Earth Day – April 22, Uganda

Mother earth day, Uganda.

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The sustainable solution to Uganda’s plastic waste problem.

On April 22, 2018, Uganda will join the rest of the world to mark the International Mother Earth Day, a day meant to help raise awareness and protection of the environment, we in Uganda just like an other part of  the world need louder voices on the need to conserve mother earth for sustainable relationships. However, human activities such as poor waste disposal in urban areas such as Kampala city, alarming levels of tree cutting for fuel like charcoal and firewood, construction materials and poles not forgetting the population pressure on the forests and wetlands threaten the natural environment, accelerating irregular changes in environmental conditions or what is technically referred to as climate change, industrialization and pollution.

This year’s International Mother Earth Day global theme “End Plastic Pollution” could not be more appropriate in Uganda.

Uganda like many other countries around the world is grappling with plastics/polythene waste management problem. This crisis is more severe in urban centres attributed to our poor attitude towards the environment and lack of a consciousness to our surroundings. It should be noted that this isn’t the first time Uganda is trying to ban the use of plastics bags. It has been done before but with futility.

We should however be reminded of our responsibility to protect the rich resources available on our planet that sustain the lives of the world’s estimated 7 billion inhabitants and we should therefore remain committed to take care of earth’s natural resources, educating, sensitizing and training people to work with it in creative, sustainable and beneficial ways and we also need to recognize the importance of taking care of the environment and strives to implement environmentally-friendly practices in all of its activities.

We all understand or need to understand that earth’s resources are essential in supporting people’s livelihoods, fostering that approach through agriculturally friendly projects and we therefore need to use sustainable agro-based activities to fight against the effects of poverty, increasing food security, and promoting income diversification.

Uganda’s plastic waste challenge.

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One of Uganda’s biggest plastic challenge is polythene/plastic bags (buveera) mainly used for packing and plastic what bottles. Economic development has brought in its wake numerous challenges including global warming with its numerous consequences. A major challenge the world has and is still facing as a result of the industrial development has been the disposal of industrial waste. This is coupled with the actual usage of resources. Today, the world is talking about sustainable development, can we use our resources in such a way that they can be sustained and used in generations?

Unfortunately, this does not appear to be so. Developing countries just like Uganda are busy polluting the air. China and the USA are possibly the biggest culprits, but the world is talking about it and putting measures to address it.

Today Uganda is faced with challenges of air pollution, deforestation, desertification all emerging from industrial development. For the developing countries, while we sign up to international agreements on some of these issues very little translates onto the ground. The issue of polythene bags is one such.

 

The challenge is growing uncontrollably mainly resulting from packaging of goods that we buy from commercial enterprises. Growing up, packaging of goods was mainly in paper bags, this was until business invented the plastic bag but the cost of the plastic bag to the earth is phenomenal. It is said that over 100 million tonnes of plastics have entered the oceans! There are also reports that in every square mile of the ocean worldwide, there are approximately one million pieces of plastic debris!

Over two million birds and animals die every year due to eating of polythene bags or as a result of chocking. Plastic is choking rivers, tunnels and other water ways.

In our poor countries, the tragedy has already happened but it is yet to show its ugly head. The consequences of the plastic bag and there disposal has already damaged most of our society. Some countries that have been wise have banned the usage of high density polythene bags. These include China, India, Bangladesh and Rwanda among others.

Uganda’s attempt to ban these plastics was defeated by lobbyists, corruption and weaknesses in implementing the law. In some other countries especially developed countries, they have imposed a surcharge on usage of plastics but because they are more aware of the problem these cause, the disposal methods are strictly enforced.
Uganda has a major challenge, every town, slum, trading center is filled with debris of polythene bags. Of course we don’t have records of who has died as a result of swallowing or misusing of these bags.

There are very many things that we know we should not do but we ignore and do them. People will not get out of forests yet they know it is important to have forest cover to avoid problems of climate change. The plastic bag challenge is one of those things we must address. As a poor country, we cannot afford the costs associated with the hazards that poor disposal of plastic bags cause. We need to have sustainable economic development.

We should take care of our forests, wetlands, lakes and rivers. We should sensitize our children in schools about the hazards of deforestation, desertification and global warming among other challenges. But most important, we should sensitize children in schools about disposal of plastic bags.

This Earth Day, Know Uganda Guide encourages everyone to get involved in preserving the natural resources in their own communities and look for ways to be better stewards of these finite resources.

To be continued………………

Earth week to mark Mother Earth day Sunday April 22, 2018.

Earth Day, April 22 2018. Earth week- general overview and insights.

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The Uganda Martyrs.

The Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo.

Uganda annually observes Martyrs’ Day on June 3. This is a public holiday in Uganda, that is why everyone has an opportunity to make pilgrimage to Namugongo, Holy Land of Uganda.

Namugongo became the place of pilgrimage for people from Uganda and its neighboring countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo. The pilgrimage begins from May 25 and lasts till June 2. June 3 is the climax of celebration and it’s an official day off.

The Uganda Martyrs are 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic converts, who were executed between November 1885 and January 1887. The execution was held under Kabaka Mwanga II, king of Buganda from 1884 till 1888 and again from 1889 till 1897. The widest series of executions were held in Namugongo between May 25 and June 3, 1886. 22 men converted to Catholicism were buried alive.

The climax celebrations of Martyrs’ Day are organized by dioceses year after year. The Mass begins at 10 a.m. and it’s accomplished by liturgical dances. The celebration is attended by ministers, representatives from embassies and other states.

Namugongo. Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo.

“Here is a number of men and boys who, within a few years from first hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, have courage to live and die by its paradox: ‘Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it, but anyone who loses his life for my sake, will save it.'”

Bishop Joseph Willigers, Bishop of Jinja, 15th October, 1984 in the introduction to African Holocaust, The Story of the Uganda Martyrs by J.F. Faupel, Third edition, 1984.

There are 24 Catholic Uganda Martyrs. The 22 martyrs were killed between 1885 and 1887 by Kabaka (King) Mwanga of Buganda in the South of Uganda; 13 of the martyrs were burnt to death at Namugongo. The twenty-two martyrs were beatified by Pope Benedict XV on 6th June 1920 and canonized by Pope Paul VI on 18th October 1964. The other 2 martyrs were speared to death in Paimol, Gulu in the North of Uganda in October 1918. They were beatified by Pope John Paul II on 20th October 2002.

There are also Anglican martyrs that were killed by King Mwanga between 1885 and 1887 together with the Catholic martyrs. While paying tribute to the 22 Catholic martyrs  Pope Paul IV also paid tribute to the Anglican martyrs in his homily at the canonisation. “And we do not wish to forget”, he said ,”the others who, belonging to the Anglican confession, met death for the name of Christ.”

All these martyrs are honoured on 3rd June every year.

Pope Francis prays at the Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine in Namugongo, Uganda, on November 28, 2015.

 

The 22 Martyrs, 1885-1887Many of the martyrs were pages in the Kabaka’s palace while others were working in chiefs’ homesteads. Each family was selecting very hardworking boys, well behaved too, to go and work for the King. It was also a sign of showing loyalty to the King as it was prestigious to work for the King.

It is in the King’s palace and chiefs homes, therefore, that the Martyrs began to learn religion after the coming of the Anglican and catholic Missionaries in 1877 and 1879 respectively. The Christian Missionaries were invited by Kabaka Muteesa I, Mwanga’s father, in his letter dated 14th April 1875 that was published in the Daily Telegraph of 15th November 1875 in England.

The first martyr to die was King’s major domo and leader of all Christians, Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, on 15th November 1885. He was killed because he had pleaded to King Mwanga to abandon the vice of homosexuality and not to kill Bishop Hannington, an Anglican missionary who had entered Buganda from Busoga (the backdoor of Buganda kingdom).

From that time he became angry with all Christians as they all refused to give in to his sinful demands and were persuading all other pages to do the same. On 25th May, 1886, King Mwanga ordered for a number of Christians to be brought before him and he passed on them the death penalty. 20 of the 22 martyrs were killed between 26th May 1886 and 3rd June 1886.

Some Martyrs were hacked to pieces like Andrew Kaggwa, Pontian Ngondwe, Matthias Mulumba  and Denis Ssebuggwawo. Others were speared to death like Gonzaga Gonza, while others like Charles Lwanga and 12 others were burnt alive at Namugongo.

John Maria Muzeeyi was the last of the 22 martyrs to be killed on 27/01/1887. He was beheaded and his body was thrown into a swamp.

The burning place at Namugongo

The twenty-two Roman Catholics martyrs are:The 12 Uganda martyers.

 

                             UGANDA MARTYRS PROFILES

“These that are clothed in white robes, who are they? And whence come they?’ (Rev 7:13)””Yes, they are Africans and they are martyrs. ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, therefore they are before the throne of God’ (Rev 7:14-15” “Who could foresee that with the great historical figures of African martyrs and confessors like Cyprian, Felicity and Perpetua and the outstanding Augustine, we should one day list the beloved names of Charles Lwanga, Matthias Mulumba Kalemba and their twenty companions?” Paul VI, Homily on the occasion of the canonization of the Uganda Martyrs, 18 October 1964 St. Charles Lwanga was a Muganda by tribe from Buddu county (Birinzi village) but there are mixed findings about his parents. Read More… St. Matthias Mulumba Kalemba was a Musoga by tribe from Bunya county in Busoga. His biological parents, however, are not known.  Read More… St. Noe Mawaggali was a Muganda by tribe from Ssingo county and of Bush-Buck (Ngabi) clan -Tragelaphus Scriptus. His father was Musazi and mother Meme. Read More… St. Kizito was the youngest of all the Martyrs who died at the age of 14. He was a Muganda by tribe from Bulemeezi county. Read More… St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe was the head of Catholic Church during the absence of Catholic Missionaries and a leader all Christians.  Read More… St. Denis Ssebuggwawo (Musajja-mukulu) was by tribe a Muganda from Bulemeezi county. His father was Kajansi and mother, Nsonga ( Musoga). . Read More… St. Pontian Ngondwe was a Muganda by tribe from Kyaggwe county and of White Egret (Nnyonyi) clan -Bubulcus Lucidus. . Read More… St. Andrew Kaggwa Muddu-aguma Mugoowa was a Munyoro by tribe from Bugangayizi county but his parents are not known as he was just captured from his home-land by Buganda raiders. Read More… St. Athanasius Bazzekuketta is a Muganda by tribe. Though his county of origin is unknown, his father was Kafeero Kabalu Sebaggala and his mother Namukwaya (Buffalo Clan).. Read More… St. Gonzaga Gonza was a Musoga from Bulamoogi county. His parents are not known, though it is said in various writings that he belonged to Lion (Mpologoma) clan.. Read More… St. Luke Baanabakintu a Muganda by tribe from Ggomba county. His father was Mukwanga and mother Kusuubiza of Seed Clan. Baanabakintu was of Lungfish (Mamba) clan—Protopterus.. Read More… St. James Buuzaabalyawo was a Muganda from Mawookota county. His father was Sebikejje but his mother is unknown. He was of Black and white Colubus Monkey (Ngeye) clan -Colobus Polykomos.Read More… St. Gyavira Musoke was a Muganda from Busiro county, his father was Semalago but his mother is not known. He was of Lungfish (Mamba) clan—Protopterus.. Read More… St. Ambrose Kibuuka Katikamu was a Muganda by tribe from Ssingo county. His father was Kisuule and mother Ampera. . Read More… St. Anatoli Kiriggwajjo was by tribe a Munyoro. His parents and county of origin are not known as he was captured during the inter-kingdom wars and brought to the king’s palace. Read More… St. Achilles Kiwanuka was a Muganda by tribe from Ssingo county. He is from Scaly Ant-Eater or Pangolin (Lugave) clan. Read More… St. Mbaaga Tuzinde was a Muganda by tribe from Busiro county and of Lungfish (Mamba) clan – Protopterus.  Read More… St. Mugagga Lubowa was a Muganda by tribe from Mawookota. His father was Mazinga and his mother Nassubwa. He was of Leopard (Ngo) clan -Felix Pardus. Read More… St. Mukasa Kiriwawanvu was a Muganda by tribe from Kyaggwe county and of Sheep (Ndiga) clan – ovis. His father was Lumanyika and mother Malokuvaawo (Musoga). Read More… St. Adolphus Mukasa Ludigo was a Munyoro by tribe from Mwenge-Toro . His parents are unknown because he was captured in the inter-kingdom wars and brought to the palaca as a captive.. Read More… St. Bruno Sserunkuuma was by tribe a Muganda from Buddu county. His father was Namunjulirwa and mother Ndibaliza.. Read More… St. John Mary Kiwanuka Muzeeyi was the last Catholic Martyr to be killed by king Mwanga. He was a Muganda from Buddu county. Read More… Blessed Jildo Irwa was born about 1902 by Tongpfur Daniele (father) and Atoo (mother) from Labongo Bar- Kitoba clan of Acholi. Read More… Blessed Okello Daudi was born about 1900. His father was Lodi and mother; Amona of Ongon Payira clan. . Read More…

The 2 Martyrs of Paimol, Gulu, 1918

These two martyrs, Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa, were young catechists from Paimol, Gulu at the beginning of the 20th century. Having just received Baptism and Confirmation, they realized that to be a Christian means to share one’s faith, even at the cost of life itself, should this become necessary. So they started at once to work as catechist, and carried on until they shed their blood.

Daudi and Jildo were beatified by Pope John Paul II on 20th October 2002.Jildo was younger. He was born at Labongo Bar-Kitoba around 1906. He was baptised when he was not quite 10 years old.

People who opposed the new religion took advantage of socio-political unrest to stop the preaching of the Gospel in Paimol. The two catechists were hounded, threatened, ordered to give up their activities, and finally speared to death. It was the week end of 18th – 20th October 1918.

 

Credit to Uganda Martyrs Shrine

 

Black Mamba, The Fastest Snake In The World.

In East Africa there are about 200 species of snake. Most of them are harmless or very rare. Basically there are 6 poisonous snakes in Uganda that can be fatal. Black mamba or Dendroaspis polylepis is a slender and shy, but unpredictable and powerful snake with colors varying from grey to dark brown. The inside of the mouth is black, which is why it is called black mamba. In Uganda they are very rare (or maybe even non-existent). It is mainly found on the ground, but can also be found in trees. It has the ability to lift the head of the ground, so when it strikes, it bites at knee-height. The symptoms of a poisonous bite are similar to that of the Jameson’s mamba.

The black mamba is a venomous snake endemic to parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Skin colour varies from grey to dark brown. Juvenile black mambas tend to be lighter in color than adults and darken with age.

The fastest land snake in the world is the aggressive black mamba found in the southern part of tropical Africa. Black mambas are very capable hunters, fitted with deadly venom and speedy movements, reaching speeds of at least 11 km/h (6.8 mph) and up to 20 km/h (12.4 mph).

Despite its name, black mambas aren’t black. They’re gray. The name comes from the color of the inside of its mouth – something it will gladly show you while it threatens you, if provoked. They can grow up to 14 feet (4.3 meters) long, which is another reason why this reptile isn’t something to mess with. The snake races along with its head held high and about one-third of its body off the ground. That can be up to four feet (1.2 meters) off the ground – about chin level for some people. The black mamba is the most respected and feared snake in Africa.

Black mamba’s are aggressive snakes that spring up to strike. Black mambas also go after birds – and they’re good at it. One mamba even had a parrot inside its stomach. After biting their prey, black mambas leave it to die. The venom is strong enough to kill prey in a matter of minutes so the snakes don’t have to wait long for their meal. For humans, the wait could be up to four hours till death. Black mambas devour their food whole. They can fit food up to four times the size of their head into their mouth and will even dislocate their lower jaw in order to cram more food in.

Without treatment, the death rate from a black mamba bite is almost 100 percent. Although two drops of venom from a black mamba are enough to kill a human (they are one of the most poisonous snakes in the world), mambas don’t usually attack humans. They should still be left alone – they are considered one of the most dangerous snakes in the world.

Although most mamba species are tree-dwelling snakes, the black mamba is not generally arboreal, preferring lairs in terrestrial habitats in a range of terrains. These include savannah, woodlands, rocky slopes and in some regions dense forest. It is diurnal and chiefly an ambush predator, known to prey on hyrax, bushbabies and other small mammals as well as birds. It is also a pursuit predator; in this it resembles some other long, speedy, highly-venomous species with well-developed vision. Over suitable surfaces it is possibly the speediest species of snake, capable of at least 11 km/h (6.8 mph) over short distances. Adult mambas have few natural predators.

 

Uganda, One of the 20 up-and-coming locations you probably didn’t consider visiting.

UGANDA

Nature lovers will enjoy western Uganda’s Kisoro district, which is known as “Little Switzerland” because of the mountainous region, forests and small freshwater lakes. It is home to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – one of four national parks in the world where the critically endangered mountain gorilla can be seen in the wild. You can also spend a day trekking up one of the Virunga Volcanoes in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Lake Mutanda (pictured), dotted by small islands and surrounded by the volcanoes, makes for a scenic canoeing experience. Then there’s the Murchison Falls National Park, which is the country’s largest such park and home to the Murchison Falls where the Victoria Nile descends into Lake Albert.

 

Read full article 20 up-and-coming locations you probably didn’t consider visiting

Photo credit to bhojraj/Getty Images

Great Thanks to msn for the article

Uganda, one of the 9 most welcoming countries to raise a family in, as voted by expats.

Moving to another country for a new job and life can be daunting. When you put children into the mix, finding the right home is even more difficult.

46% of expatriates around the world have children of their own but only 21% are currently raising their children abroad, according to expat networking group InterNations.

The group conducted a survey of 3,000 families who live and work abroad and found that some countries are significantly more friendly towards new families than others.

Switzerland, Russia, and Austria ranked as the least friendly countries towards families.

Here are the 9 friendliest:

9. Turkey — Expat families say this country is incredibly welcoming to children but rated it negatively for safety and security due to political instability.

Joey Wong

8. Mexico —”Mexicans do not only welcome families with a friendly attitude, but expats in general,” says InterNations.

A man dressed as Santa Claus runs with his children in Run Santa Run event at Fundidora park in Monterrey, Mexico December 18, 2016.Reuters

7. Australia — The country ranks highly for friendliness but does even better when it comes to leisure options available to children. Australia also ranks highly for work-life balance.

A young boy plays in the rock pools with his father at Bondi Beach.Getty

6. Greece — The country is high in the rankings for friendliness but expats voted the country poorly across other subindexes, such as education options.

Shutterstock/Lucian BOLCA

5. Thailand — The Asian country comes in near the top for being incredibly welcoming to expat families. 76% of respondents also said that they feel positively about their children’s health here.

Reuters

4. Costa Rica — This country is a favourite among expats in general for its low cost of living. 74% say they are “satisfied with the local leisure activities for their kids” and over 91% rate the friendliness towards children as positive.

eflon/Flickr

3. Taiwan — The country excels in everything from quality of life to happiness with personal finance situations. 97% of respondents also said they rate the country’s attitude towards children positively.

Getty

2. Israel — The country is popular with families, thanks to its high rating “with regard to education and health,” says InterNations.

Dance60 / Shutterstock

1. Uganda — “Every single parent rates the friendliness of the local population towards children positively, and 68% are even completely satisfied with the warm attitude towards families,” said InterNations.

A general view shows Hoima town, Uganda April 27, 2015.Reuters.

Credit to Business Insider Uk for the article.

8 REASONS YOU NEED TO VISIT UGANDA NEXT

#ThePearlOfAfrica

know Uganda Guide blog

“For magnificence, for variety of form and colour, for profusion of brilliant life… Uganda is truly the pearl of Africa.” – My African Journey, Winston Churchill, 1908

More than a century after he penned the line, Winston Churchill’s oft-quoted quip about Uganda still stands. Located at the point where the East African savannah meets the Central African rainforest, the country is one of the most bio-diverse in the world, and within its comparatively diminutive frame lie the continent’s highest mountain range, its largest lake, and the source of the world’s longest river.

For much of its (at times turbulent) history, however, Uganda has struggled to escape the shadow of its noisy neighbours, the safari powerhouses of Kenya and Tanzania. But times are changing. Nationwide peace has reigned for well over a decade, the government has started investing properly in roads, hotels and other tourist facilities, and visitors are at last…

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8 REASONS YOU NEED TO VISIT UGANDA NEXT

“For magnificence, for variety of form and colour, for profusion of brilliant life… Uganda is truly the pearl of Africa.” – My African Journey, Winston Churchill, 1908

More than a century after he penned the line, Winston Churchill’s oft-quoted quip about Uganda still stands. Located at the point where the East African savannah meets the Central African rainforest, the country is one of the most bio-diverse in the world, and within its comparatively diminutive frame lie the continent’s highest mountain range, its largest lake, and the source of the world’s longest river.

For much of its (at times turbulent) history, however, Uganda has struggled to escape the shadow of its noisy neighbours, the safari powerhouses of Kenya and Tanzania. But times are changing. Nationwide peace has reigned for well over a decade, the government has started investing properly in roads, hotels and other tourist facilities, and visitors are at last waking up to its compelling mix of spectacular scenery, incredible wildlife and warm and welcoming people. Here are just some of the reasons why you should be one of them…

1. TO TRACK CHIMPANZEES IN KIBALE

A beautiful swathe of thick equatorial rainforest, Kibale National Park boasts the highest concentration of primates in all of Africa. Its thirteen species include black-and-white colobus monkeys and impish grey-cheeked mangabeys but everyone is here for the chimpanzees. On a day-long Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, you’ll follow a troop of whooping and hollering chimps as they swing through the forest, gathering in the treetops to play, doze or feast on figs.

When the midday heat burns through the upper canopy, the chimps descend, sliding down vines and striding right past you. If such an extraordinarily close encounter doesn’t give you goosebumps, the sound of the males messaging each other will: they drum on the buttress roots of giant fig trees with such force that the ground around you shakes.

Where to stayPrimate Lodge Kibale is set slap bang in the middle of the park, just a few minutes from the start of the tracking trailhead. Swish refurbished cottages look out into a wall of forest, and there’s a tree house for the intrepid.

2. TO RAFT THE NILE

The unassuming colonial-era town of Jinja is East Africa’s adventure capital, its smorgasbord of watersports growing out of the unique opportunity to raft at the source of the Nile. The surge of tumultuous white water that runs 20 kilometres downriver from Lake Victoria rivals the Lower Zambezi, and is a heart-thumping ride over rapids bearing names such as Hair of the Dog and Bad Place.

Where to stay Occupying an island in the middle of the Nile, Wildwaters Lodge is spectacularly sandwiched between two sets of deafening rapids, with lovely wooden cottages and a natural riverside swimming pool.

3. TO MEET THE KARAMOJONG

Rubbing shoulders with Kenya and South Sudan in the far northeast of the country, the disparate Karamoja region sees only a few visitors bound for the remote wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park. Yet the area is home to one of Uganda’s most intriguing peoples: the Karamojong, a historically fierce tribe of cattle-raiding pastoralists. Visits to a Karamojong manyatta explore their traditional homesteads – beehive huts encircled by a protective wall of spiky brushwood – and usually feature cultural dancing, or “high jumping”, which is similar in style to the more famous Masaai just across the border.

Where to stayApoka Safari Lodge in Kidepo can arrange visits to nearby Karamojong villages. Check your government’s travel advice before booking, as some areas of northeast Uganda are subject to travel warnings.

4. TO SWIM IN A CRATER LAKE

There are dozens of volcanic crater lakes in and around the Ndali-Kasenda region of western Uganda, but shimmering Kyaninga is the jewel. Fringed with forest and crisscrossed by gliding hornbills, the lake is a mesmerising granite blue. It’s semi active, so although 225 metres deep in parts, the water hovers around a pleasant 21 degrees. Add in the fact that it’s one of East Africa’s few lakes that are free from bilharzia and you have the perfect place for a spot of wild swimming.

Where to stay The gorgeous thatched cottages at Kyaninga Lodge are staggered along a ridge overlooking the lake. The huge rooms all have stunning views, and the range of local activities include an early morning Crater Walk and time spent with village elders at a nearby farm.

5. TO SPOT A PREHISTORIC BEAST

Uganda’s oldest conservation area, Murchison Falls National Park draws visitors to its famously thunderous cataracts, where the full force of the Nile is explosively squeezed through a gap in the Rift Valley Escarpment. But this is also one of the best places in the country to see the primeval-looking shoebill, a towering, hook-beaked bird that feeds on baby crocodiles and looks like it was dreamt up by the creators of The Dark Crystal.

Where to stayBaker’s Lodge enjoys a superb setting on the banks of the Nile, its eight cottages hidden among acacia trees and fronting the river. Watch out for hippos munching on the grass outside your room at night.

Image by Hjalmar Gislason on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

6. TO HIKE THE RWENZORI

Forming an imposing border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, and snow-capped even at the height of summer, the legendary Mountains of the Moon are Africa’s highest range. The hiking is tough – it’s a good eight or nine days to complete the Kilembe Trail in the southern section of the park, though much shorter routes are available – but the rewards are considerable: remote trekking through a pristine wilderness of craggy peaks, glacier lakes and a lunar landscape dotted with giant groundsel plants.

Where to stayRwenzori Trekkers, located in the shadow of the mountains, is the closest accommodation to the Kilembe trailhead, but you’ll be more comfortable, and still within range, staying in the Ndali-Kasenda region.

7. TO CRUISE THE KAZINGA CHANNEL

Queen Elizabeth National Park is blessed with a variety of beautiful habitats, from the open plains of the Kasenyi sector to the densely wooded scrub of the Mweya Peninsula and fig-tree-studded Ishasha. But it’s the boat launch on the Kazinga Channel that’s the real highlight of a visit to Uganda’s most popular national park.

You’ll drift lazily past huge pods of hippos; close-up encounters with buffalos, crocodiles and Nile monitors are virtually guaranteed; and herds of elephants regularly come down to water to drink and bathe in the shallows.

Where to stay It’s worth spending a night in different sectors of the park. Mweya Lodge is a fairly large bush hotel with a personal feel, and an infinity pool that overlooks the Kazinga Channel. In the far south of the park, spectacular Ishasha Wilderness Camp makes the most of its beautiful setting, with luxurious safari tents spread along a scenic stretch of the Ntungwe River.

8. TO TRACK GORILLAS IN BWINDI

A full day spent tracking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is probably the most remarkable wildlife experience on earth.

On the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s new Gorilla Habituation Experience, you’ll accompany park rangers and researchers as they track (and monitor) these powerful yet peaceful creatures, first locating their overnight nests before following a trail of broken branches and tell-tale silver hairs to the gorillas themselves. What follows is 3 or 4 hours of lifelong memories, as you watch immense silverbacks tearing up and munching on huge bundles of vegetation while playful youngsters roly-poly amongst the undergrowth.

Where to stay The group of gorillas currently being habituated in Bwindi are tracked from the trailhead at Rushaga, where the staff at the forest-facing Gorilla Safari Lodge are super-friendly and the chef serves up some of the best meals in Uganda.

By KEITH DREW October 10th, 2016

TAGS: AFRICA / UGANDA

source: Rough Guides Limited

UGANDA’S TOP BIRDS THAT WILL WOW YOU WITH THEIR BEAUTY

From the savannahs of the Kidepo to the deep forests of the Mabira, right through the impenetrable Bwindi and to the top of Wagagai, the variety of bird species in Uganda is undeniable.

Being located within the tropics, Uganda has one of the most conducive weather for bird habitation; making it easy for several species to flourish throughout the country’s green including the city.

There are over 1,000 bird species including those that have not be documented for tourism, but among those are some that are most sought after by birdwatchers and well known to the local population.

Grey Crowned Crane

Commonly known as the Crested Crane, this bird is a national treasure and can be spotted on the Ugandan flag and coat of arms. The Crested Crane is a subspecies of the Crane family; there is elegance in their movements and can be found around swampy areas, lake shores or other wetlands in the country.

Due to constant poaching and ritualistic purposes, the population of Crested Cranes in Uganda has dwindled over the years. They are a sight to behold when ascending to flight, their wide spread feathers shimmer with color.

Shoe Billed Stork

This bird might confuse several scientists on which family it should belong to; Ciconiiformes or Pelecaniformes. The shoebill is one of the top sought after birds in Uganda. The bird’s unique feature is its large shoe shaped bill that it uses to forage food at the same time helps it stand out uniquely from its other stork relatives, shoebills are only found on the African continent.

Shoebills in Uganda can be found around the marshy- swampy areas of the country; they mainly feed on tilapia and lungfish even if shoebills are considered to be piscivorous.

Karamoja Apalis

Though not much is known about these birds, they are part of the Cisticolidae family/Warbler family and were first spotted in Karamoja in 1919 which explains their English name.

You have probably heard them sing the first and last song of the day out in the shrubs when you visit the village. They tend to nest in low thorny thick shrubs and can be easily spotted around the savannah in the national parks of Uganda, although they are more common in the North Eastern part of the country. The Uganda Karamoja Apalis is usually grey in color and almost the size of a small fist.

African Green Broadbill

This bright- green with a blue throat bird has a small bill, quite unlike those of the other broadbills. The African green broadbill is also known as Grauer’s Broadbill and can be identified by their leafy green color with a light blue breast/ rump and short but protruding tail. They can be found in the Albertine region of Uganda, especially in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest. They are classified as vulnerable due to constant degrading of most of its habitats.

Great Blue Turaco

The Great blue turaco is one of the largest species of the Turaco bird group that is found in Uganda; they are common in dense tropical forests such the Mabira. Their physical characteristics make them look like a cross between the great eagle and the peacock. They have very beautiful bright colored feathers; blue body with a yellow breast and red- yellow beaks. The Great blue turacos are reducing in number, since they are hunted down for meat and for their feathers.

Doherty’s Bush Shrike

The Bush Shrike is a bird from the Malaconotidae family and is found in the shrublands of Uganda and forests on and around the slopes of Mountains. They have bright colors; black, yellow, red and a little grey that almost make them look like they are wearing the Ugandan flag on their feathers. They are among the most common birds one can find in the country when birding and their population is mostly stable.

Black Breasted Barbet

Lybius Rolleti is a bird indigenous to Africa but are usually rarely to find, they nest in thick vegetation areas and known to be very solitary birds. They are plump-looking, with large heads and their heavy bill is fringed with bristles. Black Breasted Barbets feed off of fruits such as guavas and mangoes plus small insects and vertebrates. Fruit is eaten whole and indigestible material such as seed pits regurgitated later. African barbets are quite similar to the American barbets which also belong to Piciformes.

 

Credit: Travel.jumia.com

photos added by Know Uganda

Uganda’s 10 Best Birding Spots

know Uganda Guide blog

Uganda is home to over 1,050 bird species, which can be found across a range of habitats from forests, swamps and agricultural lands, to lakes and savannahs. Uganda is crossed by the equator, and the Albertine Rift valley can be found in the west of the country. We encourage birding enthusiasts to consider visiting this beautiful country!

In no particular order, here are Kagera Safaris‘ best birding spots in Uganda:

1. Mabamba Bay Wetland at Lake Victoria  Mabamba is one of the best places to catch a glimpse of a shoebill. Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater body in Africa and is home to numerous water birds. Look out for the shoebill, swamp flycatcher, papyrus gonolek, malachite kingfisher, pied kingfisher, black-headed heron, black kite, African open-billed stork, African jacana, lesser jacana, winding cisticola, Veillot’s black weaver, grosbeak weaver, black-headed weaver and African marsh harrier.

2. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Bwindi‘s impenetrable forest is voted Africa’s…

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Uganda’s 10 Best Birding Spots

Uganda is home to over 1,050 bird species, which can be found across a range of habitats from forests, swamps and agricultural lands, to lakes and savannahs. Uganda is crossed by the equator, and the Albertine Rift valley can be found in the west of the country. We encourage birding enthusiasts to consider visiting this beautiful country!

In no particular order, here are Kagera Safaris‘ best birding spots in Uganda:

1. Mabamba Bay Wetland at Lake Victoria  Mabamba is one of the best places to catch a glimpse of a shoebill. Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater body in Africa and is home to numerous water birds. Look out for the shoebill, swamp flycatcher, papyrus gonolek, malachite kingfisher, pied kingfisher, black-headed heron, black kite, African open-billed stork, African jacana, lesser jacana, winding cisticola, Veillot’s black weaver, grosbeak weaver, black-headed weaver and African marsh harrier.

2. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Bwindi‘s impenetrable forest is voted Africa’s best birding spot by African Bird Club, owing to the rare bird species found here and the park’s conservation efforts. It is easily accessible for birding with maintained birding trails in the forest. Bwindi is home to about 350 species of birds, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics of which 14 are not recorded anywhere else in Uganda. Species to look out for include the African green broadbill, Chapin’s flycatcher, Shelley’s crimsonwing, handsome francolin, mountain-masked and collared apalis, white-bellied robin chat, black billed turaco, Fraser’s eagle, western bronze-naped pigeon, purple-breasted, blue-headed and regal sunbirds.

3. Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison Falls is Uganda’s oldest and largest national park, named after the mighty Murchison Falls – the world’s strongest waterfalls formed as the Nile is forced through a 7-metre gorge. The park is home to over 450 bird species and birding can be done on a game drive, via a boat trip (on the Nile) or a nature walk. A variety of bird habitats exist in the national park, including forests, swamps, riverine woodland, savannah and plains of acacia trees. Look out for the elusive shoebill, swamp flycatcher, goliath heron, abyssinian ground hornbill, northern red bishop, red-throated bee-eater, African quail finch, pied, malachite and giant kingfishers.

4. Queen Elizabeth National Park Queen Elizabeth National Park is a birdwatcher’s haven with over 600 bird species. The birds are relatively easy to spot, and you can expect to take great photos as you explore the park and its various environments. The bird species to look out for include the African mourning dove, swamp flycatcher, grey-headed kingfisher, African skimmer, malachite and pied kingfishers, white-winged terns, grey-capped warbler, collared pratincole, pin-tailed whydah, martial eagle, gabon and slender-tailed nightjars, black-headed gonolek, Verreaux’s eagle-owl, sedge warbler, papyrus canary, great white and pink-backed pelicans, African mourning dove and yellow-billed stork. Also look out for the flamingos at the salt lakes of Katwe and Bunyampaka.

5. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to about 180 bird species with some of the spectacular Albertine Rift endemics. It is located in the southern part of Uganda, bordering Rwanda and DR Congo. Mgahinga offers excellent bird viewing opportunities along the gorge trail, bamboo trail and farm/community trail. The bird species in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park include Kivu ground thrush, cinnamon bracken warbler, white-starred robin, Rwenzori batis, Archer’s robin chat, olive pigeon, black-headed waxbill, western green tinker bird, Cape robin, white-starred robin, brown woodland warbler, stripe-breasted tit, brown-crowned tchagra and scarlet-tufted, greater double-collared sunbirds.

6. Semuliki National Park Semuliki National Park, located in western Uganda in the Albertine Rift valley, has a record 441 species in its riverine, forest and grasslands avian habitats. It hosts Guinea-Congo biome species in its lowland forest. The species to look out for include the African piculet, Maxwell’s black weaver, blue-billed malimbe, yellow-throated nicator, black dwarf hornbill, Nkulengu rail, piping hornbill, blue-billed malimbe, yellow-throated cuckoo, dwarf honeyguide, great blue and Ross’s turaco, purple-breasted sunbird, orange weaver, white-crested hornbill, red-billed dwarf hornbill, African piculet and swamp palm bulbul.

7. Kibale National Park Kibale Forest is a prime birding spot with over 375 bird species, including six endemic to the Albertine Rift area. It is an excellent birding spot with varied habitat and dense vegetation. The number one sought after bird in the Kibale Forest is the green-breasted pitta. Other bird species to look out for include the red-chested owlet, purple-breasted sunbird, blue-breasted kingfisher, crowned eagle, little greenbul, black bee-eater, white-naped pigeon, scaly-breasted illadopsis, yellow-throated nicator, white-headed wood hoopoe, red-headed malimbe, yellow-spotted barbet, dusky-blue flycatcher, grey-throated flycatcher, grey-winged robin, crested flycatcher, blue-shouldered robin chat, yellow-spotted barbet, black-billed turaco, white-naped pigeon, red-chested flufftail and tiny sunbird.

8. Rwenzori Mountains National Park . The Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda are home to over 177 bird species, including 19 Albertine Rift endemics. The mountains lie in western Uganda, with snowcapped peaks whose highest point reaches 5,110m. Most of the birding is done while hiking in the forest zone and species to see include Rwenzori turaco, long-eared owl, Archers’ robin-chat, Lagden’s bush shrike, blue-headed and golden-winged sunbird, white-starred robin, slender-billed starling, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, bearded vultures, and swifts.

9. Lake Mburo National Park. Birding is one of the major activities in Lake Mburo National Park, and the best spots for birding are near the swamps at Warukiri and Rwonyo. The park is home to 315 bird species, which include the crested francolin, emerald-spotted wood dove, brown parrot, bare faced go-away bird, red-necked spurfowl, common quails, black-billed barbet, greenwood hoopoe, blue-napped mousebird, lilac-breasted roller, African-grey hornbill, Nubian woodpecker, trilling cisticola, bee-eaters and the cheeky bronze-tailed starling and the majestic crowned crane. You also have chances of sighting the rare African finfoot, shoebill, African fish eagle, and malachite and pied kingfishers while on a boat safari on Lake Mburo.

10. Budongo Forest. Budongo Forest has two main sections – Kaniyo Pabidi found in Murchison Falls National Park, and the Royal Mile and Busingiro areas found south of the park. It lies at the edge of the Albertine Rift valley, protecting the largest natural forest area in East Africa. It is home to more than 350 bird species, with the most sought-after birds in this area being the Cassin’s spinetail, chestnut-capped flycatcher, Ituri batis, Nahan’s francolin, black-collared lovebird, brown twinspot, chocolate-backed, blue-breasted and African dwarf kingfishers.

Source: First published by Africa Geograhic in January 2016.

Author: PATRICK KATEREGGA   2016-08-09

Uganda Named one of the most Beautiful Countries on earth.

Everyone wants to travel the world and visit the beautiful countries, but with so many places to visit where do you start?

Buzzfeed came up with a list of the most beautiful countries in the world and Uganda takes the thirteenth(13th) spot  beating the likes of Australia, Brazil , Norway, Philippines and India.

The Most Beautiful Lake You’ve Never Heard of: Uganda’s Lake Bunyonyi.

Buzzfeed acknowledges that –  “The Pearl of Africa” is incredible. Though a small country, it is the starting point of one of the most amazing rivers in the world – and its very longest – the Nile.

The Amazing River Nile is the Longest river in the world and  it’s source in Uganda

The river is born in the ‘mountains of the moon’, more accurately known as the Rwenzoris, which are some of the mountains you’ve probably never heard of but have to try see!

The Rwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon)

Lake Victoria has been called the most amazing lake on earth

Lake Victoria is the world’s second largest freshwater lake covering an area of 67,850 sq km. This vast expanse, about the size of the Republic of Ireland. Many folks consider this very spot, the natural outlet to Lake Victoria, to be the source of the Nile – the world’s longest river.

The country is one of the best wildlife viewing destinations on earth thanks in large part to the stunning Murchison Falls National Park.

Lions at Murchison Falls National Park.

Rothschild’s giraffe in a field with a clear blue sky in Murchison Falls National Park.

 

Source and thanks to This is Uganda net!

 

 

Rwenzori Mountains National Park,UNESCO/NHK Videos on Heritage

know Uganda Guide blog

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 100,000 ha in western Uganda and comprises the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which includes Africa’s third highest peak (Mount Margherita: 5,109 m). The region’s glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa’s most beautiful alpine areas. The park has many natural habitats of endangered species and a rich and unusual flora comprising, among other species, the giant heather. Watch video here

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park provides stunning views of glacier and snow-capped mountains just kilometres from the equator, where it is contiguous with the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Having the third highest mountain in Africa at 5,109 m (after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya), the Park includes a much larger alpine area than either, covering an area of 99,600 ha of which 70% lies at over 2,500 m…

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Rwenzori Mountains National Park,UNESCO/NHK Videos on Heritage

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 100,000 ha in western Uganda and comprises the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which includes Africa’s third highest peak (Mount Margherita: 5,109 m). The region’s glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa’s most beautiful alpine areas. The park has many natural habitats of endangered species and a rich and unusual flora comprising, among other species, the giant heather. Watch video here

 

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park provides stunning views of glacier and snow-capped mountains just kilometres from the equator, where it is contiguous with the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Having the third highest mountain in Africa at 5,109 m (after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya), the Park includes a much larger alpine area than either, covering an area of 99,600 ha of which 70% lies at over 2,500 m in height. The Rwenzori Mountains are the highest and most permanent sources of the River Nile, and constitute a vital water catchment. Their multitude of fast flowing rivers, magnificent waterfalls and stratified vegetation make the property exceptionally scenic and beautiful. The mountains are well-known for their unique alpine flora which includes many species endemic to the Albertine Rift in the higher altitude zones including giant heathers, groundsels and lobelias. The Park also supplies local communities with various wild resources and is an important cultural heritage.

Criterion (vii): The Rwenzoris are the legendary “Mountains of the moon”, a reflection of the mist-shrouded mountains of this rugged massif that tower almost 4,000 m above the Albertine Rift Valley, making them visible from great distances. These mountains offer a unique and pristine landscape of alpine vegetation studded with charismatic giant lobelias, groundsels, and heathers which have been called “Africa’s botanical big game”. The combination of spectacular snow-capped peaks, glaciers, V-shaped valleys, fast flowing rivers with magnificent waterfalls, clear blue lakes and unique flora contributes to the area’s exceptional natural beauty.

Criterion (x):Because of their altitudinal range, and the nearly constant temperatures, humidity and high insolation, the mountains support the richest montane flora in Africa. There is an outstanding range of species, many of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift and bizarre in appearance. The natural vegetation has been classified as belonging to five distinct zones, determined largely by altitude and aspect. The higher altitude zones, covered by heath and Afro-alpine moorland, extend from around 3,500 m to the snow line and represent the rarest vegetation types on the African continent. Significant species include the giant heathers, groundsels, lobelias and other endemics. In terms of fauna, the Rwenzoris have been recognised as an Important Bird Area with 217 bird species recorded to date, a number expected to increase as the park becomes better surveyed. The montane forests are also a home to threatened species such as the African forest elephant, eastern chimpanzee and l’Hoest’s monkey. The endangered Rwenzori black-fronted or red duiker, believed to be a very localized subspecies or possibly a separate species, appears to be restricted to the Park.

Integrity

Challenges facing the Park include community uses of the park (such as collection of bamboo), tourism development, population growth and agricultural practices. While little agricultural encroachment has occurred due to the Park’s clearly marked boundary,   insecurity caused by rebel insurgence in recent years has affected park management and encouraged illegal activities, the reason for which the property was inscribed in the List of World Heritage in Danger from 1999-2004. The growing number of people living around the property is adding pressure on forest resources, although the cultural importance that the local communities attach to the Park as well as the various benefits they derive from ecotourism and regulated plant resource use is designed to manage this. The watershed functions as a result of the intactness of the boundary has enhanced the Park’s capacity to act as the biggest contributor of water in the region for domestic and industrial use. The integrity of the property is further enhanced by its contiguity with the Virunga National Parkin the DRC which provides an opportunity for gene flow and buffer properties.

Protection and management requirements

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA, UWA succeed Uganda National Parks (UNP) which was the management authority at the time of Inscription of the site as a World Heritage Site) in accordance with the provisions of the National laws( The constitution (1995), Uganda Wildlife Act (2000), National Environment Management Act (2000), Forest and Tree planting Act (2003), Local Government Act (1987), The Land Act (1989) and international conventions (Convention of Biological Diversity 1992 (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the RAMSAR convention 1971 and the World Heritage Convention 1972).It was gazetted in 1991 under statutory instrument number 3 in 1992 and the National Park’s Act 1952. The park is considered a model for integration of cultural values into the Protected Area Management framework as an innovative approach to resource management, the first of its kind in Africa.  As a result the local communities have embraced collaborative resource management initiatives. Given its significance as one of the biodiversity hotspots in the Albertine Rift, various local and international NGOs have supported the management and conservation of the property. A General Management Plan guides management operations on-site. Key challenges to address include illegal felling of trees, snow recession due to global warming, human population pressure adjacent to the property and management of waste generated through tourism operations. UWA is addressing the above threats through resource protection, community conservation education, research and ranger-based monitoring, ecotourism and transboundary initiatives with the DRC. The long-term maintenance of the integrity of the property will be achieved through sustainable financing, ecological monitoring, continued collaboration with key stakeholders andregional cooperation.

Species

The species listed below represent a small sample of iconic and/or IUCN Red Listed animals and plants found in the property. Clicking on the number in brackets next to the species will reveal other World Heritage Properties in which a species has been identified. These species are identified in an effort to better communicate the biological diversity contained within World Heritage properties inscribed under criteria ix and/or x.

• Alchemilla stuhlmanii
• Alchemilla subnivalis
• Amietia ruwenzorica
• Atheris vividis
• Bradypterus alfredi / Bamboo Warbler, Bamboo Scrub-warbler
• Carex runssoroensis
• Cephalophus nigrifrons ssp. rubidus / Ruwenzori Red Duiker
• Cephalophus silvicultor / Yellow-backed Duiker (2)
• Cercopithecus l’hoesti / L’hoest’s Monkey
• Cercopithecus mitis ssp. stuhlmanni / Stuhlmann’s Blue Monkey, Elgon Blue Monkey, Stuhlmann’s Blue Monkey, Stuhlmann’s Monkey
• More Species

• Chamaeleo adolfi-friederici
• Chamaeleo ituriensis
• Colobus angolensis ssp. ruwenzorii / Adolf Friedrichs’s Angola Colobus, Adolf Friedrich’s Angola Colobus, Rwenzori Black-and-white Colobus
• Cryptospiza shelleyi / Shelley’s Crimson-wing (2)
• Dendrohyrax arboreus / Southern Tree Hyrax, Eastern Tree Dassie, Eastern Tree Hyrax, Southern Tree Dassie (2)
• Dendrosenecio adnivalis
• Dendrosenecio johnstonii
• Erica johnstonii
• Erica kingaensis
• Erica philippia
• Erica trimera
• Festuca abyssinica
• Ficalhoa laurifolia
• Hagenia abyssinica
• Helichchrysum guilelmii
• Helichchrysum stuhlmanii
• Heliosciurus ruwenzorii / Ruwenzori Sun Squirrel
• Hylochoerus meinertzhageni / Forest Hog, Giant Forest Hog, Western Forest Hog (3)
• Hypericum bequaertii
• Hypericum keniense
• Hypericum lanceolatum
• Lobelia bequaertii
• Lobelia gibberoa
• Lobelia lanuriensis
• Lobelia wollastonii
• Loxodonta africana / African Elephant (7)
• Micropotamogale ruwenzorii / Rwenzori Otter Shrew, Ruwenzori Otter Shrew
• Mimulopsis elliotii
• Nectarinia johnstoni / Red-tufted Sunbird, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird
• Nectarinia regia / Regal Sunbird
• Nectarinia reichenowi / Golden-winged Sunbird
• Nectarinia stuhlmanni
• Ocotea usambarensis
• Otomys typus / Typical Vlei Rat
• Pan troglodytes / Common Chimpanzee (4)
• Panthera pardus / Leopard (15)
• Podocarpus latifolia
• Prunus africana / Red Stinkwood (2)
• Rapanea rhododendroides
• Rhinolophus ruwenzorii / Ruwenzori Horseshoe Bat
• Ruwenzorisorex suncoides / Ruwenzori Shrew
• Ruwenzorornis johnstoni / Ruwenzori Turaco
• Schefflera polysciadia
• Senecio erici-rosenii
• Sinarundinaria alpina
• Symphonia globulifera (2)
• Syncerus caffer / African Buffalo (3)
• Thrasops jacksoni
• Usnea longissima

Source UNESCO/NHK Videos on Heritage

RWENZORI MOUNTAINS

Mount Rwenzori is a mountain range in Uganda located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo also known as “Mountains of the moon”. With a summit height at 5,109 meters ((16,761 ft), Mount Rwenzori is the second highest mountain in East Africa. The mountain range is well known worldwide for its tremendous hiking experience, scenery, sunsets, permanent snow capes, views of the clouds from above and biological species biodiversity. Over 70 mammals including 4 species of diurnal primate, 15 species of butterfly and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as some of the world’s rarest vegetation have been identified at Mount Rwenzori and its surrounding.

 

Giant lobelias and everlasting flowers at the slopes of Mt Rwenzori.

 

As you take the Rwenzori hike, the history and mythology of the area will fill your mind. A mountain range that covers 996km2 formed after a massive uplift in the earth’s crust. The range stretching some 120 km north/south and 48 km east/west with 6 snows capped mountains-Margherita Peak as the highest. It is believed the formation was about three million years ago in the late Pliocene, as a result of an uplifted block of crystalline rocks including: gneiss, amphibolites granite, and quartzite.

The first sightings of Rwenzori was by  the expedition of European explorer Henry Morton Stanley in 1889 and  William Grant Stairs who climbed to 3,254 meters (10,676 ft) though the  first ascent to the summit was made by the Duke of the Abruzzi in 1906. There are 2 primary routes that can be taken to the summit – The Central Circuit Trail from the trailhead at Mihunga, the route ascends the Bujuku Valley via Nyabitaba for acclimatization before reaching the peaks- which is an easier climb and the one most frequently used and the Kilembe Trail that ascends the southern slopes of the Rwenzori from a trailhead at Kilembe near the town of Kasese.

Rwenzori mountain ranges lie within Rwenzori mountains National Park gazetted in 1991-a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the few places on earth that encompasses every ecological life zone including; Savanna about 3,000 and 5,500 feet (914 – 1,676 m.), the Rainforest above the Grasslands from 5,500 to 7,500 feet (1,676 – 2,286 m.) with giant ferns, wild banana trees and lianas, Bamboo reaching up to around 9,500 feet (2,895 m.), Heath zone above the bamboo that extends up to around 12,000 feet (3,657 m.), the Alpine zone, above 12,000 feet (3,657 m.) with the tree groundsel and giant lobelia and above 14,500 feet is wrapped in permanent snow and storm-swept glaciers.

The region’s waterfalls, lakes and glaciers make it one of Africa’s most beautiful alpine areas. A popular tourist destination for mountain climbers- a real hiker’s heaven in Africa and photographers thanks to its otherworldly shape! Hikers get to admire the wonderful landscapes that add up to the explorations. The main peak of the mountain can be climbed easily by a person with basic mountaineering skills, although altitude and unpredictable weather make for a challenging and adventurous trip. It is perfect for people who wish to gain snow experience.

People from around the world are captivated by Rwenzori Mountain height – some 5,109 meters above sea level – and the adventurous, driven, mountain climbers who take it on embody the physical and mental extremes that test human capabilities.

The ancient Precambrian rocks which were extruded from the surrounding plains during the formation of the western rift valley is another worldly wonder in the magnificent homelands of the Bakonjo and Baamba-Bantu speaking people who have lived on the mountain for many generations, and whose culture is adapted to the steep slopes and climate of Rwenzori.

If you’re among the people in this world who actually seek out extreme thrills, then climbing Mount Rwenzori has to be high on your list – if not at the top. There is, of course, the danger associated with navigating the East Africa’s second tallest mountain, and doing quite a bit of it with very little oxygen.

Doing that kind of activity will undoubtedly lead to the kind of bragging rights you can use at any point in your life to one-up just about anyone you encounter. That is unless they’ve also climbed Rwenzori, and then you’d have to go to No. 2 on your list, so just be prepared. But if you’d rather listen to a couple of climbers who have been to Rwenzori – and even done a little climbing there – then you’re in luck.

What to Do and See in Rwenzori Mountains

Apart from usual known adventure Rwenzori climbing, there are a lot more to see in Mount Rwenzori. Travelers can do a trip for wildlife nature walks conducted in the park, high altitude flora described as Africa’s botanic Big Game, natural waterfalls to see like Ngitte, Rwajimba and Semuliki, birds, monkeys, Hot springs, numerous caves and lakes- Rwenzori Mountains are worthy a place to visit as it is one of the few unspoilt Mountains of the world because of its rugged nature yet this wilderness character is an attraction for many climbers and Mountaineers.

 

What to Wear and Bring

For Rwenzori Mountains light day hike, you won’t have to procure any unique gear or frightening equipment. But a few minutes of preparation means you’ll go home with a smile on your face instead of blisters on your feet!

Wear layered outfits for Rwenzori mountaineering excitement; it may seem chilly now, but once you begin hiking, you’ll warm up quickly. Hiking boots are great, but for a light hike a sneaker with a heavy tread will be just fine. Wear a hat; it will shade your face from the sun, protecting you from sunburn and making it easier to see.

Have water during Rwenzori hike; studies prove that by drinking water, you increase your stamina for physical activities. Put the water in a small backpack along with a couple of granola bars, a bagel or a bag of trail mix for a quick burst of energy. If it’s an all-day hike, pack a sandwich for lunch. Pack sun block; you don’t want sunburn as your souvenir!

Read and find out more with Ministry of Tourism, Uganda