Uganda tour operators have reiterated the need for government
to increase its funding budget to tourism marketing to at least $5
million.
The operators say the government has not yet prioritized the sector giving it little attention.
The
government and the World Bank recently signed a credit financing
facility of $25 million to tourism, of which $12 million were allocated
to the revamping of the Jinja Tourism Training Institute. About
$3million was allotted to building capacity in the Uganda Tourism Board
and the tourism ministry.
However, the remaining $10million has not been assigned according to Tourism Minister Maria Mutagamba.
It’s this $10million balance what tour operators want the government to avail to tourism marketing this year.
“Funding
towards tourism marketing is still very low. Kenya provides $34 million
to marketing, Tanzania ($12 million), Rwanda ($5 million), Burundi
($1.5 million) and Uganda- only $90,000. Even the new management at UTB
will struggle with such kind of funding.
The sector should be
given minimum $5m if we’re serious with tourism as a business,” said Ms.
Kelly McTavish Mungar the Managing Director Pearl of Africa Tours and
Travel.
“Uganda’s tourism industry has been confined. It’s given
limited attention yet it’s a multi-billion generating sector,” added Mr.
Cuthbert Baguma the immediate former Executive Director of the Uganda
Tourism Board, the official government tourism marketing agency.
This
was during a breakfast meeting in Kampala where the Uganda Investment
Authority presented a study and findings of the constraints to fast
tracking tourism development in Uganda. The study- Building
Competitiveness in Tourism as a strategic intervention for attracting
quality investment was carried out and presented by Rebecca Wamono of
the Uganda Investment Authority.
According to her findings, the
lack of identity/brand at the international level, inadequate value
addition of tourism products and services, the negative media publicity
that discourages international travelers and tourists and the
insufficient supporting infrastructure and utilities like roads, energy,
and air travel makes it difficult to attract high end international
investors and joint ventures in tourism. She said the lack of a
national carrier and the very few domestic carriers have affected
marketing, flight numbers and visitors to Uganda.
“The impact of
the construction of the 180MW Isimba Hydro Power Project on water
rafting on the Victoria Nile is huge as well as the lack of national
mentorship programme for children and the general public about budget gorilla tourism
and conservation,” Wamono noted in her findings. Tourism Minister
Maria Mutagamba advised the different tourism associations to get united
and always compile, and disseminate the right figures for proper
planning.
“Tourism is currently a disjointed sector. We need to
build competitiveness in the sector by always proving the correct
tourism figures and statistics,” she advised the meeting. James
Tumusime, the Chairman of the Uganda Tourism Board, warned the
grumbling different associations in tourism not to make his body a rival
of other agency organizations
“UTB is ready to fly with the new
management. Invest in areas that empower Public Private Partnerships,”
Tumusiime advised the private sector in tourism. Herbert
Byaruhanga, the president of Uganda Tourism association said the
government should create an enabling environment for local tourism
investors to invest by allowing them tax waivers and holidays. EAC countries are also working towards a single destination marketing plan.
Nature Adventure Safaris
Monday, 10 February 2014
Friday, 7 February 2014
Bwindi impenetrable forest gorilla dies aged 28 years old
A photograph of Mishaya taken in June 2012. Mishaya was a leader of a commuinty of gorillas in Bwindi (UWA Photo)
The lifespan of mountain gorillas is estimated at 50 years,
according to Dr. Gladys Kalema, the director of conservation through
public health. She described Mishaya, who broke away from Nshongi about
two years ago, as an active, friendly and assertive gorilla.
“Mishaya will be missed,” Kalema said. Others who eulogised Mishaya
said he would amuse them, giving many tourists compelling opportunities
for photographs.
Dr. Andrew Seguya, the executive director of Uganda Wildlife
Authority (UWA) said: “We have lost a lovely mountain gorilla which was
free with tourists.” He said he had sent a team of veterinary doctors to
investigate further what caused Mishaya’s death.
Preliminary results indicate that he died after the coiling of the
intestines. Mishaya was the only silverback (alpha male) after which a
group of habituated gorillas in Bwindi was named. His group lives in
Rushaga, in the southern region of Bwindi.
Apart from Mishaya, the southern sector of Bwindi is home to habituated gorillas, Nshongyi, Kahungye and Busingye groups.
Wednesday, 5 February 2014
Uganda Birding Safari
12 Days Birding
Tour Uganda -12 Clients Group Safari
Uganda winning the name “Pearl of
Africa” was because of the tourism resources endowed and out of that Uganda is
known to be a region “Gifted by Nature”. The “ornithology” tours has become
more exciting together with wildlife encounters which Uganda has to
offer from different tourist important bird areas, destinations, list of birds
in Uganda can be spotted from these areas: the Mabamba wetland birding site a
best birding place in Uganda, Kibale national park, Queen national park the
“medley of wonders”, Bwindi impenetrable birding park, Mubwindi birding
wetland, Lake Bunyonyi-Uganda birding tour the “ Switzerland of Africa” in
Kigezi region. Our aim is to show and explain all types of birds and other
tourist resources to surpass our client’s expectation. On this safari we
have opportunity to spot other tourism resources like mountain gorillas,
chimps, wildlife and other leisure amazingly experienced like game drives, boat
cruising, nature walks among others.
Day1: Entebbe-Bird Botanical Gardens
Upon arrival at the Entebbe
international Airport, you will be welcomed by our guide or company
representative who will transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe. Depending on
your arrival time you can be able to go birding later on at the Botanical
gardens. The most common bird species which include Wood, Common, Marsh
Sandpipers, Common Green Shank, Long-tailed and Great Cormorants, Madagascar
Bee-eater, Green Crombec, Orange weaver, Entebbe Weaver (an endemic to Uganda
that was recorded at the site only once), White spotted Flu tail. Dinner and
overnight at Bomah Guest House (L)/Airport
Guest House (M)/Sun Set Motel (B). Meal plan: BB
Day2: Mabamba Bay Birding Wetland
Have breakfast, thereafter drive to
Mabamba bay wetland birding site, the unique site referred to as the best in
Africa and the whole world, where the elusive Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) can be
spotted at any one time of the day. Other bird species include; Rey-headed
Gull, White Winged Terns, Madagascar Bee-eater, Yellow Billed Egret, Long toed
Plover. Have lunch and in the afternoon you could have a walk along the tracks
on the main road in search of more birds then you expect to see the Black
Crake, African Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Cape
Wagtail, Swamp Flightier, Winding Cisticola, Blue- Breasted Bee- eater, Red
Chested Sunbird and many more. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight as
above. Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch.
Note: Today we shall
provide Breakfast and Lunch in the field, then with Dinner it is the clients to
buy his or her dinner at lodge, lodges in towns do not have set menu so it’s hard
to predict how much the client will eat!
Day3: Entebbe-Kibale Forest National
Park
Early morning breakfast and drive to
Kibale Forest National Park. Lunch en-route in Fort portal town at Gardens
Restaurant. Afternoon bird watching in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary that
is found 5 km after Kibale Forest National Park on the road to Kamwenge.
Birding is a major activity around the swamp with paths cut and areas of the
swamp board trails to give access to areas of the swamp that would be otherwise
inaccessible. Species for Bigodi include Great Blue Turaco, Black Billed Turaco
and White Spotted Crake. Dinner and overnight at Kyaninga Lodge (L)/Kibale Safari Lodge (M)/Kibale Forest Camp (B).
Meal plan: Full Board
Day4: Kibale Forest (Chimp
Trek)-Queen Elizabeth National Park (Evening Game Drive)
After breakfast, participate in the
chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest National Park and along the way you will
see a number of bird species which include: black-capped apalis, blue-headed
sunbird, collared apalis, dusky crimson wing, purple-breasted sunbird and
red-faced woodland warbler. Other Kibale specials include the African pitta,
green breasted pitta, black bee-eater, yellow spotted nicator, yellow rumped
tinker bird, little Greenbul, black-eared ground thrush, brown chested alethe,
blue-breasted kingfisher, Abyssinian ground thrush, and the crowned eagle. Have
lunch and in the afternoon drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is home
to total of 604 different bird species. Key species: African Skimmer, Black
Rumped Button Quail, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Red Footed Falcon, Lesser
Flamingoes, and Saddle-billed Storks, and numerous classes of Raptors. Birding
in the evening, Dinner and overnight at Mweya
Lodge (L)/Enganzi lodge (M)/Bush Lodge (B). Meal plan: Full Board
Day5: Queen Elizabeth National Park
(Game Drive-Birding & Boat ride)
The whole day reserved for birding
in the park while on a morning game drive but also see other wildlife like the
mammals that include some big five Lions, Hippos, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted
Hyena, Elephants and the elusive Giant Forest Hog in this park. Primates like
the chimps and monkeys and Reptiles. All these are regularly sighted around the
tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula. In the afternoon go for the boat cruise
along Kazinga Channel, with the concentration of water birds and photographs is
extraordinary. A variety of birds grace the grasses on the channel’s edge and
these may include the Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans, Great and
Long-tailed Cormorants. There is also a Bird Observatory here, which was set up
with the aim of studying both migratory and resident birds. Since its inception
in 1997 more new species have been identified, including Uganda’s first record
of the Bar-tailed Godwit. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight and dinner.
Meal plan: Full Board
Day6: Queen Elizabeth-Bwindi Gorilla
Park
After breakfast, drive via Ishasha
Sector with birding experience and the search of the tree climbing lions those
enjoy lying on the top of fig trees during the hot hours of the day. Later
proceed to Bwindi National park best known for gorillas; lunch en route. Though
the gorillas are its most famous inhabitants, Bwindi is also noted for its
biodiversity and the richness of its flora and fauna. The diversity of birds in
Bwindi National Park is extremely high, representing one of the forest’s avian-fauna
in Africa. The bird list for the park currently totals 334 species, 67
non-forest-dependent species, and 182 forest-dependent species. Thirteen of
these species occur nowhere else in Uganda, seven are not known to occur
anywhere else in East Africa, and 17 are known for East Africa only in Bwindi
and one or two other East African forests. The rare species include the
spectacular globally threatened endemics like the African Green Broadbill and
Shelley’s Crimson wing. Dinner and overnight at Ruhija Gorilla Resort (L)/Gorilla Mist Camp (M)/Trackers Tavern
Cottages (B). Meal plan: Full Board
Day7: Uganda Gorilla Trekking
Today you will go, gorilla tracking
in Bwindi Forest National park; the most exciting wildlife experiences. The
activity starts with a briefing from the ranger guides after which you proceed
with the trekking. Bwindi forest in Uganda has a population of about 370
gorillas, which is half the world population according to 2007 gorilla
population surveys. It is not predictable the time you will spend to encounter
the gorillas but it normally takes between 2 – 6 hours. You have an hour to
observe the primates and their behaviors, while taking photographs. Do not
forget to carry your lunch boxes and water, insect repellent, sun screen, rain
gears, hut and walkable shoes. Evening take birding around the lodge to spot
birds like handsome
francolin, archers robin chat, stripe breasted tit, purple breasted sunbird,
mountain Green bul, duikers, warblers, dusky Crimson wing, mountain Illadopsis,
mountain yellow warbler to mention a few. Return
to lodge for dinner and overnight. Meal plan: Full Board
Day8: Ruhija Birding Sector-Lake
Bunyonyi
Have breakfast and proceed to
Mubwindi birding wetland at Ruhija sector. Ruhija is likely to be one of the
highlights of any trip to Uganda with excellent birding in spectacular
surroundings. Birds are both plentiful and easy to see; many species
associating in mixed feeding flocks that are active throughout the day. An early
start offers the best chance of finding the striking handsome Francolin,
Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, western Green Tinker bird, Mountain and
yellow-streaked Greenbul, Mountain marked and chestnut-throated Apalises,
red-faced woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Batis, white-tailed crested Flycatcher and
many more. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi
Resort (L)/Bunyonyi Overland (M)/Jajama lodge (B). Meal plan: Full Board
Day9: Lake Bunyonyi-Lake Mburo
National Park
After morning breakfast, take a
motor boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi for birding. The Lake is one of the most
popular destinations for birding and the guide will help you spotting birds
over different islands. Bird species include: Pied kingfisher, Malachite kingfisher,
Cinnamon chested bee-eater, Bronzy sun bird, Knobbed coot. Very rare, Pied
wagtail, Black clack, Common stone chat, Grey shrike, Grey crowned crested
crane, Hadada ibis, Swamp fly catcher, Black heron, Great cormorant, Fan tailed
widow bird, Streaky seed eater, Speckled mouse bird, Pin tailed whyder, Bronze
manikin, Black headed weaver. Have lunch in Kabale and from there proceed to
Lake Mburo where you will have a game drive as you enter the park. Dinner and
overnight at Mihingo Lodge (L)/Rwakobo
Rock Lodge (M)/Eagle’s Nest Camp Mburo (B). Meal plan: Full Board
Day10: Lake Mburo National Park
Have breakfast and then go for a
morning game drive to intangibly consumer birding experience. The park has
about 313 different bird species which include the rare Shoebill stork,
White-winged Warblers, Black-billed Barbet, Crested Francolin, Brown Parrot,
Red necked Spur, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Temminck’s Courser, common Quails,
Greenwood Hoopoe, Blue-napped Mouse bird, Barefaced Go-away bird, African-grey
Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Lilac-breasted Roller, Coqui
Francolin, Red necked spur fowl, Black Bellied Bustard, African-wattled Plover
Rufous napped and Flappet larks, Rufous chested Swallow , Southern Red Bishop
and Yellow-throated Long claw among others. Return to lodge for lunch and
thereafter afternoon drive to Masaka town for dinner and overnight at Brovad Hotel (M). Meal plan: Full-Board
Day11: Masaka-Mpanga Forest
Birding Site–Entebbe
After breakfast, drive to Mpanga
forest the eco science research forest and here expect to spot a lot of unique
birdlife species, but before you reach have amazing stopover at the equator to
take awesome photos and shop some souvenirs’ and edible snacks. Lunch; enter
into the forest to spot different types of birds, floras and faunas and this
adventure are so much awesome. Then in evening set off to Entebbe for our
dinner and overnight at Bomah Guest
House (L)/Entebbe Airport Guest House (M)/Sun Set Motel (B). Meal plan:
Full-Board
Day12: Entebbe–Ngamba Islands
Chimpanzee Sanctuary
After breakfast you will be
transferred to Entebbe water front club and board your speed boat to Ngamba
chimpanzee sanctuary to indulge in quite big list of informative activities
like chimp feeding, bird watching and you will have lunch at the island. Thereafter
drive back Entebbe with entrance to the Uganda wildlife education Centre and
watch some big five caged and other species, birds. Evening you will be
transferred to airport for your home flight. End of services, Meal plan:
Half-Board.
NB: (L) Luxury, (M)
Mid-range and (B) Budget
The price staying in Luxury Lodges and based on 12 pax will cost $$ 4626 dollars per person and using 2 --- 4x4 Extended Land Cruiser and based on
full board meals.
The price staying in Mid-range Lodges and based on 12 pax will cost
$$ 3698 dollars per person and using 2 --- 4x4
Omni-Bus and based on full board meals.
The price staying in Budget Lodges and based on 12 pax will cost $$ 3310 dollars per person
and using 2 --- 4x4 Omni-Bus and based on full board meals.
The
safari package includes:
Airport transfers
Transportation by 2 4wd vehicles
Accommodation and meals as per
itinerary
Bigodi birding walking safari
Chimpanzee permits
Park fees
Car entry
Boat ride
Gorilla permits, one per person to
be paid in advance
Nature walks birding
Visit Ngamba chimp sanctuary
Visit Mabamba wetlands
Full day professional birding guides
+ Birding tour leader
En-route lunches
Game drives
The package excludes:
Expenses of personal nature like:
Visa, drinks, laundry, tips to local guides while gorilla trekking, telephone,
personal insurance and cigarettes.
What to wear/bring
Dress
codes are informal. Daytime temperatures are generally warm, so bring lots of
light clothing, supplemented by light sweaters for the cool evenings and
heavier clothing for the higher altitudes especially Bwindi. When tracking
gorillas layering your clothing is the best idea and we suggest: long sleeved
shirts, cotton or gore tex trousers, strong walking shoes with ankle support,
socks that you can tuck your trousers into, light gloves to protect your hands
from thorns and nettles, a hat and sunglasses to provide protection against the
sun and a waterproof jacket in neutral colors may come in handy in the moist
mountains. Travel light and remember that soft-sided luggage is required. One
medium sized duffel bag and one small daypack (carry-on) per person should be
adequate. Laundry services are available at most accommodations. You should
also pack some zip lock bags for spare clothing, cameras, binoculars and film.
Please note that you are not allowed to use a flash when photographing
Gorillas. It is a good idea to take along several different speeds of film (64
to 1000) as gorillas can be found in open sun or in the dark underbrush of the
forest.
Contact +256-751-915-622
Tour Consultant
Nature Adventure Africa Safaris Ltd
Uganda Kampala, Entebbe Airport Road, Najja Shopping Centre,
03 B Office 2rd Floor
Tuesday, 4 February 2014
Self Drive Uganda Car Rental with Car Rental Low Rates
Self Drive Uganda car rental gives you excellent car hire value with
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customers. Our range extends from budget car rental to luxury car rental, for
short term or extended long-term car rental in Uganda.
Self drive Uganda Car Rental offers
un-mileage and suitable model vehicles, available through our easy to use online
reservation system. Car rental reservations are made by Uganda car rental on
your behalf, ready to collect from the specified destination on time. Uganda
car rental with well established and reputable reservationists ensures you
receive professional services after sales service and are covered for any
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We cover all airport car hire and city car rental. You’ll
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For the online car rental services, Uganda car rental offers
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Friday, 31 January 2014
Get a chance to enjoy Country Lake Resort this Valentine’s
Three lucky couples have a chance to enjoy this relaxing and naturally-romantic experience on Valentine’s Day. To get lucky, get participating in the Just the two of us promotionValentine’s promotion.
Valentine’s Day is about 14 days away, so Heart to Heart together with KFM have something special planned for you and your loved ones. Here are some of the memorable romantic experiences of those participating in our promotion, and Esther Oluka takes you through what the lucky couples will enjoy if they got a chance to go to the beautiful Country Lake Resort, Garuga for Uganda Tour.
The treat will be part of the Just the Two of Us Valentine’s promotion sponsored by the Heart to Heart magazine and KFM.
Located in Garuga, off Entebbe Road, Country Lake Resort offers a fresh, breath-taking, relaxed, romantic environment, with a fresh breeze ideal for loved ones.
Located in Garuga, off Entebbe Road, Country Lake Resort offers a fresh, breath-taking, relaxed, romantic environment, with a fresh breeze ideal for loved ones.
Nature is written all over the resort as soon as
you get to the driveway, punctuated by beautiful sculptures and antique
paintings. If you ask me, every stroll offers a photo opportunity. Overlooking
the lake, the resort is quite busy. You won’t miss people taking boat
rides, kayaking, bird watching, playing mini-golf or volley ball, among
other games. If you are not the active one, there are perfect viewing
points.
The lucky couples will also be treated to a free
photo shoot at the resort gardens, which are decorated with beautiful
water fountains and crafted antiques.
And for couples who would want to unwind after a
fun-filled day, did I mention the resort has two large dance floors
where you will get to shake it off to live video mixing by their
in-house DJ Jimmy?
The resort’s cottages are named after Uganda’s
beautiful lakes, according to size. So guests have a choice to pick
their favourite lake as they prepare for a warm, quiet night. You can be
guaranteed to sleep like a baby.
According to Mr Odomel, the promotion is an opportunity for loved ones to pamper themselves and indulge in various fun-filled activities. The promotion is open to couples; married or not and any other loved ones.
According to Mr Odomel, the promotion is an opportunity for loved ones to pamper themselves and indulge in various fun-filled activities. The promotion is open to couples; married or not and any other loved ones.
To win a chance, join the 93.3 KFM Facebook page
and post your most memorable romantic experience or listen to the K-Zone
with Jaq Deweyi from 8pm-12am and read the Heart to Heart magazine
every Thursday to know if you have qualified. The top 10 posts will be
in for the final draw. You could also recommend a couple you think
deserves a treat. Good luck!
My baby looked beyond my skin
I met the love of my life in December 2009 and I
thank God everyday because my life has never been better. I like the way
my baby adores me. When I had just met him, I used to feel ugly because
my skin wasn’t clear. I felt so insecure but one day, he sat me on his
laps and told me: “Baby, I don’t see anything wrong with your face. You
are so beautiful and shouldn’t care about such stupid things because I
see beyond this pretty face, I see your heart and character and that’s
what matters.”
He then kissed my face and hugged me. He made me
feel so worthy and I have always felt beautiful since then. He calls me
his model and uploads my pictures on Facebook with special messages. I
feel like the luckiest woman on earth and there is nothing more I would
want but to be everything he wants. He doesn’t know I entered this
competition but I want to tell him: “Nsubuga James, I want you to know
in front of the whole world that I love you and even if I don’t win, I
just want you to feel as special as you always make me feel. HAPPY EARLY
VALENTINE’s.
Money wasn’t her target
As a young man from a humble family, I went
through struggles to get to school, so I vowed never to date until I had
finished school and found a job since I had once lost a girl I loved so
much just because I couldn’t afford to take her out on days such as
Valentine’s. However, after resisting so many beauties at campus for a
year, I met this one beautiful girl whom I found irresistible. I
promised to take her out at least twice a month and promised her that
Valentine’s would always be heaven for us.
We dated for a year but I don’t remember even one
time when I took her out or bought her flowers. Another year went by and
nothing changed but she stuck with me. In 2010, she visited my place on
Valentine’s but we all ended up in tears because I had nothing for her.
That night we decided that we should stay together and since then, I
still have never done something special for her. I feel this offer would
be a real surprise to her and could bring more fire in our
relationship.
Lunch, walk, memories
He invited me to his place and told me I was smart and beautiful and that I deserved a good treat. He asked me to keep him company in the kitchen as he prepared us lunch. Time after time, he would walk up to me and peck me on my forehead...he served lunch and later suggested we go for a walk, which ended in a treasure hunt at a place where we first met.
He invited me to his place and told me I was smart and beautiful and that I deserved a good treat. He asked me to keep him company in the kitchen as he prepared us lunch. Time after time, he would walk up to me and peck me on my forehead...he served lunch and later suggested we go for a walk, which ended in a treasure hunt at a place where we first met.
2009 marked the exodus of love in a magnetic field for me. All
the love I felt came out of the blue because somebody’s daughter, my
classmate then, had charmed my heart and mind. This beautiful girl
always made me freeze like water that had spent a while in the fridge.
But being new in the game, I had a challenge of how to set a trap, lay
strategies and find convincing words to woo this girl. One evening, I
asked her friend to ask her to see me. The response wasn’t good.
I continued pursuing her and luckily enough, one
evening she agreed to meet me. I poured out my heart, but she rejected
me and told me she had come to school to read her books. I felt out of
place and confused, but I didn’t give up. On the Valentine’s Day of
2009, she sent me a letter, committing to love me. It felt good
discussing love with my sweetheart, someone I had had eyes on for a long
time.. Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking a gear of conserving gorillas for Eco Tours Rwanda
When the name Rwanda
comes up, at least in tourism circles, gorilla tracking comes to mind, first
and foremost, as the Land of a Thousand Hills is indeed best known for offering
well organized Eco
tours Rwanda to see the prized animals in their
natural habitat. The Rwanda Development Board’s Tourism and Conservation
Department in fact acknowledges that in spite of concerted efforts over the
past years to diversify the tourism products and introduce new attractions, inside
and outside of the three national parks, gorilla tracking remains the highest
profile activity for now, though birding and hiking, especially in Nyungwe
Forest National Park, have started to make an impact in the statistics. Culture
is also growing tourism product in Rwanda and the Rwanda tourism board has
launched the Musanze cave for cultural tourism which you can visit on your
Rwanda tour, Eco tours Rwanda.
The Virunga massif, a trans-boundary ecosystem
located in Rwanda, Uganda and neighboring Congo DR, is home of – going by the
latest figures available – some 400 mountain gorillas and has been described as
the world’s only stable great apes population. It is here, that on the Rwandan
side some 11 habituated gorilla groups are available for tourism purposes, the
11th only named 10 days ago during the annual Kwita Izina naming ceremony, when
a “breakaway group” gained their own recognition, name and status. Additionally
there are 10 other habituated groups which are strictly reserved for research
and monitoring, outpacing the other two gorilla range countries. The gorilla
groups in Rwanda include: Susa—the
largest group with 41 gorillas. This family is the hardest to trek as it tends
to range high into the mountains but RDB Tourism & Conservation
trackers will know well in advance where the group is located. The group
is also well known for having rare 5 year old twins named Byishimo and Impano. Sabyinyo—Sabyinyo is an easily
accessible group led by the powerful silverback Guhonda. There are fewer
members within this family than in the other groups however they are equally
impressive as a family. Amahoro—led by the calm and easy going Ubumwe, Amahoro is made up of 17 members and
means “peaceful”. To reach Amahoro one must endure a fairly steep climb however
the climb is well worth it once in contact with this tranquil group. Group 13—when first habituated this
group had only 13 members hence its name. Now the group has approximately 25
members, a very positive sign for conservation and the efforts put forward by
RDB Tourism & Conservation to protect the gorillas’ habitat. Kwitonda—this 18-member group is led by
Kwitonda which means “humble one” and has two silverbacks and one black back.
Having migrated from DRC, this group tends to range far making it a moderately
difficult trek. Umubano—a family of
11, Umubano were originally Amahoro members but broke off after the dominant
silverback was challenged by Charles, now the leader of Umubano. When a young
silverback challenges the dominant silverback he must steal some females from
the existing group in order to form his own family; thus Umubano was formed. Hirwa—this group emerged recently and
was formed from different existing families, namely from Group 13 and Sabyinyo.
Eventually more gorillas joined. Come witness this family continue to grow and Karisimbi– a family of 15, a new group.
The Ruhengeri
province in Rwanda is a city where all gorilla trekkers have their overnight
before and after budget
gorilla trekking. At this area you can stay at luxury, mid-range and budget
lodges Sabyinyo silverback Lodge/Virunga safari lodge/ Mountain Gorilla View
Lodge/ Mountain Gorilla Nest Camp/Lebombou Lodge/Laplame Hotel/Muhabura Guest
House/Kinigi Guest House respectively. The Rwanda Development Board and conservation
NGOs are working hand in hand towards a common goal, protecting the mountain
gorillas while at the same time ensuring that tourism pays many of the bills
this mammoth task incur month after month.
The Greater Virunga
Trans-boundary Cooperation, in short GVTC, is a trilateral body, based in
Kigali, comprising RDB, UWA and ICCN, which coordinates conservation and
management matters, shares research results and coordinates security measures
put into place along the national frontiers between Rwanda, Uganda and the
Congo DR.
There is GRASP, the
Great Apes Survival Partnership, which falls under the UNESCO/UNDP framework of
conservation partnerships under which all institutional bodies come together to
share information and rally to preserve the ever shrinking habitat of great
apes around the globe.
Gorilla Doctors bring
veterinary doctors together who volunteer their time to assist, largely free of
cost for their professional services, to rush to the scene should the trackers,
who spend much of the day with their charges up the volcanic mountains, call
for medical support.
The International
Gorilla Conservation Program, in short IGCP, is a partnership devoted to the
conservation of the mountain gorillas by the African Wildlife Foundation, Flora
and Fauna International and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, best known as
WWF.
And then there is the
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, the local headquarters based in
Musanze, which is arguably the highest profile organization of them all, the
offices in white and green highly visible for everyone who drives through what
used to be Ruhengeri. The fund emerged from Dian Fossey’s DIGIT Fund, renamed
in Dian’s honor in 1992 as the DFGFI.
Dian Fossey,
immortalized through the film "Gorillas in the Mist," which portrayed
her life’s work and dedication to the cause of protecting the mountain
gorillas of Rwanda and Congo, back then still known as Zaire, was killed on
the 27th December 1985, but left behind a legacy which lives on and has grown
from strength to strength. Controversial as she may have been in life, she was
an outspoken opponent of using habituated gorillas for tourism purposes and had
reported run ins’ with fellow researchers, too, in death she became a uniting
factor for gorilla conservation and her name, and that of the fund, continue to
be magnets to raise money, material contributions and attention around the
world. Today, the gorilla population, which was seriously endangered when Dian
was still alive and working in the field, has significantly increased in size,
to now around 480 overall, but with an estimated carrying capacity of around
800 gorillas, some in fact say up to 1,000 while others put the capacity of the
Virunga massif to lesser numbers.
The fund operates the
Karisoke Research Centre, headed by Felix Ndagijimana with over 150 staff in
Rwanda and across the border in the Congo DR, plus a number of volunteers and
collaborating scientists. The main thrust of activities is, as previously
mentioned, research and monitoring of the gorillas, conservation education
among school children but also the adult population living around the national
parks and last but not least community outreach programs include health and
education interventions.
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