Covid19 Lockdown a blow to Mountain Gorillas in Congo

As covid19 is not only affecting people but also the protection of endangered Mountain gorillas in Congo when rebel militia attacked the park and killed 12 rangers protecting Mountain Gorillas in the Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo. All visits were suspended due to Corona virus and these rebels are taking advantage of the situation. This  is affecting gorilla safaris in the region. Even other parks should be on the look out to protect all national parks to top poaching that may come up as result of covid19 lockdowns.

The park in eastern DRC, home to critically endangered mountain gorillas as well as hundreds of other rare species, has faced repeated incursions and attacks by local armed groups.

About 60 fighters from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a Hutu rebel group, ambushed a convoy of civilians that was being protected by 15 rangers, said Cosma Wilungula, the director of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation. Many others were seriously injured, he said.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Virunga park of the incident or casualties.

The park has been repeatedly hit by violence. It was shut to tourists for eight months in 2018 after a series of attacks on staff but reopened after a thorough review of security precautions and reinforcement of the 700 rangers deployed to keep animals and visitors safe.

The park, in North Kivu province, has a reputation as one of the most dangerous conservation projects in the world. It faces multiple security threats including illegal charcoal production, smuggling and poaching, as well as from the Mai Mai militia.

Founded in 1925 by Belgian colonial authorities, the park struggled in the immediate aftermath of the country’s independence in 1960 but flourished under President Mobutu Sese Seko, who took power in 1965.

The park suffered further during the civil war that followed Mobutu’s chaotic fall in 1997. Virunga’s mountain gorilla population declined to 300. It has since risen to more than 1,000, and the numbers of other animals such as forest elephants are also rising.

In 2007 a partnership was established between charities funded by private donors, the EU and the Congolese wildlife service. Emmanuel De Merode took charge and implemented a wide-ranging overhaul.

The rangers, who are recruited from nearby villages, are paid a monthly salary of $250, a sizeable sum for them. Initiatives have focused on nearby communities, with micro-loans and hydroelectric power projects to boost the local economy.

All visits to Virunga were suspended last month to protect the gorillas from infection by the coronavirus. This may affect other gorilla safaris to say Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda  and Volcanoes  national park in Rwanda. All thees 3 national parks share same massif in the Great Lakes Region.

Covid19 lockdown a look into how to promote domestic tourism in Africa.

As we fight Covid 19 lockdown in Africa , we are yet to fight another  economic pandemic of no activity in tourism fraternity.  Africa will be experiencing financial problems revenue that used to be generated from tourism. Generally all tourism in Africa depends on foreign tourists who come from other continents mostly America and Europe.  These continents are being hit harder by Covid19 . What does this one mean it means that even their economies are facing difficulties and jobs are being lost.  People loosing jobs are potential tourists in Africa. For example in America it  is being speculated that only in fuel industry , about 6 million jobs have been lost  or affected.  Where does this one leave Africa. It means we shall be experiencing few  or little business of levels of inflows of tourists we were receiving in African safaris.

Here in Africa our tourism industry has been surviving on foreign tourists.  Now the future is unpredictable of the inflows. Many tours packages that were booked and confirmed are being called and few are being rescheduled. What does this one mean , it tells us that some hotels and lodges will go with empty rooms for quite some time and future is unpredictable. 

Tour and safari handlers call them tour operators  survive on commission what these tourist spend and the difference help tour operators to survive. Tour operators packages are all designed to attract foreign tourists. At any no time have tour operators targeted domestic tourism. 

Uganda countryside

Murchison falls in uganda

Its high time African  safari tourism stake holders meet and consolidate how to harness domestic tourism as we wait for the foreign tourism to come back in full swing. It’s the onus of Park /wildlife authorities call them those who look after national   parks come together with hotel and lodge owners and tour operators call them tour agents  meet and deliberate the way forward. Many countries have tourist boards that are in charge of marketing each country destination . Its high time to promote domestic tourism to fellow country men.

The Safari Covid19 Hangup for Africa Tourism

As I write here in Uganda the country is at lockdown. By the way is lockdown a new word or it has been created because of this pandemic. Uganda has been safari destination country in Africa featuring mountain gorilla safaris and primate tours . Uganda has e featured in the best magazine among the best destination places by CNN that were likely to feature in 2020 -2022 window.

Today as the world is at bay – stay where your are!  Hang up! No flights and I pity the airline  travel industry being the backbone of the whole tourism industry. Anybody without a back bone cannot stand. Simply the safari and tourism will not be back until the airlines can again fill up the skies .   In Africa an increased flights to our airports  from other continents it meant increased number of tourists to that very country. Say departure of British airlines   from some cities in Africa meant decrease of tourists to that destination loss of revenue and loss of jobs.

As  moments of  days and nights pass and , flights are not hovering above Africa  means a lot to our continent. The tourism industry will get shocks of losses in  jobs , loss of revenue of foreign exchange and will see our local currencies  getting devalued. In most of African economies where safari industry has been booming , was the leading foreign exchange earner in our case in East Africa for Uganda safaris , Kenya safaris , Tanzania and Rwanda tourism was the top foreign exchange earner. What does that one mean if the country cannot receive tourists and we don’t know when this will end.  No vaccine yet discovered nor cure so far got. The airline industry most likely to be back in air , there will be when assurance that you will not fear to sit near Chinese whom you think is still carrying the covid-19 virus. Even the Trump American is equally to  be feared and labeled a carrier as we see lots of Americans are being effected and dying than other parts of the world. At one time  the virus was referred to  be Chinese but now all most all countries of the world have tested the wrath of the virus.  So who is safe? May be Ugandan who has not seen single dead body of covid -19.  Uganda as it could be in other African countries not seeing many effected  its because we travel less.

Between January and  February 2020 those countries that had many nationals booked flights and travelled got more chances  for  interaction  with all other global people that were travelling from one point to another and hence got exposed to this virus.  This increased their chances of  getting in contact with those who were effected without knowing . Who does not know that Americans have the highest numbers of people booked in flights in the travel industry and who were in air travelling from different parts of the world around this period. Hence getting many people dying of this virus. So for Africa we had very few people in air  around this period  and less affected .  An American is our tourist, A British is our tourist,  An Italian is our tourist, etc  if these countries are not yet healed, shall then  tourism industry in Africa get healed too.  The answer is BIG NO.

Here in Africa as we if we a wait  the world to get healed and countries to get out of lockdown , local tourism to be  explored  and promoted. Unfortunately African tourism was built on white foreigner –MUZUNGU  mentality  not African tourist citizen. People in tourism industry need to appreciate that Africans have less income to spend on travelling and hence travel less. However this is the time now we  tour operators in Africa start by taking fellow country men to places where we take white people. The earlier we re- designed our itineraries to favor fellow citizens than we shall keep on waiting for Americans who, yes will come but when will this be? Better adjust early and we start promoting internal tourism rather than relying on foreign tourists. Let us turn Ugandans, Kenyans, Rwandans into tourists in their countries in their regions and overcome the safari covid-19  hang up safari doom. Here at Travel Hemispheres we are encouraging now the to be Newly weds should not spend a lot of their money into partying but set it aside and convert that income /funds into Uganda honeymoon tours that will help them understand their country better , We have good honeymoon packages for Ugandans .  Our tours are educative , informative and cultural rich to benefit newly weds. We give you a mature old person to guide you all  along your tour  who has an experience  in Senga and Kojja aspirations that will build your longtime togetherness of your lifetime marriage.

The Gentle Giants of Bwindi : Mountain Gorillas Apes of Bwindi

Gorillas, Chimpanzees, orangutans and humans all belong to the order of primates .Human share98.4%of their genetic material with gorillas and 98.8% with chimpanzees. Gorillas ,the largest of the great apes are divided into three sub species that include the western lowland gorillas and the Eastern low land gorillas. The Eastern and the Western low land gorillas were identified for science in 1847 and 1877 respectively. The subspecies- the mountain gorilla was identified for scientific purposes in the year 1903 and has gone on to be the Uganda's star attraction. Mountain gorillas are distinct from low land gorillas. They are larger ,have more hair ,a short truck,a broad chest and shoulders and also have a longer and slightly different noise shape. Mountain gorillas are born small, covered with black hair and usually weigh about 2.3 kilograms. Gorillas develop as twice as human babies with the mature female mother also under going a gestation period of nine months. They are unique species ,as a gorilla with an infant may not have another baby not until four years. Male and female gorillas between the ages of three and six years are classified as Juvenile. They increase in size and weight at similar rates for the first six years. On reaching six years most mountain gorillas weigh 68kg and usually four feet tall. The female mountain gorillas stop growing taller at around six years where as the males continue growing both in size and in weight till they reach the age of ten to eleven. Between the ages of six – ten the male ones have black hair and are referred to as the black backs. On reaching maturity which is usually between 10- 12 years, they develop silvery grey hair on their backs therefore referring to them as silver backs. The silver backs usually leave their parental group at the age of 11and then moves alone or in the company of the other males for a few years before managing to attract females from other groups to him hence forming his own family .Gorillas communicate through vocalizations. Twenty- five vocalization have been so far recognized with each one having its own particular meaning. As an element of their socialization ,they communicate through howls ,grunts ,barks and hoots .screams and roars signal alarm or warning and are often produced by silverbacks . They also communicate by beating on their chests or on the ground .This is done to show stature ,prevent fights or even scare opponents . However, even the infants beat their chests as a kind of displacement activity during play perhaps just to copy their elders. Mountain gorilla life is peace full and quite .It is from this that they have come to be Africa's gentle giants which has promoted gorilla safaris and tourism in general These gentle giants are found in the in the areas of Bwindi Impenetrable Ntional park and Mgahinga Gorilla National park in Uganda while in Rwanda they are confined in Parc des volcans and in Virunga Republic of Congo.

Silver back is a dominant male in a group about 12 or more gorillas that usually include females ,juveniles and other infants. On a good day ,you find them chewing leaves ,laughing and farting not only continuously but with a lot of contentment .They are diumal and nomadic ,sleeping each night in fresh nest built from leaves and branches. Mountin gorillas are primarily vegetarian with their menu composing bamboo, nettles and gallium being some of their favourites. They occasionally eat safari ants which are scooped in huge handfuls to stuff into the mouth until the safari ant bites over power them. Gorillas spend most of their time in travelling and foraging in search for food since plants and trees change with seasons .

10 Days Uganda Holiday Safari Tour

Day 1: Kampala-Murchison Falls National Park

Morning after breakfast drive to Murchison falls. Stop for lunch at Masindi town. Lunch  will be at Masindi and proceed to Murchison falls. Visit the top of the falls an exciting point where millions of gallons of water squeeze in 6-7 meter gap with thunderous sound before falling down 40 meters forming placid river. Dinner and overnight at lodge of your choice. At Paraa Safari Lodge FB or other related budget option cost chosen

SAFARI COST: 2 People sharing

Luxury cost per person: US$ 6330

Upmarket cost per person: US$ 5270

Middle Cost per person  :  US $ 3485

Budget cost per person:US$ 2863

Day 2: Murchison Falls National Park

Wake up early take a game drive looking for wildlife. Murchison Falls is the largest national park in the country and harbors different flora and fauna. Your game drive in the morning with a local guide who will assist you to sight wild game in the northern bank of River Nile where concentrations of game are in common sight of elephants, giraffes, antelopes, lions leopards hyenas and many bird species are a common sight.

Afternoon go for a boat cruise on the famous River Nile up to the bottom of falls viewing variety of game that throng along banks of the river. Chances of sighting the shoe bill stork are many though not a guarantee and many more bird species continue up to the bottom of the falls where you will see animals like schools of hippos, crocodiles and many species of birds dinner and overnight. FB

Day 3: Murchison  – Fort Portal/Kibale .

After breaking your fast ,  proceed to   Fort Portal /Kibale with packed lunch. Drive in one of the remotest parts of this country enjoying different forest environment and other savannah woodland vegetation plus communities along the road stop where you find local market to mix briefly with local people. Arrival  will be a in the evening enjoy nice views of the mountains of the moon on clear days.

Continue to Kibale National Park where you will settle in at Primate Lodge luxury tent facilities. Dinner and overnight FB

Day 4: Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast visit Kanyanchu the park headquarter offices for your chimpanzee tracking where you will see other primates like the colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys plus other primates that share this forest with chimpanzees. The park also hosts over 320 species of birds including the yellow spotted nectar, yellow rumped tinker birds etc. It also has colorful butterflies; over 250 species have been spotted. For nature lovers, the dense forest is still intact you can see trees of different species. Track chimps in their natural habitat. Kibale Forest National Park is believed to have most concentration of primates in the world. Over 12 different species of primates including chimps in this park have been recorded. Enjoy a lot plant life with tall tropical tree species.

After lunch drive along the foot of Mountain Rwenzori and on clear days enjoys its nice ice peaks that remain wonder on equator line. Stop for communities along the road stop where you find local market to mix briefly with local people. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge. FB

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early Breakfast in the morning, there after carryout a game drive to catch-up with the early risers and predators returning to their hideouts. You are likely to meet grazing hippos, elephants, lions, spotted hyenas and leopards, bushbuck, waterbuck and stripped jackal, and of-course the several warthogs.

After lunch take boat cruise on Kazinga channel connecting Lake George and Lake Edward viewing different game lion, elephant, buffalo and many more plus plenty of birdlife. Dinner and overnight at Mweya safari Lodge. FB

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth – Ishasha – Bwindi

After breakfast you will drive Kyambura gorge to track chimpanzees. After picnic lunch, drive towards the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. – The Ishasha sector famous for climbing lions. And precede to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park the home of Mountain Gorillas. It is estimated half of the world’s surviving population of mountain gorillas –300 live within Bwindi boundaries. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Luxury Lodge FB

Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Early morning breakfast and head for gorilla trekking with guides together with other tourists trackers on this day. The trek is strenuous but enjoyable. This is the major tourist attraction in Bwindi. Carry packed lunch with you that will have at picnic site in the forest. The thrill of your encounter with these gentle giants will erase your difficulties of the potentially strenuous trek. Spend time in awe watching gorillas go about their activities. Each encounter is different and has it’s own rewards. You are likely to enjoy a close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic from vines in a delightfully playful display. Return from tracking gorillas, have dinner and overnight At Buhoma Luxury lodge. FB

Day 8: Bwindi – Bunyonyi

After breakfast will be have a Batwa forest  walk  taking back many years when pygmy communities used to stay in this forest as as forest gatherers around, or do village walk  of Buhoma Community where you will see different local people as they do their day to day activities, visit the local/traditional healers, local brew distillation points, after the village walk will return back the lodge for lunch,  or to the community hospital or ca even donate to the community. After lunch will drive to Kabale and continue to Lake Bunyonyi, check in at you lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo

Morning take a boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi a seeing plenty of bird life and visiting communities as they go their daily activities. Enjoy this Switzerland of Africa scenery. After lunch drive to Lake Mburo national park or Mbarara town. Lunch will be on the way transfer to Lake Mburo Diner and overnight at Mantana Safari Lodge.

Day 10: Lake Mburo – Kampala

After Breakfast take a game drive  or later do natural walk or take boat ride on Lake Mburo . After proceed to Masaka road to Kampala. Stopover on your way could be for Ankole grassland where long horned cattle are common sight. Continue northwards breaking at the Equator crossing. Continue to Kampala. END .

SAFARI COST: 2 People sharing

Luxury cost per person: US$ 6330

Upmarket cost per person: US$ 5270

Middle Cost per person  :  US $ 3485

Budget cost per person:US$ 2868

All cost options are based on full board all inclusive.

Please note the safari cost include:

• meals and accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
• full time safari driver/guides,
• park entry fees, all game drives, boat/ launch trips, forest guiding walks, all activities while on safari and all the applicable Government Taxes.
• 4×4 wheel drive vehicle with gas
• Airport transfers.
• 1 gorilla permit per person
• chimp permit per person – Kibale/Kyambura