VISITORS BRING DEADLY WEED TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NP

A toxic weed reported in the Uganda about a year ago, has infected  Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda, causing  danger to  thousands of animals and plants. The Queen Elizabeth conservation area manager Mr TOM OKello said  that visitors could have brought the weed into the  Uganda .

He added that the weed is believed  to be a native of Mexico and could have been brought into Uganda about four years ago by some unknown people. The plant is thought to have been introduced into Uganda through Ethiopia and Kenya. Mr Okello said the weed had been sighted in several parts of the park, including areas around Mweya Safari Lodge.  The weed is poisonous to livestock if consumed in large quantities.

He promised that plans to start uprooting and burning the weed will be finalized by the end of  this week. Despite looking beautiful and smelling sweet, the weed is said to be among the world’s 10 most dangerous weeds.

On contact with the human body, it causes a burning effect that makes the skin peel off. Inhaling pollen from the flowers causes an asthma-like illness or persistent flu-like symptoms in humans. Cattle that eat the weed produce foul-smelling milk and may even die. In September, a team led by Dr. Gadi Gumisiriza of the National Agricultural Research Organisation said the weed had been detected in 12 districts.

The Kasese district crop protection officer, Charles Nyamutale, said the killer weed is usually spread by humans, birds and animals. Each plant is capable of producing between 25,000 and 100,000 seeds each season, which can persist in the soil for a long time. Nyamutale said the situation has been worsened because large areas of the park and neighbouring cattle grazing areas are also choking with another shrub called lantana camara. Nyamutale said lantana camara. forms thickets that harbour tsetse flies, which cause nagana in animals and sleeping sickness in humans.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second largest park in Uganda and brings in about sh2b of the sh17b revenue generated from the country’s national parks  plans to redeem it from this deadly weed are going on .

By Tanah Hadijah

Uganda Safari News

Hi Tanah,

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

12 Days UGANDA AND RWANDA PRIMATES

DAY 1 TO MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Very early in the morning after breakfast, you will be driven to Murchison Falls through Masindi.   On arrival, you will visit the top of the falls and then after dinner and over night at Paraa safari Lodge/ Nile Safari Camp/ Sambiya River Uganda Safari Lodge / Red Chillis Camp.

Day 2 THE LAUNCH CRUISE ALONG THE VICTORIA NILE

Go for an early morning game drive on at the Northern Bank of the Murchison falls National park   You are able to view those animals that are unique to the African Savannah like giraffe, elephant, antelope, lion, and the Uganda Kob. Return to the lodge for mid morning breakfast, as you relax to wait for Lunch.
After lunch, you will go for a launch cruise on the Nile River. The cruise takes you to the Bottom of the roaring falls where you will see huge crocodiles, schools of hippos, buffaloes, elephants and a variety of water birds like herons, ducks, cormorants, bee-eaters, skimmers, kingfishers, fish eagle and the rare shoebill. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: TO FORTPORTAL UGANDA TOUR
After breakfast you will be taken to Fort Portal town, through the villages and beautiful scenery.  Have  lunch en route In the evening you will have local guides for walks around the 1000 acre farm, to the Mahoma Water fall, and the Walks will take you around crater rims, plots of cassava, through banana plantations, past alcohol brewing in oil drums, coffee terraces, groundnuts, sorghum and millet. Visit the Toro Palace, Dinner and over night at Ndali Lodge/ Primates Lodge/ Rwenzori View Guest House/ Kanyankyu Tourist Centre.

Day 4: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING
Take breakfast and then assemble at Kanyankyu tourist centre for an morning Chimpanzee trek at Kibale Forest. Kibale National Park is a habitat for more than 10 primate species, which include, black & white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys and many others. Have lunch and then go for a swamp walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary a community owned swamp under Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental organization formed in 1992 with the aim of achieving social and economic development for local communities.  Your guide will provide detailed information as the walk goes on. This area harbors over 137 bird species including the Snowy Headed Robin Cat, Emerald Cuckoo, Black and White Casqued Hornbill and a variety of Weavers, Warblers, Greenbuls and Sunbirds. You will also see plenty of butterflies and the unique flora such as wild palms, polita figs and the dominant papyrus. Return to the  lodge for dinner and over night.

Day 5: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK SAFARI
After an early breakfast, you’ll leave for Fort portal to visit various cultural groups including the Burungu community which is rooted in Traditional Toro culture that will entertain you with music, dancing and story telling.
Spend the whole half day with the local community and on village walks/tours and in the evening you will be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park for Dinner and over night at Jacana Safari Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge/ Albertine camp

Day 6: THE LAUNCH CRUISE ALONG THE KAZINGA CHANNEL
Having taken a cup of coffee, get on an early morning game drive along Kasenyi track and Queens mile in the park  in search for Lions, Elephants, cape buffalo, Warthogs, leopard, mangoose, waterbucks, hyena, Uganda kobs, Topi and lots many small animals and birds. After lunch, relax in a 2-hours boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest concentration of Hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident species.

Day 7: TO BWINDI NATIONAL PARK
Take breakfast and leave for Bwindi, through the southern section of the park; here you will be viewing the famous tree climbing lions as the rest up in the large forest trees.  Lunch en route. On arrival, you will go for an evening village walk. Dinner and over night at Gorilla Resort Camp / Buhoma Homestead/ Buhoma Community Bandas. FB

Day 8: Trek Gorilla today –
An early breakfast after which you proceed to the park offices for a briefing, then continue on for the trek. We advise you bring with hiking shoes, long pairs of trousers and long sleeved shirts for the trek. A packed lunch and water is provided by the lodge, after the trek you have the afternoon at leisure, or site seeing around the trading centre. Return for dinner and over night.

Day 9: RWANDA  SAFARI
Depart for Rwanda, border crossing – visa fee of $60 is required. (The clock time goes 1 hour behind) You will stop over for a lunch break. ON arrival, if you are not so tired, you will visit the Dianne Fossey site and then after go for dinner and over night at Mt Gorilla Nest/ Kinigi Guest house / Muhanvura lodge.

Day 10: Rwanda Gorilla Safari
An early morning breakfast after which you proceed to the park offices for a briefing, then continue on for the trek. We advise you bring with hiking shoes, long pants and long sleeved shirts for the trek. A packed lunch and water is provided by the lodge, after the trek you will have the afternoon at leisure, or site seeing around the trading centre. Overnight at the lodge FB

Day 11:  GOLDEN MONKEYS WALK
Take  breakfast , , then  you will go for the walk to view the Golden monkeys, then the Dianne Fossey foundation, after which you will continue to Kigali. After lunch you will visit the memorial center and go site seeing around the town, Dinner and overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel/ Hotel Mille Des Collines.  Note that if you are to get back to Entebbe, to shorten the distance, we will have to transfer you to Arcadia cottages / Habuharo island camp on L. Bunyonyi for your dinner and over night

Day 12: DEPARTURE
Depending on your flight departure time, you may go more site seeing otherwise you will be transferred to Kanombe airport in time for your departure flight. Note that we can transfer you back to Entebbe if your flight leaves from Entebbe but this is a 10 hours drive.

QUOTATION BASED ON THE TYPE OF PACKAGE AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN USD

Price per person /package type

1 PERSON   2 pax     3 pax     4 pax     5 pax          6 pax
Luxury    7650          4896     4788      4572       4450          4250
Mid range 6436,8    4255,2    3822,4    3385,2    3299,52    3095,2
Basic           5813,2    3990    3715    3550           2935         2880

The price includes;
·    Park entry fees
·    Full board accommodation
·    The launch cruise along the Kazinga channel
·    Game drives
·    Gorilla tracking  in Uganda and Rwanda
·    Chimpanzee tracking
·    Nature walks
·    Boat ride
·    The launch cruise along the River Nile
·    Ground transportation in a 4×4 safari mini bus vehicle each of you wth a window seat.
·    Airport drop  pick up

The prices however exclude; Visa fees, Tips, laundry , drinks and any other personal expenses that are not included in the itinerary.
Contact Us to Book This Safari

Rwanda Tourism Top Earner with record $80 million in the just six months.

The Office of Rwanda Tourism and National Parks,the agency responsible for tourism promotion and improvement of revenue has annouced the figure of 80 million, much more than the targeted 68 million planned for the entire year.

Rosette Rugamba, the director-general of Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks said. “In collaboration with the private sector, there are already nine new hotel projects with 416 rooms that will be operational by the end of 2008. Worth noting is that there were only 651 rooms available in 2003,” she added that “Since 2005 to date, 58 community projects worth 515 million french franks (about $1.03 million) have been funded under the revenue sharing policy where 5 per cent the tourism revenues are ploughed back into community.”