Showing posts with label uganda birding tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uganda birding tours. Show all posts
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four habituated gorilla centers which are Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. Bwindi has over 400 gorillas in ss Each of these areas has gorillas families that have been habituated and opened for tourism purposes. Uganda currently has about 19 gorilla families open for tourism, of which 18 are in Bwindi Forest and another at Mgahinga National Park . Some of these gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include the Rushegura family, Mubare family, Oruzogo gorilla family, Bweza gorillas family, Nkuringo family, Bitukura family, and others.
Bwindi is open for gorilla trekking all year long, and is the major activity forming uganda safaris but the best times to go are from June to August and December to February. At these times, the forest trails are drier and therefore less slippery. Also, your chance of a dry gorilla viewing experience is higher during these months. This might result in a better experience and photography will be easier.
Mgahinga National Park has one habituated gorilla group that can be tracked by tourists. Gorilla tracking is the most thrilling tourist activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The habituated gorilla group in this park is called the Nyakagezi, which consists of 9 members, 2 silverbacks, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles, and 2 infants.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is open to visitors throughout the year. But it is best done in June, July, August, and September then December, January, and February. During this period, gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is easier because it is a dry season and the habitat remains relatively drier thus making it simpler for visitors to hike through the dense jungles and steep slopes to search for mountain gorillas. However, March, April, May, and October, November are equally good for one to embark on gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park but these months are characterized by heavy rainfall, muddy and slippery steep slopes which make it challenging for one to hike while in search for these apes.
Gorilla tracking is an intensive experience at Bwindi national park that can take the whole day. The guide leads you through the gorilla’s world, explaining aspects of their ecology and behavior along the way. We must stress that, while you have a very good chance of seeing gorillas, success is NOT guaranteed! However, from the past sightings, there are high chances of meeting the mountain gorillas. When tracking, travelers should know that the mountain gorillas are wild creatures with no fixed routine, and finding them requires the skill and experience of your trackers and guides, as well as luck.
Monday, October 31, 2022
5 Days Tour to Primates of Uganda and Culture with Wildlife Viewing
Day 1: Entebbe - Kampala – Kibale Morning will be picked from your Hotel at
Kampala at 7.00am and proceed to Fort Portal.. The drive follows the lush green
countryside on Mityana-Mubende road to Fort Portal stopping at some coffee
holdings tea plantations and open swamp valleys. Will stop at Mubende to visit
the traditional site Nakayima famous the chwezi dynasty and fortune teller where
many locals throng to consult their gods. After will proceed to have lunch in
Fort Portal Town. After will be driven to Check in at Tinka Homestay in
countryside near Kibale Forest National Park. Dinner and overnight and will have
chance to view how some of the traditional meals are prepared and will be served
some local dishes Day 2:
Kibale Forest – Chimp tracking, Cultural walk , Morning With local guides track chimps in their natural
Forest in the shadows of the Rwenzori Mountains (the famed mist shrouded
“Mountains of the Moon”) Kibale Forest is rich in animal life, including an
astonishing 12 species of primates including chimps in this park have been
recorded, the much localized red colobus and L'Hoest's monkeys. Tracking the
chimpanzees our 'cousins' is a very interesting experience. The way they feed,
climb trees, respond to humans, caring for their young ones leaves an
imaginative dream to tell. 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.
Afternoon will l
explore culture walk tour in the villages
nearby by taking village walk interacting with locals as they go their daily
chores , can visit local brewing site, traditional healer , some women’s crafts
groups in the area. Time allowing will visit some crater lakes for sightseeing.
After dinner or during dinner time cultural troupe will entertain you with
traditional songs and can participate in local dancing. Overnight. Day 3: Kibale
Forest –Bigodi swamp walk Visit to Omukama Palace - Queen Elizabeth Park After
breakfast, visit Bigodi swamp Eco- tourism site. Carry out natural walk viewing
variety of primates including e.g Columbus & velvet monkeys and baboons, monkeys
lots of birds for birdwathers this is another vivid bird watchers area. After
will be driven to Fort Portal stop at the Omukama Palace and conducted for short
tour around as you explore the Batoro Culture . After will proceed to Queen
Elizabeth past Kasese town 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 Simba Safari Lodge . FB Day 4:
Queen Elizabeth Park National Park, Game drives, Boat cruise Sightseeing of craters After breakfast, you will
take an early morning game drive looking for game. Looking for different
wildlife including 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. Queen Elizabeth national park is also site for EQUATOR passing line ,
am sure will like this and take some snaps around this equator monument.
Afternoon take a boat ride on Kazinga Channel where you will see a
variety of game mostly marine animals. This waterway joins Lake Edward and Lake
George and it is filled with schools of hippos, buffaloes, with elephants at the
banks. After boat cruise have evening have game drive to Kikorongo/ Kasenyi and
explore the crater area. As you drive you will view the spectacular view of the
Rwenzori Mountains. They lie along the western border of Uganda and rise to a
height of 5,100 metres above sea level. The legendary Mountains of the Moon, has
incomparable, beautiful, mist–shrouded peaks provide a unique backdrop to one of
our most magnificent national parks. Will have chance of seeing Gods hand
creations of empty craters and crater lakes with captivating eye and picturesque
displays. Will return back to Simba safari Lodge for Dinner and overnight. Day
5: Queen Elizabeth – Mbarara Igongo culture center - Kampala After breakfast at
will be driven to Kampala. The drive takes you through another interesting
countryside fully cultivated with banana Plantations (Matoke – staple food) and
coffee plantations decorated with dairy farms. If you are lucky on this day and
find a market day will stop and mix with locals as they go shopping. Will stop
at Igongo cultural center after Mbarara town . Will take cultiural tour of their
museum wih guide explaining Banyakole and Bakiga communities traditions. After
will have your lunch here prared and served in some local apparatus . After
lunch will continue the drive to Kampala. May stop at sight seeing the
traditional long horned Banyakole cows, also will stop at the Equator crossing
for other lifetime pictures. Then you driver /guide will drop you at your Hotel
In Kampala/Entebbe . END OF TOUR.
3 Day Bwindi Gorilla
3 Day Queen Elizabeth
3 Day Murchison Falls
3 Days Chimpanzee Kibale 4 Days Gorillas & Wildlife
5 Days Gorillas & Animals
5 Days Bwindi, Bunyonyi, Mburo 5 Days Gorillas & Chimps 5 Days Murchison & Queen
6 Days Primates Of Uganda
6 Days Murchison & Queen 7 Days Murchison & Kidepo Pease note the safari cost
include: - meals and accommodation - full time safari driver/guides, - park
entry fees, game drives, boat/ launch trips, forest guiding walks, all
activities while on safari and the applicable Government Taxes. - 4x4 wheel
drive vehicle with gas - 1 chimp permit – Kibale/ Excluded are: - Drinks, your
bar bills, phone calls, personal insurance and any other services of a personal
nature like souvenirs tips and laundry etc. Wishing you a Memorable & Happy
Safari
MAKE INQUIRY
Friday, July 12, 2019
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 :
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.
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.
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
- This excludes expenses of personal nature like Cigarette, telephone , tips, drinks
- It however includes:
- local air ticket to Kidepo
. Airstrip transfers
- Full board accommodation as per the itinerary
- Park entrance fees
- Ranger guide
Monday, November 12, 2018
Bwindi impenetrable forest flora and fauna
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park has varied altitude
that supports different types of habitat
ranging from wet tropical forest (ever green most forest) on the Kigezi
highland plateau, swampy low lands with
ever permanent rivers flowing. Bwindi forest topography altitude ranges from
1447 to 2600m above sea level. This
forest date back 25000 years ago. It is believed that Bwindi forest survived the last ice age
when many forests and vegetation disappeared on earth due an favourable arid conditions
then. Bwindi being one of the highest tourist attraction
for Uganda safaris and one of the world’s
remarkable wildlife to encounter mountain gorillas. Bwindi national park has over 400 mountain
gorillas as per last census of 2016.
Bwindi has an impressive list of 350 bird species. Bwindi is
a prime destination for birders. Its 350 bird species include seven which are
IUCN red data listed and 90% of all Albertine rift endemics species which are difficult or
impossible to see in other part of East Africa. An experienced bird watcher can
easily identify up to 100 species in single day.
Bwindi supports lots of species of trees , over 200 trees of
species of rain forest are found in this forest. 51 reptiles are found here,
88months, 120 mammals including several primates of baboons and monkeys of
different species – black and white Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, . this park also has chimpanzees but are
rarely seen and are not habituated for viewing.
The star attraction being mountain gorillas has been habituated
for human interaction . over 10 mountain gorilla families have been habituated and they include: mubare group being the 1st
group to be habituated in 1993. Others include Habiyanja, Rushegura, Bitukura,
Oruzogo, Nkuringo, Mishaya, Kahunge, Bweza, Busigye, Nyakagezi, and the
research group of Kyaguriro. These gorilla families form a major gorilla safaris gist of Uganda safaris. Today in over 80 people track mountain
gorillas daily inside Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Where is Bwindi Impenetrabel Forest
Bwindi Forest popularly
is known as the Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park .
This forest had existed from time immemorial and is among the rich
African Tropical forests still intact and hence called impenetrable forest “ Place of darkness” . This forest was
gazetted in 1942, and was upgraded to
Bwindi Impenetrable forest national Park in 1992. And was recognized as a World’s Heritage
Site in 1994. Because of the nature of this forest even natives took time to
penetrate this forest and this why even the outside world took long to know
much about Mountain Gorillas. As per
last census Bwindi national park has over 400 gorillas more than half of world’s mountain gorillas existing
on earth.
Bwindi National park is part of the Virunga Massif that supports the Volcanoes national park in
Rwanda, Mgahinga national park in Uganda and Parc national des Virunga in Congo. These are only national parks in
the world where Mountain gorillas are found. Bwindi has the largest concentrations of mountain gorillas.
Bwindi Impenetrable
Forest is 327Sq Km of tangled vegetation draped over a deeply fissured
landscape terrain of deep slippery valleys , high hills, draughty ridges and punctuated with natural streams of rivers
flowing all directions. Thus trekking mountain gorillas means the efforts you spend negotiating the terrain which
may not be easy but is worth paying your efforts when you encounter the
mountain gorillas in their natural
habitat being that mountain gorillas are among the premier wildlife encounters
sought in the world people are seeking to have in their lifetime.
Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park |
mountain gorilla sliverback |
Bwindi Temperatures and climate
Bwindi can be cold especially in the morning and at night going as far as 7
degrees centigrade . The coolest months
are usually June and July. Thus warm
clothing is usually preferred whiletrekking mountain gorillas safari. And you may not avoid rain falling on you
because it usually rains almost every day
- This is a true rain forest of Africa if you have heard of rain forests , Bwindi is a typical rain
forest of Africa. Thus a trekking through this Africa’s ancient rainforest is where will encounter mountain gorillas. Usually
warm clothing’s are a must while trekking
mountain gorilla and wet proof clothes are preferred while trekking.
Bwindi receives a lot of rain 2000- 2500 mm of rain per
year. The area has 2 rainy seasons in the months of March – May and in
September – November where Bwindi has a
lot of rain concentrations. Thus other
months receive moderate rain and are good for mountain trekking periods.
Bwindi Flora and
Fauna
Bwindi having one of the richest eco systems, Bwindi
national park supports a lot of plants and animals and insects in Africa. It has
120 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 202 species of butterflies,, 163
species of trees, , 27 species of frogs, 50 species of reptiles, 100 species of
ferns, , chameleons, geckos, and many
more. Birders find Bwindi a haven for
birders. Birders cannot fail to view over 100 species of birds in a
single day. Most birds are Albertine rift endemics which are
difficult to be seen in other parts of
East Africa. Chimpanzees do exist here
but are not easily seen, many monkey species – L’Hosests, red tailed and blue
monkeys , black and white Colobus, baboons
and the famous mountain gorillas all are fount here. The forest also has forest elephants which
are not easily seen but they do exist in Bwindi. Thus trekking mountain gorillas will not only yield gentle giants
but viewing other primates as well.
Accessing Bwindi
impenetrable Forest.
Bwindi is approximately away from Entebbe 500km. Road is all paved save for 80 km from
Rukungiri to Buhoma. I understand this section will also be done in the 2 years
and get completed. This will reduce the time spent on the road from 9 hours to
6 hours. Today Bwindi has like 4 points where to start gorilla trekking , save
for Buhoma the original one , Ruhija is the also near around 460 km , Then can
also go through Kisoro to trek mountain gorillas of Nkuringo and Rushaga.
Air transport to Bwindi
Today we have daily
scheduled flights from Entebbe to all placed mentioned in the above
paragraph. Flight leave daily from Entebbe Airport and flight takes like 1,5
hours. Travel hemispheres arranges this and can bookgorilla trekking flying safari with us. Even in the afternoons there are some days
when you can book flight. Gorilla safaris continue to go on in all other parts
of Bwindi where mountain gorillas have been habituated . as we talk and read Bwindi
has the highest habituated mountain gorillas that can be trekked by visitors.
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Shoebil rescued treated and released to its Natural habitat at Mabamba bay
A Shoebil stork was rescued by fisherman at Mabamba bay after being chocked by fish it had swallowed . After the fisher man realised that that this great bird was motionless took more time and interest . after discovered that the bird was in sorry state. Then took time with his friends who brought off shore and alerted the Uganda Wildlife Education center doctors who immediately came and treated the bird and also took it for more treating. We give thank to the community for protecting the birds in their natural habitat. Uganda is good destination for #birding safaris. Uganda is home of 1000 bird species. Shoebill is among the rare birds to see. But when you visist #Mabamba at least over 90% you are sure od watching one. Thanks to the community living around this area.#Uganda safaris are not popular enough without watching our birds . https://web.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10216378300839058&set=pcb.10216378336239943&type=3
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
UGANDA’S CULTURES
Uganda is one East Africa country that is greatly endowed by nature in terms of culture and history. While here, you will be surprised to see and take pictures of the most endangered group of people; the pygmies locally referred to as the Batwa in the rain forests of south western part of the country. These people have the most interesting behaviors and characters and you will love to spend time with them even a single second will leave a broad smile on your face. This group feeds on bush meat and fruits. This makes hunting and fruit gathering their main activities carried out to ensure their survival. It’s interesting to see and interact with a group of people that lives in forests and has to go hunting wild animals and collect fruits for food.
This group of people is also talented when it comes to the local dances. They have organized traditional dances that are done in their language, they are very hospitable to an extent that they even fight to appear on the picture scene; they indeed love to interact with visitors. Uganda also has a diverse range of ethnic groups in addition to the pygmies / Batwa. These include the Baganda and several other tribes. In the north live the Lango and the Acholi, who speak Nilotic languages. To the east are the Iteso and Karamojong, who speak a Nilotic language. Lake Kyoga forms the northern boundary for the Bantu-speaking peoples, who dominate much of east, central and southern Africa.Lake Kyoga serves as a rough boundary between Bantu speakers in the south and Nilotic and Central Sudanic language speakers in the north. Despite the division between north and south in political affairs, this linguistic boundary actually runs roughly from northwest to southeast, near the course of the Nile. However, many Ugandans live among people who speak different languages, especially in rural areas. Some sources describe regional variation in terms of physical characteristics, clothing, bodily adornment, and mannerisms, but others claim that those differences are disappearing.
Bantu speakers probably entered southern Uganda by the end of the first millennium. They had developed centralized kingdoms by the fifteenth or sixteenth century, and after independence from British rule in 1962, Bantu speakers constituted roughly two-thirds of the population. They are classified as either Eastern Lacustrine or Western Lacustrine Bantu. The Eastern Lacustrine Bantu speakers include the Baganda people whose language is Luganda, the Basoga, and many smaller societies in Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. The Western Lacustrine Bantu speakers include the Banyoro, the Batoro, the Banyankole, and several smaller populations in Uganda.
Nilotic language speakers probably entered the area from the north beginning aboutC.E.1000. Thought to be the first cattle-herding people in the area, they also relied on crop cultivation. The largest Nilotic populations in Uganda are the Iteso and Karamojong ethnic groups, who speak Eastern Nilotic languages, and the Acholi, Langi, and Alur, who speak Western Nilotic languages. Central Sudanic languages, which arrived in Uganda from the north over a period of centuries, are spoken by the Lugbara, the Madi, and a few small groups in the northwestern part of the country.
Linguistic Affiliation.Introduced by the British in the late nineteenth century, English was the language of colonial administration. After independence, it became the official language, used in government, commerce, and education. Official publications and most major newspapers appear in English, which often is spoken on radio and television. Most residents speak at least one African language. Swahili and Arabic also are widely spoken.
History and Ethnic Relations
After independence in 1962, ending a period of colonization that began in 1885, there was little indication that the country was headed for social and political upheaval. Instead, Uganda appeared to be a model of stability and progress. It had no white settler class attempting to monopolize the cash crop economy, and there was no legacy of conflict. It was the African producers who grew the cotton and coffee that brought a higher standard of living, financed education, and led to high expectations for the future.
Independence arrived without a national struggle against the British, who devised a timetable for withdrawal before local groups had organized a nationalist movement. This near absence of nationalism among the country's ethnic groups led to a series of political compromises.
National Identity.Ethnic and religious divisions as well as historical emnities and rivalries contributed to the country's disintegration in the 1970s. There was a wide gulf between Nilotic speakers in the north and Bantu speakers in the south and an economic division between pastoralists in the drier rangelands of the west and north, and agriculturists, in the better-watered highland and lakeside regions. There was also a historical division between the centralized and sometimes despotic rule of the ancient African kingdoms and the kinship-based politics elsewhere. The kingdoms were often at odds in regard to the control of land. During the colonial period, the south had railways, cash crops, a system of Christian mission education, and the seat of government, seemingly at the expense of other regions. There also were religious groups that had lost ground to rivals in the past, for example, the domination of Muslims at the end of the nineteenth century by Christians allied to British colonialism. All these divisions precluded the formation of a national culture.
Ethnic Relations.After independence, there were conflicting local nationalisms. The Buganda's large population, extensive territory in the favored south, and self-proclaimed superiority created a backlash among other Ugandan peoples. Nubians shared little sense of identification with other groups. The closely related peoples of nearby Zaire and the Sudan soon became embroiled in civil wars in the 1960s and 1970s, drawing in ethnically related Ugandans. Today relations are relatively harmonious. However, suspicion remains with the president believing to favor certain groups from the west of the country over others.
Major Industries. When the present government seized power in 1986, industrial production was negligible, consisting mostly of the processing of crops and the production of textiles, wood and paper products, cement, and chemicals. Industry was a small part of GDP in the late 1980s, operating at approximately one-third of the level of the early 1970s. Under Museveni, there has been some industrial rejuvenation, although this has amounted to not much more than the repair of damage done during the civil war to the industrial infrastructure. The sugar industry was rehabilitated through joint ventures involving the private sector and the government. By the 1990s there was a refining capacity of at least 140,000 tons of sugar annually. Other rehabilitated industries include beer brewing, tobacco, cotton, and cement. About 4 percent of adults worked in industry by the 1990s. During the 1990s, industrial growth was 13.2 percent.
Tourism industry: Tourism in Uganda is focused on Uganda's landscape and wildlife. Uganda has a very diverse culture, landscape, flora, and fauna. In the late 1960s, Uganda had a prosperous tourist industry with 100,000 visitors each year. Tourism was the country's fourth largest earner of foreign exchange.
The tourist industry ended in the early 1970s because of political instability. By the late 1980s, Uganda's political climate had stabilised and conditions were suitable for reinvestment in Uganda's tourist industry.
However, the loss of charismatic wildlife in previously popular safari parks such as Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park prevented these parks from competing with similar tourist attractions in neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda's tourist industry instead promoted its tropical forests.
The keystone of the new industry became Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With more than 300 Mountain Gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has approximately half of the world's population of Mountain Gorillas.
Tourist attractions in Uganda
Uganda is one of only three countries where it is possible to visit mountain gorillas . The others are Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mountain gorillas are Uganda's prime tourist attraction. The vast majority of these are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with a few others in Mgahinga National Park both in southwestern Uganda. In Bwindi, visitors have been allowed to view the mountain gorillas since April 1993. The development of gorilla tourism and the habituation of gorillas to humans is proceeding very carefully because of the dangers to gorillas, such as contracting human diseases.
Geography:The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered on the east by Kenya, in the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest byRwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, which is also bordered by Kenya and Tanzania.
Uganda is mostly a plateau, a compact country occupying an area of 236,580 square kilometers, roughly the size of Great Britain or the state of Oregon in the United States. It lies astride the Equator and has a fine mild climate with copious rainfall that is experienced three times a year and sunny months.
Although generally equatorial, the climate is not uniform as the altitude modifies the climate. Southern Uganda is wetter with rain generally spread throughout the year. At Entebbe on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, most rain falls from March to June and the November/December period. Further to the north a dry season gradually emerges; at Gulu about 120 km from the Sudanese border, November to February is much drier than the rest of the year. The northeastern Karamoja region has the driest climate and is prone to droughts in some years. Rwenzori in the southwest on the border with Congo (DRC) receives heavy rain all year round. The south of the country is heavily influenced by one of the world's biggest lakes, Lake Victoria, which contains many islands. It prevents temperatures from varying significantly and increases cloudiness and rainfall. Most important cities are located in the south, near Lake Victoria, including the capital Kampala and the nearby city of Entebbe.
Although landlocked, Uganda contains many large lakes, besides Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga, there are Lake Albert, Lake Edward and the smaller Lake George.
Trade.In 1998, the country exported products worth $575 million. The main export commodities were coffee (54 percent of the total value), gold, fish and fish products, cotton, tea, and corn. The countries receiving most of these products were Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy. The main imports include chemicals, basic manufactured goods, machinery, and transport equipment.
Religion
Religious Beliefs.One-third of the population is Roman Catholic, one-third is Protestant, and 16 percent is Muslim; 18 percent believe in local religions, including various millenarian religions. World religions and local religions have coexisted for more than a century, and many people have established a set of beliefs about the nature of the universe by combining elements of both types. There is a proliferation of religious discourses centering on spirits, spirit possession, and witchcraft.
Religious Practitioners.Religious identity has economic and political implications: church membership has influenced opportunities for education, employment, and social advancement. Religious practitioners thus are expected to provide a range of benefits for their followers. Leaders of indigenous religions reinforce group solidarity by providing elements necessary for societal survival: remembrance of ancestors, means of settling disputes, and recognition of individual achievement. Another social function of religious practitioners is helping people cope with pain, suffering, and defeat by providing an explanation of their causes. Religious beliefs and practices serve political aims by bolstering the authority of temporal rulers and allowing new leaders to mobilize political power and implement political change.
Rituals and Holy Places.In Bantu-speaking societies, many local religions include a belief in a creator God. Most local religions involve beliefs in ancestral and other spirits, and people offer prayers and sacrifices to symbolize respect for the dead and maintain proper relationships among the living. Mbandwa mediators act on behalf of other believers, using trance or hypnosis and offering sacrifice and prayer to beseech the spirit world on behalf of the living.
Uganda has followers of Christianity, Islam, and African traditional religions. Ugandan Muslims make pilgrimages to Mecca when they can. Followers of African religions tend to establish shrines to various local gods and spirits in a variety of locations.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Poaching of Elephants continue in Uganda
Police arrests three over elephant poaching Death toll from Oyam accident climbs to five held over elephant poaching
The elephant according to the police was killed by unknown people in the area last week but the trio removed the tusks and started looking for market.Suspected poachers display with elephant tusks at Nwoya police station. The police in Nwoya district have arrested three men over alleged poaching and illegal possession of wild life products.
The trio identified as Ayella Bob, Okello Eric and Otema Justin are all residents of Anaka village.
It was at this point that the Natural Resource Conservation Network leant of the deals and alerted police.
According to Otema, they were going to sell the tusks at sh300, 000 a kilogram, one tusk weighs 27kg and the suspects had two.
The elephant that was killed by unknown people in Murchison Falls National Park .The suspects according to police have been transferred to Gulu police station.
"Elephants are under threat with an increased demand for ivory both locally and international market, half a dozen of elephants are killed every year by ivory hunters from the national parks like Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison and Bwindi.
Monday, April 11, 2016
HOW MOUNTAIN GORILLA CENSUS IS DONE.
Mountain gorillas are found in Uganda, Rwanda and Eastern part Democratic Repubublic of Congo.Mountain gorillas population has been reducing due to diffrent issues that threaten their life. Of recent mountain gorilas in Uganda and Rwanda have started increasing .Hence the gorilla census requirement to ascertain their numbers from time to time.This has helped to promote gorilla safaris in both contries.
The census begins with the individuals following the gorilla trails until they locate a nest site. Every evening gorilla make nest in which they sleep. They never return to those nests.
Even if they return to the same site they ,they make new nest next to the old one. Each nest contains the one gorilla and considering as used when a gorilla dung is found in it.
The first duty after finding a gorilla nest site is to establish how old it is .If it is older than five days ,then it is useless because most of the DNA is gone.
“One site can have many nests, so the nest is labeled with a small piece of paper. Then protective gloves are worn and begin establishing the size of the dung”. Depending on the size of the dung found , the data collectors can conclude , using age classification strata, whether an adult male , medium range or baby gorilla was in the nest.
“During measuring 7.2cm,with silvery hair in it ,means an adult male gorilla (silver back )slept in the nest. Other dung is classified as medium size ,though not specify the sex”
While measuring the dung ,the sample collector has to ensure that his gloves do not touch it because that particular DNA can be transferred to other dung, thus making it hard for the laboratory to have conclusive findings .Also ,sample collectors are not allowed to speak while handling the dung because their Silva can mix with the gorilla’s DNA .
After measuring the dung , a sample of it is placed in a tube containing ethanol .The tube is then transferred to a Ziploc bag.
Ethanol preserves the dung for an average of 24- 30 hours before the sample is shifted to another r tube containing silica to keep it dry. The laboratory analysis to establish the individual DNA of the gorillas is done in an American lab.
After collecting data samples from one gorilla site ,the team follows the gorilla trail to look for more nesting sites.
From at least three consecutive nest sites, you can tell the average number of gorillas in that particular group. If the first site had 19 nests, the second one might have slightly less or more and this is important because what you missed in the previous site can be found in the next site .
Once a good number of samples have been collected ,it is shipped out of the forest for storage until the end of the exercise when the samples will be transferred to the USA
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
SPECIAL PLACES FOR BIRD WATCHING IN UGANDA BIRDING SAFARIS
Many people are yet to appreciate that bird watching is the fast growing tourism sector that is worth more than $ 5b .From the source of the white Nile on Lake Victoria to the snow capped Rwezonri range,the montane forest of the virunga volcanoes to the desert plains of Karamonja .Uganda is famous for birding uganda safaris an Equatorial country of astonishing contrasts
No other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats and this richness is reflected in the ever-burgeoning bird list of over1000 species .Amongst these are many special birds , such as she bill and the numerous spectacular endemics of the albertine rift valley that are difficult or impossible to find elsewhere. Today many tour operators and guides have included them in their itineraries and travel hemispheres limited is one of the tour operators who use them and some of them includes;
Mabira Forest where one can see more than 300 bird species .Within an hour one can see more than 100 birds in the forest.
Mabamba at lutembe Bay on lake Victoria , as you head to the air port is ideal. It is home to the shoe bill ,one of the most attractive birds to tourists. It is a small area but is a place where migrant birds rest
Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest in the south west offers some of the finest montane forest birding in Africa and is a key destination for any birder visiting Uganda safaris. Amongst the numerous possibilities are no fewer than 23 of Ugandans 24 Albertine Rift endemics, including spectacular , globally threatened species such as African Green Broadbill and shelley’s crimsonwing ,many known from no other site in East Africa .some of the birding areas in bwindi are Ruhija and buhoma area.
Semliki National Park in the western side known as the true birders haven. Sempaya and Ntandi provide excellent viewing of the birds including the white – crested Hornbill Dwarf Hornbill ,piping Hornbill ,Yellow – throated Nicator ,Great blue and Ross’s Turacos .The shoebill stork is regularly seen at close quarters on Lake Albert and forest walks are good for tracking water birds.
Kibale Forest National Park. It boasts 372 bird species of which 60percent are recorded Uganda’s Forest Birds.The forest is superficially similar to Budongo although a number of species are more easily a vailable here.watch for flocks of the rare and localized white – naped pigeon in fight overhead or sunning themselves in the teetops in the early morning .fruiting trees attract aplethora of frugivores including Afep pigeon ,Nrina Trogon and Pied.
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