PRIME SAFARIS AND TOURS AFRICA

Ebola is one of those deadly viral - disease that can hastily bring person’s life to an end. Considering its effects in West Africa where it has taken root, the threat is already being felt in the East of Africa as some travellers including those who were planning safaris to Rwanda have started to cancel their trips due to Ebola scourge thinking that it all over Africa. Though this is a wrong perception as no cases of Ebola has been reported in the East of Africa and taking into account the distance in between these two regions, Rwanda has beefed up the efforts to prevent the spread of this deadly virus to her country. In this effort, all travellers including Rwanda safari undertakers travelling from Republic of Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Liberia, USA and Spain or who have travelled through those countries within the past 22 days had been required to give an update of their health status on daily basis by calling toll free 144 and for a minimum of 21 days for long ...

T he European Investment Bank has always supported companies across East Africa and Uganda inclusive through offering investment capital. This support is directed at Small Medium Enterprises including tour and travel companies that are aimed at increasing safaris to Uganda . As part of this initiative, the European Investment Bank of recent approved UGX 45 billion about EUR 13million for the second time through the Housing Finance Bank for the support of local firms. This new credit initiative is targeting the companies involved in agriculture, manufacturing and tourism sector that deals in safaris in Uganda. During the signing of this joint venture between the European Investment bank and Housing Finance Bank, the Managing Director of Housing Finance Mr. Mathias Katamba acknowledged the support saying that the support for SME in sectors of agriculture, construction, education, tourism and manufacturing is very important. The Housing Finance Bank’s method of improving i...

Rwanda is gifted to be among the three countries that possess mountain gorillas in the whole world. Rwanda alongside Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo contain the 880 mountain gorillas that are currently thriving in the wild of Virunga massif shared among the three and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. This has formed a stronghold for gorilla safaris in Rwanda and the adjacent countries of Uganda and Congo. In Virunga massif where the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park is a component, there dwells 480 mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park found in the north west of Rwanda has 10 habituated gorilla families that have attracted various travellers to undertake gorilla trekking in Rwanda. The gorillas in Rwanda are split into two categories including research groups and trekking groups. The research groups include Pablo’s Shida and Beetsme with enormous members. The gorilla trekking groups include; The Susa A group which is  difficult to trek is n...

National Carries play a vital role not only in re-enforcing national identity but also in facilitating easy transfer of travellers between several countries. Uganda was one of those states that were proud to own a national carrier in the names of Uganda Airlines that served among others the transfer of Uganda safari undertakers from their places of origin to Uganda before running bankrupt 14 years ago. After a couple of years, the private owned Air Uganda positioned its self to fill the vacuum that had been left by the defunct carrier and has for some time served well on a regional level. Unfortunately, Air Uganda of recent lost its operating license due to safety concerns stipulated by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority in line with International Civil Aviation Organization. Though Air Uganda had helped to facilitate the transfer of passengers in the region and those on safari in Uganda , its license revocation can be taken as an advantage to revive the national carr...

Tourism is apparently the chief export earner for Uganda with great income receipts got from those that undertake safaris in Uganda and the establishments that facilitate their movements and stay in their respective destinations. Uganda has a huge tourism resource base with diversity of nature including mountain gorillas, wild game, unique flora, water bodies and a wide range of cultures that combine to form aground for gorilla trekking safaris , cultural tours, adventure and wildlife safaris . The tourism base especially natural attractions dwell in protected areas that were gazeted against the interests of the indigenous inhabitants of such areas. As a result, the resource use conflict arose and the relationship between the parks and the communities became sour which partly threatened the existence of these protected areas. In a bid to harmonize these relationships, the Uganda Wildlife Authority introduced the revenue sharing scheme where 20% of the park entrance fe...

Ebola is one of those deadly viral - disease that can hastily bring person’s life to an end. Considering its effects in West Africa where it has taken root, the threat is already being felt in the East of African countries as some travellers including those who were planning safaris to Rwanda have started to cancel their trips due to Ebola scourge thinking that its all over Africa. Though this is a wrong perception as no cases of Ebola has been reported in the East of Africa and taking into account the distance in between these two reins, Rwanda has beefed up the efforts to prevent the spread of this deadly virus to her country. In this effort, all travellers including Rwanda safari undertakers travelling from Republic of Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Liberia, USA and Spain or who have travelled through those countries within the past 22 days are required to give an update of their health status on daily basis by calling toll free 144 and for a minimum of 21 days for...

Kampala, the Uganda’s capital city has a rich heritage ranging from religious to history and culture which has many times attracted the interests of Uganda safari undertakers. The religious sites like the Baha’i Temple which is the only temple of the Baha’i faith in Africa, the Gadhafi National Mosque which is the second biggest on African continent justifying the Pan-African spirit of Col. Muammar Gadhafi, the Namirembe and Rubaga cathedrals for Anglican and Catholic denominations, the Namugongo Martyrs shrine where Uganda martyrs were executed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga and the Hindu temple combine to make faith based tourism to thrive in Kampala city. The historical sites like the Amin’s torture chambers, national monuments and Uganda National Museum combined with cultural sites like the Kasubi tombs, Kabaka’s palace and the Kabaka’s lake offer great tourism product to those on safari in Uganda . However, Kampala has got more tourist products more than what has ...

On 29th October 1885, Bishop Hannington lost his life in pursue of Christian mission to Uganda. He was murdered at Kyando 13km in the south west of Mayuge town, Busoga region on the orders of the then Kabaka of Buganda - Kabaka Mwanga. The site where he was murdered at has been considered to have a great religious significance and has in turn attracted the interest of faith-based Uganda safari undertakers. Considering the time of his execution, Bishop Hannington has been recorded as the first Uganda Martyr to have died of religion and is said to have contributed to great spread of Christian faith in Uganda as noted in his journal that “I have purchased the road to Uganda with my blood”. Uganda being one of the African countries that responded positively to gospel after the invite of missionaries by the then King of Buganda - King Mutesa I, many missionaries were inspired to come to Uganda including Bishop Hannington. After the failed first attempt, Bishop Hannington ma...

Uganda and Rwanda are one of the prime destinations that are usually visited by Uganda safari and Rwanda safari undertakers respectively. They share in common in terms of tourism resources more especially the critically endangered mountain gorillas that dwell in the Virunga massif and Bwindi Impenetrable National park that has in turn gave rise to gorilla safaris in the region. Considering this background, the Uganda Tourism Board – a specialized marketing public body that aims at increasing safaris to Uganda in conjunction with the High Commission of Uganda in Rwanda arranged a tour operators workshop in Kigali with the motive of bridging the gap between the tour operators from both sides that will in turn see the countries being sold as a single destination. The current efforts of regional Integration have a significant effect to the tourism industry since it is seen as an opportunity through which travellers including those on safari in Uganda and Rwanda can move h...

The Uganda martyrs are remembered for having accepted to be killed for the sake of religion. Dating back in 1885 in the reign of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda, the missionaries had started to form roots in Uganda and many people were converting from the traditional religions to embrace the western religion based on the teachings of the Bible. The King took it as disloyalty to him which prompted him to order their execution. As a result, 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican martyrs were executed at Namugongo with the use of fire – which has made this site to pull numbers of Uganda safari undertakers. This historic religious site has to be kept up to date which necessitates a museum to provide custody of this religious heritage that will be needed by next generations and which would increase tourist products that can be encountered while on safari in Uganda . This provided a ground for the Uganda Martyrs museum whose construction has seen its start with the President Yoweri Museveni la...

Uganda is not only gifted by nature but also her great people that are beautiful and hospitable which makes travellers undertaking safaris in Uganda to feel at home. These people hail from different cultures that inhabit various regions of the country with unique patterns and settings which have got the potential to augment traditional products like gorilla trekking safaris , wildlife safaris and Chimpanzee safaris. And, since thriving in this contemporary world is enhanced by tapping any opportunity that comes by, Uganda has ushered herself to tap the potential of her people to increase safaris to Uganda . In this regard, the annual Miss Tourism Competitions were invented and for this year, a Kyambogo University student and Central region representative, Patricia Babirye Ntale has taken up the mantle as Miss Tourism Uganda 2014/2015 at the recently concluded beauty contest at Kampala Serena Hotel – a center which also provides an ideal accommodation for upmarket Ugand...

Uganda Tourism Board informs all Uganda safari undertakers both domestic and international that the Health status of the country is okay contrary to some media reports. On 28th September 2014, one case of the Marburg hemorrhagic fever was reported and the people closest to this individual were immediately quarantined. Results after screening them confirmed negative of the Marburg virus and they still remain under the watch of health professionals. Thus, should not worry those on safari in Uganda . As a country, we pride in the safety of all our visitors, tourists and nationals both in safety and health issues. To this effect, the Ministry of Health has urged members of the public to avoid unnecessary body contact such as handshakes. We further wish to reiterate that Uganda is Ebola-free and to-date not a single case has been reported within our borders. This serves to arrest the worries of International travellers that had started to cancel their safaris to Uganda . ...

Uganda is endowed with a range of bio-diversity stretching from wild game like lions, leopard, elephants, Rhinos, giraffe, buffalo, Antelopes and zebras to primates like mountain gorillas, Chimpanzees, monkeys and aquatics like Nile crocodiles and Hippos which are always encountered by Uganda safari undertakers. The majority of this bio-diversity thrives in a number of protected areas including ten (10) national parks of which Bwindi Impenetrable National park the home of the critically endangered mountain gorillas is among. Mountain gorillas are powerful apes that have got common ancestral backgrounds with Chimpanzees and humans. Unlike their counterparts – the eastern lowland and western lowland gorillas that thrive in expanses of lowland jungles of Democratic Republic of Congo and West Africa in big numbers, the Mountain gorillas only dwell in the Virunga massif and Bwindi Impenetrable national Park which contains 400 out of the 880 mountain gorillas that currently ...

The foreign commissions of Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya in Ankara, Turkey launched a promotional photo exhibition that is due to take two weeks period featuring flora and fauna in these three countries including those usually encountered on safaris in Uganda . The initiative is being executed in partnership with YABANCI TV, ANKAmall which is the largest shopping center in Ankara, DEV Belgesel a re-known production company in the field of academia, documentary and content development. The purpose of the photo exhibition is to enhance awareness about tourism, trade, culture and investment in the East African region which can be easily tapped by the introduction of the single tourist visa. Among these include the thrilling gorilla safaris in Uganda and Rwanda, wildlife safaris, cultural encounters and the rewarding Chimpanzee trekking . The embassies are credited for their initiative of continuing to organize a range of activities that would lead to increase in the number of t...

Akagera National Park is one of the famous Rwanda safari parks with a great deal of tourist potential. Found in the eastern side of Rwanda, Akagera National Park is a home to a wide range of wild game including elephants, buffaloes, zebras, waterbuck, leopard, kobs and giraffe which make it ideal for wildlife safaris in Rwanda . However, it can be noted some other prominent land animals like lions currently none exist in the park. The story being their absence dates back to effects of Rwanda civil war of 1990 – 1994 with its genocide. When the Tutsi returned to Rwanda, they encroached the park and threatened the lives of wildlife including lions that proved dangerous to them. Most of the wildlife ran away while others were killed which explains why lions cannot be seen in the park while on safari in Rwanda . Considering the country’s efforts to maximize her tourism potentials, the recent information from Rwanda Development Board (RDB) indicates that there is an ongoing...

Tourism in Uganda has for long been built on aspect of nature. Most Uganda safari undertakers have always been buying packages that feature wildlife safaris and gorilla safaris . This has made other tourist products particularly from culture and heritage to remain untapped. From this regard, the tourism planning and developing bodies like Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) have identified the dark Uganda’s past as one of the products that can be developed to diversify tourism sector and in particular augment nature tourism which can also be encountered while on safari in Uganda . The dark history of Uganda that is to be included in this initiative includes; the remains of the reign of Idi Amin Dada, re-known war lord Joseph Kony and the infamous cult leader Joseph Kibwetere. Amin Daada ruled Uganda from 1971 – 1979 and his reign was characterized by great bloodshed and tyranny. He is also known for having expelled the Asians from Uganda within a period of 90 days in 1972. Jos...

The traditional Inyambo cows are one of the remaining creatures that live to testify the beauty of Rwandan traditional society which is always fancied by travellers undertaking safaris in Rwanda . One could be hearing about cows or has ever seen them but the Inyambo cows in the Nyanza King’s palace pose a great distinction from other species. Physically, noticeable by their long horns with different patterns, their cultural and historical significance qualifies them to be included on the must see list while planning your safari to Rwanda . The Inyambo cows served a central role in the traditional Rwandan Monarchy particularly in honor of the ruling King. The breeding of the Inyambo cows was unique because of their destined life mission. The Inyambo cows were taken through some traditional practices like submitting them to amazi ahiye – a salt like beverage which ensured that they produce similar calves. The one year old calves were sent for training in the King’s palac...

Jinja is one of the prime Uganda safari destinations commonly known for its adventure experiences including white water rafting and bungee jumping. Its great product stems from the flowing Nile River that makes its way out of Lake Victoria traversing through varying terrain including impermeable rocks that present an obstruction to the river flow leading to the formation of water falls and rapids. One of re-known features was Bujagali falls here a series of rapids obstructed characterized the Nile forming a perfect ground for adventure activities for tourists on safari in Uganda . It is quite unfortunate to note that this magnificent feature is no more. As it is believed that man was created to be the master of other creatures, he has continued to exercise his role in modifying the earth landforms. The famous Bujagali falls was altered after the construction of electricity dam that led to the submerging of the falls and rapids. As if that is not enough, the government is...

It is 9th October, a day when Uganda celebrates her independence from the colonial rule. It was the same date when Uganda was declared independent by the British colonialists in 1962 after a series of negotiations and struggles by Ugandans who had offered themselves to fight for the independence of their country. This is an all-round event that features not only the political aspects of the society but also the economic and socio-cultural aspects. The national celebrations are always held at Kololo grounds which attract many revelers including those undertaking safaris in Uganda . Uganda is a country that is gifted by nature considering its rich natural wonders that range from scenery and wildlife not forgetting her most hospitable people that surpass the expectations of Uganda safari undertakers. The natural offerings like the endangered mountain gorillas , large populations of habituated Chimpanzees, snowcapped Rwenzori mountains, source of the World’s longest River ...

Dating back from the earlier explorers who undertook safaris in Uganda in search of the natural wonders particularly the source of River Nile, Lake Albert got its name from Sir Samuel Baker who named it after Prince Albert the consort of Queen Victoria in 1864. Lake Albert which has passed through a series of nomenclature including; Albert Nyanza and Lake Mobutu Sese Seko is by no means an ordinary lake. It is the seventh largest lake in Africa and holds 27th position in the whole world by volume which makes it stand among Africa’s great lakes playing a significant political role because of its boundary position between Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Lake Albert 160km in length and 30km in width is the first lake in the Albertine rift valley that contains a range of endemic species including the critically endangered mountain gorillas which have provided the base for gorilla safaris in Uganda . It forms the joining point between the Victoria Nile and Albert Nile...

Tourism in Uganda is currently the lucrative sector generating highest returns in terms of country’s exports. Due to multitude of safari products like gorilla trekking , chimpanzee trekking and wildlife safaris, many travellers have decided to plan safaris to Uganda . However, for tourism to flourish at any destination there must be a clear guideline in form of a plan that can guide developments to harmonize the aspects of economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts of tourism. Thus, it is upon this back ground that Uganda has always worked hard in drafting the ten year master plan to direct her tourism industry developments to ensure the satisfaction of those that undertake safaris in Uganda while maximizing the returns from the sector to the local economy. Hon. Maria Mutagamba, the Minister for Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities unveiled the next 10 year master plan (2014 - 2015) which is centered at addressing the aspects of Marketing, developing potential touri...

In the contemporary world, one of the great challenges that have characterized societies is cultural erosion. The young people have eagerly embraced the international pop culture at the expense of the traditional cultures while those that are struggling to get back to their roots, little is remaining for them to explore and equip them with their background in detail. Considering this background, Derek Blair and Yves Niyonshuti have decided to preserve the culture through a mobile based technology named Jifunza. This Jifunza’s app locally named Menya which means knowing.This was designed to help people including those interested in taking safaris to Rwanda to learn the local language from where they will be. It has been noted that a cross section of travellers would wish to learn local African Languages but absence of digital resources has frustrated many of these including Rwanda safari undertakers. African children in the diaspora who have interest in learning their pa...

The transport aspect is considered as a pivotal component in the tourism industry as it facilitates travelers including Rwanda safari undertakers to transfer from the origin to the destination via the transit zone. It is a contributory factor to the tourist overall experience as it is considered part of the trip. Though transport role range from being a transit facilitator to becoming a tourist product itself like scenic trains, it can generally be regarded as a pivot to tourism growth at a given destination and enhancing its visitation like increasing safaris to Rwanda . Rwanda is by no means an ordinary safari destination considering her tourist activities that include; gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park and wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park. Thus, the role of transport is greatly appreciated in Rwanda. It is against this background that Rwanda is embarking on the rapid expansion of transport infrastructure...

The current move by the Church of Uganda to set up a museum featuring collections of Christians mainly the victims of the ruthless King Mwanga of Buganda during the early colonial times in Uganda can be considered as a great move in uplifting the image of the Uganda Martyrs site that will in turn increase safaris to Uganda . The planned uplift of this rich religious site is estimated at Shs. 39bn covering the all aspects including architectural establishments that will enhance the image and bring out the fading picture of this Uganda safari heritage site for the benefit of pilgrims and leisure travellers. The developments would include the Mukajanga’s command post who served as a chief executioner, the firewood pot; the torture tree of Ndazabazzadde, the prison, the burning spots and the re-known Matyrs memorial church which is custody of the martyrs’ remains. These establishments would be made in a way that brings out their traditional attachment by the Uganda saf...