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More Tourists Opt for Uganda Gorilla Treks

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It should be noted that Rwanda and Uganda are found in East Africa and bordering each other. Following the 5th May 2017 implementation made by Rwanda Government through the Rwanda Development Board – a body responsible for the country Tourism.  Rwanda increased Gorilla permit from US$ 750 to US$ 1500 per permit. Uganda discovered a clear pass for it to sell her Gorillas found in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National parks.  It was a clear picture that tourists will divert to trek the cheaper Uganda Gorillas at US$ 600 per permit.

Currently, Uganda is selling more Gorilla permits than Rwanda and the dominating safari is 2 days gorilla safari. In the past, one day Rwanda Gorilla trekking safari was dominating before the increase of their Gorilla permit.

The opening of Rwanda boarders for visitors to reach Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga national parks to trek Gorillas is an indicative that Rwanda has fully supported Uganda gorilla tourism.

Kigali International Airport is a major entry point for the two days Uganda Gorilla safari visitors. Two days Gorilla trekking trip is among the Uganda’s shortest tours but possible when the trip start in Rwanda.

Uganda and Rwanda use one East African tourist visa to allow tourists visit two nations. For that case, Rwanda has directly and indirectly marketed Uganda Mountain Gorillas.

Rwanda offers direct flights from different destinations – Rwandair and Rwanda Airbus have transported visitors to enable them trek Uganda Gorillas.

Rwanda constructed good roads connecting to Uganda to facilitate Uganda tourism industry. Kigali- katuna road is first class, Musanze – Kyanika boarder road is also in good condition to facilitate tourism in Uganda and Rwanda.

The good Hotels/ Lodges/ camps in Rwanda to accommodate international visitors. Kigali is the major pick and drop off points for Uganda Gorillas trekkers. Some visitors spend the nights in Kigali before and after Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga national parks.

The hospitality of the people of Rwanda to accept and welcome visitors who come to trek Gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda.

Rwanda has few Gorilla groups to satisfy the high growing demand. The alternative is in Uganda where more than 12 Gorilla groups are found.

It is a shorter distance from Kigali Airport compared to Entebbe International airport to Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga National parks. It’s approximately 4 hours and 8 hours respectively. For that note, Visitors find it convenient to use Kigali Airport into Rwanda and then drive to Uganda through Katuna boarders and back.

Both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga national park are found in south western Uganda near Uganda- Rwanda boarders. Clients can easily combine Rwanda safari with Uganda Gorilla trekking since the cost of Uganda gorilla permit still low compared to that of Rwanda. Clients can do other activities in Rwanda like boat cruises, Golden monkey trekking, Columbus monkey trekking, chimpanzee trekking, cultural tours and community walks among others.

Rwanda makes it easy to get East African tourist visa to facilitate tourism in East African countries including Uganda.

Gorilla Eco Tours in Bwindi Forest, Uganda

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Bwindi is home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Bwindi is considered to be the richest biodiversity forest in East Africa with hundreds of plant species, birds and other wildlife. The main tourist activity in the park is tracking the mountain gorillas. Bwindi has different habituated gorillas groups open for gorilla trekking tours in Uganda. There are groups in the northern sector of the park, 03 in Ruhija and 03 groups in the Buhoma and southern sector, in Kisoro district – 08 of which are in Rushaga and the other one is Nkuringo.

The supreme threat to the Mountain Gorillas is human encroachment for settlement around them.  previously there was a slash as well as burn mentality however, through an educational program by the Uganda Wildlife Authority plus cash motivation to the community through the tourism industry that the gorillas within Uganda are today no longer as threatened by various poachers as it was in the DRC. Additionally they are threatened by various diseases transmitted by human visitors into the park, and for that reason the Uganda Wildlife Authority has set up strict rules to prevent spreading of such diseases. All this has come in place to save the lives of mountain gorillas in Bwindi.

Visitors into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest frequently inquire if mountain gorillas are dangerous?  Although dominant and very strong, these are gentle as well as shy, and in addition the mountain gorillas which visitors see within Uganda have been habituated.  In other words they are habituated to people, which process that takes close to 2 years.  Dian Fossey actually was against the idea of visiting mountain gorillas which is done today, however it’s the money collected that survival of this endangered species, and seen their number increase over the recent years.

There are more than seven hundred and eighty six mountain gorillas in the whole world.  Uganda hold close to half of their total population, and the majority of them live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, whereas the others are found in Mgahinga Gorilla Park; however these at times cross over to Rwanda.

Fortunately the Gorillas are growing in numbers because of the protection they are offered from the government of Uganda which also included efforts of the adjacent communities to the parks to whom part of the USD 600 fee of Gorilla tracking permits charged from foreign visitors to Mgahinga as well as Bwindi is offered to them in order to have a strong protection to the gorillas.

A maximum number of 8 visitors may visit a group of habituated mountain gorillas in a day. This minimizes behavioural disturbance to the gorillas and the risk of their exposure to human-borne diseases. Always wash your hands before you head out to the gorillas.

Please always keep your voices low. You will also be able to observe the great bird life and other wildlife in the forest.  DO NOT leave rubbish in the park. Whatever you bring into the forest should be carried back out with you.  You will be taken to where the guides observed the gorillas the day before. From there you will follow the gorilla’s trail to find them. Look out for the gorilla’s nesting sites along the way!  When you approach the mountain gorillas, the guides will inform you to get ready.  A 7 meter (21 feet) distance should try to be observed at all times from the gorillas.

The further back you are, the more relaxed the group will be. You must stay in tight group whey you are near the gorillas. Keep your voices down at all times. However, it is okay to ask the guide questions.  Do not smoke, drink or eat when you are near the gorillas. Eating or drinking inevitably will increase the risk of food/drink morsels/droplets falling, which could increase the risk of transmission of diseases.  Sometimes the gorillas charge. Follow the guides example (crouch down slowly, do not look the gorillas directly in the eyes and wait for the animals to pass).

Do not attempt to run away because that will increase the risk. Flash photography is not permitted!  When taking pictures move slowly and carefully.  Do not touch the gorillas. They are wild animals. The maximum time you can spend with the gorillas is one hour. However, if the gorillas become agitated or nervous, the guide will finish the visit early. After the visit keep your voices down until you are 200 meters away from the gorillas. All these rules are part of the gorilla Eco-tourism which needs to be observed in order to save the gorilla lives.

Africa’s Best Safari Game Reserves

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If you are thinking about going on a safari in an African game reserve or national park, you should take a quick read through this article first. Africa has too many parks for anyone to really explore them all in a life time. So that means that you have to choose the best reserve for you and your needs and interests. Each park has it’s own strength and weakness, some are great for bird watching, some for gorilla trekking, some for lions and some for rhinos. You won’t find them all in one African safari. Unless you’re extremely lucky. So here is a short guide to help you find the best African Safari National Parks and Game Reserves.

South Africa: Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park is South Africa’s largest game reserve, and actually one of the world’s largest national parks with it’s 20 000 square kilometers. It also has more species of mammals than any other African game reserve. These species include the big five (lions, leopards, rhinos. elephants and buffalo), zebra, giraffe, hippo, cheeta, wildebeest, impala, eland and way more. Kruger was also the stage for one of the world’s most famous safari events, when tourists witnessed an amazing battle between lions, buffalos and crocodiles. It was all caught on tape in this amateur video:

Botswana: Chobe and Okavango

Okavango Delta in Botswana

Okavango is Africa’s largest freshwater wetland, and the world’s largest inland delta. It also has one of Africa’s greatest concentration of wildlife, and is therefore a great destination for safaris all year around. The delta floods once a year, and is at it’s largest between June and August, which is actually Botswana’s dry winter months. This is also the time when you will find the highest concentration of animals in the area.

If you go to Okavango, you can stay at everything from basic camps to luxury resorts. And while you are there, you will probably see tons (literally) of elephants, buffaloes, Lechwe, giraffes, crocodiles, lions, leopards, kudu, cheetahs, hippos, rhinos, and way way more.

 

Chobe is another great option in Botswana, and was the country’s first national park. It is mostly known for it’s huge population of elephants. Chobe is also great for bird watching, with more than 450 species of birds in the park during rain season.

You can find more information about Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta on: www.chobe-national-park.com/ and www.okavango-delta.net

Kenya: Masai Mara

Masai Mara National Park

Named after the Masais, the original inhabitants in the area, Masai Mara is Kenya’s greatest safari destination. The reserve is home to most of the popular safari animals, but the black rhino and cheeta populations are dangerously low. Wildebeest is the dominant animal, followed by Thomson Gazelles and zebras. You will also see a lot of giraffes, hyenas and ostrich. The best time to go there may be between July and October when enormous hordes of wildebeest, gazelles and zebras are migrating in from Serengeti in Tanzania.

Tanzania: Serengeti

Serengeti Wildlife

Serengeti is a huge national park, three times the size of Masai mara, and is a great safari destination. With mostly the same animals as in Masai Mara (the parks are connected by the border between Kenya and Tanzania), the best time to go here is between May and October, with the period from June to August for watching the great migration towards Kenya. However, you are never guaranteed to find the wildebeest migration, because the areas are practically never ending so it may be hard to pin point their location at a given time. But don’t worry too much, you will see animals wherever you go!

You can find more information about Serengeti National Park on: www.serengeti.org

An Encounter with the Virunga Gorillas

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Mountain gorilla are endangered apes that were on the verge of extinction in the 1990’s because of the civil wars where their natural habitants had been turned into fighting grounds and hiding places for soldiers. After a lot of conservation efforts by the Rwandan government, the mountain gorilla population started increasing steadily and today volcanoes national park is a home to half of the total mountain gorilla population in the Virunga massif that extends from northwestern Rwanda, south western Uganda and southeastern DRC.
Mountain gorillas are some of human’s closest wild animals with over 98% of their DNA similar to humans. They prefer living in the forested mountain and are vegetarians that feed on plant leaves, shoots and wild fruits. They are mobile animals that move from one place to another as they look for fresh food ad for new places where they will spend a night.
Volcanoes national park has a total of 10 habituated mountain gorilla families. Each mountain gorilla family is tracked by a group of strictly 8 tourists every day, which they spend with one hour as they observe, take photographs and learn more about the life of these greatly endangered apes.
Tourists going for gorilla tracking first assemble at the national park headquarters very early in the morning where the local traditional dancers entertain them as they take a cup of hot tea or coffee. They are allocated to the mountain gorilla family they will be tracking then briefed about the safety procedures to follow while in the forest. Some of the safety procedures include

  • Following the guides instructions especially while in the forest
  • Keeping a reasonable distance a way from the mountain gorillas
  • Minimizing noise especially when in the presence of the mountain gorillas
  • Not using flash photography
  • Avoiding imitating the behavior of the mountain gorillas like beating the chest as it may send a wrong impression to the mountain gorillas.

After being briefed, the tourists are led to the forested mountains under the protection of two armed rangers. These carry guns they use to fire bullets to scare away other dangerous wild animals that could be encountered while tracking mountain gorillas. A hike through the forested mountains is very exciting with views of other wildlife species in the national park like birds.  The trek takes about 1 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the mountain gorillas. It’s a little hectic and a physically demanding activity however its always better for those who cannot hike for long distances to inform the guides or their tour operators early enough to ensure that they are allocated mountain gorilla families that can be got to after relatively shorter times of trek.
Alternatively there are porters for hire that can carry luggage and always help tourists to go move through the difficult parts of the forest. These porters can also carry some one on locally made stretchers up hill or down hill and can therefore be of great help in case their services are needed. They can be hired at about $10 to $15.
Mountain gorillas can be encountered at any time of the year however tracking can be more easy during the dry season because its always easy to move through the forests which may not be the case during the wet season. Tourists interested in mountain gorilla tracking should acquire permits that are sold at $750 each and can be obtained from the Rwanda development board or through a trusted tour operator.
Volcanoes national park can be got to by road transport from Kigali a drive that takes about 2 to 3 hours.

Planning a Gorilla Safari – 5 Things to Know

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In a lifetime everyone has the right to encounter something out of the world, an experience that they will wish to take home with them, and just boastfully narrate to their relatives and friends in form of a deeply captivating story. Deciding to embark on a gorilla safari results in one of the few experiences that many people desire to have. The few who have experienced this still tell the same story but in different versions every day.
Yes for many, the climax of the trip to the gorillas is standing still and looking into the dark pensive eyes of the mountain gorillas is such a magical experience that will never fade off your memory! some travelers try to take a “selfie” with the mountain gorillas in the background, and share it with jealous friends. At that point, all your preparations have held truth; and all the nights of anxiety are no more. But what are those little things that might make the entire safari even more gratifying? Here is my short list;

  1. Make sure you travel at the right time of the year. If you are not so sure about your fitness levels, I advise travelling during the dry season when the soils aren’t boggy. The best months of the year to track the gorillas would be December to late February and from June to September during the dry season.
  2. Remember to book your permit in time, preferably before you set off. Due to the high demand, over 70 people travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park daily for the Uganda Gorilla Safari experience, while others are placed on hold. You surely don’t want to be among the miserable lot that has to wait.
  3. All Uganda’s gorilla tracking trailheads are traversed on foot, with some hikes lasting 8 hours. As humans are playful, the gorillas might decide to play hide and seek so hikers should check that they are basically fit to climb through the jungle even for long duration like these.
  4. The rains are rarely predictable, so tourists should pack a pair of solid shoes, preferably jungle boots, a jacket and an umbrella. On a sunny day I would advise you to travel with a fine cap or hat, sun glasses (in case you find that you need them), smear yourself with sunburn lotion, and also come along with a good insect repellant.
  5. The other thing to mind about when planning your safari is choosing the right tour operator. The criterion for choosing the tour operator is somewhat crazy, but basically a company with a good customer reputation would be a good choice. With the right tour operator you won’t have to worry about sleeping uncomfortably, or arriving later than 8am when the gorilla trekking exercise has commenced. These are just a few things that will complement your holiday and make it more enjoyable. A hint to search for the specialty tour operators who may know better about the process of organising a gorilla safari, choices of lodges and campsites where to stay and how to craft tour itineraries.

 

Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park

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The most thrilling tourist activity in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is that of gorilla tracking, an activity that involve visitors hiking through the forest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. Surprisingly, Mgahinga can be accesed by travelers taking tours in Rwanda given its location within the Virunga Ranges. This is the reason as to why there are many tour offers that combine gorilla watching in the Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga National Park offered by several tour operators.
Within this magical park, there is only one habituated gorilla group that can be visited by tourists. Known as the Nyakagezi group, this is one of the oldest habituated gorilla in the history of gorilla tourism in Uganda and it consists of 9 members; 2 silver backs, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles and 2 infants. Though most travel books indicate that gorilla trekking in Mgahinga is unreliable because of the gorilla family escapades to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, for more than two years the group has been settled within the park and a good number of tourists have gone gorilla tracking in the park.
Gorilla permits for Mgahinga National Park can be booked at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kamwokya Kampala or at the park headquarters. You can also book these passes through a recommended tour operator based in Uganda.
Planning a Gorilla Trek in Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla tracking is a vigorous activity that can take a full day. During this tour, you are led by a guide through the gorilla’s empire/tracks as he/she explains all about gorillas such as their ecology, movements and general behavior.
Please note:
Like gorilla tracking in other groups within Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, the success of seeing gorillas is NOT guaranteed despite the high chance of seeing them. Since they are wild animals living in the jangle, they don’t have a fixed routine; therefore finding them requires luck and the experienced of your guides. These guides know gorillas intimately since they habituate them, they will hence take you to the area where they saw them last. They may also be able to suggest how long the hike might take at the journey start.
Please note that you are free to ask guides to slow down if they are going too fast or if you want to have a rest, look at birds /flowers, and your guide shall wait for u.
DOS AND DON`TS

  • -It is advisable that you put on jangle shoes best for steep muddy slopes
  • -The weather is unpredictable and it can change any time. Please carry rain wear, sunscreen, a hut and sun glasses, as.
  • -You are advised to Carry water and food because this activity is lengthy and tiresome especially to first time trackers
  • -Once tracked, ensure that you keep 5m distance from Gorillas. If approached by one, back away slowly.
  • -Avoid pointing or waiving your arms- this can scare away annoy gorillas.
    please Move slowly and Keep your voice low/better if silent for better tracking
  • -When taking photos, ensure that your flash is off for can threaten gorillas.
  • -You may carry binoculars, these help u see far features and creatures in details.

 

Mysteries of Ethiopia

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Mysteries of Ethiopia
Ethiopia holds a culturally unique place between Africa the Middle East. Discover it for yourself over 13 days experiencing the country’s diverse offerings. Trek into the unforgettably stunning Simien Mountains, get up close to the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, and introduce yourself to the residents of the innovative village of Awra Amba. Grab yourself an adventure you’ll be talking about for years to come.

Morocco on a Shoestring

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Morocco on a Shoestring

Morocco on a Shoestring

Morocco on a Shoestring

In our humble opinion, theres no better way to spend two weeks than travelling around majestic, marvelous, magical Morocco. In a country with no shortage of highlights, we make sure to hit all the main ones, including Fes, Chefchaouen, the coastal hippie mecca of Essaouira, and plenty of souks to shop in and beaches to relax on. After an overnight stay in a Berber camp and a few market barters under your belt, youll feel like a local in no time.

Tanzania Safari Experience

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Salama Beach Resort

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Featuring free WiFi, an outdoor pool and a year-round outdoor pool, Salama Beach Resort offers pet-friendly accommodation in Kikambala, 19 km from Mombasa. The resort has a terrace and views of the sea, and guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant or a drink at the bar. Free private parking is available on site.
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Certain rooms have a seating area for your convenience. Views of the lake, pool or garden are featured in certain rooms. Each room is equipped with a private bathroom equipped with a bath or shower. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hair dryer.
There is a shared lounge, babysitting service, gift shop, and shops at the property.
Guests can enjoy various activities in the surroundings, including horse riding and snorkeling. The nearest airport is Moi Airport, 24 km from Salama Beach Resort

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