Uganda Safari News

Last year, Uganda was voted number one destination by British guide the Lonely Planet for 2012. The following could add up to the reasons as to why Uganda achieved this spot.

Bwindi Impenetrable National park was early last year voted Africa’s number one birding site ahead of South Africa’s renowned Kruger National park and Cape Town’s ocean shores.

Ranking done by African Bird club put Murchison Falls National Park in ninth place among the top 10 birding sites in Africa.

In October, the Virunga volcanoes, shared with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo were voted number one of the 20 must-see places for 2012 in the National Geographic Traveller magazine. They were described in the magazine as ‘Africa’s Green and Fiery Heart.’

The National Geographic site also voted Ishasha tree-climbing lion the best picture for 2011. There have been other rankings where, for example, Rwenzori Mountain was voted among the top 15 hiking places in Africa.

Lonely Planet also cited Kampala as the safest city in Africa. This is the best place to go during your holiday so book Uganda safaris today.

By Jean,

Uganda Safari & Travel News

Wild animals from Queen Elizabeth National Park have invaded Kanungu District in western Uganda, causing farmers to live in fear.

The Sub-county Chairman Nelson Natukunda recently said a number of elephant invasions have been witnessed between November and December. “They are destroying food and cash crops mainly maize, cassava, millet, rice and potatoes,” Mr Natukunda said.

The residents said there has been laxity by the wildlife authorities regarding control of the animals. Some people stay out of their houses for fear of being attacked by animals at night.

The Conservation Area Manager said controlling animals from invading farmers is still a challenge, but they are digging trenches along the hot spots and monitoring all crossing points to stop the elephants from crossing.

Elephants can be spotted during game drives in Uganda national parks during Uganda safaris.

By Jean,

Uganda Safari & Travel News

In a move to boost Uganda’s tourism, the Uganda Wildlife Authority in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has branded Entebbe International Airport seeking to showcase Uganda’s tourism features.

Dr Andrew Seguya, the UWA executive director, said branding is the first step in recognising Uganda’s beauty, adding that in the second phase of the project, the wildlife body will brand the road signs from the airport to Kampala.

CAA offered six pillars and the facia for branding. According to Dr Seguya, UWA is in negotiations with CAA to give them more space at the airport for the same.

The airport branding is among the many initiatives that UWA and other players in the tourism industry are undertaking to fully exploit the visibility created by Lonely Planet, a British tourist guide that ranked Uganda the number one tourism destination to visit in 2012.

By Jean,

Uganda Safari & Travel News

Statistics released by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) show that the numbers of elephants killed in parks since the year began have more than tripled.

According to UWA, 33 elephants have been killed at Murchison Falls National Park in the last seven years, of which 25 have been killed this year.

Mr Louis Onzima, the acting conservation manager at the park, says poachers always kill elephants, skin them and take their meat and tusks.

Increase of manpower and setting up outposts at different strategic points for UWA rangers has been done as well as other methods like digging ditches to stop elephants from leaving park land.

The police, army and other security agencies in the area are working together to arrest people poaching the elephants. The elephants can be seen during game drives while on Uganda safaris.

A kilogramme of ivory on international market goes for between $1,500 (about Shs3.8 million) $4,000 (about Shs10.2 million) and a pair of tusks from a mature elephant can weigh about 40 kliogrammes.

By Jean,

Uganda Safari & Travel News

Air Uganda marked four years of existence this month with plans to start domestic flight services. This is because airline activity is picking up with the arrival of major global players like Turkish, Delta and Qatar airlines at the Entebbe International Airport.

Kyle Haywood, the Air Uganda boss said plans were underway to acquire a new fleet of planes to explore the regional and national destinations in the next two years. He also revealed that the airline has recorded a 17% increase in passenger traffic since its inception.

The Airline is largely recognized as the national carrier after the collapse of Uganda Airlines in May 2001. Previous carriers, Alliance Air, Air Memphis, Africa one, and Victoria International Airlines went under due to financial woes.

Haywood explained that the airline is looking to improve its service to fliers along the Entebbe- Nairobi route and increase flight frequencies to Juba in south Sudan to consolidate its presence in the region. The airline also started three weekly flights to Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital this month.

By Jean,

Uganda Safari & Travel News

Residents of Nakichument Village in Napak District located in northern Uganda have urged the Uganda Wildlife Authority to relocate the crocodiles in Arecek dam.

The residents have stopped collecting water from the dam due to fear of the man-eating reptiles. The crocodiles often found resting on the shores of the dam are suspected to have escaped from the Matheniko Game Reserve which lies nearby.

The senior warden of the Reserve confirmed the presence of crocodiles in the dam and advised the residents to steer clear of the predators.

A team from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) would soon capture the animals and take them back to the game reserve.

Arecek dam was built by the Uganda government to boost agriculture and provide water for domestic use. The UWA last year relocated several crocodiles which had been preying on people in Mayuge District in eastern Uganda.

Crocodiles can be seen on boat ride during national park tours while on Uganda safaris.

By Jean,

Uganda Safari & Travel News

Qatar Airways finally made its maiden flight to Uganda. Flight QR536 landed at Entebbe Airport Wednesday November 2^nd a few minutes past 1.00pm.

On board the non stop flight from Doha was the company’s Chef Executive Officer Akbar Al baker and foreign journalists.

The Qatar entourage was met by Uganda’s State minister for transport Stephen Chebrot. The minister encouraged Qatar Airways to also venture into cargo flights so that Uganda can be able to export its fresh produce to the Middle East.

Akbar said demand from all over the world prompted their entry into the market. “Passenger demand prompted this new route and I’m excited that we are able to bring our award- winning Five star services to Uganda for the first time.”

By Jean,

Uganda Safari & Travel News

Once the proposed 7 Wonders National Program takes center stage, Uganda will become a major tourist safari destination. The campaign is set to boost Uganda’s revenue earnings with figures estimated at over $2.5b each year.

The proposal designed by Amos Wekesa Masaba a tourism investor and President Uganda Tourism Association (UTA) is supported by the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).

The campaign was commissioned last week at the launch of Proudly Ugandan Club at Kampala Serena Hotel. The 7 wonders program will gear the tourism sector in Uganda into great heights. 7 Wonders is a premier promotional campaign geared at advancing tourism inside and outside Uganda through branding.

“The campaign shall involve asking Ugandans within and abroad to choose Uganda’s 7 wonders.” Wekesa said. He added, “Once successful, it will earn Uganda over $2.5b (Shs700 trillion) annually from tourism.”

Uganda is home to ten national parks and twelve wildlife sanctuaries, lakes, rivers, the source of the Nile, beautiful falls, mountains, amazing islands, which are all habitats to a variety of wildlife. Uganda safaris give you a chance to explore all these.

By Jean,

Uganda Safari & Travel News

A regional tourism promotional activity dubbed the Mashariki Festival, the first regional tourism extravaganza whose plans are underway will take place in December 2011.

East Africa community member countries which include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda have been urged to cooperate in tourism promotion as a catalyst for regional integration.

Speaking in Nairobi at a media briefing, Brand Kenya chairman, Hanningtone Gaya recently called on tourism players to work together with regional governments to rebrand East Africa’s tourism.

“Regional tourism alone will be a major boost to the economies of all the countries involved”, noted Gaya.

Gaya hailed the Mashariki Festival’s plans to combine sports tourism with traditional tourism in its market campaigns.

Former anti-corruption boss PLO Lumumba urged Kenya to increase its target for visitor numbers adding the one million tourists currently recorded by the country are way below the market potential.

By Jean,

Uganda Safari & Travel News

The body of Prince John Patrick Barigye of Ankole kingdom in Uganda was Sunday evening laid to rest at the kingdom royal tombs in Nkokonjeru, Mbarara municipality.

The prince who was waiting for his coronation as the king of Ankole died due to kidney failure in Nairobi, Kenya.

Only a few people including the clergy, royal family members and members of Ankole culture trust were given access to the burial grounds.

In his eulogy, the Ankole kingdom Prime Minister William Katatumba urged the Banyankole as a tribe to put aside their differences and fight for the reinstatement of Ankole kingdom.

The children to the late prince asked government to give back the kingdom regalia being kept at the Uganda museum, to be kept at the kingdom since it belongs there.

The burial grounds and the kingdom can be visited during cultural tours while on Uganda safaris.

By Jean

Uganda Safari & Travel News