Travel News, African Safari Updates

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.