UGANDA SUSPENDS PRIMATE TOURISM AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN ITS PROTECTED AREAS.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 and confirmed cases, Uganda through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has suspended primate tourism and research activities in the protected areas to help contain the COVID-19. The management of UWA has therefore assessed the present situation at hand and has listed some of the key measures to assist safeguard the country’s wildlife heritage and they include among others;

Ø  Primate tourism and research activities across all protected areas have been temporarily suspended till 30^th April 2020.

Ø  Primate filming has been put on hold till 30^th April 2020.

Ø  Trackers will be availed with essential PPE so as to avoid disseminating any likely infections to the primates.

Ø  Commercial motorcycles including boda boda and bicycles are not allowed in protected areas.

Ø  An internal COVID-19 task force has been formed to work closely with the National Task Force and update as well as guide management on daily developments in the containment of the spread of COVID-19 and its implications to wildlife conservation and tourism in the conservation areas.

Ø  The management has also relaxed rescheduling of gorilla and chimpanzee tracking. Tour operators/agents are free to reschedule tracking permits for a maximum of 2 times till 30^th March 2022. This applies to even tour operators who reserved with 30 percent down payment. The move is aimed at offering tour operators and visitors more flexibility to avoid cancellation of tours which have already been reserved.

Ø  All staff have been advised to be vigilant, wash hands thoroughly with soap or alcohol based solutions, keep social distance to limit spread or contracting COVID-19.

WHAT IS TOURISM IN UGANDA LIKE?

When it comes to top African tourist destinations, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe usually feature on top-list. Interestingly, Uganda shouldn’t be left out because there is a lot more to explore and experience unique from the rest of safari destinations. Tourism in Uganda is largely based on nature.

Tourists on Uganda tour are presented with great opportunity to enjoy the unique art and craft, dances, music performances and also indulge into the pristine wilderness areas-national parks, wildlife reserves, tropical rain-forests and many more. The magnificent safari parks to expect to visit in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Semuliki National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Mount Elgon National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Safari activities to do in Uganda

Game viewing

Tourism in Uganda largely revolves around wildlife viewing. Game viewing in the pearl of Africa is remarkably one of the best and exciting ways to uncover the hidden treasures in this magical country. On a game viewing tour in Uganda, visitors get a chance to explore various tourist sites including among others Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.

Game viewing in Uganda lets you sight diverse wildlife species including lions plus tree climbing lions which dwell in Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park; African bush elephants, buffaloes, leopards, the Rothschild giraffes, zebras, antelopes, birds, primates to mention but a few.

Game viewing in Uganda

Mountain gorilla trekking tours also make Uganda a unique tourism destination. The iconic tourist sites to visit to trek to see endangered mountain gorillas are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Approximately half of all the 1063 mountain gorillas live in Uganda thus making it an unusual gorilla tracking destination.

Mountain gorillas

Birding

Uganda hosts an estimate of 1080 distinct bird species and this makes it an ideal birding tour destination. The top birds to sight on bird watching trip here include the great blue turaco, Shelley’s crimson wings, African green broad bill, black breasted barbet, bar tailed trogon, papyrus gonolek, shoe bill stork, Doherty’s Bush shrike, saddle billed stork, pelicans, flamingos to mention but a few.

Shoe bill stork

The leading birding destinations in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Semliki National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Budongo Forest, Mabamba Swamp and many more.

Boat cruise

Boat cruise in Uganda lets you view basking crocodiles, hippos, water birds plus several wildlife species. The best places to visit for launch cruise in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National Park along Kazinga Channel which joins between Lake George and Lake Edward, Murchison Falls National Park along the Victoria Nile to the bottom of Murchison Falls. Other places include Lake Mburo National Park, Lake Victoria and many more.

Boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park

Mountaineering

Tourism in Uganda also presents tourists opportunity to embark on mountaineering adventures. These are basically challenging adventure experiences for hikers in need to challenge themselves. The best places to go for hiking or mountaineering in Uganda include Rwenzori Mountain ranges, Mount Gahinga, Mount Elgon, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo.

Mountaineering in Rwenzori Mountains

MISHAYA GORILLA FAMILY GETS A BABY GORILLA

The Mishaya gorilla family gets a baby gorilla. March has been a blessed month of 2020 for the tourism and conservation fraternity as the Mishaya gorilla group welcomes its newly born gorilla in the Rushaga gorilla tracking region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. We congratulate mother Biretwa for adding on the number of members within the Mishaya group and the population of these endangered species which remain fewer than 1063 in the world today. Based on communication from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the baby and the mother were all in good health conditions.

NEWBORN GORILLA AND MOTHER

Mishaya gorilla is a habituated gorilla group which is open for tourists on Uganda gorilla tracking safari to track in the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It makes up part of the 20 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and tracking it rewards trekkers with astonishing experiences. This gorilla family is a product of the Nshongi gorilla group and it split away in July, 2010. 

Originally, it was headed by Mishaya Silverback who broke away with 8 members to begin his own family. It consisted of Mize a juvenile, Mwiza baby, Bakunzi, Rutaro, Mishaya Silverback. The group has so far expanded to 12 members with the newly born gorilla. In the Rushaga region, visitors can also track habituated gorilla groups like Nshongi, Kutu, Bweza, Mucunguzi, Busingye, Rwingi, Kahungye and Bikingi.

Where to stay in Rushaga sector

Tourists on gorilla tracking safari in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can spend a night in accommodation options like Ichumbi Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Mutanda Lake Resort, Gorilla Valley Lodge.

How to get to Rushaga sector

Rushaga region is reachable by road or by air. Travelers can commence their journeys from Entebbe or Kampala via Masaka-Mbarara- Kabale/Kisoro to Rushaga area-southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is a 9-10 hours’ drive journey from Entebbe/Kampala.