Why Baboons are still an attraction in East Africa

In East Africa, there are basically two types of baboons that is the yellow baboon and the olive baboon. The olive baboon is larger and darker than the yellow baboon and they are only found in Uganda, west and central Kenya, and northern Tanzania.Smaller, slender, lighter in color-yellow baboon are found in the southern and coastal Kenya and Tanzania.There existence in Uganda has greatly led to increase in safaris which extend to other countries like Rwanda.

A mature Baboon weighs between 50 to 100 pounds and its 14 to 25 inches at the shoulder. They are omnivorous animals and they feed mainly on grass along with seeds, berries, pods, blossoms, leaves.roots, bark and sap from a variety of plants. Baboons also eat insects and small quantities of meat such as; young- small antelopes, fish, hares and birds. One special feeding aspect of baboons is that they are selective feeders that carefully choose their food.

Giving birth and caring for the infant

A baboon’s gestation period is six months and after giving birth, the mother baboon keeps the infant in very close contact. This is done to protect them from humans, leopards and cheetahs which are the main predators to them. The mother travels while holding its infant on its stomach with one hand. When the young baboon makes 5 weeks, the mother starts carrying it at the back. Between 5-7 months, the young baboon is left to join other baboons and look for its own food. When they begin to mature, males leave their natal troops and move in and out of different other groups until when they find one that is suitable for them. Males are easily accepted in other groups usually by developing friendship with the females.

Characteristics

Baboons have a calm lifestyle and if not disturbed, they cannot attack their neighbours.They sleep, travel and socialize together in groups of about 60 individuals consisting of both males and females. These groups are always on family basis .At around 8:00 am, baboons leave their sleeping places and adults sit in small groups grooming each other while the young ones play the morning sunlight. They then form units and move around the forest searching for food. They feed while traveling and they move for about six miles. They forage for about four hours and rest during the heat of the day after which they continue feeding. In the evening just before returning to their sleeping places, they spend some time grooming each other and playing. Grooming is a way of making friends and cleaning their bodies so that parasites are kept off their bodies.

Our company can help you experience this enchanting lifestyle of baboons by picking you at the airport,take your to your preferred hotel for relaxation.You will be picked by our experienced drivers and guides who will brief you before you continue with your safari to Uganda. Spend days in different lodges near the baboons and camp.

Just like chimpanzees,baboons are also tracked and one might have the same experience just like a person tracking the gorillas.

How to fly to Rwanda on your Safari

It’s obvious that a visitor from Europe, America or Asia can’t use ground transport on his Rwanda Safari.This the same case with visits to Uganda because of the long distances involved.l

The only mode of transport to use is by air and therefore one should know the various issues involved in planning a Safari to Rwanda. Our Company with its experience can organize a trip for you which include air ticketing and even cater for your ground movements while in Rwanda.

From London

In case a visitor is based in London and he/she is interested in making a Rwanda Safari, the most direct and convenient way is by flying from London to Nairobi (Kenya), and then connect to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. You can use Kenya Airways which has overnight flights to Nairobi departing London Heathrow in the evening. Normally, this flight reaches Nairobi between 6:00am and 7:00am.From here, it connects directly to an onward Kenya Airways flight to Kigali reaching there at around 10:30am.

Alternatively, tourists can decide to use British Airways to fly from London to Nairobi and later connect to Kigali. This plane(British Airways) usually departs from London Heathrow in the morning and lands in Nairobi in the evening at around 20:33.Due to fatigue which you experience while travelling, you cant be able to travel to Kigali this same day but having an overnight at one of Nairobi’s finest hotels can make you relaxed. Wake up in the morning (at around 7:45am) and depart for Kigali reaching at around 8:15am.

While at Kigali Airport, you will be met by our experienced guide who will brief you about the Safari and also stay with you throughout your Rwanda stay. You can ask these guides any questions about Rwanda since they are equipped with all the necessary information about tourism. We can book for you where to stay in advance so as to make you Safari a success.

As a tourist is planning for a Rwanda Safari, he/she may use any of the following flights to Rwanda; Entebbe- Kigali, Johannesburg – Kigali, Nairobi - Kigali and London – Kigali

Some of the airlines that can be used include;

·         Air Burundi (8Y)

·         British Airways (BA)

·         Ethiopian Airlines (EA)

·         Kenya Airways (KQ)

·         Rwandair Express (WB)

·         South African Airways (SA)

·         SN Brussels Airlines (SN)

·         Air France

·         Emirates

Uganda shines at Berlin tourism exhibition - Uganda Safari News

Following the recently concluded ITB Berlin tourism exhibition,Uganda managed to be the fifth best exhibitor among the 10 African countries.This was a great achievement by this East African country and an increase in Uganda Safaris is expected.

While in Berlin,Uganda stalled 120sq meters and it was the biggest ever in the recent years.This large space led to more walk-in visitors compared to other countries like Kenya.

Uganda's camp comprised of many tour operators who showcased the artwork of the rare mountain gorillas that the country boosts of.Other things that were showcased include the Uganda Waragi gin,artifacts and images of games and a full time running video playing a documentary of the Uganda tourism story.
All these helped the country to attract people to their showcasing premises.

According to the chief executive officer of Uganda Tourism Board,Stephen Asiimwe,he said that the industry should pull in one direction when it comes to marketing so as to attract more tourists to Uganda.
Uganda is mainly known for having the highest number of the hard-to find mountain gorillas and this has greatly attracted more Uganda Safaris which has increase revenue for the government.These rare primates can also be found in Rwanda which also featured in the top ten during the exhibition.Burundi also performed well but not better than Uganda.

The Chairman of Uganda Tourism Board(UTB),James Tumusiime said that as part of efforts to actualize the sector's full potential,foreign missions need to be fully integrated into the game since the big spenders come for America and Europe.

One of the things that has promoted tourism according to East African Community (EAC) deputy secretary general is the single visa initiative which was also launched in Berlin.Uganda was advised to cash in on her regional stabilizing roles because it gives a lot leadership in the region.

Embrace a Rwanda Safari with a unique experience

Most people call it "a land of a thousand hills" due to its escalating topology and beautiful plains,Rwanda has more than that because of its magnificent volcanoes and dense tropical forests which dominate the northern part.Its beauty has increased Rwanda safaris for the past years and today these occur concurrently with Uganda Safaris.While in the country,tourists enjoy great views of gentle valleys and hills,turbulent rivers and calm lakes, all found in both the dense tropical vegetation and the scenic savannah.

One of the great attractions that this country boosts of include the Rwanda gorilla tracking which attracts safaris from different corners of the world.Many visitors enjoy the company of these elegant primates found in Volcanoes National Park. Though its quite more expensive to track gorillas in Rwanda (at US$700) than in Uganda,there is an additional adventure to the activity as you are able to enjoy a Dian Fossey Grave hiking.
Apart from the above tourist attractions,a visitor can also enjoy other activities like Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park plus views of the 5 volcanoes,lakes and Rivers.

Rwanda is also termed as the leading safari destination for Eco-tourism due to its authentic African culture,unique nature and weather.The country also boosts a wide collection of wild animals among which include rare species that cannot be found in other places.

A tourists can also visit Rwanda's Akagera National Park found in the east which is blessed with a wide variety of wild animals.These mammals include:Elephants,lions,giraffes,hippopotamus,impala,gazelle,hyenas and many more.Bird watching is also guaranteed while in this great nation because of the presence of a rich variety of bird species.

Enjoy a different experience of interesting activities as you take a boat ride on some of Rwanda's water bodies which is accompanied by sport fishing.These activities can be carried out on lake Kivu ) found in the western part) and Lake Muhazi found in the east.

A safari to Rwanda is more simplified if you use our company to plan  the trip.We are a registered company with skilled staff and we are committed to give our clients the best of their money.Starting this adventurous trip is as easy as contacting us on this website and we shall contact you back.We also arrange Uganda Safaris at fair prices.

"Why stay at home yet you can see what you have never imagined on a Rwanda Safari" 

Why poaching has increased in Uganda? - Uganda Safari News

Uganda is one of the leading tourist destinations in Africa blessed with a number of wild animals that are magnificent to look at.This explains why there has been a rapid increase in Uganda Safaris for the past few years.Many visitor are attracted to this "Pearl of Africa" simply because of its nature and kind people.

Some of the leading tourism activities that visitor enjoy while on a Safari to Uganda include:-Gorilla tracking,mountain hiking,cultural tours,
white water rafting,chimpanzee tracking,bird watching,and many more.These tourism packages are so unique compared to those that a visitors enjoys while on other trips like a Rwanda Safari.This is simply because Uganda is blessed with a higher number of wild animals compared to other countries and it has the highest number of gorillas in the whole world.

However,Uganda is faced with a challenge of poaching that has led to a complete reduction in the number of wild animals in the national parks.The most affected mammal are elephants and Rhinos which are hunted for Ivory and meet respectively.According to the report from the minister of Tourism,Maria Mutagamba,the sector has been affected and the country has lost a lot of money.

This has caused an alarming situation in Uganda and the government was forced to come up with strong measures that can help to stop the vice.Few days ago,while celebrating 50 years of Kidepo Valley National Park,the president ordered the game rangers to shoot the poachers if found in action.He even said that more penalties will be setup to see that the vice is put to an end.He even promised to promote training of more game ranger and also provide the necessary equipments used to guard the animals.
With his order,poaching is expected to reduce with effect from this year and Uganda Safaris shall increase.

Apart from poaching,Uganda has also experienced a low in the tourism sector as a result of the death of 2 gorillas within just two months.This has reduced the number of these elegant primates in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.The Uganda Wildlife Authority has sent some of its doctors to go and investigate what could be the cause of these death as a way of overcoming the problem.

Uganda and Rwanda are blessed with mountain gorillas and they are the leading countries when it comes to gorilla tracking.

Tour operators want Dr.Edward Seguya to retire - Uganda Safari News

Last weekend,the tour operators convened a meeting in Kampala to discuss the way forward for the association.This came after the executive director of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA),Dr Edward Seguya made angering comments that the Uganda's minister of Tourism,Maria Mutagamba took a bribe to stop the online mountain gorilla trekking permits.

UWA had proposed that tourists should be given a chance of obtaining the gorilla permits online instead of following a long bureaucratic path that discourages them.The leader of Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO),Boniface Byamukama,they advised the government to deal with the vital issues that are affecting tourism like infrastructure development instead of finding ways of denying them business in their own country.They advised the government to pick a leaf from other countries like Rwanda and Kenya where the governments promote the marketing of Tourism.This is the reason why there are more Rwanda Safaris compared to those of Uganda.

This meeting ended up with a conclusion that Dr Edward Seguya should be impeached as the executive director of Uganda Wildlife Authority because he is incompetent.The different tour operators are planning to collect signatures from different authorities to show their seriousness.

It is now a few months to the peak season where Uganda receives a high number of tourists from different countries and this leads to increase in Uganda Safaris.During the peak season,the various parks in the country become busy as they are flocked with visistors and about 65% of the visitor are gorilla trackers.
A peak season in Uganda leads to and increase in Rwanda Safaris too because some visitors while Uganda decide to extend their trip to " the land of a thousand hills".

One of the leading attractions that both Uganda and Rwanda boast of are the mountain gorillas that are hard to find in other countries.These magnificent primates are good to look at and they have led to an increase in the National Income of both countries.

BREAKING NEWS:
Mwirima (darkness) the popular dominant silver
back for Rushegura Mountain Gorilla Family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,breathed his last yesterday March 3.

Why Impala spices up Wildlife Viewing on a Uganda Safari

Facts about Impala

The Impala whose scientific name is ‘Aepyceros melampus’ weighs between 100-140 pounds and in East Africa it’s mainly found in the savannah and light woodland usually very close to water. A mature Impala is between 27-38 inches tall its life span is 13 years. They have a reddish-brown body with white hair inside their ears, on the chin and over the eyes. Along their middle of the lower bottom runs a narrow black line and black stripe on the back of each thigh. This makes the Impala look so attractive and if found grazing on grass on the plane, one may wonder how God decorated this browser animal. The gestation period of an Impala is between 6-7 months.

Lifestyle of an Impala

An Impala is one of the most social, humble mammals in the wild and easily adapt to the prevailing environmental conditions. Unlike other animals, Impalas can survive in times of famine since they have two stomachs and can store food in one of the stomach for future use. Usually while they are in planes, males set up territories and control them, this is common when food is in plenty. These territories are made out of dung heaps and the male Impalas are seen standing with erect postures, rubbing scent from face glands in these territories. The female Impala and the young ones just follow the males and don’t go beyond their specific territories. The females form herds and wander in and out of the male territories but still the males try to herd them back to the center.

It’s very hard to distinguish between a male and a female Impala because of their body shape. Their bodies are almost the same and the only difference is that the females don’t have horns.

Giving birth

When its time for mating, the males make a lot of noise, making a sound like that of a lion’s roar or a dog’s bark. After the activity, the males look exhausted in that they cannot hold their territories for nearly a month. After about 7months the female gives birth and this is done through pain. The female leave the herd when they are about to give birth and seeks a secluded spot to bear her fawn. She eats the afterbirth and cleans the fawn after giving birth. The mother stays with the fawn for a few days or even leaves it lying out for a week before returning to the herd. If there are other fawns in the herd she may take her fawn to the others and live together and form a nursery group. This is done because it’s very hard for predators to pick from the nursery group. The young Impalas grow very fast and suckle for about 6 months after which they start to graze on grass.

Although Impalas keep themselves in territories, they are always attacked by their predators such as; lions, hyenas, hunting dogs, and leopards. This has led to a great depletion of Impalas in East Africa.