in their natural habitat as they forage, play and socialise among other behavioural aspects.

The Mountain gorilla Habituation is apparently still limited to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park conducted only in its southern region of Rushaga where five habituated gorilla groups of Bweza, Busingye, Kahungye, Mishaya and Nshongi are found along with other two groups of Bikingi and Bushaho which are still under habituation.

The gorilla habitation is just like gorilla trekking is controlled by Uganda Wildlife Authority and as a result its permit can be obtained at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Headquarters along Kiira Road Kamwokya at a cost of $1500 per permit. The travellers interested in this activity on gorilla safari tour in Uganda can book direct with UWA or through a tour agent like Prime Uganda Safaris and Wild Gorilla Safaris.

Mountain gorilla Habituation is a profound endeavour because even the existing habituated groups had to undergo the same encounter before people were allowed to visit them. Habituation commenced in 1991 in Buhoma and by 1993, the Mubare gorilla group had started to receive the visitors. The Uganda Wildlife Authority continued with the process and now, Uganda features thirteen (13) habituated gorilla groups of which twelve (12) are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park while the remaining thrive in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – Uganda’s second gorilla refigium. All these can be explored on Uganda gorilla tracking safaris and tours at a cost of $600 per permit.

The Mountain gorilla habituation activity is guided by expert researchers from the UWA’s Department of Research and Monitoring and offers in-depth understanding of these worldly critically endangered species than ever before.

WHY RWANDA NEEDS TO DEVELOP DOMESTIC TOURISM

Tourism world over has been recognized for being a significant contributor to the national economies of a range of states and has been termed as an invisible export.  Besides its capacity to generate employment, decrease poverty, stimulate human development and promote environmental sustainability, the tourism benefits are far beyond the listed with others generated through linkages and multiplier effect bringing along all-round growth.

The destination Rwanda is credited for having recognized the significance of tourism development and as a result, a favorable environment has been presented for it to spur including Rwanda gorilla Safaris and tours.

Rwanda has depicted immense commitment to tourism sector promotion evidenced in her efforts to market the Rwanda Safari products, engaging the private sector, tourist infrastructure development and improving the destination’s business climate via relaxing tourist Visas among other aspects. As a result of this effort, the tourism sector is apparently among the fast growing service industries in Rwanda with great possibility for diversification and further expansion.

However, it can be noted that even though the tourism curve of Rwanda is still positive and the destination positioning world over is rising steadily, the need to tap into domestic tourism cannot be ruled out.  Domestic tourism is by all means a stronghold to development of a sustainable tourism sector as it enhances diversity and economic stability.

Creating an environment where the natives take up Safaris in Rwanda is such a strategic move that would ensure continuity of the same even when the global economies might not be fairing well to enable International travel. Besides that, domestic tourism is itself an educational process where the natives can get to learn more about the environment which can in turn facilitate conservation.

Domestic tourism brings people closer to natural endowments in their own land of birth stimulate their appreciation of these aspects while the socio-cultural interaction enhances interconnectedness, facilitates social development and cultural continuity.

The range of Rwanda tour products including the Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes, the towering Virunga Mountains, the montane forest of Nyungwe with its counts of Chimpanzees,  wild game in Akagera and the culture and heritage encounters in Butare, Kigali and Nyanza are all interesting and worth visiting by both local and international travelers.

PARK VIEW SAFARI LODGE; A NEW ADDITION TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK SAFARI LODGE

The Park view Safari Lodge is one of the newly added Uganda Safari lodges in the destination of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Positioned in Kyambura Area, the Park View is mid-range or call it standard that is best placed to serve the middle income travelers on safari in Uganda.

The lush en suite cottages are nicely placed in natural ecosystem setting crafted using natural materials and fitted with canvas that blends with the surrounding. The cottages are thatched with local grass presenting cool atmosphere suitable for relaxation while on Uganda Safaris. The bath tubs and showers overlook the wilderness equipped with both hot and cold running water while the private wooden decks offer uninterrupted views of the park savannah while lighting by electricity.

Park View Safari Lodge is considerably rich in facilities including restaurant with an extensive menu providing for both local and international food, Library and reading area where you can learn more about conservation and the Queen Elizabeth National Park in detail, gift shop where one can secure a souvenir to commemorate the Uganda tour, extensive swimming pool offering a deep bath after an extensive game drive, Laundry service, internet connectivity that keeps one connected in the outside world and well stocked bar.

Besides the lush Cottages, Park View Safari Lodge also features well built rooms set with concrete materials providing a rather affordable accommodation to the price sensitive travelers on safaris and tours in Uganda. The guests in these rooms fortunately have access to the swimming pool, the restaurant among other facilities at Park view Safari Lodge.

The lodge presents a good base to visiting the park and undertaking a myriad of activities including game drives in Kasenyi, Mweya peninsular, crater area and the excursion to Ishasha sector, river safari along Kazinga Channel, Chimpanzee trekking in either Kyambura gorge or Kalinzu forest Reserve and a forest walk in Maramagambo forest.