The information minister Fredrick Nyakabwa  disclosed that the repair of the Tooro Kingdom place in Fortportal will be completed in 5 days . The minister stated that engineers are enforcing final touches on the palace to ensure that the 18^th birthday and 15^th Coronation of the Omukama of Tooro finds it completely refurbished which is due on the 16^th of April .

His birthday and coronation this time will be a hand over by the regents whereby he will receive full control over  his Kingdom  now that he has reached the age he  is considered as mature.

Oyo ascended to the throne on September 12, 1995 after the death of his father, Patrick Matthew Olimi Kaboyo II.

The  15^th Coronation will attract over 18 kings and other dignitarie that include;  H.E President Yoweri Museveni, Libyan leader Muamar Gadaffi, the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and Nabagereka Sylvia Nagginda who are guardians of the teen king, will attend the event at Karuzika in Fort Portal town.

By Tanah Hadijah

UGANDA SAFARIS

TRAVEL NEWS

Rwanda got another tribute as far as advertising the country’s resources are concerned.

For the 4^th uninterrupted time, Rwanda won the best African exhibitor’s award during the International Tourism fair in Berlin Germany.

The Rwandan government ensures that any chance to market the country is used to the maximum.

Come June 2010, Rwanda will display case its tourism potential at the World cup finals in South Africa. What is outstanding is that Rwanda is amongst the smallest economies in the East African Community only coming second last to Burundi. But its belligerent nature of the approach to business is extraordinary.

Kenya and Tanzania grasp the largest tourism impending in the EAC followed by Uganda but seem to be at ease with the figures tourism is fetching in their coffers.

In setting up tourism as a priority, Rwanda is simply ensuring that any available revenue source is exploited to the maximum. In Uganda for example, tourists are attracted by the variety of flora and fauna although the infrastructure is still poor to enable the country reap maximum benefits from this God-given resource.

Tourists turn up in the wild game reserves but leave for Kenya and Tanzania because of lack of accommodation. Perhaps it is timely that the Uganda government has decided to set up a US$6million project to promote tourism (see Page 24).

This withstanding the EAC as a body should follow Rwanda’s footsteps and step up the gear in investing in tourism promotion. It would be embarrassing for the rest of the region to wake up only to find that what they deemed as a poor member is far above them as regards exploiting natural resources.

Other than attracting visitors a lot of business deals can be struck since a country attractive to tourists is simply regarded peaceful where business can be easily conducted. Apart from tourism promotion, Rwanda has taken steps to make doing business easy. It is possible to register a business in 24 hours which would take a month in other countries while acquiring land can take as little as three days. The EAC must pick from this model and ensure the region moves forward as a whole.

By Tanah Hadijah

Uganda Safaris

About 5  people  won a fully-paid trip  to  five of Uganda’s national parks, courtesy of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Prudence Sekoma, Angel Semakula, Allan Mugisha, Oliver Kasita, and Nicholas Owori  spent their Easter holiday together with their spouses, friends and  family touring Lake Mburo National Park,   Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Kazinga Channel, Rwenzori Mountains and Kibale National Park.

The four-day Easter Wildlife Roadtrip was aimed at promoting domestic tourism.  Kaddu Sebunya of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said the local community can be attracted to love domestic tourism if it is packaged to suit them. He advised the private sector   to develop events and holiday packages that will add value   to the local

.
Moses Mapesa the managing director of UWA said that more such originalities aimed at heartening domestic tourism are in progress, as this would help improve both revenues and wildlife conservation.

The initiative will help Ugandan know their country’s tourism potentials and beauty  because  research has it that many Uganda Locals  have never been to these places and neither do they know what these places have to offer  for local tourists.

By Tanah  Hadijah

Uganda Safaris

13 days – 12 nights  Uganda / Rwanda 13days – 12 Nights

Day 1 : ARRIVAL ENTEBBE AIRPORT
On your arrival, you will be met at the airport by AA AFRICA Safaris representative and transfer to your hotel in Kampala for Safari briefing. Check in  your hotel and ease from the  jet lug as you wait for  dinner and overnight at the Bougainviller Hotel / Emin Pasha Hotel   Transfer time 50 minutes

Day 2:  TO MBALE UGANDA TOUR
Take breakfast and depart for Mbale. Tour Mbale City formerly known as the cleanest city of Uganda and the environs probably encounter a circumcise occasion, visit their High school and Primary school, coffee plantations and water system. Overnight in Mbale at the Mount Elgon Hotel/ Mbale Resort Hotel. Transfer time 5hrs

Day 3: ABAYUDAYA OF MBALE
Having taken breakfast, you will visit the Abayudaya Synagogue and later transfer to Jinja city. Jinja is  the second biggest and Industrial city of  Uganda .
Introduction: Jinja – Source of the Mighty River Nile
Major attraction here is the source of the world’s longest river, the Nile River beginning its long journey of 4145 miles which is the life blood of both Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. The Bujagali falls: For   those who are not weak hearted, this is a great place to do the rafting and Bungee jumping this is where rafting begins but unfortunately if you haven’t rafted here, soon the stunning world class grade 5 rapids are going to disappear due to the new Hydro-power extension that’s to be built there. Get the briefing from the rafting guides and it’s on your way to hit the grade five world class white water rapids. Later get back in the evening share the moment of the events with the group. Stay in Jinja at the Jinja Nile Resort  or  drive back to your Kampala Hotel  time permitting.  And dinner and over night. transfer time 4hrs from Mbale

Day 4: To KIBALE NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast prepare to drive to Kibale National Park arriving early afternoon stop over for a stretch and lunch break at the Traveller’s hotel  check in to Ndali Lodge/ primates Lodge/ Mountains of the Moon Lodge/ Rwenzori View guest House.
This is located in  Western Uganda, 35 km from Fort Portal town, which is 360kms from Kampala via Mubende town. With lush tropical rainforest and fascinating diversity of  animals, Kibale National Park is one of the most beautiful and stunning forests in Uganda. Kibale Forest is certainly worth protecting as it is home to the Largest number of our closest living relatives with a 98.4% same DNA composition like us.(The endangered Chimpanzees ). As well as the Red colobus monkeys, and the rare L’Hoesti monkey. The forest has one of the highest diversity and density of primates totaling to 13 species including the Black and white colobus monkey, Blue monkey and Grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkey bush babies and pottos . The park also hosts over 325 species of birds including  the yellow spotted nicator,  yellow rumped tinker bird, little greenbul, green breasted pitta, the African pitta, the crowned eagle and the black bee eater. There are a number of impressive mammals including; forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, duikers, and bats. A keen observer may see some of the reptiles and amphibians as well as a variety of colorful butterflies. Further more 250 species of trees have been recorded. But the most famous inhabitants are the Chimpanzees with over than 1,450 individuals are protected with in the park. At Kanyancu , a community of chimpanzees has been habituated since 1991, allowing visitors the unique opportunity to view these great apes in the natural environment with more than 95% chance of  viewing.

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking
After breakfast your guide will take you to the Park head quarters where you will join other groups for briefing of the adventure. Later its on to your adventure to meet these closest cousins of ours, the Chimpanzees. Chimpazee tracking normally takes between 3- 4 hrs, later get back for lunch. After lunch you will proceed to the the Bigodi Sanctuary for the swamp walk. An effort by the local women. Later get back to the Lodge refresh and relax. Overnight at Ndali lodge. / primates Lodge/ Mountains of the Moon lodge/ Rwenzori View Guest House.

Day 6: TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Take  breakfast prepare to leave for Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will arrive in the mid morning . relax as you warm up for a cruise on the canal. Transfer time 4 hrs. After lunch proceed for the boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel linking Lake George to Lake Edward get back by 5:00pm. Go for an evening game drive which will see you back at the Lodge by 7:00pm. Refresh and relax  Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge/ Jacana safari Lodge/ Institute of Ecology.
Queen Elizabeth National Park:  The park spreads over an area of 1978 sq kilometres in the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley 418 km from the capital Kampala and takes approxmately 6 hours. Air Charter services can be organized by Uganda Wildlife Scene which land at the Mweya Peninsula.
Attractions: Queen Elizabeth national park is  a home to a variety of wildlife including elephants, lions, hippos, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, baboons and birds all typical riverine savannah habitats and the famous Kazinga Channel. In the Southern Parts is the Ishasha sector with the tree climbing lions and the Maramagambo forest, one of the largest surviving natural forests in Uganda. The Northern part is traversed by the equator and is dominated by the scenery of crater lakes with lots of flamingos. There is a launch trip on the Kazinga channel which joins Lake George to Lake Edward.

Day 7: HIKES IN KYAMBURA GORGE
A game drive in the park in the early morning (about 6:30) will be ‘a good opportunity to see lions, leopards, giant forest pigs, buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, kobi of Uganda, mice and many others . Back to the lodge for breakfast. Relax by the poolside until lunchtime. In the afternoon at 2:00pm an option to do the Kyambura Gorge chimp tracking; time allowing after chimp tracking you may opt to do the nature walk in the Maramagambo forest as an extra option for $10USD each person. ( AS you asked is it Worth?) It’s only a short forest walk and indeed you will see the bat cave and the bats in thousands if lucky you might see the resident Python as well but the strong smell from the bats’ droppings is not that pleasant. Hunter’s cave well but it is a small cave as they say satisfaction lies in the beholder’s eye. Later get back in the evening refresh at the your lodge.

Day 8: TO BWINDI NATIONAL PARK
Take breakfast and leave this part the world. Head to Bwindi National Park. Take the scenic Ishasha route road condition permitting to go for a short game drive in search for the tree climbing lions. Lunch along with the game drive after prepare to drive to Bwindi, arriving early afternoon check in to the Refresh and relax. Get the briefing about tomorrow’s Gorilla tracking, later meal plans dinner and overnight at Gorilla resort camp/ Buhoma Homestead/ Buhoma community bandas Transfer time 5 hrs

Day 9: GORILLA TRACKING
After an early breakfast your guide will take you to the park head quarters to join the group and get briefing from the park rangers.  Later its on to your adventure to meet these thrilling gentle giants of Bwindi. Tracking time is unpredictable and can only be predicted when you start hearing the grunting of the Gorillas . For the more youthful ones at strength and depending on the time you get back from Gorilla safari tracking you can do the community walk where you can meet the community of pigmies. Get back to the lodge refresh and relax overnight

Day 10: TO RWANDA RUHENGERI
Take  breakfast  and depart  to  Rwanda via Kabale and Kisoro Towns. With a stop over for lunch in one of the towns later proceed to cross the border at Cyanika and head straight to Ruhengeri Kinigi. Check in your accommodation refresh and relax, meal plans dinner and overnight at  Mt Gorilla Nest Hotel Rwanda/ Kinigi Guest House/ Muhavura lodge  Transfer time 5hrs

Day 11: GORILLA TREKKING
After an early breakfast your guide will take you to the park head quarters to join the group and get briefing from the park warden. Later it’s to your adventure to meet these thrilling gentle giants of Rwanda. You will get the comparison from the group you tracked in Uganda the previous day. Still Tracking time varies according the movement of these giants later get back to the hotel refresh and relax. Overnight at Gorilla Nest Hotel Rwanda/ Kinigi Guest House/ Muhavura lodge.

Day 12: DIANNE FOSSEY HIKES
After breakfast doing the Diana Fossey Tomb / Karisoke research and the Golden Monkeys each of these activities takes a whole 8hrs. So the choice is yours to choose on which one you will do. Trekking to the Diana Fossey is not that steep so it is easy on the elderly as well. Later prepare to drive to Kigali Capital of Rwanda stay the night at the Mille Collines Hotel/ Kigali serena Hotel  transfer time 3 hrs

Day 13: CITY TOUR KIGALI
After breakfast prepare to visit the sights of Kigali among those the famous being the Genocide Museum, keeping time for the Airport transfer to connect to your home bound flight. Transfer time 45 minutes  End of Safari.

Contact Us to Book This Safari

A DAY TRIP TO NGAMBA ISLAND
After briefing by your guide,   You will be picked up from your hotel  and transfer to Entebbe .  Take the boat at the pier and leave  for Ngamba Island .  The boat takes about 45 minutes across to Ngamba Island, crossing the Equator en-route. On arrival at the island, home to 39 chimpanzees, you will be given a short briefing about the sanctuary. After which, its feeding time! It is interesting to watch the chimps interact with each other and with their keepers.

In the relatively short amount of time you are there you will be able to see such different personalities amongst the group, with some whistling for food and others clapping. Obviously the best alternative would be to re-introduce these orphaned chimpanzees to the wild however this is not possible for a number of different reasons and the sanctuary is not bad for second best.

You will return to the mainland where you will meet your safari guide who will drive you to Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre (zoo). Here they have simulated some of the country’s conservation zones such as savannah, wetlands and tropical forest. If you have not managed to see the shoebill in the wild you are certain a sighting here, as well as rhino. You will return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
QUOTATION

No. of clients    Rates per person
1 Pax     $350
2 Pax    $290
3 Pax    $271
5 or more    $213

(The above price includes a return transfer from Kampala; boat rides from Entebbe Pier, free entrance to UWEC but excludes lunch and other personal items.

Gorilla Safari Express
Fly into Entebbe, Uganda and take a short that includes chimpanzees, gorillas and the beautiful landscapes and friendly people of Uganda.

What Travellers say about this Gorilla Safari Trek
Sitting in a beautiful clearing, the sun shining on leftover rain drops, a family of gorillas casually feeding nearby is really is one of life’s amazing experiences! The roads may be horrid and the standards of travel in Uganda challenging’ but it was all worth every minute & every dollar.

Gorilla Tour Breakdown
At times permits may not be available to see the gorillas in Uganda. In this case the gorilla viewing will take place just over the Uganda / Rwanda border. Our staff has been to Rwanda and all have enjoyed it and will be happy to discuss it with you.

Day 1     On arrival at Entebbe Airport you will be met and transferred to Lake Victoria Hotel for overnight. If time permits visit Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Reserve.

Day 2     Full day drive (or up-grade to private charter flight) to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Parc National de Volcans in Rwanda for overnight at lodge. Those flying will have time for an afternoon forest walk.

Day 3     Gorilla trekking in the beautiful forests of Bwindi or the Virungas.

CONTACT US NOW..>>
Day 4     Option of a second trek with pre-purchased permit, or a guided forest walk. Overnight at the lodge.

ADDITIONAL TREKKING OPTIONS
Day 5     Drive to Lake Mburo for overnight at a tented camp – game viewing and walking in the National Park.
Day 6     Return to Entebbe, curio shopping en route. Transfer to the Airport for your departure flight. If you have not yet visited Ngamba Island on day one you may like to spend a night on the Island.

HIGHLIGHTS & FEATURES

*

Spending time sitting amongst a family of Mountain gorillas is one of nature’s most unique
and overwhelming experiences
*

As you drive through Uganda enjoy the luxuriant vegetation, beautiful scenery and friendly
faces of the villages
*

Bwindi National Park is home to gorillas, chimpanzees and 8 other species of primate. There
also elephant, bush pig, giant forest hog, at least 346 species of birds and at least 202 species
of butterfly.
*

Travel in Uganda is not super-comfortable or deluxe but it is incredibly rewarding in so
many ways.

IS THIS SAFARI RIGHT FOR YOU??

*      Roads are poor and distances are long, long, long ….. a lot of time is spent on the road
*      Meals are simple but wholesome
*      Local accommodation is comfortable and clean but certainly not sophisticated or luxurious.
*      Ages range from 15 to 75 and travellers come from all over the world.
*      In Uganda things do go wrong – power is unreliable, a bridge may be washed away …
local conditions may effect the day-by-day itinerary, are you OK with a bit of flexibility?

IMPORTANT NOTE
Uganda is a beautiful country – the scenery is captivating, the vegetation prolific and along the way it is fun to see the villages, people and incredible birds HOWEVER most of the roads in Uganda are in a very poor state and travel can be slow and at times uncomfortable. At times the itinerary will be altered to allow for gorilla viewing in Rwanda.

Gorilla Trip Uganda 3 days :Visit the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi impetrable forest national park where, Gorilla Tracking in Uganda is done. You also need a Gorilla Trekking permit which must be arranged at least 3 months to your actual Gorilla Tour in Uganda date. We also arrange visits to see other primates like the chimpanzee, monkey, baboons. No oratungans, e.t.c For trips and adventure expeditions for C himpanzee Trekking Uganda as well as Chimpanzee Habituation experience.

Yes its possible that you can pay  for your gorilla permit using a Credit Card,  there are ATM Visa machines in Uganda.Take note that at Uganda Wildlife Authority, UWA, Credit Cards are not accepted.

Most companies in Uganda prefer money transfers since there is a big problem with using credit cards in Uganda. But some established companies have the mail order and accept the Credit Card.

Gorilla Safari Trip, Pay Online

‘ve done 5 gorilla treks over the last 8 years, the last time I did two different groups in Rwanda and the Mgahnga group in Uganda. Every visit to a different group was a unique experience. On my first group visit in Zaire (now DRC) I was charged twice by the silverback (Ninja, RIP). After the second charge, he hid in the undergrowth and was not seen the rest of the hour. The second group in DRC had no silverback, but two black back brothers in charge (the silverback was shot by soldiers). On that visit a baby walked over and played with my bootstring until the guide shoo’ed it away!

In Rwanda, I saw one group that was out on an open slope which made for EXCELLENT pictures! The second group was SUSA and there were 36 gorillas in the group – you were surrounded by them! The silverback stayed in the dark bamboo and was not easy to photograph, but a couple females with babies came out in the open for great shots! Theyre were so many juveniles playing it was like watching a pre-school!

In Uganda, it took 5 hours of trekking to find the group. There were two sliverbacks and they passed within 3 meters of me!!! Incredible feeling! The group popped in and out of the dark and sunlight so photography was tricky!

My feeling is that you increase your chances dramatically of getting good photos or experienceing something unique the more often you go!

Finally, I have only heard of one group that did NOT see the gorilla group they were scheduled for (the Sabinyo group in Rwanda). The park allowed them to go again the next day or get a refund, so your reason for scheduling a second gorilla trek is NOT because you won’t find the group. The National Park service in each country monitors the groups daily and knows where they are. The Sabinyo group on that one day decided to move a long distance for some reason and the tourists just couln’t hike anymore that day (6 hours!). In Uganda, the UWA in Kampala will let you know if the Mgahinga group is in Uganda (so you can see them) or in DRC (when they will tell you to go to Bwindi instead)

Gorilla trekking is one of the most adventurous activities for safari enthuasists. You can take on gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest in Uganda or Parc De volcans in Rwanda.
With about 700 mountain gorillas left in the whole world, chances are that the next generation of human kind will not be able to see these gorillas.

First thing, remember to book your gorilla permit at least 3 months before your actual trekking date. Sometimes the gorilla tracking permits run out very fast.

If you intend to track the gorillas during the months of June to September, you need to plan for your trip in time. This is because that is the high season and tourists are so many. Changes are that by that time, there are no more gorilla permits for you.

A permit to track the gorillas costs USD 500 in Uganda and Rwanda, so as such, there is nothing like cheap gorilla permits. The difference in charges by the tour operators comes in administration fees, where to stay while on a gorilla safari, car or flight services, e.t.c

You need to have some physical fitness in order to trek Bwindi. Looking for the gorillas can even take a full day! More tips in the next edition.
Gorilla Safari Trek