Uganda Gets Enlisted By the New York Times as One of the 52 Destinations to Visit In 2020.

Uganda Gets Enlisted By the New York Times as One of the 52 Destinations to Visit In 2020.

Time and again Uganda has always shown signs of brilliance as a wonderful and exciting Africa safari travel destination that everyone who intends to visit Africa should consider for their ultimate Africa safari experience. Even this time around, Uganda has done it again as it got enlisted by the New York Times as one of the 52 destinations to visit in 2020. In their own words, The New York Times described Uganda as a “Landlocked in east-central Africa, Uganda has long been in the shadow of Kenya, Tanzania and other countries more popular with visitors on safari. But the “Pearl of Africa,” with its own rich wildlife, is set to become more accessible, thanks to the resurrection last summer of the country’s national carrier, Uganda Airlines.

Mountain_GorillaUganda is one of the world’s primate capitals, with 20 species (four of which are endangered) and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a renowned mountain gorilla sanctuary. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, in southwestern Uganda, is home to roughly half the world’s mountain gorillas. The park’s gorilla-trekking safaris limit contact to eight visitors per gorilla group per day, and proceeds from their trekking permits go towards conservation efforts and protecting the animals from poachers. The dense forest mountain park, which ranges in elevation between 3,810 feet and 8,880 feet, also features a scenic waterfall trail framed by ancient ferns and wild orchids, and is a birder’s paradise, with 350 species of forest birds.” Written for by Vivian Song a renowned freelance travel and lifestyle editor who works with numerous international news agencies.
What else makes Uganda a unique destination to be visited in this year?

Uganda the land of apes

To primatologists and any other person who is intrigued by these wild cousins of ours, Uganda isn’t only the Pearl of Africa as many of us know it to be but also is truly the home of primates and this is because Uganda is home to over 20 primate species a number that isn’t easily found elsewhere on the planet. Are you on a search for mountain gorillas? If you’re then getting your bags ready and make that Uganda safari tour because Uganda is home to these elusive mountain gorillas which are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These gentle giants in Uganda almost constitute half of the world’s gorilla population which is currently standing at around 1063 individuals as per the recent gorilla census results. Beyond gorillas, Uganda is also home to a healthy population of chimpanzee in different Uganda safari destinations such as Kibale National Park which is home to a chimpanzee population of close to 5000 chimps hence making it the prime destination for epic Uganda chimpanzee safaris.

NGAMBACHIMPS

However, as you search for the chimpanzees in Kibale during your Uganda chimpanzee tour to this “Primate capital of the world”, you have an opportunity to meet 12 other primate species and these include the black and white colobus monkeys, the grey-cheeked mangabeys, the L’hoest monkeys, the olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, pattas monkeys and many more. Other Uganda safari tour destinations where you can have a close encounter with the chimpanzees include Budongo forest in the southern sector of Murchison falls National Park, Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Uganda an avian destination to die for by all birders

Birds, just like New York times said that Bwindi is home to 350 bird species with 23 Albertine rift endemics, that’s only a small fraction of what Uganda has to offer in totality since Uganda is home 1073 bird species that call this tropical country their home when you speak of birds in Africa, Uganda should be your first priority. a Uganda birding safari takes you to any of the numerous birding safari destinations in Uganda such as Semuliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidpeo Valley National Park and Kibale Forest National Park and this will give you an encounter with bird species such as the elusive shoebill stork, the Nkulengu rail, the northern double collared sunbird, the Karamoja Apalis, the African finfoot, the great blue turaco, the African green pita, the Rwenzori turaco and many others.

rwenzori regal sunbird

The stunning Africa savanna mammals

Wild mammals- if you are looking for wild mammals, a Uganda wildlife safari to some of Uganda wildlife tour destinations such as Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park will give you an encounter with some of the finest African savanna mammals like you have never seen before. Many of these destinations have 4 or 5 out of the big five Africa game which includes African bush elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards and rhinos. On top of these expect to encounter numerous other mammals such as Roth child giraffes, burchell zebras, elands, Jackson hartebeests, topis, and wide variety antelopes.

61909242_2409994429273334_2640204740033511424_n

Uganda a hiking destination with less crowds.

If you are a person with a big appetite for scaling mountains, Uganda offers you the best opportunity to engage in an epic Rwenzori hiking safari experience with minimal crowds. Uganda is home to 2 towering mountains which are Rwenzori mountain in Mountain Rwenzori National Park and this is the 3rd highest mountain on the African continent with an elevation of 5109m, Mountain Elgon at 4321m above sea level, 3 of the 8 Virunga ranges found in Uganda and the forever intriguing Kigezi highlands will excite you on your Uganda safari to Kabale district.

Would like to visit Uganda and witness some of these attractions? Feel free to check out our website which ultimately gives you a preview of some of our safaris in Uganda packages that have been designed to lead you on an adventure to various parts of the country giving you unlimited access to the best of Africa safari attractions in Uganda. Our Uganda gorilla safaris packages that have been feature here are designed to give you an encounter with the magical gorillas as the major attraction while Uganda wildlife safari packages cater for those that are interested in epic Uganda savanna wildlife as well as our fascinating and quite interesting culture birds and gorillas if you need them to be included.

Regardless of your intended length of stay in Uganda for a Uganda wildlife tour or Uganda gorilla tour experience, we’ve got you covered with our wide range of packages which include short Uganda wildlife safaris, these run from as low 2 days Uganda safari to Lake Mburo or 2 days Uganda wildlife tour to Queen Elizabeth. our Long Uganda wildlife safaris, start from 7 days to and run to as long as 18 days, even more, depending on your choice of number of days you intend to spend while traversing this pristine Pearl of Africa.

For those on a Uganda gorilla  safari adventure, we have short Uganda gorilla tours these run from a 3 days Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi or a 4 days Bwindi gorilla safari and wildlife to Queen Elizabeth to long Uganda gorilla trekking tours that go to start from 6 days to 18 days for example 6 Days Uganda gorilla safari with chimpanzees. You can also try out our other signature Africa safaris that run through other Africa destinations such as Rwanda, Congo, Kenya and Tanzania and these include Rwanda gorilla safaris and these feature short Rwanda gorilla safaris as well as Long Rwanda gorilla safaris. Kenya wildlife safaris also feature both short Kenya wildlife safaris and Long Kenya wildlife safaris. Tanzania wildlife safaris and Congo gorilla and wildlife safaris have also been featured on this website.

Here are some of the selling packages in Uganda

Edit

Rwenzori Mountain National Park a Uganda birding safari destination that you never knew of

Rwenzori Mountain National Park a Uganda birding safari destination that you never knew of

When we speak of Uganda safari destinations that give you the ultimate Uganda birding safari experience, usually Mountain Rwenzori National Park is skipped by many people regard Rwenzori as a destination that only good for mountain trekkers.  However, I would like to change this narrative by showing you how rich Rwenzori national park is such a rich Uganda birding tour destination that you should never miss our your Uganda bird watching safari in Uganda since Rwenzori National Park is home to 217 bird species

Let me give you a preview about mountain Rwenzori  National Park Uganda

Mt Rwenzori national park is located in Uganda which is found in the East African region on the African continent just slightly above the equator line on the geographical co-ordinates 00o 22’N 29o57’E. Mt. Rwenzori national park lies 398 km or 6-hour drive away from Kampala city the capital of Uganda in the southwestern district of Kasese.  Mt. Rwenzori national park is boarded by Democratic Republic of Congo in west as it lies on the boundary between Uganda and D.R. Congo, Bundibugyo district in the north, Kanungu district in the south and Kabarole in the northeast, the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park and eastern escarpments of the western arm of the great East African rift valley in the east. This park covers about 996 sq. km of mountain Rwenzori. Mt Rwenzori is located in the Albertine rift valley on the border of Uganda and D.R. Congo. In Uganda, this Rwenzori mountain covers the districts of Kasese, Kabarole, Bundibugyo and Ntoroko spanning a distance of about 120 km long and 65 km wide. Mt Rwenzori was formed as a result of uplift due to movement of the tectonic plates in the rift valley.

This movement caused an upward thrust of the old basement rock complex from the surrounding plains hence forming a stiff rugged mountain range. Mt Rwenzori is made up of igneous rocks that were thrusted upwards during the formation phase, the igneous rocks form the steep and rugged profiles of mount baker, Stanley and portal. Mt Rwenzori experiences a variation in temperature given its variation in height. The highest peak of the Rwenzori mountain is Margherita at 5109m above sea level and it’s the third-highest on the African continent only behind to mt. Kenya and mt. Kilimanjaro. Mt Rwenzori has five distinctive overlapping vegetation zones which include savannah grassland zone below 2000m above sea level, afro montane forests zone between 1800-2800m above sea level, bamboo forest zone between 2500-3300m above sea level, the heather zone between 3000-3800m above sea level and afro-alpine moorland zone between 3500-4500m above sea level. With all these variations in temperature and vegetation, mt Rwenzori becomes a sanctuary for a variety of wildlife and this includes 217 bird species with 19 Albertine rift endemics, 70 mammal species and a variety of vegetation species.

Here are some of the bird species you will encounter on your Uganda birding tour in Rwenzori National Park.

Rwenzori turaco

The Rwenzori turaco has a body length of 45cm and an average bodyweight of 211-256g and has a monkey-like “chk chk chk” or “ik ik ik krowng” call sound

rwenz

Blue-headed sunbird

The blue-headed sunbird has a body length of 12-14 cm and an average weight of 10-16 grams. This species makes a relatively quiet twittering with a series of loud chips that come after every 3-4seconds

Regal sunbird

Regal sunbirds have a body length of 10-11 cm and an average weight of 5-8 grams. The adult male regal sunbird has its head and underparts coloured in iridescent golden-green dark wings and tail and also a boldly marked red and yellow breast and belly but the adult females have dull olive upperparts and yellowish, faintly streaked underparts. These birds make a sound of repetitions of rapid twittering with rising and falling notes.

rwenzori regal sunbird

Red-Throated alethe – The red-throated alethe has an average body length of 12cm with a bodyweight of 30-45grams. Male red-throated alethe have a black crown encircled by broad grey line from forehead through supercilium to nape. The red-throated alethe make a monotonous and noisy single down slurred “piiiyuu” sound

rwenzori red headed sunbird

Kivu ground thrush

The Kivu ground thrush is also called the Abyssinian ground thrush. It has a body length of 19-20 cm and an average weight of 43-65grams. The male kivu ground thrush bird is pale olive-brown from cheeks to hind crown and underparts, with darker wing-coverts and double white-spotted wing bars. It makes a voice call that has a low concealed perch with a deep twilight.

Dusky and Shelly’s crimsonwing

The dusky crimson wing birds have an average length of 11cm and average weight of 14 grams. The males have their heads in red nape grey with dark crimson red upperparts but the upper wings and tail blackish grey with the side of the neck to chin, throat and underparts being dark grey. This species makes a call voice of a soft “tzeek” or “tsit” sound and also a soft trilling “geegeegeegee” sound

 Rwenzori nightjar

The Rwenzori nightjar has a cholate brown drapled plumage and it has a male nightjar body length of 22-24cm or 9ich with bodyweight 43-55g while the female nightjar weighs between 41-57g. the male Rwenzori nightjar white spots on its four primaries and also its tail edge is white. The female nightjar is buff coloured spots on its four primaries. The Rwenzori nightjar makes an “ank ank ank” sound call that is followed by a high pitch whistle of “peeeee, pee-uuu

Rwenzori-Nightjar-

Rwenzori batis

This is a small, active black and white flycatcher like bird with dark bluish-black underparts, a white stripe along the wing and black thighs, the Rwenzori batis has also glossy bluish-black breast band in its underparts. Both the male and female Rwenzori batis look-alike although the males have red eyes while the females sometimes have orangey-red eyes. The young ones are also similar to adults except that their plumage has a more rufous cast. This species has a length of 11-12 cm and an average weight of 8-15.5 grams. This bird habituates in the afro montane forests at an altitude between 1340-3300 m.

Handsome francolin

This bird species has a dark reddish-brown plumage, grey head, red legs and bills with a rufous grey under part and brown iris. The younger handsome francolin has a duller plumage but in adulthood, both male and female birds look the same with a wing spans of up to 35 cm long.

rwenzori handsome francolin

Dwarf honeyguide

The dwarf honeyguide has an average body length of 12cm with the male weighing in between 11-15g and female weighs between 12-13.5g the dwarf honeyguide has a stubby bill.  Both the male and female dwarf honeyguide have olive, green and grey and grey color with a white mark on loral area. The dwarf honey guide makes a “tuutwi” sound call.rwenzori dwarf honeyguide

With all these birds, you can’t doubt that Rwenzori is equally a birding destination that you should never miss out when it comes to birding however even with these many birds, there are still many more other Uganda safari attractions in Rwenzori National Park you will encounter when you make a Uganda safari tour to Rwenzori National Park and these over 70 mammal species, over 100 plant species and the Bakonzo. Uganda safari activities in Mountain Rwenzori  National Park include mountain hiking, birding, cultural safaris as well as nature walks. Getting to Mountain Rwenzori National Park can be done by both air and road transport. Anyone who intends to fly to Mountain Rwenzori National Park Uganda will fly from Entebbe international airport and land at Kasese airstrip while a road cruise to Rwenzori Mountains National Park Uganda takes you on a 6-hour journey or covering about 400km using the Kampala- Fort portal – Kasese road. On your safari to Mountain Rwenzori National Park, spend an overnight stay in any of the accommodations in Mountain Rwenzori National Park such as Equator Snow Lodge, Mihunga Safari Lodge, Sandton Hotel Kasese, Springs International Hotel Kasese, Ruboni Community Camp, Rwenzori Turaco View Campsite, Tours Holiday Inn, Uhura 50 Hotel and Snow View Hotel

Feel free to check out our website which ultimately gives you a preview of some of our safaris in Uganda  packages that have been designed to lead you on an adventure to various parts of the country giving you unlimited access to the best of Africa safari attractions in Uganda. Our Uganda gorilla safaris packages that have been feature here are designed to give you an encounter with the magical gorillas as the major attraction while Uganda wildlife safari packages cater for those that are interested in epic Uganda savanna wildlife as well as our fascinating and quite interesting culture birds and gorillas if you need them to be included.

Regardless of your intended length of stay in Uganda for a Uganda wildlife tour or Uganda gorilla tour experience, we’ve got you covered with our wide range of packages which include short Uganda wildlife safaris, these run from as low 2 days Uganda safari to Lake Mburo or 2 days Uganda wildlife tour to Queen Elizabeth. our  Long Uganda wildlife safaris, start from  7 days to and run to as long as 18 days even more depending on your choice of number of days you intend to spend while traversing this pristine Pearl of Africa.

For those on a Uganda gorilla trekking safari adventure, we have short Uganda gorilla tours these run from a 3 days Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi or a 4 days Bwindi gorilla safari and wildlife to Queen Elizabeth to long gorilla trekking Uganda tours that go to start from 6 days to 18 days for example 6 Days Uganda gorilla safari with chimpanzees. You can also try out our other signature Africa safaris that run through other Africa destinations such as Rwanda, Congo, Kenya and Tanzania and these include Rwanda gorilla safaris and these feature short Rwanda gorilla safaris as well as Long Rwanda gorilla safaris. Kenya wildlife safaris also feature both short Kenya wildlife safaris and Long Kenya wildlife safaris. Tanzania wildlife safaris and Congo gorilla and wildlife safaris have also been featured on this website.

Here are some of the selling packages in Uganda

Making More of Kenya Safari to Masai Mara than Just Watching the Wildebeest Migration

Making More of Kenya Safari to Masai Mara than Just Watching the Wildebeest Migration

When you make a choice to engage in an Africa wildlife safari particularly to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, the major drive factor for this Kenya wildlife safari will be an opportunity to catch glimpses of the wildebeest migrations as they embark on this a great trek across the Masai lands both in Kenya and Tanzania. However, what if I tell you there is a lot more you can do while on this stunning Africa safari adventure than only having an encounter with the greatest annual natural migration of these somewhat bewildering animals.

ngorongoro crater

I have decided to dedicate this article to you who is looking for more to do your Kenya safari tour to Masai and let me give you some of the other activities you should give a considerable thought to engage in on this glorious Africa tour of the Masai plains.

Game drives

A traditional game drive over these endless plains of Masai mara in an old school study 4×4 safari van /4×4 safari jeep or on a self-drive is still by far one of the best ways of exploring this enchanted tropical dry savanna paradise while looking for its inhabitants which include 4 out of 5 of the Africa big five game which includes the majestic kings of the savanna lands the lions, leopards, the African bush elephants and the stubborn cape buffaloes. Other wild mammals you won’t miss out during this drive include the wildebeests that have made this national park one of the best Africa safari destinations an Africa tour trekker should have on top of their Africa safari bucket list destinations to visit on their Africa trip adventure.

masai mara drives

Nature walks

Are you looking for a closure encounter with nature then I suggest you ditch the study 4×4 safari land cruiser and take to the feet as you explore the Masai Mara. A nature walk in the Masai Mara national enables you to appreciate great biodiversity that exists here as you can easily spot the very small creatures that call this place their home like the small reptiles and insects which might not easily be visible if you decide to ride 4×4 safari van. For birders, a nature walkway through the savanna plains of Masai mara is the assured way of you observing several of the 500 bird species that roam the skies above this lands which include lilac billed roller, Southern ground hornbill, secretary bird and ostriches and many others.

Hot air balloons

This is another unique f exploring these virgin lands especially by those who don’t have a lot of time to do a compressive game drive but yet they would want to cover a large expanse of the reserve without spending a lot of drive time. The hot air balloons take you up the skies and give you a vantage point to see the inhabitants of the Masai Mara roaming the savanna plains below you easily. You can also enjoy watching the sunrise from the eastern horizon of this game reserve and surely I guarantee you nothing but pure bliss.

masai mara hot air ballons

Cultural encounters

Cultural encounters. Just like its name suggests, the Masai mara is the land of the Masai people and this will amuse you with their dress code which consists of usually red “sukas” that are wrapped around their bodies, if you thought, its only people in the big cities in Europe or America who do body art, well you will be bewildered by the Masai’s form of body art which ranges from crazy Mohawk air cuts to long dreads and large ear piercings all in the name of beautification. Are you good at dancing? Well if you fancy you dance moves well get ready to be wooed by the Masai dance strokes that might be nothing close to what you know because the Masai might just pull on you dance strokes you haven’t seen elsewhere and these include long jumps and foot stumps which might not favour that can only be pulled off by those with a lot of energy.

masai dance 2

If you fancy an encounter with these majestic animals, on your next Africa safari adventure feel free to check out our page Kenya safaris tour website which gives you a wide range of Kenya safari package options to Masai Mara and other Kenya safari destinations basing on the numbers of days of interest and destinations to be visited. These Kenya wildlife tours come in both short Kenya wildlife safaris and long Kenya safaris. Besides Kenya wildlife safaris, we offer other Africa safari adventures such as gorilla safaris adventures that place in Uganda, Congo and Rwanda, you can decide to extend your Kenya wildlife safari to any of these gorilla destinations for a gorilla experience. Uganda gorilla safaris are carried out in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which habituate over 400 gorillas. During your Uganda gorilla tour expect to encounter one of the 19 gorilla families that are found in this country.  After a magical gorilla tour in Uganda, you can always visit Lake Bunyonyi Uganda and enjoy the stunning views of this magical lake. A visit to Lake Bunyonyi gives you an opportunity to experience a boat ride on Africa’s second deepest lake. Rwanda gorilla safaris are carried out in volcanoes national park, volcanoes is home to over 10 gorilla families that have been habituated to give you an ultimate Rwanda gorilla tour experience. As of today, Rwanda is positioning itself as a luxury Africa gorilla tour destination of choice as it has done so much in establishing luxury facilities especially lodges to cater for the needs of luxury tourists in a bid to lure more luxury or high profile personalities to visit Rwanda for a luxurious gorilla trekking Rwanda experience.

Congo is another gorilla destination of choice Gorilla trekking in Congo, on the other hand, occurs in Virunga National park or Kahuzi Biega National Park. What is so special about Congo gorilla tours is the possibility of encountering 2 unique gorilla species. If you decide to visit Kahuzi Biega National Park Congo during your Congo gorilla safari, then expect to meet the eastern lowland gorillas while, if you decide to go to Virunga National Park then an encounter with the majestic mountain gorillas is eminent.

Here are some of the best safari packages

13 days gorilla chimps & wildlife.

 

 

Enjoy a Luxury Treat over the Wild Waters of the Nile as You

Enjoy a Luxury Treat over the Wild Waters of the Nile as You

Are you looking for a secluded Uganda safari lodge in which you can enjoy a relaxed but wild and magical feeling along the longest river on the planet river Nile? Well, I have a place that is just right for you as it got all you need and even more. This is none other than the Lemala wild waters lodge Jinja. Lemala wild waters lodge is a luxury safari lodge that gives you an A-star treatment while on a Uganda safari to Jinja

wild waters lodge

Located on the outskirts of the incredible jinja town about 25km downstream of the magnificent Nile. Perched on the edge of the river Nile in Kangulumira, Lemala wild waters sits on about six hectares of nothing but pristine tropical forest land along with the thunder roaring waters of the Nile. The lodge is designated across the river Nile and accessing it requires you to enjoy a lovely boat ride on this magical river to get there. This lodge is set on granite rocks which gives it a firm base to ensure your safety. This lodge comes with 10 stand-alone cottages that are raised above the floor to give you a vantage point to have gorgeous views of the river as it embarks on its 6650km or 4130-mile long journey down to the Mediterranean sea. These cottages have been intrinsically designed with the best of African craft designs and handmade furniture. This lodge is armed with the best of amenities which include stylish bathrooms, rain showers, hot water baths, secluded wooden decks, with daybeds, and romantic freestanding open-air bathtubs that give you enough privacy to have an open-air bath while overlooking the mighty river.

wild waters lodge 1

If you still need more superstar treatment, this lodge comes with very spacious and super cosy and glamourous given their Africa themed décor and prime position. While at Wildwaters lodge, expect to be amazed by the shimmering morning sunrise and evening sunset as the sun rays cast a picturesque shadow on the turbulent waters of the Nile that will forever remain imprinted in your memories. A stay at this upmarket safari lodge on your short Uganda safari gives you an opportunity to enjoy several extreme water sports activities which include white water rafting following any of the 6 grades of fluffy white waters of the Nile river, you can also choose to engage in Kayaking following still the waters of the Nile. If you’re afraid of the turbulent waters, you can choose to enjoy the comfort of the tranquil waters of the lodge’s serene swimming pool that was carved out of the edge of the life-giving waters of the Nile using natural stones. Other attractions to might lure your attention include several of the 1073 bird species that are found in Uganda which include turacos cuckoos, hawks and eagles hence giving you an opportunity to have a front seat to while enjoying an epic Uganda birding safari adventure.

You can also use Lemala to be you base point to visit other Jinja source of the Nile attractions which include Lake Victoria the real source of the Nile, Mabira forests, just 10 km outside Jinja town, and various landmarks in Jinja town. Some of the activities you can engage in while on a Uganda tour to these attractions include

Sundowner boat cruises on Lake Victoria

The sundowner boat cruises are melodic cruises on the waters of Lake Victoria and River Nile as the sun sets below the horizon of this magnificent nature’s creation giving you a once in a lifetime picturesque moment that will forever be imprinted in your memory as you enjoy the ambience with good views of the blossoming wildlife along the river banks of river Nile

victoria sunset cruise

Spot fishing

Spot fishing in Lake Victoria is a joyous activity to all anglers as it blossoming with a wide variety of fish species ranging from the monstrous Nile Perch which can weigh as heavy as 500kg to tilapia fish mudfish and lungfish. All you need is to grab your fishing gear and drive down to the source and you will be amazed by what your fishing rod can land you on because every day is an opportunity to grab the incredible Nile perch.

For those who still need more chills running down their spines out of pure adrenaline rush, I suggest you try out zip lining. Zip lining takes place in Mabira forest. This activity gives you an opportunity to enjoy a pure adrenal rush as you get to enjoy a mid-air ride only attached to ropes for safety.

zipline

If you’re running your Uganda trip on a relatively lower budget then you can opt to choose to stay in some of the mid-range lodges that exist here such as Samuka Island retreat, Hotel Paradise, 2 friends Jinja Guesthouse. For those still looking for something cheaper but decent, try out some of these budget safari lodges in Jinja which include Source of the smiling hotel, Victoria Panorama, Impala suites hotels, Nile river Camp and Explorer River Camp

Would you like to visit Jinja or any other Uganda tour destination on your next Uganda safari tour? Prime Safaris and Wild Gorilla Safaris offer you a wide range of safari in Uganda packages that will give you chance to explore the Pearl of Africa in an instant.

At Wild Gorilla Safaris, we strive to meet all your Africa safari needs as we have got virtually the safari packages that will give you a memorable Africa safari experience. For anyone interested in Uganda wildlife safaris packages we have got you covered with wide range of packages that are tailored basing on the number of days you have and the destination you would like to visit on your Uganda safari tour. If you’ve got only a few days, then choose from our short Uganda wildlife safaris which run from 2 days to 5 days such as 2 days Uganda wildlife safari to Murchison falls or 5 days Uganda wildlife safari with chimpanzees and many more. For those that have got more than 5 days, then I suggest pick from our compressive long Uganda wildlife safaris that run from 6 days to as many as 21 days such as

On top of an epic Uganda safari adventure to many of these savanna parks, you have an opportunity to encounter mountain gorillas. Yes, a Uganda gorilla tour experience is very possible when you visit gorilla trekking Uganda destinations Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.  A Uganda gorilla safari to any of these parks gives you an opportunity to meet any of the 19 gorilla families that have been habituated to give you nothing but the ultimate Uganda gorilla tours experience, you can ever think of.

If you’re interested Uganda gorilla safaris these are available in both short Uganda gorilla safari packages such as 3 days gorilla tours in Bwindi and 4 days Bwindi gorilla tour and wildlife in Lake Mburo. There are also long Uganda gorilla tours that run from 6 days to as many as 18 days while featuring many other things along the way to the gorillas. After a magical gorilla tour in Uganda, you can always visit Lake Bunyonyi Uganda and enjoy the stunning views of this magical lake. A visit to Lake Bunyonyi gives you an opportunity to experience a boat ride on Africa’s second deepest lake.

Hers are some of the Uganda Safari packages

3 days Uganda safari to Lake Mburo

3 days Nyiragongo Mountain hiking safari in Congo

Jinja Uganda’s Capital of Extreme Sports – Uganda Safari News

 

Many Africa safari trekkers have majorly categorized Uganda as a destination that’s best suitable for Africa wildlife safaris especially Africa gorilla safaris  given the fact that Uganda is home to these elusive giants in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. However its always I am here to present to you a side of Uganda you may have never thought about and that’s the Uganda that gives you thrills given the extreme sport activities that will send chills running down your spine if you get to engage in them.

Now in order for you to experience these kinds of experience you need to make a short Uganda safari to the adrenal capital of Uganda Jinja.

Why Jinja?

Jinja is home to the source of the longest river on the planet river Nile and this gives you an opportunity to indulge in a wide number of blood boiling activities and today and I will take you through some of these activities

ATV Quad biking. quad biking comesFor extreme sport lovers, Jinja never falls short of your demands with a wide range of extreme activities for you and that’s where the  ATV quad biking comes in, this is operated by All Terrain Adventures and this activity comes in 1-4 hour quad biking safaris that will take you through villages with warm-hearted and smiley Ugandan people majorly the Basoga who are predominant in this region, through plantation of sugarcane along dirt roads with mud pods that make it all the more interesting to ride on. The riders need no prior experience to ride the quads but will only have a 30-minute training prior to the beginning of the safari, and to ride the big quad bikes, one should be aged 7years.

quads

White water rafting and kayaking. white water rafting kicks off our top extreme sport activities on a Jinja source of the Nile tour. this is simply because if you’re an extreme water sports lover, Jinja is the best place to be in the entire East Africa region for you to come to experience the thrills of rafting . when you make a Uganda tour to Jinja for white water rafting expect to come face to face with all the 6 grades of water rapids that will get your senses aroused with excitement as you take to the water and wrestle these gigantic water rapids for sheer excitement and thrill. White water rafting and kayaking is done at Itanda falls on river Nile.

white-water-rafting-jinja-nile-tour

Bungee jumping is yet another prime example of extreme water sport treatment from the source to you, This bungee jump is operated by Adrift Uganda and its located at the adrift river base which lies 3km upstream of bujagali fall and the rump was constructed to the highest New Zealand standards. This is a sport not for the faint-hearted as it requires to take a leap of faith into the Nile river from over 10m above.  This activity requires a minimum age of 13 years and advance booking is required.

Sportfishing. With the presence of Lake Victoria, there is abundant supply of many fish species such as the Nile perch tilapia, catfish and many others and for angler enthusiasts, it can never get better than this on this Uganda safari to Jinja, this, therefore, makes it a prime spot for anglers to come and indulge in their favourite hobby. Sportfishing is organized by Jinja fishing safaris beginning from Nile river camp and is done under early morning excursion, evening excursion and full-day excursion and on all these excursion tilapia, Nile perch, yellowfish and catfish species are targeted using trawling, spinning and bait fishing techniques. Nile fishing safaris follows a catch release policy only retaining fish that are likely not to recover after being landed and provide all fishing gear, camping equipment, safety gear and drinking water. Fishing safaris costs 80$ per person on a half-day trip and 150$ for a full day trip with a minimum of 4 persons and children ½ price, there is no minimum age requirement if a child is accompanied by an adult.

Wild-Frontiers-Murchison-Falls-Fishing6

Mountain biking. This takes on a wild ride while on your jinja day trip through villages along the Nile river with the warm hearted and beautiful Ugandan people of the Basoga tribe and the Bujagali falls up to the Bugembe view point with panoramic views of the Jinja town and Lake Victoria at large. The mountain biking activity is carried out by explorers mountain biking safaris that’s based explorers backpackers in Jinja and the rides take between 1and1/2 – 2 hours riding in this paradise. The cost for this activity ranges from 30$ per person to 75$ per person for a Mabira hardcore ride with a minimum of 4 people and requires a minimum of 10 years of age with some biking experience.

Zip lining. For all of you who would like to make a joy ride mid air with the help of a safety rope a jinja day trip to Mabira forest comes in handy as it has got all you need in a bewildering experience. The lines were imported in from USA and meet all safety measures required to ensure the safety of tourists who would like to engage in this activity. The operators have also been trained in proper installation of these ropes safely for maximum safety.

with the above-mentioned activities, you might need to have an overnight in Jinja in order for you to have more time to engage in more of these safari activities in Jinja source of the Nile tour. if you decide to have this overnight stay Jinja has various accommodations in Jinja source of the Nile you can choose from and these include Explorers River Camp, Nile River Camp, Jinja Nile Resort, Samuka Island Retreat, Source of The Smile Hotel and Guesthouse.

So with all these activities surely you can see that no matter your interests or passion, Uganda has got you covered.

At Wild Gorilla Safaris, we strive to meet all your Africa safari needs as we have got virtually the safari packages that will give you a memorable Africa safari experience. For anyone interested in Uganda wildlife safaris packages we have got you covered with wide range of packages that are tailored basing on the number of days you have and the destination you would like to visit on your Uganda safari tour. If you’ve got only a few days, then choose from our short Uganda wildlife safaris which run from 2 days to 5 days such as 2 days Uganda wildlife safari to Murchison falls or 5 days Uganda wildlife safari with chimpanzees and many more. For those that have got more than 5 days, then I suggest pick from our compressive long Uganda wildlife safaris that run from 6 days to as many as 21 days such as

On top of an epic Uganda safari adventure to many of these savanna parks, you have an opportunity to encounter mountain gorillas. Yes, a Uganda gorilla tour experience is very possible when you visit gorilla trekking Uganda destinations Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.  A Uganda gorilla safari to any of these parks gives you an opportunity to meet any of the 19 gorilla families that have been habituated to give you nothing but the ultimate Uganda gorilla tours experience, you can ever think of.

If you’re interested Uganda gorilla safaris these are available in both short Uganda gorilla safari packages such as 3 days gorilla tours in Bwindi and 4 days Bwindi gorilla tour and wildlife in Lake Mburo. There are also long Uganda gorilla tours that run from 6 days to as many as 18 days while featuring many other things along the way to the gorillas. After a magical gorilla tour in Uganda, you can always visit Lake Bunyonyi Uganda and enjoy the stunning views of this magical lake. A visit to Lake Bunyonyi gives you an opportunity to experience a boat ride on Africa’s second deepest lake.

Rwanda is also another gorilla destination you wouldn’t want to miss out on, hence if you are planning for a Rwanda gorilla safari package, check out some of our Rwanda gorilla tours packages which also come in form of short Rwanda gorilla gorilla safaris for those that have got only a few days in Rwanda but those that have got more days, then Long Rwanda gorilla trekking safari packages will do you good as they also give you a chance to visit other Rwanda safari attractions.

Congo as well is another gorilla destination and we have numerous Congo gorilla safari packages that will take you on a Congo gorilla tour adventure to either Virunga National Park for an encounter with mountain gorillas or Kahuzi Beiga National Park where you will encounter Eastern lowland gorillas. Besides gorilla safaris and wildlife encounters in Uganda, you can still explore Uganda’s diversity using any of our wide range of day trips that visit other sites that are near the capital city Kampala or Entebbe international airport such as a Mabamba birding day trip to Mabamba island Kampala city tour day tour Jinja day tour and 1 day Ngamba island chimpanzee safari. Check out our great east Africa safari to such as Kenya safari tours and Tanzania safari tour that take you on an Africa wildlife safari adventure to Kenya and Tanzania respectively.

Here are some of the best Uganda safari packages

 

 

10 Best Africa Safari Destinations You Need To Visit on an Africa Safari In 2020

10 Best Africa Safari Destinations You Need To Visit on an Africa Safari In 2020

Planning for your ultimate Africa holiday gateway can be overwhelming given the various things that you need to consider in order to have the ultimate Africa safari memories. However, the major cause of stress in this is deciding on an Africa safari destination or destinations to visit. Since Africa is large continent and not known to so many people its fairly reasonable for many people to find it hard to zero down to a destination to visit on their Africa tour.

In order to make your choice a little easier to make, in a 2 part series, I will share with you 10 best Africa safari destinations that should never miss on your Africa safari.

10. Mala Mala Game Reserve. Although quite small only spanning 130sqkm or 15000hectares of private land, Mala mala game reserve has made it to our list given its unique diversity that’s unbelievably wide to be existing in such a small piece of land. This tropical savanna jewel is located in the northeastern South African province of Mpumalanga. An Africa safari to Mala Mala game reserve gives you an opportunity to encounter the big five game of Africa which every Africa tour trekkers dream. Other wild mammals which you may encounter include cape wild dog, hippos, zebras, wildebeests and hyenas.

MalaMala-Lions-and-Cubs

9. Hwange National Park. Next on our list is Hwange national park. Hwange national park is located in Zimbabwe’s western province. Spanning over 146000sqkm, this Hwange is the pride of Africa safaris in Zimbabwe. A visit to Hwange gives you an encounter with lions, cape wild dogs, spotted hyenas, African leopards and cheetahs. The African wild dog population of Hwange together with those of Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania and Kruger National Park in South Africa gives a beckoning light of hope to the survival of this savanna wildlife species which is on a verge of being critically endangered.

hwange-animals-

8. Ngorongoro Conservation Crater. Located in Northern Tanzania, Ngorongoro conservation crater forms part of Tanzania’s larger northern tourism circuit which is consist of Tanzania wildlife safari parks such as Serengeti national park, Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National park. Ngorongoro conservation area stretches to cover about 8292sqkm or 3202sqmi and it is generally part of the greater Serengeti plains conservation. On a Tanzania wildlife tour to Ngorongoro expect to be in the company of some amazing wildlife species such as mammals like 4out of 5 Africa’s big 5s which include elephants, lions, black rhinos, and cape buffaloes with only the leopards missing of the big 5s other animals include zebras, giraffes, gazelles, wild dogs, golden cats. Ngorongoro is also important to human history as it hosts the Olduvai gorge which is home to the remains of the earliest species in form of human beings called to the hominids who graced these lands about 3.2million years.

ngorongoro crater

7. Etosha national park. Etosha national park in the northern region of Namibia. Etosha national park is a semi desert national park, animals to see on a visit to Etosha include lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffaloes, cheetahs, hippos, serval cat, caracal, cape wild dogs

6. Okavango delta. Okavanga delta is found in Botswana is a swampy inland delta formed where the Okavango River reaches a tectonic trough in the central part of the endorheic basin of the Kalahari. All the water reaching the delta is ultimately evaporated and transpired and does not flow into any sea or ocean. Each year, about 11 cubic kilometres of water spread over the 6,000–15,000 km2 (2,300–5,800 sq mi) area. Some flood-waters drain into Lake Ngami. The floods of Okavango delta originate from the floodwaters that come from the Angolan highlands especially during the rainy seasons. This delta experiences an increase in its volume of water between June to July following the rain seasons in the Angolan highlands.  Attractions which will fascinate you on an African trip to Okavango include the African big five game which include lions, leopards, African bush elephants, and rhinos and other animals include South African giraffes, Nile crocodiles hyenas, zebras to mention but a few. If you’re bird Okavango delta offers you over 400 bird species to feast your eyes on.

okavango-delta

At Wild Gorilla Safaris, we strive to meet all your Africa safari needs as we have got virtually the safari packages that will give you a memorable Africa safari experience as we offer Africa tours beyond in several sub-Saharan African countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Congo, Ethiopia, Namibia, Madagascar and South Africa . For anyone interested in Uganda wildlife safaris packages we have got you covered with a wide range of packages that are tailored basing on the number of days you have and the destination you would like to visit on your Uganda safari tour. If you’ve got only a few days, then choose from our short Uganda wildlife safaris which run from 2 days to 5 days such as 2 days Uganda wildlife safari to Murchison falls or 5 days Uganda wildlife safari with chimpanzees and many more. For those that have got more than 5 days, then I suggest pick from our compressive long Uganda wildlife safaris that run from 6 days to as many as 21 days such as

On top of an epic Uganda safari adventure to many of these savanna parks, you have an opportunity to encounter mountain gorillas. Yes, a Uganda gorilla tour experience is very possible when you visit gorilla trekking Uganda destinations Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.  A Uganda gorilla safari to any of these parks gives you an opportunity to meet any of the 19 gorilla families that have been habituated to give you nothing but the ultimate Uganda gorilla tours experience, you can ever think of.

If you’re interested Uganda gorilla safaris these are available in both short Uganda gorilla safari packages such as 3 days gorilla tours in Bwindi and 4 days Bwindi gorilla tour and wildlife in Lake Mburo. There are also long Uganda gorilla tours that run from 6 days to as many as 18 days while featuring many other things along the way to the gorillas. After a magical gorilla tour in Uganda, you can always visit Lake Bunyonyi Uganda and enjoy the stunning views of this magical lake. A visit to Lake Bunyonyi gives you an opportunity to experience a boat ride on Africa’s second deepest lake.

Rwanda is also another gorilla destination you wouldn’t want to miss out on, hence if you are planning for a Rwanda gorilla safari package, check out some of our Rwanda gorilla tours packages which also come in form of short Rwanda gorilla gorilla safaris for those that have got only a few days in Rwanda but those that have got more days, then Long Rwanda gorilla trekking safari packages will do you good as they also give you a chance to visit other Rwanda safari attractions.

Congo as well is another gorilla destination and we have numerous Congo gorilla safari packages that will take you on a Congo gorilla tour adventure to either Virunga National Park for an encounter with mountain gorillas or Kahuzi Beiga National Park where you will encounter Eastern lowland gorillas. Besides gorilla safaris and wildlife encounters in Uganda, you can still explore Uganda’s diversity using any of our wide range of day trips that visit other sites that are near the capital city Kampala or Entebbe international airport such as a Mabamba birding day trip to Mabamba island Kampala city tour day tour Jinja day tour and 1 day Ngamba island chimpanzee safari. Check out our great east Africa safari to such as Kenya safari tours and Tanzania safari tour that take you on an Africa wildlife safari adventure to Kenya and Tanzania respectively.

Watch out for the best 5 Africa safari destinations to visit in 2020 in our next article.

Here are some of best safaris around Africa we can offer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring The Sights and Sounds of Kampala- Kabaka’s Lake

Although history has largely judged Kabaka Basamula-Ekkere Mwanga II as a ruthless leader, there are a couple of other things that we can base on to judge Kabaka Mwanga II as a visionary king who was on a trajectory to uplift Buganda kingdom to astronomical heights and that’s where the Kabaka’s lake comes in from. This lake is one of the famous land marks that are visited by thousands of tourists during their Kampala city tour or Kampala day excursion as part of a grand Uganda safari tour which can be a Uganda wildlife safari to some of Uganda wildlife tours attraction sites like Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale Forest National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. It can also be a gorilla tour to either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Location and history of the lake.

Kabaka’s lake or commonly referred to as “Nyanja ya kabaka” is located in Ndeeba Rubaga division just 5km from the city center and about 2 kilometers from the lubiri mengo and bulange mengo. Kabaka’s lake was constructed between 1886-1888 by the 52 clans of Buganda on orders of kabaka mwanga II. Kabaka’s lake is Kabaka Mwanga’s brain child as he had a vision was to create a water way that would easily take him to his palace in Munyonyo and it was also to act as an escape route that would lead the kabaka to Lake Victoria then he would take refuge in Buvuma islands in case of any attack from the imperial British army. Kabaka’s lake is probably one of the biggest and still standing man made features of the 19th century on the African continent. During its early days this lake stretched all the way from Ndeeba up to Najjanakumbi but as of today, it only remains to be seen in Ndeeba area alone. Kabaka Mwanga didn’t get to realise his vision come to pass because on 2nd of august 1888, religious wars between Anglicans, Catholics and Muslims alike broke out and this led to works on Kabaka Mwanga’s visionary lake to come to an abrupt halt due to these wars and also Kabaka Mwanga got exiled shortly after hence denying him of a chance to see to it that his vision is completed.

kabaka's lake 2

A Lake without an inlet.

Kabaka’s lake has got no tributaries to feed it water but the ingenious Baganda dug this lake following areas with natural underground springs of water hence its water is fed to it from underground sources and this explains why even during prolonged dry spells, this lake usually never experiences reduction in its water level.

Birding on Kabaka’s lake

Besides enjoying the ear-catching story of behind the formation of this lake and its cultural value to the local Baganda people, this lake also gives you a birder to have a highlight of what Uganda has to offer when it comes to Uganda birding safaris because this Lake is home to a wide variety of bird species.\

kabaka's lake

As of today, kabaka’s lake is one of the birding sites near Kampala city centre with a numerous wading bird species such as grey crown crested crane, open billed stock, sacred ibis, glossy ibis, black-headed herons, marabou stocks which acts as the bully on the lake, malachite kingfisher, pied kingfisher, long-tailed cormorants, this lake is a nesting colony of egrets who are the predominant bird species here and black-headed weaver birds. For birders who would love to view some of the bird species here, there are numerous locally operated canoes that ply the lake waters to give you the best view of these bird species.

Besides Kabaka’s lake, you can still visit several other sights around Kampala as you engage in a Kampala day trip. Some of these sights include a visit to the oldest tombs in east and central Africa Kasubi tombs, make a detour to the Namugongo martyrs shrine and listen to the religious history of this land, proceed to the oldest museum east Africa Uganda museum to fully understand Uganda’s political journey and the nation’s culture. Meet the hustle and bustle of Kampala with a visit to the old taxi park in Kampala to have an in-depth understanding of Uganda’s transport then slope to the Owino market and see how Uganda’s trade to earn a living or negotiate for the best bargain there is in town. Still while on this Kampala day tour, don’t miss out on visiting Bulange Mengo and Kabaka’s palace or Lubiri Mengo to further a more robust understanding of one of the oldest kingdoms on the plains of east and central Africa.

Would you like to have an encounter with any of these attractions in Uganda? Feel free to check out our website which ultimately gives you a preview of some of our safaris in Uganda  packages that have been designed to lead you on an adventure to various parts of the country giving you unlimited access to the best of Africa safari attractions in Uganda. Our Uganda gorilla safaris packages that have been feature here are designed to give you an encounter with the magical gorillas as the major attraction while Uganda wildlife safari packages cater for those that are interested in epic Uganda savanna wildlife as well as our fascinating and quite interesting culture birds and gorillas if you need them to be included.

kabakas-lake-kampala_0-

Regardless of your intended length of stay in Uganda for a Uganda wildlife tour or Uganda gorilla tour experience, we’ve got you covered with our wide range of packages which include short Uganda wildlife safaris, these run from as low 2 days Uganda safari to Lake Mburo or 2 days Uganda wildlife tour to Queen Elizabeth. our  Long Uganda wildlife safaris, start from  7 days to and run to as long as 18 days even more depending on your choice of number of days you intend to spend while traversing this pristine Pearl of Africa.

For those on a Uganda gorilla trekking safari adventure, we have short Uganda gorilla tours these run from a 3 days Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi or a 4 days Bwindi gorilla safari and wildlife to Queen Elizabeth to long gorilla trekking Uganda tours that go to start from 6 days to 18 days for example 6 Days Uganda gorilla safari with chimpanzees. You can also try out our other signature Africa safaris that run through other Africa destinations such as Rwanda, Congo, Kenya and Tanzania and these include Rwanda gorilla safaris and these feature short Rwanda gorilla safaris as well as Long Rwanda gorilla safaris. Kenya wildlife safaris also feature both short Kenya wildlife safaris and Long Kenya wildlife safaris. Tanzania wildlife safaris and Congo gorilla and wildlife safaris have also been featured on this website.

Here is a sample of popular Uganda safari packages

 

 

Exploring The Untamed Beauty Of Lake Kivu

Exploring The Untamed Beauty Of Lake Kivu

Located in the western part of Rwanda, lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest freshwater lake which they share with the democratic republic of Congo. Lake Kivu has an average depth of about 240m or 787ft, an average width of 48km or 30miles and an average length of 89km or 55miles. Lake Kivu lies about 126km west of Kigali Rwanda’s capital.

  • lake kivu

Formation of Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is considered a pretty old lake that was formed as a result of secondary faulting along the western arm of the great east African rift valley. In initially this lake had an outflow that connected to the Nile however during the volcanic eruptions of the Virunga ranges around 12000 years ago, this outflow was dammed by lave flowing from these ranges hence lake Kivu changed its outflow to southwards into Lake Tanganyika. Although very pleasant to eyes of anyone who visits this lake on their Rwanda safari adventure, Lake Kivu has had a troubled past as scientists have found traces of limnic eruptions which they believe occurred about 1000 years ago. A Rwanda safari tour to lake Kivu takes you to any of three major towns that are found on the serene waters of this lake.

lake kivu 5

Rubavu. Formerly known as Gisenyi this town is located on the northern bank of Lake Kivu and its lies about 150km from the Rwandan capital of Kigali or only 60km from Musanze town which is Rwanda’s gateway to Volcanoes National Park where Rwanda gorilla trekking tours take place. While in Rubavu tourists on an Africa safari adventure to Congo can also easily cross into Congo for either Congo gorilla safari to Virunga National Park or a Congo hiking safari to the top of the fire-spitting Nyiragongo volcano range.

While in Rubavu for on your Rwanda tour you have an opportunity to enjoy a myriad of activities which include boat cruises on the northern sector of Lake Kivu, water bath in the Nyamyumba hot springs that are believed to have healing powers and the Congo Nile trail. The Congo Nile trail takes you through the scenic countrysides while following the Nile and Congo river basin trails. This trail can be done in 10 days while on foot, 5-6 days in 4×4 on a cycling tour and 3-4 days in a 4×4 safari land cruisers with stopovers included.
Karongi- formerly known as Kibuye, its unanimously recognized as the prettiest town on the shores of lake Kivu, this town is located on the eastern end of lake kivu about 1000km south of Rubavu ( Gisenyi). Some of the major activities you can do include while on a Rwanda tour to Karongi include coffee and tea tours, visiting Bisesero genocide memorial boat cruises and if you chance to make your safari Rwanda to Karongi during the month of August you can be rest assured to catch sightings of yellow billed bats flying over this lake.

lake kivu 3

Would you like to visit Lake Kivu on your next Africa safari adventure? Check out our Rwanda gorilla tracking safaris website. This website gives you a myriad of Rwanda gorilla tour packages. Rwanda gorilla safaris are carried out in Volcanoes National Park, Volcanoes is home to over 10 gorilla families that have been habituated to give you an ultimate Rwanda gorilla tour experience. These gorilla safaris in Rwanda have been classified into short Rwanda gorilla tours and these run between 1- 5 days for example 1 day Rwanda gorilla safari tours and 2 days Rwanda gorilla safaris.

There are also long Rwanda safari tours, these run between 6-9 days for example 6 days Rwanda gorilla chimpanzee safaris. Since Uganda is also another fascinating Africa tour destination which shares quite similar attractions like Rwanda has, these attractions in range from savanna wildlife attractions that are found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. Uganda is also a gorilla destination and Uganda gorilla safaris are carried out either in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which can be visited for a spectacular Uganda gorilla tour experience.

After a magical gorilla tour in Uganda, you can always visit Lake Bunyonyi Uganda and enjoy the stunning views of this magical lake. A visit to Lake Bunyonyi gives you an opportunity to experience a boat ride on Africa’s second deepest lake.. Regardless of the length of your stay in Africa, you can enjoy either a short Uganda safari tour or a long Uganda safari tour experience visiting several attractions in Uganda. However, if you don’t want to miss out on experiencing what each country has to offer, you can also have a combined Uganda Rwanda safari tours options which will see you visit the two countries of Uganda and Rwanda in a single safari package such as 5 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.

Here are some of the best Rwanda safari packages

The Lake Bunyonyi- The Uganda Birding Destination You Never Knew

Located in the Kigezi highlands, Lake Bunyonyi is a darling attraction that used by many Africa safari trekkers who have make a Uganda safari voyage to southern Uganda most probably before or after their gorilla tours experience. On arrival to Bunyonyi during your Uganda gorilla tour, you will be amazed by the splendid beauty and serenity of this lake.  If you’re in love with birds, a Uganda tour detour to Lake Bunyonyi will blow your mind because of the diversity of birds here and with a count of over 200 birds, it doesn’t come as a surprise why the locals actually named this lake, Lake Bunyonyi which means the “lake of birds” when loosely translated.

Location of Lake Bunyonyi

Lake Bunyonyi beautifully tucked away in the highland ranges of Kigezi, Lake Bunyonyi meanders through the rugged terrain lowlands of these hills and when you stand at the shores of these lake, you will be amazed by the stunning beauty of this lake that’s doted with 26 islands that are roaming over the waters of this lake with 46sqkm and maximum.

Some of the bird species that have Lake Bunyonyi Uganda a famous birding destination include

White-tailed blue Monard– This is a 12-15cm bird species that has a strikingly black and white monarch. The entire head and underparts are glossy bluish-black. This bird makes a sound call with 4 clear descending but drawn out and high pitched whistles.

Africa harrier hawk– This is a medium-sized raptor that has a white underbelly while the upperparts, head and the breast area being pale grey, this hawk has broad wings that are pale grey with a black trailing edge fringed with a narrow white line. The tail is black with a single broad white band. The African harrier hawk makes a loud far-reaching wah- wah- wah sound.

african harrier hawk

Grey-crowned crane-This is one of the most elegant birds you will ever encounter while you are on your east African adventure. This bird falls under the crane family of the Gruidae. This is a relatively tall bird standing at a height of 1m or 3.3ft, a wingspan of 2m or 6.5ft and an average bodyweight of 3.5kg or 7.7ib. This bird can easily be identified given its distinctive color patterns that include black, yellow and red and grey. These cranes have white cheeks, blackhead top, a red gular sac, it has a crown made of grey stiff feathers, this crane has a grey plumage with white wing coverts, black flight feathers, it has long legs that are black and a slender, perfect for balance rather than defence. The legs are used for wading through tall grasses.  These cranes have a very interesting courtship ritual display which they perform through dancing, bowing, jumping by the courting pairs. After this display, these birds will stay together for life. This bird is quite elegant, friendly and peaceful and that’s why they feature as one of the national symbols of the Republic of Uganda appearing on its coat of arms and the national flag whose colour patterns of black yellow and red were inspired by the colours of this crane. This bird is also a totem symbol for Rwanda’s royal clan. The grey crown cranes are strongly embedded in the cultures of the Kigezi highlands natives both in Uganda and Rwanda because these people view these birds as the epitome symbol of loyalty, everlasting love and devotion, virtues that humans can easily relate to. For these reasons and many more, the dwellers of these highlands have incorporated these birds in their cultures for example these people believe that these cranes can bring rains hence rainmakers in this part of the world will imitate the sounds and dances of the cranes as way of praying for the rains to come soon. People who are looking for better marriage relationships will eat the grey crown eggs and stew of crane feathers. It has been reported that eggs are crushed and mixed with other herbs to make love portions to improve marriages. The grey crown cranes are the best natural timekeepers in this part of the world as they wake up as early as 3 am or 0300hrs and make a honking sound call by inflating its gular sac after every hour that passes hence kids in this area will only need to hear the calls of these birds to wake up and prepare for school, trust me!! These kids are never late for school because of their best and always on timekeeper.

grey crown cranes 2

 Slender-billed baglafetch- This bird can be distinctively identified by its unique black mask that begins from the bill through the eyes to the ear coverts hence making a sharp contrast with the bright yellow coloured forehead, forecrown and throat. Its upperparts are dark green with yellowish-green with dark centres. This bird has a body length of 15cm. This weaver makes chatterings that are mixed with musical notes, including high-pitched glissando and swizzling sounds.

Levillant cuckoo- This cuckoo is 37.5 cm (15 in) long, hence giving it a longer tail than pied cuckoo. This bird  has a more heavily streaked throat. It has two colour morphs, with the light morph being black above, faintly glossed bluish or greenish. The throat streaking may extend on to the sides. The primaries and rectrix tips are white. The dark morph is black except for the white primary patch and white spots on the outer tail feathers of which they are absent in dark pied cuckoo. The juvenile Levaillant’s cuckoo is brown above, rufous on the wing-coverts and rectrix tips, with a buff forehead, face and underparts, and the throat more streaked.

levillant cuckoo lake bunyonyi

Grey herons – The grey heron has a body height of 100cm and length of 84-102cm or 33-40in. The wingspan of a grey heron is between 155-195cm or 33-40in and this bird can weigh between 1.02-2.08kg or 2.2-4.6Ib. It has its upperparts in ash grey and the underparts are white grey with a bit of black colour on the sides. The grey heron has a white head and neck with a broad black supercilium. Adult grey herons have a slender dangling crest. These birds also have a strong, long and straight beak which is pinkish-yellow and its iris is yellow as well. The grey heron makes a voice call with a frank sound.

Cardinal woodpecker– The cardinal woodpecker is a pale olive-coloured back with paler dots and bands. Its underparts are white with black streaks while its ramp is tawny. Its throat is majorly white and its separated from the face by a conspicuous black malar stripe. The male cardinal woodpecker has a red hind crown and black nape while the female has a black hind crown. This bird a shrill voice call chittering “kweek-eek-eek-ik-ik” by both sexes.

Given its location, Lake Bunyonyi Uganda can easily be incorporated in a wide range of Uganda trip types which include Uganda wildlife safaris to destinations like Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park Uganda especially those that are on the western tourism circuit of Uganda.  Many Africa safari travellers get an opportunity to visit Lake Bunyonyi especially on their Uganda wildlife tours or Uganda gorilla trips to either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda and if you would like to follow in the footsteps of many of have been to this paradise on earth, feel free to check out our website which ultimately gives you a preview of some of our safaris in Uganda packages that have been designed to lead you on an adventure to Lake Bunyonyi Uganda and many other Uganda safari tour attractions around the this dear motherland and beyond the country borders to Rwanda, Kenya, Congo and Tanzania and many other Africa safari destinations. Our Uganda gorilla safaris packages that have been feature here are designed to give you an encounter with the magical gorillas as the major attraction while Uganda wildlife safari packages cater for those that are interested in epic Uganda savanna wildlife as well as our fascinating and quite interesting culture birds and gorillas if you need them to be included.

Hilltop Village overlooking Lake Ruhondo Central Highlands Rwanda Africa

Hilltop Village overlooking Lake Ruhondo Central Highlands Rwanda Africa

Regardless of your intended length of stay in Uganda for a Uganda wildlife tour or Uganda gorilla tour experience, we’ve got you covered with our wide range of packages which include short Uganda wildlife safaris, these run from as low 2 days Uganda safari to Lake Mburo or 2 days Uganda wildlife tour to Queen Elizabeth. our  Long Uganda wildlife safaris, start from  7 days to and run to as long as 18 days even more depending on your choice of number of days you intend to spend while traversing this pristine Pearl of Africa.

For those on a Uganda gorilla trekking safari adventure, we have short Uganda gorilla tours these run from a 3 days Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi or a 4 days Bwindi gorilla safari and wildlife to Queen Elizabeth to long gorilla trekking Uganda tours that go to start from 6 days to 18 days for example 6 Days Uganda gorilla safari with chimpanzees. You can also try out our other signature Africa tours that run through other Africa destinations such as Rwanda, Congo, Kenya and Tanzania and these include Rwanda gorilla safaris and these feature short Rwanda gorilla safaris as well as Long Rwanda gorilla safaris. Kenya wildlife safaris also feature both short Kenya wildlife safaris and Long Kenya wildlife safaris. Tanzania wildlife safaris and Congo gorilla and wildlife safaris have also been featured on this website.

Here are some of the best Uganda safari packages

African tales of Marriage the Batooro edition

 

Welcome back to yet another segment of our Tales of Africans & Marriage the two inseparable twins.

Just like the many African tribes that we have already explored in this story, the Batooro to highly valued the sanctity of marriage and the parents did everything they possibly could to prepare their children for marriage and all this was done to ensure that the younger couples had a better chance of having a beautiful and long-lasting marriage life after everything was said and done.

batooro 2

The Batooro highly respected the sanctity of marriage and they didn’t allow sex before marriage. Courtship was not allowed among the Batooro as it wasn’t in many African societies, it was solely the duty of the father to look for a possible suitor for their child. After finding a potential bride for his son, the father would use the help of a go through person called “kibonabuko” who was usually is a middle-aged man and his task was to run a background check on the bride’s family and find out the virtues and qualities of people who belong to the bride’s family. On establishing the virtues of the bride’s family and ascertaining that they match with those that the father of the groom is looking for in a bride for his son, the “kibonabuko” together with his kinsmen dressed in a Tooro traditional wear which comprised of a kanzu accessorized with beaded walking sticks would visit the bride to be parents and state their wish of having one of the girls in that family married to their son and all this was done in a ceremony called “Okwerenga” which can loosely be translated as “announcement”. Unlike many other tribes in Uganda which didn’t require for the girl’s consent for the parents to go ahead with the wedding. The Batooro would ask for the girl’s consent before the parents gave the “kibonabuko” a go-ahead to have their girl’s hand in marriage.

batooro

When the bride’s father accepted the kibonabuko’s proposal, the kibonabuko knelt down as a sign of appreciation. Bridal price was agreed on and this usually consisted of about 10 heads of cattle and a few goats. A wedding feast is organized and this involved a lot of merry making, the bride performs a ritual called “okubukara” in which she sits on her parents’ laps. Early in the morning, she would also be taken to the groom’s family and sit on her parent in laws’ laps and also sprinkled with herbal medicinal water called “endemezi”. On the eve of the wedding, the bride and groom would meet and consummate their love in a ritual called “okucwa amagita” and when the girl was found to have still have been a virgin, a gift of a cow or a goat would be sent to her mother thanking her for raising her well.

Would you like to have an encounter with the Batooro? All you need is a Uganda safari to Fort portal region as this is the capital city of Tooro kingdom and while here you can ably visit the royal palace of Omukama of Tooro. Beside a Uganda cultural safari encounter with the Batooro, you can also visit other Uganda safari tour attractions in  Tooro Kingdom and these include amabeere ga nyina mwiru caves. A Uganda trip to these caves grants you an opportunity to see incredibly beautiful stalagmites and stalactites which have an ear-catching legendary story developed by the locals in an attempt to explain the existence of these geographical landmarks.  Still, on this safari in Uganda to Fort portal, make your way to Kibale forest National Park which is located about 27km away from this town. Kibale forest park is Uganda’s ultimate place for an epic Uganda chimpanzee safari experience as its home to close to 5000 chimpanzees making it home to the world’s greatest chimpanzee concentration in a single place. Other tourist activities in Kibale Park for you to engage in include a Uganda birding safari in order to give you unlimited access to magnificent sightings of several of the 350 bird species with the great blue turaco and African green breasted pitta being the highlight of a bird-watching Uganda safari trip to Kibale national park. Because Kibale is such a beautiful place to be with numerous marvellous Uganda safari tourist activities for you to engage in, you will definitely need a place to make an overnight stay in Kibale in order to give yourself a better chance to experience Kibale’s beauty and splendour to the fullest. If this is your viewpoint as well, then you should not worry a lot because there are a lot of Uganda safari lodges in Kibale national park that will definitely cater for your all your accommodation needs while here. Many of the Uganda hotels in Kibale national park are ranked as luxury, midrange and budget hence making it easy for anyone to find a suitable lodge to stay in regardless of their budget levels. Some of the luxury lodges in Kibale include crater safari lodge, Ndali lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale and Kyaninga lodge. If you are interested in midrange lodges in Kibale some of the options you should think of include Crater Safari Lodge, Kibale Forest Guest House, Kibale Forest Camp and budget lodges in Kibale include Rweteera Safari Camp, Kibale Guest Cottages, and Kibale Safari Camp. Because Kibale is such a beautiful destination to visit given the various attractions and activities you can do while here, many tour operators in Uganda offer both short Uganda safaris and long Uganda safaris to Kibale.

NGAMBACHIMPS

Would you like to have an encounter with any of these attractions in Uganda? Feel free to check out our website which ultimately gives you a preview of some of our safaris in Uganda  packages that have been designed to lead you on an adventure to various parts of the country giving you unlimited access to the best of Africa safari attractions in Uganda. Our Uganda gorilla safaris packages that have been feature here are designed to give you an encounter with the magical gorillas as the major attraction while Uganda wildlife safari packages cater for those that are interested in epic Uganda savanna wildlife as well as our fascinating and quite interesting culture birds and gorillas if you need them to be included.

Regardless of your intended length of stay in Uganda for a Uganda wildlife tour or Uganda gorilla tour experience, we’ve got you covered with our wide range of packages which include short Uganda wildlife safaris, these run from as low 2 days Uganda safari to Lake Mburo or 2 days Uganda wildlife tour to Queen Elizabeth. our  Long Uganda wildlife safaris, start from  7 days to and run to as long as 18 days even more depending on your choice of number of days you intend to spend while traversing this pristine Pearl of Africa.

For those on a Uganda gorilla trips adventure, we have short Uganda gorilla tours these run from a 3 days Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi or a 4 days Bwindi gorilla safari and wildlife to Queen Elizabeth to long gorilla trekking Uganda tours that go to start from 6 days to 18 days for example 6 Days Uganda gorilla safari with chimpanzees. You can also try out our other signature Africa safaris that run through other Africa destinations such as Rwanda, Congo, Kenya and Tanzania and these include Rwanda gorilla safaris and these feature short Rwanda gorilla safaris as well as Long Rwanda gorilla safaris. Kenya wildlife safaris also feature both short Kenya wildlife safaris and Long Kenya wildlife safaris. Tanzania wildlife safaris and Congo gorilla and wildlife safaris have also been featured on this website.

Here are some of the popular packages in Uganda