Uganda Safari,Gorilla Safaris, Uganda Tour News

AFRICA rally champion Jamie Whyte leads the list of drivers who will take part in this year’s Africa Rally Championship, the KCB Mt. Gorilla rally set for June 4-6 in Rwanda.

Over 25 drivers are expected to competing in the 2-day 700km event in Rwanda.

Salim Abdulgani, the race organiser confirmed Whyte’s involvement during a press conference held recently in Kigali.

“We expect about 25 drivers to compete in the rally and Whyte is one of them. We are doing our very best to have the best event on Rwandan soil,” Abdulgani said.

Other drivers expected include; Uganda’s Jas Mangat and Suzan Muwonge, Lee Rose of Kenya, Burundian Valery Bukera, former Rwandan champion Rudy Cantanhede, and five-time Kenya champion Ian Duncan. Rwanda will be led by national champion Davite Giancarlo, Fitidis Christakis, and Gracien Rutabingwa.

Whyte leads the ARC standings with 115 points, 55 points ahead of Giancarlo.

By Fred Bukenya

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has welcomed some of the most clamorous personalities in the world. He has met former US President Bill Clinton, George Bush II. He rubbed shoulders with Prince Charles before hosting, uganda tours  wining and dining with her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2007.Then what was so special on Saturday? What was behind his spirited speech and the toast?

Speaking before unveiling the World Cup trophy at 11:00pm, Museveni said although the arrival of the trophy was a historic moment, the cup symbolised much more.

“The most important issue here isn’t the cup but what it symbolises to kids and all Ugandans,” Museveni told excited dignitaries that included FIFA’s representative Hedi Hemal.

The others included FUFA boss Lawrence Mulindwa, Coca Cola’s managing director Basil Gadzios and the head of Coca Cola’s East and Central Africa business unit, Nathan Kalumbu.

The trophy arrived at Entebbe airport at 7:00pm on Saturday. \

The 18-carat solid-gold and malachite base trophy weighing 6.2kg had been flown from Kenya aboard a Coca-Cola-branded chartered plane.

Education and sports minister Namirembe Bitamazire welcomed it to a reception that paralysed the airport.
It then made its way to the VIP lounge en route to the State House, where Museveni joined in the celebration.

FIFA regulations allow only the African heads of state and winners to touch the coveted trophy.

Museveni hailed Coca Cola for sponsoring the trophy tour that has given Ugandans the rare opportunity to view the symbol of world football supremacy.

“The trophy epitomises football efforts in the whole world. I used to play football, and it’s very healthy. It’s a good lure to burn fat. The ball that is chased is a bait that makes you exercise. If you run without aiming at something, you do not run too much,” Museveni said.
He added that the trophy would motivate the youth towards striving for global success.

“Our youth will definitely be interested in associating with this football movement,” he stated.

“I am happy that South Africa were given the offer of hosting the World Cup We will use it to mobilise people into the sport.”

Uganda was the sixth nation in East and Central Africa and the 37th in Africa to host the trophy on its 70-day tour across the continent.

The four-month tour, which started in Egypt on September 24 will end in Cape Town, South Africa on December 3.

The World Cup in perspective
FORGET the Olympics; no other sporting event captures the world’s imagination like the World Cup and its prestigious solid-gold trophy.

Ever since the first competition was held in Uruguay in 1930, the football tournament has continuously grown in both popularity and prestige.

For Ugandans, the trophy’s arrival on Saturday night was a dream come true given the fact that for the last  Uganda safaris  three decades, the country’s attempts at making an appearance at the world event and with it the priceless chance of holding the trophy, had been a heartbreak.

“I am proud of Coca Cola. When would this trophy have ever come here? I have not touched it but seeing it is good enough,” said Musa Kafeero, one of the thousands of lucky fans that thronged the Lugogo Cricket Oval on Sunday.

November 15 might have started as any other ordinary calendar date for most Ugandans, but it will remain far entrenched in the hearts of those that took souvenir photos with the trophy and viewed special 3-D movies showcasing memorable gorilla safaris  moments of the World Cup.

“It has certainly inspired me. It makes you feel like walking onto the pitch immediately and try to play your way to the tournament,” Uganda Cranes defender Simeon Masaba stated after a close view of the golden trophy.

The tournament’s prize money totals $355 million (about sh700b), more than $25 million for the winner alone.

Despite the billions invested, the main focus of the World Cup remains the same - the glistening golden trophy that attracted businessmen, lawyers and prominent government officials for two days.

Murchison falls national park is largest wildlife park in Uganda. It is located in the north west part of the country. The great River Nile passes through this park and forms thunderous gigantic falls referred to as Murchison falls named By one of the old explorers Henry Stanley Manton. The park is now enrolled among those places where fishermen internationally converge  for fishing  tournaments.

Once or twice an specific time of the year is reserved  where anglers converge and compete among themselves to catch the Nile perch specie type of fish.  This type of fish could be the largest one can find in fresh waters. A grown up Nile Perch can weigh up to 300 kg . However the common ones range from  50kg - 150kg.

At specific day , the strident blast of the starters whistle at barely- light 6.30am in the morning. All anglers well armed with fishing rods ,lures, gaffs, and  bait , they set off up river the 13 kilometers  towards the falls dodging schools of hippos and massive crocodiles that frequent these wild waters. Even the regular anglers of this park will marvel at the elephants, buffalo, lion, giraffe, that adorn the river banks and the teeming birdlife that squawks and calls in indignation of the strange creatures floating on their river. It is such attractions that make this park unique and  famous for Uganda safaris.

You do not have to miss this if you are sport fisherman . Will enjoy a lot as many as 20 boats ranging from small to medium boats all will form  frantic activity. Apart from Nile perch, there other fish species like cat fish, angara,  grown up tilapia etc.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) the custodian of Uganda national parks should jealously guard this park and take it treasure to Uganda. There are not many national parks in the world where you can legally sport fish and  100kg fish in weight. Provided UWA continues to protect this park as an incredible asset where sport fishermen can catch fish and immediately release all big game alive   this will make tourist flock to Uganda for Uganda tours as well as  providing a good habitat for this unique fish species and wildlife. At the moment , lots of oil have been explored and this park seem to form one the biggest reserves of oil in the near future.  So the wildlife existence  is likely to be in balance at the option of making money from the oil exploration.

Fred Bukenya

Tourism, trade and industry minister Kahinda Otafiire on Thursday launched the tracking of the Nshongi Gorilla group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Nshongi gorilla family, believed to be the largest in Uganda, is unique in that it has 34 individuals with three silverbacks. This will go forward to promote uganda tours in the countryOtafiire and Hollywood stars Jason Biggs, Simon Curtis, Nicolas Brendan, Krisy Wu, Eddie Kay Thomas  uganda safaris as well as William Byaruhanga of the Uganda Tourism Board, began tracking the Nshongi group at around 9:00am to symbolise the launch.

They trekked the more than 12km trail until they caught up with the gorillas safaris  after about three hours. “I wanted to stop due to the long journey but after seeing them, everything was different,” said Biggs.

The Nshongi family is the newest group to be habituated in Bwindi. There are six habituated gorilla families, including Nkuringo and Mabaale.

According to Moses Mapesa, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Executive Director, the launch of the Nshongi group was in line with the grand launch of the “Friend-a-Gorilla campaign.”

The campaign, Mapesa said, would be based on mountain gorillas  safaris as Uganda’s flagship tourism attraction.

“It is expected to raise about $100m through the internet and other forms of sponsorships for wildlife conservation,” he noted.

He explained that the campaign would also provide an opportunity for Ugandans and the international community to befriend a gorilla through internet-based social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

Strategically placed cameras in the forest will stream video footage of gorillas to audiences worldwide.
Gorillas in Uganda are confined to Bwindi and Mgahinga parks. There are about 340 mountain gorillas in the Bwindi, of the remaining 720 wordwide.

Gorilla tourism raised $225m in Uganda last year, providing 37% of Uganda’s annual earnings from tourism, and more than half of the wildlife authority’s internally generated revenue.

Gorilla tracking is no. 1 tourist attraction in Uganda. Uganda Wildlife Authority the custodian of Uganda national parks is setting a new way and easy way of tracking gorillas in the wild by exploiting new technology. And come September 26, 2009, the virtual network to track the gorillas will be launched in Kampala and will be witnessed by world leaders and local and international superstars.

This was revealed by Ms. Eunice Mahoro, the Director of Tourism Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in an interview with East African Business Week.

Mahoro explained virtual gorilla tracking will involve stationing of cameras within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and trackers will only be able to track gorillas with the help of Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates.

“All this will be possible by one logging on website which will work in the same way as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Once you befriend a gorilla or gorillas, you will be interacting with your gorilla friend on a weekly basis and you will get updates on the movement of your gorilla friend(s) in Bwindi. And all you do is paying just one dollar or an equivalent in Uganda shillings to any of the mobile telephone networks and you will get yourself a gorilla friend,” Mahoro said.

She said once one ‘buys’ or rather befriends a gorilla; one becomes able to follow births, new relationships and genealogy of your friend, all life long.  Also this will increase uganda tours as many people will gorilla tracking  easy.

“But you do not have to be on the social network site, you can track your gorilla friend on www.friendagorilla.org site by going to the web page Geotrack,” Mahoro said.

She explained that come September 24, the Nshongi gorilla family in Kisoro will be officially launched by tracking this biggest family of gorillas with 34 individual members which has been habituated for tracking recently.

“This is the year of the gorilla and we want to get everyone on board. We shall have many campaigns starting August 31 with gorilla road shows; culminating in a fundraising corporate gala at Kampala Serena Hotel. With the website connection and the gala, we hope to raise about US$2 billion (US$1 million),” Mahoro said. She explained that tourism last year contributed $600m and the biggest chunk came from gorilla  safaris tracking and currently, the tourism sector contributes 4% of the country’s GDP.

 Lilian Nsubuga, the Communication and Public Relations Manager UWA, said the money raised will mostly be used for constructing fully operational clinics around the national park and one project that will be initiated by the community.

This type of system will increase gorilla awareness and increase gorilla safaris in Uganda.

Bemused residents looking at Portuguese tourists Pedro Lobo do Vale and wife Fatima kissing shortly after the plane landed on the highway

Pilot Steve Considine and the passengers, Pedro Lobo do Vale and his wife, Fatima, were unhurt and visibly relieved. Residents came to the rescue of the group and pushed the plane from the road towards Jireh High School.

“We don’t know what happened,” said Pedro Lobo do Vale. “We just saw the plane going down abruptly and the pilot directed it towards the road which he used as a runway.He didn’t speak to us until we came out.”

The tourists arrived in Uganda on Monday and were touring the country on a Uganda safari. “This is an emergency but it is a wonderful experience that we never had before,” said Fatima. “We never came across so many children and native Ugandans and mixed with them so freely.”

The pilot said the plane was about 2,000 metres above the ground when it developed technical problems.

“The engine could not respond. Probably it was failure of the fuel pump to supply the engine.”  Spotting spills of fuel below the left wing of the Cessna plane, he remarked: “This could have been a leakage that led to the low supply of fuel to the engine.” It was the first time he had to do an emergency landing, he added.

By press time, the plane was surrounded by curious revellers. “I am confused on what to do with the passengers. I have called my boss in Kampala to come with a technical team to assist me,” Considine said.

Recently  a group of fourteen  German tourists  arrived in the country  to study opportunities in eco- tourism. The group will also provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Masaka district.

The tourists, who came from Rotenberg, Stuttgart on the southern coast of Germany, will camp at Lwaggulwe, a Catholic parish in Masaka district.

Peter Heisig, the group leader, said they had come to Uganda not only  for Uganda  tours, but also to support water projects in Masaka.

He added that they would also support the construction and renovation of a Covent in the parish, which is under the Masaka Catholic Diocese.

“We have mobilised around 60,000 euros (about sh138m) for these projects. Our friends in Germany, who have not traveled with us, have been part of this contribution,” indicated Heisig.

Heisig said 30,000 euros (sh91.5m) would cater for water projects, while the other 30,000 euros would be used to construct convents for priests and in the renovation of the existing ones.

James Bahinguza, the Uganda Tourism Board general manager, welcomed the group to Uganda at Entebbe Airport last week. He elaborated about Uganda  safaris  which Germany tourists will enjoy when they visit Uganda. He emphasized gorilla safaris that are done in Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks in the southwestern of the country.

By Fred Bukenya

The fire from Mufumbiro Mountains in Rwanda that ravaged Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda has been stopped, officials of the Uganda Wildlife Authority have said.According the public relations manager, Lillian Nsubuga, the fire started on Saturday and crossed to Uganda on Sunday.

“We had put it under control by 10:00pm on Sunday night,” Nsubuga said.

She, however, stated that the fire was still raging on the Rwandan side of the park and that the authorities were using helicopters to subdue it.

“We are making efforts to ensure it does not cross into Uganda from another point,” she added.

Nsubuga noted that the fire had not affected tourism activities, saying intervention was aimed at preventing it from spreading into the tourism trails.

She said the team created a fire-free zone by clearing away vegetation.

“We created a barrier and when the winds calmed down, the fire fighters, including the communities, the UPDF and the park authorities beat off the fire using tree branches,” she explained.

“The operation was commanded by a UPDF officer.”

She said the authority had a good working relation with the communities, which explained the cooperation of the public.

“Although parks are strictly conservation areas, we allow the communities to collect honey and other forest products such as bamboo shoots, materials for handicraft and trap ants.

Nsubuga explained that the authority also shared park revenue with the communities.

Nsubuga refuted earlier media reports indicating that gorillas had fled to the DR Congo that would affect

gorilla safaris tourism. As of now all gorilla tracking is going on undisruptedMeanwhile, the

Rwanda tourism board has said the gorillas were not harmed by the fire.“The area gutted by the fire is not in the proximity of the gorilla habitat, so tourism activities are going on without any interruption,” a statement by Rosette Rugamba, the deputy chief executive, said.

The statement noted that the affected area was 20km away from the habitat.

It quoted the chief park warden, Prosper Uwingeri, as saying the fire was lit by a farmer who was extracting honey in Volcanoes National Park.“Through the trans boundary collaboration, efforts to stop the fire are still going on and respective wildlife agencies in

Uganda safaris and Congo have been alerted,” said the statement.It said the Rwanda disaster management authority, comprising the army, fire brigade, the police, the airforce and residents in the affected areas, were fighting

The fire from Mufumbiro Mountains in Rwanda that ravaged Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda has been stopped, officials of the Uganda Wildlife Authority have said.

According the public relations manager, Lillian Nsubuga, the fire started on Saturday and crossed to Uganda on Sunday.

“We had put it under control by 10:00pm on Sunday night,” Nsubuga said.

She, however, stated that the fire was still raging on the Rwandan side of the park and that the authorities were using helicopters to subdue it.

“We are making efforts to ensure it does not cross into Uganda from another point,” she added.

Nsubuga noted that the fire had not affected tourism activities, saying intervention was aimed at preventing it from spreading into the tourism trails.

She said the team created a fire-free zone by clearing away vegetation.

“We created a barrier and when the winds calmed down, the fire fighters, including the communities, the UPDF and the park authorities beat off the fire using tree branches,” she explained.

“The operation was commanded by a UPDF officer.”

She said the authority had a good working relation with the communities, which explained the cooperation of the public.

“Although parks are strictly conservation areas, we allow the communities to collect honey and other forest products such as bamboo shoots, materials for handicraft and trap ants.

Nsubuga explained that the authority also shared park revenue with the communities.

Nsubuga refuted earlier media reports indicating that gorillas had fled to the DR Congo that would affect gorilla safaris tourism. As of now all gorilla tracking is going on undisrupted

Meanwhile, the Rwanda tourism board has said the gorillas were not harmed by the fire.

“The area gutted by the fire is not in the proximity of the gorilla habitat, so tourism activities are going on without any interruption,” a statement by Rosette Rugamba, the deputy chief executive, said.

The statement noted that the affected area was 20km away from the habitat.

It quoted the chief park warden, Prosper Uwingeri, as saying the fire was lit by a farmer who was extracting honey in Volcanoes National Park.“Through the trans boundary collaboration, efforts to stop the fire are still going on and respective wildlife agencies in Uganda safaris and Congo have been alerted,” said the statement.

It said the Rwanda disaster management authority, comprising the army, fire brigade, the police, the airforce and residents in the affected areas, were fighting the fire.

Japanese decision to open an embassy an embassy in Kigali was announced by the Japanese secretary of state for foreign affairs ,Ms .Seiko Hashimoto , who visited Kigari last mouth.

Rwanda received 1,046 Japanese tourists last year but she said this could increase if transport to Rwanda and restrictions in its tourism sector that prevent mass tourism are eased.

Hashimoto accompanied by 17 Japanese officials from the public sector and the tourism industry was in Rwanda ahead of the Asia – Africa Business Forum that concluded last month in Kampala Uganda.

The president of planet Tour Services a Japanese a tour company Emon Tanaka said it takes 30 hours in air from Tokyo to Kigali and it also very difficult for Japanese tour companies to commercialize itineraries for their clients visiting Rwanda for gorillas .

He cited the restricted number of gorilla’s visitors and limited tourism products in Rwanda as some of other reasons that could be limiting Japanese to come Rwanda.

Japanese are big spenders and at least 20 million visit other countries every year. The head of Rwanda Tourism Board Rosette Rugamba  said Rwanda could solve the transport problem if only it gets direct flights to the rest of the world .

Currently Brussels Air lines is the only air liner that connects the country directly to Europe. Rugamba differed with Tanaka saying The challenge is not limited products but its how market them she said birding as a new product currently available in the country.

Rwanda has a permanent embassy in Japan while Japan serves Rwanda through its embassy in Nairobi Kenya. However the Japanese international Cooperation Agency (JICA)has an office  in Kigali.

Through mutual ties between the two countries Rwanda could also sell its tasty Arabica quality coffee and mountain tea to the Japan . The Rwandan importers will also benefit on the cooperation as it will easy for them to access visas.    

Last Year 2008 Travel Hemispheres handled many Japanese  to track gorillas in Rwanda after wildlife tour in Uganda   Japanese clients are interested in more in culture and exploring fellow people way of living and even the pygmies  who used to stay in the forests now where gorillas are living.  Also many Japanese have done Uganda safaris.