Month: October 2015

Pope Francis’ Visit to Uganda & Rwanda, a Blessing to East Africa

This November, East Africa (Uganda and Kenya in particular) will be expecting to receive one of the most famous people on the planet -the Pope. Pope Francis became Pope in 2013 succeeding Pope Benedict XVI who resigned. Pope Francis this year (2015) embarked on a tour outside Italy where he first visited the South American states of Ecuador, Paraguay and Bolivia from 6th to 13th July and the United States just in September from 26th to 27th. The good news is that this coming November the Pope is set to visit the African continent for the first time since he became pope in 2013. In Africa, he will visit Kenya from 25th to 27th proceed to Uganda from 27th to 29th November and lastly go to central African republic from 29th to 30th concluding his African journey.

Two East African countries receiving the Pope is a very blessing especially for the tourism industry because it will continue to expose the east African region worldwide making it known to those few who had no idea where it is.

Apart from exposure, a number of foreign catholic visitors from other staunch African countries who eagerly want to see the Pope are expected to go to the two countries (Uganda and Kenya), whichis a very good thing for the tourism industry.

The Pope will be visiting the 3 African countries an honor of the invitation by the heads of state and local church leaders of the 3 countries. The Uganda martyrs Namugongo is one of the major reasons why the pope is visiting Uganda and he is expected to reach at the site.

Many local Ugandan Christians and Catholic Church leaders will be covered with joy for such an important visit and they have highly anticipated the Pope’s visit to the country. Uganda is among the few countries that have been visited by more than one Pope and the Pope Francis’s visit will be the third, setting a record. The first Pope to visit Uganda was Pope Paul VI who visited the country in 1969. Uganda was the only African country that Pope Paul VI visited in the 15 years he served as Pope.

24 years later, Pope John Paul II also visited Uganda in 1993 where he visited the Namugongo shrines elevating them to a rank of a minor basilica. Pope Francis’s visit in November is going to be the third papal visit to the country after 22 years. The previous Pope’s visits attracted a number of people and this November, many will be expected in Uganda.

The international catholic pilgrims who will come to Uganda ahead of the Popes’ visit if they wish can get a chance to go for Ugandan safaris in Uganda’s major national parks or visit the nearby tourist attractions like lake victoria’s major islands (Ssese islands or Ngamba island for chimpanzee viewing). They can alternatively engage in tourism sports activities like playing golf at the lake Victoria Serena hotel golf course or at golf course hotel in Kampala.

Major tourism stakeholder in Uganda and Kenya are very enthusiastic about the Pope’s visit that is expected to raise and boost religious tourism especially for the Uganda’s Namugongo shrine.

Uganda is the pearl of Africa as sir Winston Churchill described it and it’s not a coincidence that many influential people love visiting this beautiful country. Am very sure that once the Pope steps on the Ugandan soils, he will greatly appreciate the good climate and above all the very hospitable and warm welcoming Ugandans millions of which will assemble on the streets just waiting a wave at him.

Best Parks for Wildlife Safaris in Uganda

Uganda is a home to several wild life species distributed in her several National Parks like Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale National Park, Kidepo National Park, etc. Due to this, Uganda is one place where one can have a great wildlife safaris and game drives.

Queen Elizabeth National Park: is one of the most frequently visited National Parks in Uganda and offers great wild life expeditions with unique wild animals especially the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector; most lions rarely do this!  It is the largest National Park in Uganda covering the Maramagambo Forest and borders the Kigezi Game Reserve, the Kyambura Game Reserve, and the Kibale National Park in Uganda, and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a home to several fauna; hippopotami at the Kazinga Channel- between Lake Edward and Lake Goerge, elephants, African leopards, Congo lions, and chimpanzees. It is now home to 95 species of mammal and over 500 species of birds. The area around Ishasha in Rukungiri District is famous for its tree-climbing lions, whose males sport black manes, a feature unique to the lions in this area. This park is also famous for its volcanic features, including volcanic cones and deep craters, many with crater lakes, such as the Katwe craters, from which salt is extracted.

Murchison Falls National Park:

This is found in the northwestern part of Uganda, spreading inland from the shore of Lake Albert around the Victoria Nile. Together with the adjacent 748 square kilometres (289 sq mi) Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and the 720 square kilometres (280 sq mi) Karuma Wildlife Reserve, the park forms the Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA).

This park has the great Murchison falls forming a permanent rain ball and a permanent mist as the waters of the Nile flows down the cliff and on the hard rocks.

Murchison Falls too offers unique safari encounters with the big five mammals (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos. The park has the rare shoebill stork that can be sighted along the swampy vegetation along the river Nile banks.

Once at Murchison Falls National Park , one can engage in various tourism activities like game drives, birding, boat cruises along the Nile down the waterfalls and many others where you can enjoy clear views of the Nile crocodiles, hippos and many other small aquatic animals.

Tourism Unites Many African Countries

The natural beauty & lovely views has a different meaning for everyone, but that can be understood and enjoyed in only Rwanda & Seychelles. Combining two destinations for a holiday in Africa is a perfect spot for stunning views, Wildlife & beach treats besides the best place for wildlife nature and honeymoon holidays in Africa. The good news is that both Seychelles and Rwanda are set to work together as partners –through a memorandum of understanding for tourism and cultural exchanges.

The Rwanda High commissioner Dr Ben Rugangazi expressed his eagerness to work with Seychelles minister for Tourism and culture to develop new co-operations for tourism hence making it easy for travellers to visit both destinations easily. Tourists to both south Africa and Rwanda will enjoy different tourism activities in at a fare rates, discounts depending on how the co-operation partnerships will state.

At his office at the National cultural center in Victoria, Dr Ben Ruhangazi made a promise to consider the call of the Seychelles tourism minister. He said that Rwanda has watched closely Seychelles’ heightened progress in crystallizing its tourism industry as the pillar of the economy. He said that to develop the country’s natural parks, hot springs, and unique mountain gorillas earmarked as tourism amenities, Rwanda would need to follow the Seychelles expertise to showcase itself as a valuable tourism destination.

The main core of the memorandum of Understanding Draft on the Rwanda side   is to showcase Rwanda and diversities so that Seychelles and Rwanda can benefit from each other which could only happen by working together. “I believe that as Africans we should rally together and showcase to the world the diversity that exists in Africa. There’s a lot that we can do together. How we can move forward is something that we alone can decide, but this avenue of Africa–Africa cooperation remains the way forward,” said Minister St.Ange. Its a great thing to unite and work hand in hand like Rwanda and Seychelles. However Rwanda is a friendly country to all countries all over the world the reason as to why it receives many tourist guests from all the corners of the world. Tourists don’t only tour Rwanda but also visit other countries with unique attractions and wildlife like Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Amazing Safari Encounters in East Africa

East Africa has four major countries that offer unique exclusive wild safaris experiences to the tourists. They mainly include Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. Most of the wildlife safaris in these countries are experienced though game drives, nature walks, tracking, hiking, boat trips, hot air balloons and many other ways. Trust me going for a wildlife safari in any of the countries above is very rewarding and offers unique tourist experiences. Below are the major turning point encounters one can have on a wild life safari in east Africa.

Maasai Mara Wildlife Safaris – Kenya

Maasai Mara game reserve is located in the southern part of Kenya and is blessed to have one of the occurrences of the seven wonders of the wild- the wildebeest migration. The wildebeest migration involves millions of wildebeest (zebras, buffaloes, elands and Thompson gazelles) that move from the Serengeti in northern Tanzania across the Mara River searching for fresh pasture and water drinking areas. Many of these can be clearly viewed by tourists on game drives or in hot air balloon safaris in the park.

The game reserve also has other unique wild animals that include the big cats – lions and leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, big land mammals like elephants, rhinos, a number of bird species as well as the deadly crocodiles in the Mara river. Such wild life species make Maasai Mara a unique tourism destination.

Gorilla Tours in Uganda & Rwanda

Mountain gorilla encounters in Uganda and Rwanda are among the wonders of the wild and most times these encounters leave many tourists touched, surprised, excited and wanting to visit the two countries for more mountain gorilla experiences. There are only 900 mountain gorillas remaining on the planet. These great apes are found in Bwindi impenetrable forest in southwestern Uganda and the Virunga volcanoes area comprising 8 volcanic mountains distributed over Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. In Rwanda, gorilla tours can be well experienced in volcanoes national park, which has 10 habituated mountain gorilla families, and in Uganda, in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with 13 habituated gorilla families as well as Mgahinga Gorilla Park with 1 gorilla family. In both the two countries, only 8 tourists are allowed to view one gorilla family, which they spend with an hour observing and taking photographs.

Mountain gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda are sold at $750 and can be bought from the Rwanda Development Board offices in Kigali or through a local tour operator.

Gorilla permits for Uganda can be bought at $600 from the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices or from a trusted tour operator especially those under the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO).

Mountain Kilimanjaro Tours – Tanzania

Situated in northern Tanzania near the border with Kenya, mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain on the African continent at an elevation of 19,341 meters above sea level. It’s located within Kilimanjaro national park that has a number of wildlife attractions that a tourist can engage in. the first and most attractive attraction is the mountain that attracts a number of hikers from across the globe.

It’s a snow-capped mountain and its temperature freeze up to zero degrees at night. Hiking this spectacular mountain requires preparation involving getting the right hiking gear and first studying and getting more information about it.

There are well-developed trails that lead tourist hikers uphill and at least 6,000 tourists of the 15,000 who attempt to hike the mountain reach the top. Reaching the top of Africa’s highest peak is desired by many and can be a living travel experience to tell.

Kidepo Valley Expeditions – Uganda

Kidepo valley national park is located in northeastern Uganda in Kaabong district. This part of the country has semi arid climatic conditions and has typical African semi desert vegetation that makes the tourists feel the real Africa in Africa.

Kidepo is a home to various wildlife species that can be best viewed in the Narus valley that has an oases favoring the growth of fresh pastures. Because of this many animals in the keep around the valley enjoying the grass as the predators – especially the lions wait to hunt. The wildlife species that can be viewed here include zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, oribis, leopards, reedbucks and a number of birds. Tourists on game drives can best view all these.

East Africa is among the most desired destination by many foreign tourists and indeed wildlife safaris in the area are very exclusive enabling tourists encounter some of the wildest places on the planet with remarkable and unforgettable experiences.