3 Days Murchison Fals Safari itinerary

3 DAYS MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK FOR ANITA BELLKOM X 2 PAX 1 TWIN Day 1. Kampala - Murchison Falls National Park. Your driver/guide will pick you from Kampala at 7:- 8.30am from where you will start the drive to Murchison Falls National Park with lunch en route in Masindi town. Murchison falls National Park covers 3,840-sq km and has recorded 76 mammal species and 450 bird species. The altitude is 619m at the delta and 1,292 at Rabongo Hill. The mean temperature is 29 ºC-high and 21 ºC-low. Overnight at Red Chili camp budget facility bandas.

Day 2. Murchison Falls National Park. Morning after an early breakfast, cross with ferry and drive in the northern bank of River Nile start the day with an early morning game drive. You will most likely be able to view those animals that are unique to the African Savannah like giraffe, antelope, lion, elephant, hyena, buffalo and the Uganda Kob.. After lunch you will take on a launch cruise on the Nile River. The cruise takes you to the Bottom of the thundering falls where you will see huge crocodiles, schools of hippos, buffaloes, elephants and a variety of water birds like herons, cormorants, ducks, bee-eaters, kingfishers, skimmers, fish eagles and sometimes the rare shoebill. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Day 3. Murchison Falls National Park - Kampala. After an early breakfast, visist top of the fall if you do not do it on day 1 and later Continue to Kampala with lunch stop on the way and be dropped at your home stay in Kampala. END OF SAFARI:

Uganda Cultures Today

UGANDA’S CULTURES TODAY 

 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  rich culture 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 about C.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 enmities 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 nationalism. The Baganda'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 Safaris. 

Shoe-bill stork

Mountain gorilla Sliverback

Murchison falls in Uganda

Map of Uganda

uganda tours

 

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 400 Mountain Gorillas safaris, #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 safari  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 tours 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 by Rwanda, 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.

Uganda receives 1st Airbus to boost Uganda Airlines flights to Big cities of the world

Uganda receives 1st Airbus to boost Uganda Airlines flights to Big cities of the world connecting to Dubai   and China Cities. Many Ugandans fly to these cities for trade links . Uganda  has  already mapped  out long routes that include Guangzhou and Beijing in China, London, and Dubai as the first routes.The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce's latest-generation Trent 7000 engines and features a new wing with an increased span. The cabin provides the comfort of the new airspace amenities including state-of-the-art passenger in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi connectivity systems, amongst others.

 

Uganda tourism is likely to be boosted by direct flights from these big cities. If Chinese can get direct flights to Uganda then many  exponential tourists from china are likely to buy Ugandan safari packages to destination Uganda. London is another busy hub that will allow many tourist to connect to Entebbe airport without any difficult.Thus in such cases tourism will be boosted. Uganda has got one major airport Entebbe Airport and receives many flights arriving from flights of Emirates, Ethiopian airlines, Kenya airways. Sn Bruseels, KLM Royal dutch, Egypt air  and many more connect to Entebbe airport on daily basis

Travel Hemispheres brings you special flying tour packages to the Pearl of Africa Uganda. That will help you experience the hospitality of Ugandans both by air and road traveling. Booking and planning tour with us in time will save you the hassle and time to secure a life time experience of Uganda’s beautiful attractions. Among these include gorilla tours, wildlife safaris gorilla safaris, bird watching and primate safaris plus lots of game viewing and bird watching. As Covid 19 continue eating up  tourism industry  dew to social distance issues, when you do flying safari in Uganda will be easily done.

Murchison falls National Park of Uganda

Murchison falls National Park is the Largest National park in Uganda . Murchison Falls is composed of  748 square kilometres (289 sq mi) Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and the 720 square kilometres (280 sq mi) Karuma Wildlife Reserve, the park forms the Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA).
The park covers the Ugandan districts of Buliisa, Nwoya, Kiryandongo, and Masindi.

Murchison falls/Kabalega Falls

Murchison Falls National Park  (MFNP) comprises of Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserves. 
This is where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge and cascades down to become a placid river whose banks are thronged with hippos and crocodiles, waterbucks and buffaloes. 
Here  vegetation is characterised by savannah, riverine forest and woodland. Wildlife includes lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and many bird species.
Murchison Falls, also referred to as the Kabalega Falls, is a waterfall found on the course of the great Nile. This the power break ( call it the highest gear that gives a great momentum that powers River Nile water to send to As far Egypt to reach Mediterranean Sea.
This River Nile  actually breaks the stunning Victoria Nile, that flows across Uganda’s northern region from the vast Lake Victoria to the deep Lake Kyoga and continuing to the northern tip of Lake Albert within the western arm of the great East African Rift valley. 
Right on the peak of the Murchison Falls, the waters of the Nile force their way through a small slit within the rocks, which is just 7 meters or 23 feet wide, and topples to 43 meters or 141 feet below with a thunderous roar forming a residual water stray that forms a beautiful rainbow.
The view is very breathtaking. From here it then continues its westward into the stunning Lake Albert.
The Lake Victoria outlet sends about 300 cubic meters per second or 11,000 ft³/s of water to these falls and all this volumes squeezed through this gorge that is actually less than 10 meters or 40 feet wide.
These waterfalls are located within the Murchison National park which was actually named after these eye- catching waterfalls. The park is located in the northern region of the Albertine Rift Valley. 
At this area  is where the huge Bunyoro escarpment joins together into the vast Acholi plains. The park is recognized as one of the best National parks in Uganda and as well it is well visited. When you visit Uganda, MFNP is a must go for Uganda safaris. 
In 1926, the park was a game reserve established to shelter the savannah grassland which was pointed out by Winston Church chill in the year 1907 as the grand Kew Gardens together with the wildlife combined on a confined land.
Most of the visitors to this great park often come from various destinations to trek the gorillas within this very country but in another park called Bwindi.  Murchison Falls National Park is featured in African Tour Safaris, CNN, Huffington Post, Newyork Times and so much.

Where is Uganda

Uganda is land locked country in Africa. Uganda is located in the East African region that borders Kenya in the East, Tanzania, Rwanda in the south , Sudan the north and in the west DRC  Congo. 

 Uganda lies along the Equator  and the famous lake Victoria the largest fresh lake in the world is located here shared by the 3 east African countries.  Uganda is  a beautiful  country  with enviable flora and fauna showcased at different spots and corners of its boundaries. It is home to the biggest population of the prized Mountain Gorilla, the primate chimpanzees, beautiful weather, source of the mighty River Nile, Africa's largest fresh water body- Lake Victoria, lush greenery, landscapes, vast wildlife, birding experiences, cultural showcase, Uganda is good for  adventure safaris ,  peaceful the with the happiest people in the world. This can be seen where you travel at beaming faces and throughout with  enviable nightlife and much more.

 When you encounter  the world,  yet  you asked this question “where is Uganda” For us who are marketing Uganda for Uganda safaris tourism this question keeps on coming and this tells us that less is  known  about Uganda. A more serious marketing strategy could work to the advantage of the Pearl of Africa. At the Uganda stands in different Travel Expos  this question arises  in the  tourism expos.  However tour operators try to sell Uganda to  buyers from  all countries of the world. At one time Uganda was known for bad past associated with its dark past, identified with fallen statesman Idi Amin.

Some of the people who have visited our stall are ignorant about Uganda. Some of the tourism agents have asked us if Idi Amin is still living . Some still have stories about our dark past so we are telling them that that is part of our history but it is behind us and that we have a stable country and a diverse tourism product we as Travel Hemisphere as an indigenous tour operator  we usually explain to potential tourists tending to come to Uganda.
 Uganda needs all the showcasing it can get because it is under marketed and under exploited. "We have a diverse product. We have only been selling the primates, that is, the chimpanzees and gorillas but we have Mountain Rwenzori, the Victoria Nile, name it, the white water rafting in the Famous River Nile , the Ever best climate along the Equator where can find temperate conditions, the vast Savannah grasslands, Uganda is home of primates – mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys lots of monkey species and a 1000 bird species.   

http://www.travelhemispheres.com/tours/where-is-uganda.html

White Water Rafting in Uganda

River rafting is one of the few outdoor adventure sports that requires absolutely no expertise or experience on the part of the client - all you need is the guts and you can take on any rapid up to a Grade V (the most extreme that a commercial company is allowed to run) without ever having held a paddle before. Uganda provides for the best white water rafting environment in the world. Uganda is blessed with source of the longest River in the world – The Greta River Nile. The source of River Nile is at Jinja in Uganda and provides for the best rapids as the river is at high speed current that forms rapids. With help of trained guides anybody can carryout rafting.The only person who needs to know what they are doing is the guide, who steers the boat. Provided you do what they tell you, you will get down the run. If you are not a strong swimmer, you will be wearing a life-jacket, so if you fall out you will be picked up by one of the back-up safety canoes which accompany the boat. Assuming that you don't get stuck under a rock, that is. As you start rafting , your briefed what it entails. There are two types of rafting trips: where the guide does the paddling (with a giant set of oars, shouting at you to throw your weight left, right, back or front as needed), or where you do the paddling. There is no contest between the two types - in a boat where you do the paddling it is all action; do the wrong thing and the boat will flip or you will fall out. It is also more physically demanding. Generally you need to be fit to get involved in this exercise. You do not have to be in top shape, but rafting companies will not take anyone with epilepsy, bad hearts, dislocating joints, severe asthma, or other chronic medical problems. Be honest about this when filling in the application forms and liability disclaimers before going - it is very, very rough once you get down in the water. Just humble your self and will enjoy one of the best uganda safari expeditions of your life time. Cool down and listen to your guide instructions. It takes short time and you’re a master of yourself. The rest of the boat will respect you. If you are doing the Zambezi, eat under the thatched cover when you stop on the bank for lunch - the monkeys in the trees above have learned it is fun to pee on the people and food below . Downtime - being under water in a rapid. Grades I and II - easy; Grades III and IV - scary; Grade V - wow!. Grade VI is not open for commercial rafting. Grade VII is un-navigable. All rafting companies provide decent lunches for clients as part of day-trips. For longer runs (some routes are up to 20 days) you generally camp (cold countries) or sleep out on the sandbanks under mosquito nets (hot countries). Food is cooked by the guides, but you put up the tents (theirs) and provide your own sleeping bags. Rafting is a year-round activity, if you have the money to travel , will enjoy rafting in Uganda throughout the year. Uganda lies astride the equator. This gives al year around climate of hot and wet that favour rafting all year around.

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.

Why Uganda is the Coolest Safari Destination in East Africa

Uganda is a hidden gem and was definitely not the first African country that came to mind when we were looking for a once in a lifetime way to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. However, the more digging we did, the more we were convinced that Uganda was the best choice for a safari in East Africa. Kenya and Tanzania may have the Big 5, but Uganda has so much more: iconic apes and gorillas, hundreds of fascinating bird species, lush fields of tropical fruits at every turn, and four of the Big 5 animals not to mention the happiest people in Africa. Reflecting on our trip, we are convinced that Uganda is the coolest safari destination in East Africa. Here are 12 reasons why. 1. Track Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas The number one reason to visit Uganda is to trek into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and come face to face with endangered mountain gorillas. There are only about 800 mountain gorillas left in the wild with half of them in Uganda. Yes, you can also trek to see gorillas in Rwanda and the Congo but Uganda is an ideal place to see mountain gorillas with treks ranging from ‘easy’ to extremely challenging. 2. Spend a Day with the Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest Uganda is not just about gorillas. Meet chimpanzees, humanity’s closest relatives, in Kibale National Forest. There is also full day chimpanzee habituation trek. Deep in the forest,. Staying mostly in the treetops, the chimps came down periodically and are in the dense forest as they went about their business. 3. Go Bird Crazy in Uganda Uganda is also heaven for birdwatching and is the premier destination in East Africa for birders with over 1000 recorded species. You don’t have to be an avid birdwatcher to appreciate Uganda’s avian wildlife. Uganda’s birding is very accessible with many species sunning themselves on power lines along the roads. Uganda’s national parks are also a great spot for twitchers. Crested cranes are often seen in pairs as they mate for life. Given that this was our 20th anniversary trip, we now consider the crested crane to be our personal mascot. 4. Search for Shoebills, the Most Awesome Bird in Africa! The shoebill is the most crazy, bizarre, and simply awesome bird I’ve ever seen. Uganda features over 1000 species of birds but there is one bird at the top of many birders bucket lists: the venerable shoebill. Uganda’s shoe-billed stork is endangered and elusive. Your best shot of seeing a shoebill is in Mabamba Swamp about an hour’s drive from Entebbe. 5. Pop the Top and Look for The Big 4 (and More!) in Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to four of the Big 5 safari animals: leopards, lions, buffalo, and elephants. We personally saw three of the big five: 3 lions and countless buffalo and elephants. The buffalo and elephants were especially abundant and in contrast to Kenya and Tanzania,. Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park is also home to the Ugandan kob, an antelope featuring a stunning set of striped horns. 6. Cruise the Hippo-Filled Kazinga Channel Running through Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Kazinga Channel is another of Uganda’s safari gems. Expect to see hippos by the hundreds as well as herds of buffalo and elephants. We also encountered crocodiles with razor sharp teeth and a Nile monitor lizard roaming in the grasses near the channel. Two hour cruise on Uganda’s Kazinga Channel is one of the top experiences during our East African safari. 7. Admire Volcanoes Where Uganda, Rwanda and The Congo Meet The scenery in Uganda is simply stunning and changes daily as you drive across the country. We saw rolling green fields (not dissimilar to the landscape in Ireland), papyrus swamps, semi-arid savanna, and thick forests. The Virungas lie at the intersection of three countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The pinnacle of the highest peak is shared by all three countries. 8. Sample Matoke, A Ugandan Staple Food Matoke are green bananas (kind of like plantains). They are not edible in their raw form but instead are steamed in leaves and mashed as a side dish to accompany spicy Ugandan stews. 90+ percent of Ugandans are subsistence farmers and grow all manner of food in Uganda’s fertile soil. Matoke is a local staple. We saw large plantations of palm-like matoke trees growing along the roadside. 9. Bite Into the Freshest Mangos and Pineapple You’ll Ever Taste Because the land in Uganda is so fertile, Ugandans cultivate a wide range of crops. Locals also pick wild fruit and sell it at the roadside. The most tasted ,freshest and sweetest mangoes and pineapple that are ever tried in Uganda. 10. Take a Walking Safari in Uganda’s Lake Mburo National Park Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s smallest savanna park. They are countless zebras and newly introduced giraffes from the comfort of the safari vehicle. Because there are limited numbers of predators in the park, Lake Mburo offers walking safaris. 11. Straddle the Equator Not Once But Twice On the southwest of Uganda, you cross the equator not once, but twice. Of course, where you can get an obligatory picture of me standing in one hemisphere . 12. Tour Western Uganda’s Community Run Bigodi Swamp On your trip to Uganda, your impressed with the people that you met along the way. There is time out for a 3 hour guided walk through Bigodi Swamp. Bigodi Wetlands is situated near Kibale Forest and is run by KAFRED, the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development. Bigodi Wetlands is a protected area at the edge of the community and features an incredible variety of birds and primates.

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.

Uganda safaris with Travel Hemispheres ltd

Must Do Uganda Safaris !!: Travel Hemispheres is an indigenous Uganda Safari Management Company registered in Uganda .We offer related range of African tours, Uganda safaris for holiday, adventure vacations to Uganda safaris and tours to Uganda including gorilla safaris, gorilla tours to Uganda and Rwanda, birding tours, primate tours, wildlife safaris in Uganda and will carry out hotel and lodge bookings from luxury to budget accommodation facilities. 3 Days Mountain Gorilla Safari: 4 Days Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth tour: 5 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Queen Elizabeth Safari: 7 Days Uganda best Primate tour: 10 Days Uganda Safari Tour : 10 Days Uganda Rwanda safari: Uganda flying safaris