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.

4 Days Kidepo park Uganda flying safaris tour

4 Days Kidepo Flying Safari

Kidepo National Park is one of Uganda’s most spectacular parks with a wealth of wildlife and scenic beauty. It lies in the north-eastern horn of Uganda in Karamoja district and covers an area of 1442 sq. kms. Being drier than Uganda’s other parks, it is an altitude range between 914metres and 2,750metres at the highest point which is in Mount. Morongole, Here Uganda safaris is at the best this impressive natural reserve contains a different eco-system from any other area in Uganda, giving visitors a more complete understanding of Uganda’s vast bio-diversity. Its secluded location provides the travellers a certain air of peace and tranquillity in which to relax and enjoy the dramatic scenery and wildlife of northern Uganda. It is miles away from the noise and dust of the city it is a completely different world altogether. Big skies, vast plains, inspiring views and wildlife everywhere you look. It offers breathtaking open savannah which is surrounded by spectacular mountain landscape nowhere to be seen in Africa safari! Kidepo/Karamoja has one rainy season from April to September. Good months are October to March

NOTES : Scheduled flights to Kidepo Valley National park are on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Depart Entebbe to Kidepo :

Depart Kidepo to Entebbe :

DAY 1 OF 4 DAYS KIDEPO  UGANDA FLYING SAFARI

By Air: From Entebbe International Airport by scheduled flight on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Will take flight to Kidepo taking 2hours and 15 minutes to Kidepo Valley’s. Will be picked from the airstrip to Apoka Lodge. Check in the lodge, relax a bit or move around as you enjoy the panoramic views of the Narus River Valley and scenic opportunities of the wildlife from the verandah of the lodge. An evening game drive along the Narus River Valley where you will view Elephants, herds of Buffaloes, Jackals, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Klipspringer and possibly Lions and many other mammals.

Will have Dinner and overnight either at :

• Apoka Lodge for the luxury,
• Nga’Moru Camp for mid range facilities accommodation
• or UWA National Park Bandas Apoka Rest Camp for the mid range and Kakine Campsite for basic accommodation.

DAY 2 OF 4 DAYS KIDEPO UGANDA FLYING SAFARI

Take breakfast and go for a sunrise will do game drives heading through the Lamoj Mountains and the splendid Kidepo river valley dominated by borassus palm forest, startling savanna landscape and the stunning view of the Narus valley situated in the southwest of the park. To the north of Sudan at the Lotukei Mountains and the Morongole range which marks the southern boundary of the park and ending the trail at the Kanangorok hot spring with a view of a number of faunas that can be seen wandering around like the tall Ostrich. Get back to the lodge for lunch and use the afternoon for a cultural experience that will get you in touch with the Karimajong people at Karenna and Kapedo. Mix together and have a chat with the local elders and they will show you their animal kraals, the grinding stones and many more exciting items. Go back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Will have Dinner and overnight either at :

• Apoka Lodge for the luxury,
• Nga’Moru Camp for mid range facilities accommodation
• or UWA National Park Bandas for the mid range and Kakine Campsite for basic accommodation.

DAY 3OF 4 DAYS KIDEPO  UGANDA FLYING SAFARI

After breakfast, go for an early morning game drive and bird watching having a chance to see some of the rear bird and animal species like the cheetah and hunting dog, bat-eared fox and stripped hyena. The less common ungulates include klipspringer, dikdik and bride gazelle. Other large ungulates include zebras, Rothschild’s giraffes; antelope species you could encounter include roan antelope, bush buck, eland, and bohor reed buck and jackson hartebees buffaloes, elands, bushbucks, waterbucks, elephants and the jackal, among many others. Birds like the Karamoja apalis and the black breasted barbets, black-headed plover, black-bellied bustard, common buttonquail and flappet larks, harriers, red-winged lark, northern red bishops and white-winged widowbird among others. Return to the lodge for lunch.

In the evening you will go for the Cultural tour in the Karamajong community and this will enable you spend some time with Karamajong people where you will get to know more about their culture and ways of life and beliefs. From here you will understand, by the end of the tour, why their pride makes them slow to adapt to the dynamic world and their love for cattle is comparable to the better known Masai of Kenya and Tanzania. Return for dinner and overnight stay at:

• Apoka Lodge for the luxury,
• Nga’Moru Camp for mid range facilities accommodation
• or UWA National Park Bandas for the mid range and Kakine Campsite for basic accommodation.

DAY4 OF 4 DAYS KIDEPO  UGANDA FLYING SAFARI

 Today this morning  will be led by your guide go for a walking safari along a sandy dry river bed fringed with palm trees, climb to the top of a rocky outcrop and take in the views! You move slowly along isolated tracks to fully appreciate what is around you. Look for tracks and signs of the animals’ movements stopping to point and investigate further. Look for lion track, or even cheetah, always surrounded by Zebra, Waterbuck, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Warthogs, Patas monkeys and big herds of Buffalo.

In the afternoon board your scheduled flight to Entebbe departing at 1500 hrs arriving at 1630 at Entebbe where you will be picked to Kampala or continue to connect for your scheduled flight in the evening.

Cost per person:   US$

Note : Cost Includes

2. This excludes expenses of personal nature like Cigarette, telephone , tips, drinks
3. It however includes:

• local air ticket to Kidepo

.           Airstrip transfers

• Full board accommodation as per the itinerary
• Park entrance fees
• Ranger guide

Safaris to do while visiting Uganda

Uganda “The Pearl of Africa” now “Gifted by Nature” was once  described by Sir Winston Churchill at the start of the  last  century in 1908,.. “has  a unique description which cannot be close to the truth….situated in the fertile heart of Africa, astride the Equator boasts of wide diverse landscape, from  rugged snow capped mountains, the vast flatlands stretching to the horizon, Uganda  offers visitors a wealth of breathtaking scenery” in his book “My Journey  to Africa”.

Uganda gorilla Safaris and tracking form the pinnacle of the tourism  Industry in Uganda and East Africa – Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

In terms of size, safari in Uganda  is the richest country for birds in Africa and forms best  birding safaris in Africa. No other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats and this  richness is reflected in its ever-burgeoning bird list of over 1000 species. Among est  these are many special endangered birds such as shoe bill stork, standard winged  Night jar, the great blue Turaco, the Green broad bill and numerous endemics of  the Albertine Rift Valley that are rare to find elsewhere. Uganda birding safaris and tours offer  a lot and in single day can list more than 300 bird species.

 

Uganda has a unique description which cannot be close to the  truth…situated in the fertile heart of Africa, astride the Equator boasts of wide diverse  of landscape, from rugged snow capped mountains, the vast flat lands  stretching to the horizon, Uganda offers visitors a wealth of breathtaking scenery ,  with range of broad savannah, rain forests to arid – semi desert , plenty of  wetlands and abundant fresh rain forests. It is within such charming climate that  has natured and protected the mountain gorillas that still survive on earth. 

It is estimated that not more than 1000 still survive on earth and that  those still surviving live in the environs of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest  National Park in south western part of  Uganda. And Uganda has more than half of the gorilla population.

Every visitor coming to Uganda would wish to get into contact with  these gentle giants moreover our  cousins. Uganda should treat gorilla  tracking as the pinnacle of the tourism industry in the country if they are to continue attracting more numbers of tourist visiting the country and increase  passes to  isit these gentle giants. Below is my gorilla experience.

  

The spectacular scenery of undulating hills, the legendary mountains of the  moon- Rwenzoris that provide challenging climbing expeditions and the Nile  offering challenging white water rafting. The warmth of Equator and the  cool  breezes of Natural forests and mist mountains generate a tender climate throughout  the year not to be enjoyed anywhere else in Africa.

Our tours are fresh and focused. They offer fun, adventure curiosity in

 Our outstanding national parks in the country. Our protected areas offer  outstanding beauty with a variety of fauna and flora. The geographical position  Uganda in the   shadows of Great Western and Eastern Rift Valleys give the country   special climate zones of  temperate, hot and wet, cool and dry, rainy climates.

 Throughout the year and adversely supporting a variety of vegetation covering  range of short savannah grassland, tall savannah grassland tropical rainy forests  to  high altitude moorland vegetation.   It has been quite unbelievable to find  ice caped tips on the mountains of the moon at the same time lying along the  Equator.

Uganda’s tourism wealth  can be discovered in the following national  parks:

•           Queen Elizabeth

•           Murchison Falls

•           BwindiImpenetrable Forest

•           Mhgahinga,

•           Semuliki, Kidepo .

•           Lake Mburo National parks.

•           Fresh water Lakes, and Rivers and Islands – Ssese Islands

•           Other than parks there are natural forests- Budongo,Maramagambo,etc

Uganda’s cultural history has made it one of the most visited by  tourists. Culture here is rich and dynamic dating  from from 15th century when  the interlucustrine kingdoms were formed. People here are very hospitable  and  receptive to foreigners.  Cultural sites such as Kasubi Tombs , Uganda  Museum and  Namugongo martyrs shrines have attracted both local and international  tourists.

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest Park in Uganda

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest National park in Uganda is possibly the best as to where to view chimpanzees in the world. Chimpanzee tracking, in Kibale has h approximately over  1,400 chimps in the forest, about 120 are habituated.  The habituated chimpanzees are the ones allowed to track by humans. As to embark on the tracking and entering deep into the forest and getting ready and  soon discover that coming face to face with a chimpanzee or mountain gorilla isn’t something you can ever really be prepared for.
It’s a lot like unexpectedly running into an old friend you haven’t seen in years, or being startled by your own reflection. For a moment you freeze as you try and make sense of it all. Simply put, it’s impossible not to be moved.

You will spend  a f
ull day with two different chimp groups. Will see  elders with grey beards, dominant alpha males, and females with newborn babies. But will see even more wild animals like elephants if you are lucky may encounter leopard  mongoose etc.  We see how  intelligent these beings  are when they decide to use their  language, tools, and make a ‘home’ to sleep in come dusk. So this is seeing another society you have not seen before  focusing on their  families.

When you take or you are about to tour destinations with primates Uganda is simply the best , here will view lots of chimpanzees, mountain gorillas rarely seen anywhere else other than Rwanda.  A uganda tour combined with Uganda wildlife safari will yeil much in terms of big five . primates, nature  and even people as it is believed tht ugandans are very receptive and ever happy  so wil make friends here for your last ever lasting memories.