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8 REASONS YOU NEED TO VISIT UGANDA NEXT
#ThePearlOfAfrica
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 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
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
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
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
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
Press Release – ITB Exhibition In Berlin, Germany
KAMPALA, UGANDA – At least 18 Ugandan tour and travel companies will be exhibiting at the ITB Berlin Germany 2016, exhibition from 9 – 13 March in Messe Berlin, Germany.
Uganda is showcasing The Pearl of Africa under the theme Gorillas and So Much More. Other attractions being marketed to the international audience are adventure tourism, mountaineering, over 1,050 bird species, alpine afromontane zones to the Albertine rift valley, fresh water angling starting at the source of the Nile, Ugandan culture and our tradition hospitality.
Speaking on the importance of the expo to the tourism sector, the Uganda Tourism Board CEO Stephen Asiimwe has encouraged tour operators to take advantage of one of the largest expos in the world to get new business.
“Uganda is seen as a vast, unique untapped natural haven waiting to be experienced. ITB gives you great opportunity to tap into the great opportunities that will bring in dividends,” said Asiimwe, while meeting operators at the UTB offices in Kampala, Uganda recently. The meeting was done to harmonise plans and update the travel companies on what to expect at the expo.
Uganda will be exhibiting under the theme “Gorillas and so much more” as the ITB Berlin expo marks 50 years. With over 50% of the world’s mountain gorillas, Uganda is a prime destination for those interested in primates. Uganda is also home to over 50% of Africa and 11% of the world’s bird species; the source of the world’s longest river — the Nile; Africa’s highest mountain range — Mt. Rwenzori; the world’s largest tropical water body, Lake Victoria, fantastic weather, food, rich culture, heritage and very warm, hospitable and friendly people.
In addition to promoting Destination Uganda, there will be joint activities with other East African countries to promote the region. On the 11th March, Uganda will hold the Tripartite Cultural Fete at the expo in Messes Berlin, from 7pm, to 9:00pm.
Uganda will be exhibiting in Hall 21.a Booth 119, next Kenya, Rwanda and Cote d ‘Ivoire.
The range of activities on the stand will include:
- EAC cocktail at the stand where we launch the Single Visa (between Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya).
- Tripartite Cultural Festival on 10th March 2016.
- Media interviews at the stand on 10th March 2016.
- Ugandan cultural dancers will be performing.
Uganda is proudly hosting.
- One-week Uganda Martyrs festivities in June.
- Raid on Entebbe 40-year commemoration.
- “Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo” in September 2016.
- The First Uganda Birding Expo in November.
- The Big Birding Day in November.
Uganda exhibitors will include:
- Kagera Safaris
- Go Uganda Safaris
- Advanced Adventures
- Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris
- Lake Kitandara Tours and travel
- Platinum Tours
- Around Africa
- BIC Tours
- Speke Uganda Holidays
- Churchill Safaris & Travel
- Across Africa Holidays Ltd
- Matoke Tours
- Crystal Travel Services
- Asyanut Safaris
- Let’s Go Travel
- Pinnacle Safaris
- Marasa Africa/ Mweya Safari Lodge
- UTB 2004 LTD
- Alpha Adventures
Partners include:
- Ministry of Tourism Wildlife & Antiquities.
- Uganda Tourism Board.
- Uganda Wildlife Authority.
- Civil Aviation Authority.
- Uganda Embassy in Berlin.
Sponsors
- Brussels Airlines,
- Turkish Airlines
- Qatar Airlines
For more details, contact:
– See more here
source: UGANDA TOURISM BOARD
Uganda by Regions
Central Region continues…….
Kasubi Tombs, world cultural Heritage historical site.
The Kasubi Tombs site is an outstanding example of traditional Ganda architecture, and an exceptional testimony of the living Ganda traditions. For Uganda, and the East African region as a whole, the site represents an important symbol for the country’s history and culture. The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.
The first Kabaka to be buried at Kasubi was Muteesa I, the 35th King of Buganda. The dates of the reigns of the Kabakas are only precisely known from Ssekabaka Suuna II, who ruled from 1836 to 1856.
The Baganda belong to the Bantu speaking people and date their political civilization back to the 13th century AD. According to oral traditions, the first Kabaka of Buganda was Kintu. He is said to have come with his wife Nambi, whose hand he won by performing…
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Wild Heroes- Uganda
Watch Video, very interesting.
Uganda by Regions
Central Region continues…….
Kasubi Tombs, world cultural Heritage historical site.
The Kasubi Tombs site is an outstanding example of traditional Ganda architecture, and an exceptional testimony of the living Ganda traditions. For Uganda, and the East African region as a whole, the site represents an important symbol for the country’s history and culture. The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.
The first Kabaka to be buried at Kasubi was Muteesa I, the 35th King of Buganda. The dates of the reigns of the Kabakas are only precisely known from Ssekabaka Suuna II, who ruled from 1836 to 1856.
The Baganda belong to the Bantu speaking people and date their political civilization back to the 13th century AD. According to oral traditions, the first Kabaka of Buganda was Kintu. He is said to have come with his wife Nambi, whose hand he won by performing heroic deeds at the command of her father Ggulu, the god of the sky. Kabaka Kintu is said not to have died but to have disappeared into a forest at Magonga. At Kasubi and in all other royal tombs, there is an area behind a bark cloth (lubugo) curtain known as Kibira or forest where certain secret ceremonies are performed. At the Kasubi Tombs the Kibira is the area where the real tombs of the Kabakas are, while in front of the curtain there are raised platforms corresponding to the position of each Kabaka’s tomb behind the curtain.
Muteesa I receives the British explorers John Hannington Speke (1827 – 1864) and James Grant (1827-1892)
The first Kabaka to be buried at Kasubi was Muteesa I, who was the 35th King. The dates of the reigns of the Kabakas are only precisely known from Kabaka Suuna II, who ruled from 1836 to 1856.
Historically, Baganda Kabakas have always built their palaces on strategic hills to control the major roads to the palace, and find easy ways to escape in case of an invasion or a rebellion. When they died, the traditional practice was to bury each Kabaka at a separate site and to establish a royal shrine to house his jawbone which was believed to contain his spirit at another site. These shrines were started by descendants of the Kabaka’s leading chiefs, his wives, his ritual half-sister, and by a spirit medium through which the dead Kabaka communicated with his successors. Many of these shrines are still maintained today.
The Four Buganda Kabakas buried at Kasubi Tombs
Muteesa I 1835-1884
Muteesa I was born around 1835 and was crowned in 1856. He established his palace at Kasubi in 1882, as did his father, Kabaka Suuna II. He was so afraid of a rebellion that he imprisoned all his brothers in a great trench, where many died. Muteesa became a very powerful Kabaka, and had more wives than any of his predecessors. He was also the first Kabaka to be influenced by foreign cultures. He adopted some Islamic religious practices, learned from ivory and slave traders who traveled inland from Zanzibar. He also showed interest in Europe after hosting John Hannington Speke, who was the first European visitor to Buganda in 1862. When the explorer Henry Stanley visited him in 1875, he requested teachers of European learning and religion. At this time, European countries, particularly England and Germany, were seeking the territories at the source of the Nile. Although Muteesa allowed his Muslim and Christian guests to compete with each other for converts among his royal staff , he never let them threaten his authority. He died in 1884 and his body was buried, whole, at his palace in Kasubi. He had decreed that his jawbone should not be removed from his body. He thus broke two traditions; first, being buried whole, and second, being buried at his former palace in Kasubi.
Mwanga II 1867-1903
Mwanga II succeeded his father in 1884, and was the last monarch of an independent Buganda. In 1886, many of Muteesa’s subjects who had converted to Christianity or Islam were burned to death. Mwanga’s leading Christian and Muslim chiefs became worried and combined their forces to overthrow him. Mwanga II joined the resistance against the British colonial forces in 1897. He joined forces with Kabalega, the king of Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom, but they were defeated and captured on 9th April 1899. Both kings were exiled in the Seychelles Islands. Mwanga II, who had, by then, been christened Daniel, died there in 1903. His remains were brought back in 1910 and buried at Kasubi tombs. This again broke the old tradition of burying Kabakas at different sites, thus making Kasubi an important burial site for the Kabakas of Buganda.
Daudi Chwa II 1896-1939
Mwanga II was succeeded by his son, Daudi Chwa II in 1897 at the age of one. He ruled with the help of a regency of 1 Catholic and 2 Protestant chiefs until the age of 18. Daudi Chwa II died in 1939. He too was buried at Kasubi tombs, like his two predecessors. This strengthened further the cultural value of the site.
Muteesa II 1924-1969
Daudi Chwa II was succeeded by his son Edward Muteesa II in 1939. In 1953, a conflict developed between Muteesa II and the then Governor of the Uganda Protectorate, Sir Andrew Cohen, over changes in the Buganda Agreement of 1900. Muteesa II was exiled in England until 1955. When Uganda attained independence from the British on 9th October 1962, Muteesa II became the constitutional President of Uganda. However, tensions soon developed between him and the then Prime Minister Apollo Milton Obote which culminated in the storming of the Kabaka’s palace in May 1966.
In 1967, Dr.Milton Obote abrogated the 1962 Federal Constitution and introduced a Republican Constitution with himself as President. This change abolished the kingdoms of Uganda. The Ugandan government repressed the tribal Kingdoms, which were perceived as a threat to the national interest. The palace of Kabaka Mutesa II was attacked by government troops led by Idi Amin, and the Kabaka forced into exile. This presaged 20 years of repression of the Kingdom that was brought to an end by President Museveni. Mutesa II died in London in 1969, but his son Ssabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Kimera Mutebi II returned from exile and was crowned in 1993. This coronation has helped catalyse a cultural renaissance amongst the Baganda, many of whom had little awareness of Ganda traditions.
Hence with four succeeding Kabakas of Buganda being buried in the same tomb, the Kasubi tombs site has become an important shrine. Each prince and princess who is a descendant of the four Kabakas is also buried at Kasubi tombs behind the main shrine. Consequently, the site has also become culturally important as the cemetery of the royalty of the Buganda kingdom.
Uganda by Region
Central Region continued….
Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
Laid out in 1898, these expansive gardens are perfect for a leisurely stroll. The highlights are its pockets of thick rainforest, which locals claim some of the original Tarzan films were made in, and excellent bird watching with 115 species. You’ll see plenty of monkeys, including black and white colobus and tree squirrels too.
It lies on the shores of Africa’s greatest lake and offers a superb introduction to Uganda’s birds and is situated conveniently close to the capital and international airport. There is a wide range of accommodation available in Entebbe and Kampala.
The gardens host a variety of open country and woodland species and you can easily spend a pleasant couple of hours here. The tall trees near the main entrance are the favorite day-roost of a pair of Evreux’s eagle owls.
The key Birds of the gardens are orange tufted and…
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Uganda by Regions
The regions ofUganda are known as Central, Western, Eastern, and Northern. These four regions are in turn divided into districts. There were 56 districts in 2002, which expanded into 111 districts plus one city (Kampala) by 2010.
Each of these regions is gifted and endured with forests, hills, mountains, lakes, rivers, hotels, game parks and different and diverse cultures.
In this new series we shall be looking at each region detailing all the information you would need and require for your tourism and holiday interests. To start with we shall look at the Central region.
The Central region
The Central region is one of four regions in the country of Uganda. As of Uganda’s 2002 census, the region’s population was 6,575,425. It is coterminous with the Kingdom of Buganda, one of the ancient African monarchies that are constitutionally recognized…
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