uganda tour and safari news

Tour operators in Uganda are experiencing a very hard working environment especially this year. The sky-rocketing prices of fuel, falling of the dollar and general cost of living in Uganda took up most of the possible profits we as UTA (Uganda Tourism Association) members could have earned.

This is as a result of foreign visitors , unlike Ugandans, plan and pay for these safaris a year in advance. Since we had received their monies in advance, we had no choice but to execute their safaris.

The above and the obvious lack of interest by government to market Uganda as a tourism destination like national park that has caused a reduction on the need needs for a quick action.

The worst news for UTA members is that Uganda has been suspended from the World Tourism Organisation for not paying dues. WTO membership plays a very important role in the global tourism industry in general and lack of membership will see Uganda fall deeper in trouble as a country and will be affecting the industry that has created jobs, (17 per cent of the employable labour) earns the highest forex incomes, etc…Lack of membership also clouds the credibility of Ugandan tour operators in the eyes of suppliers from other countries, and will cause us to lose out on thousands of dollars worth of business.

We as tour operator expecting parliament to convene and discuss this issue as a matter of urgence but being something that has nothing to do with their votes we do not have hope that this will be discussed even a year from now.

One thing that both opposition and ruling party MPs in Kenya agree on is the marketing their country to rest of the world as a tourism destination and this year alone Kenya ear marked 4m dollars towards the same cause but here tourism never gets a mention and any member of parliament that will champion the discussion on tourism will win the hearts many since it creates jobs and empowers citizens deep in villages. Alive example we have today is Buhoma, the villages near Bwindi national park, here the villagers understand value differences between dollar, pound and even the euros all because of tourism.

With our exploding population, Uganda’s biggest challenges will be severe unemployment and destruction of our general eco-system (obviously eco-system plays a major role in attracting potential tourists to Uganda). The President of Uganda and environmentalists should make redundant the majority of advisers who have ignored what could remove Ugandans from abject poverty (tourism). The World Bank has discovered that tourism creates more jobs as compared to any other industries especially in the developing world.

It’s the only area where we stand potentially high since we are among the top 10 countries in terms bio-diversity which bio-diversity means relative abundance of flora and fauna and general eco-system which is facing a risk of extinction now. We should learn both conservation and strategic marketing from our neighbours like Tanzania, Kenya and especially Rwanda being a new comer that has stood out in marketing its potential to the rest of the world.

Just as a reminder, Uganda has the highest density of primates (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Olive Baboons, to mention but a few) of any country on earth. Kibale Forest and Bwindi National Parks have 16 per cent of the polypore fungi recorded from North America and Europe.

Other attractions in Uganda include a large portion of Lake Victoria and Islands on the Lake,mountains, diversity of culture, good weather and the Nile which provides the best rafting opportunity on earth in terms of 1 to 3 days rafting. In addition Uganda has more birds per square km as compared to any country on the continent and in conclusion Uganda is one big tourist attraction from the North to South and from the East to West.

Tourism has the highest trickle down effect as compared to any other sector in a given country. On average a tourist spends between USD150 to 250 per day they spend in Uganda and this expenditure will always follow the tourists itinerary. If this tourist spends 14 days cultural safari then the country will retain an average of USD 2500 and if you compare this to tomato growers, how long will a tomato grower wait to earn this kind of money?

We are not saying we should not consider agriculture, rather harness from our business potential. The most interesting example is that one gorilla permit costs $500 which allows only one individual to see mountain gorillas for one hour only, and yet these permits are bought up to 2 years in advance.

It’s as a result of lack of kn0wlodge on branding of country , because if branding is done then Ugandans’ attitudes towards the country will automatically change.
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Kiiza K Calah
Uganda gorilla safari news

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By Kiiza Calah
Uganda gorilla safari news

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has began a drive to promote wildlife conservation and local tourism.

The move is to popularise Uganda’s rich wildlife heritage among students, according to the director of tourism and business development, Eunice Nyiramahoro.

He said there was need for the Government to give incentives to the industry to allow easy accessibility to the national parks in Uganda.

Speaking at the closure of a two-week sensitisation seminar at Makerere University, Nyiramahoro said: “People are constrained because tour companies are expensive. But the ministry of tourism is working on ways to make accessing the national parks easier.”

“We need to put infrastructure in place to attract more local tourists,” she said.

“We have heard you say that those parks are for Bazungu (whites). We want to change that,” Nyiramahoro added.

The organisation, She said, had given students free entrance to the parks provided they had valid student identification.

Nyiramahoro said UWA was devising ways of reaching all universities to develop students’ interest in the sector.

The climax of the day was a raffle where the winner, Judith Dushimimana, a student of Psychology, won a three-day fully paid tour of Murchison Falls or Queen Elizabeth Game Park.

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By Kiiza Calah
Uganda gorilla safari news

The ministry of tourism plans to develop potential tourist sites upcountry. The plan, according to the tourism state minister, Serapio Rukundo, involves establishing world-class facilities for visitors.

The minister, who was inspecting prospective sites in the countryside, told Arua district local leaders on Wednesday that he was waiting for approval from the finance ministry to start implementing the project.

He explained that the plan would be supported by the Government’s increased funding to the road sector to link major tourism sites across the country.

“While the Government is working on the roads, we have asked them to work on what we have prescribed as tourism roads. So that when a tourist leaves Kampala, they can traverse the country without necessarily going back to the capital,” Rukundo said.

He announced that the ministry had set aside funds to establish at least 10 five-star hotels in different regions and also procure 100 tourism vehicles under a private-public partnership arrangement.

Rukundo said they were also in talks with the finance ministry to waive taxes on cars, which will be bought and given to private tour operators under a hire-purchase system.

Rukundo said the Government would ask established hotels such as Serena and Sheraton to open more facilities upcountry.

He noted that the country had been divided into tourism zones, the first being Kigezi, with scenic sites at Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi forests for gorilla tracking and Ishasha, with its tree-climbing lions.

The second zone, dubbed the Rift Valley Zone, covers part of Queen Elizabeth national park and the Semiliki reserves.

The third zone stretches from Murchison Falls national park through the West Nile region.

The other zone covers the eastern region, with Mt Elgon as one of the main attractions.

Kampala is being developed into a “one-day-site” base. Tourists based in Kampala will be able to visit the rhinos and hippos in Nakasongola district or the Ssese Islands and return to Kampala the same day, the minister explained.

Rukundo said plans were underway to reintroduce rhinos in the 164 square-kilometer Ajai game reserve.

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When the blowing of horns and playing of Kadodi started in January through May to August, announcing the arrival of the annual ritual of circumcision amongst the Bamasaba (Bagisu), many a boy were inspired to announce their intentions to be circumcised.

Although the old tradition of circumcision (Imbalu) has come a long way, it is still mysteriousand disturbing to think of how a Mumasaba boy takes a brave decision to face this crude knife.

So powerful is this tradition, that a Gisu man who is not circumcised is usually forced to do it once the circumcision year starts and even the dead are circumcised before they are buried.

Even when every Mugisu who has been circumcised will testify that it is traditional inspiration that comes naturally, Amidu Wakhatenge who was circumcised on August 13, has a different story to tell.

Wakhatenge, 16, says when the annual ritual of Imbalu was announced, he felt unusual, with one force inside telling him to announce his decision while the other told him not to.

“I felt an eerie sensation go through me as I battled to get an answer to the question; But will I stand it? Even when I tried to dispel the idea that circumcision was not painful, some element of fear lingered within me,” said Wakhatenge.

“Then it all started with my friends and agemates announcing their intentions to face 2008 Imbalu, I pondered and called my father in secret and told him my decision like it is required in our culture who later told clan elders and who also met me to ascertain my seriousness,” added Wakhatenge.

He says when he asked for permission to get circumcised, he first received counsel from elderly male relatives about the challenges of the knife, adulthood and what Imbalu means to the Bamasaba clan.

He says the elders asked him whether he was going to withstand the knife or not, more than ten times and that when they discovered he was serious, they accepted, performed some rituals and endorsed him.

In some other clans within Bugisu, the boy is required to seek consent of his maternal uncles by visiting them with his mother before circumcision is announced.

Wakhatenge says that consent of the maternal uncles is what gave him a go ahead to begin a three day preparation for the rite at their traditional courtyard in Wanale with the performance of some rituals which involved brewing of malwa, a local brew here made from either maize or millet flour.

And it is the yeast and the malwa which are used for smearing the candidates daily as they keep dancing to the tune of Kadodi (local drums) and Imbalu songs from relative to relative alerting them about their intentions.

Rtd Lt. Hajji Yusuf Wamboga, a senior surgeon [circumciser] says that amongst the non-Muslims, the boy is challenged to make his own brew from the place where he is going to be circumcised from in a small traditional pot.

Wakhatenge says he danced for two days accompanied by relatives, friends and neighbours wielding pangas, clubs and big sticks, just to scare him from cowardising before climaxing on the third day with a visit to his maternal uncles for the last word and send off to go and face the knife.

Although the desire to be circumcised is believed here to be spiritually inspired; where the boys are allegedly influenced by the ancestral spirit of Imbalu Wakhatenge says he did not feel inspired at all but just had the internal preparation to do this as is required of every Mugisu.

A busy village Kadodi dancing group moved around Wakhatenge as he looked curiously at the people wielding clubs. The charged crowd with women dancing half nude scared him.

He bent further down and concentrated on dancing to kadodi tunes just to gather courage before getting to the courtyard for circumcision.

At the cultural grounds the elders led Wakhatenge in songs and dancing before the ritual was performed.
A few minutes later, Wakhatenge emerged from the crowd moving briskly not even bothering to look back as the crowd followed dancing and shouting;

“Ehhe… ehhe hhee…Sheta umwana afane Baba Wwe, eh eh eh eh eh….. Hheeee….hheee sheta Umwana afane Baba Wwe… Hhee,” loosely meaning circumcise the child to look like his father.

Within a few minutes, Wakhatenge was at the clan Imbalu courtyard standing still on a sisal sack covered with some sand and a stone. Two surgeons led by Wamboga came after him, one of them pulled the foreskin of the penis before Wamboga eventually cut, as the crowd kept shouting;

“Akyili, Akyili, Akyili…tsililili, tsililili, awoo… awoo…, nde nde nde nde nde” just to give Wakhatenge courage.
Wakhatenge stood motionless in an enclosure surrounded by men wielding big clubs, Zilungu [traditional sticks used for dancing Kadodi here] and pangas with no sign of fear or flickering of eyelids like it is required here.

Whereas the circumcision posture varies from one area to another, the candidates are expected to stand firm and display the highest level of bravery because it is part of the initiation.

The whistle went and Wakhatenge then jumped up and down to signify that the process was complete. This was followed by ululations, dancing kadodi and giving of gifts to the boy who had withstood the knife.

Wamboga disappeared into the crowd at a breakneck speed just to catch up with the next candidate supposed to be circumcised in the next village as the elders around declared Wakhatenge a man, only a few minutes before he was a mother’s child, a boy.

Wakhatenge says although he is required traditionally to dispel myths that circumcision is painful in a bid not to scare the would be candidates, the truth is that he experienced pain.

“I felt something hot, then some noise in my ears like ‘Kwaaap’ then eventually I felt pain go through my nerves but of course I had to keep the covenant I had made with my parents, uncles and other relatives not to shame them,” said Wakhatenge.

He revealed that there is the removal of the most top skin which he did not notice but that when the surgeon began cutting the inside skin, there was great pain, the pain a weak person would not have withstood.

“As surgeons we know it is painful. But it is a requirement for all boys here to get circumcised. At times a child may feel like not undergoing the ritual but because it is a cultural requirement, you have no choice but to stand it,” say Wamboga.

“At times when boys over grow and they don’t want to be circumcised, we give them a traditional herb called Idyanyi either in porridge, local brew (malwa) or in tea to inspire them and give them dutch courage and a longing for circumcision,” adds Wamboga.

By Kiiza Calah
For Uganda cultural news

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The Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) will spend US$570,370 to support community development projects around the national parks.

This is part of its revenue sharing policy where 5% of the total revenues is allocated to community development projects.

Under the initiative, ORTPN unveiled 21 community projects estimated at $266,666 in the country’s eastern province surrounding the Akagera national park.

“The projects were realised through the ORTPN revenue sharing policy where 5% of tourism revenues are allocated to community projects,” the ORTPN director general, Ms. Rosette Rugamba said.

Since 2005 to date, 54 community projects worth $963,703 have been funded.

Among them there are 11 schools with 47 classrooms, three hospitals, two community curio shops, 15 communal water taps and 10 water harvesting tanks as well as seven bridges.

It also funded income generating activities such as bee keeping, mushroom growing and energy saving stones.

New projects are estimated at over $314,814.

Tourism was ranked the first foreign exchange earner in 2007 registering $137million.

The sector contributed 3.7% to the country’s GDP.

This year, tourism expects to collect $148million from 884,220 tourists.
By Kiiza Calah
For Uganda gorilla safari news

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Kigali - Rwanda’s tourism industry is perhaps one of the best indicators of how fast Rwanda has recovered from the years of political and economical mismanagement to a promising economy. From mere shambles in 1994, the industry has grown from nothing to more than 25,000 visitors annually.

A lot of the country’s national parks and hotels have undergone fundamental change and the dollars are coming in at a steady rate.

For Ms Rwigamba Rica, a director at the Office of Tourism Promotion and National Parks in Rwanda (ORTPN), this is just the beginning.

“We have a target in 2010 to have about 70,000 tourists who will be spending at least $100 million When you compare the figures that we have here, between January to July, we had more tourists than we had the whole of last year, that means that we would double the targets that we had given ourselves this year ie 25,000.

We have already reached 79 percent of that target, and we believe that by the end of the year we shall have gone past, that target,” she says.

But what makes tourism tick in Rwanda? Ms Rwigamba offers an explanation. “There is basically a lot on the menu. Rwanda is rich in flora and fauna and wild life. There is simply a lot to offer to tourists,” she says.

And this is what she means.

Rwanda is a land of great diversity and beauty. Popularly known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’, Rwanda has six volcanoes, 23 lakes and numerous rivers, some forming the source of the great River Nile. The landscapes in this green country are truly breathtaking.

Spectacular volcanoes and dense tropical forests dominate the north of the country, while gentle hills and valleys, calm lakes and turbulent rivers in both savannah and dense tropical vegetation dominate the rest of the country.

Rwanda boasts a wide variety of wildlife. The Parc National des Volcans, in northern Rwanda is home to the world’s largest number of endangered mountain gorillas.

Numbering in the hundreds, the gorillas live in a protected area, free from poachers. The gorillas can be viewed in their natural mountain habitat at a fairly close range. Best known for its wealth of primates, Rwanda also has one of Africa’s richest bird life. A staggering 670 different bird species have been recorded in Rwanda.

This includes the Rwenzori turaco, the secretive red-chested alethe, giant hornbills and the blue turaco.

For botanists, the gorgeous wildflowers of the forests and mountains are capped by more than 100 orchid species in Nyungwe alone.

The Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is teeming with wildlife both large and small. They range from Lions, Giraffes, Elephants and Hippopotamus to Hyenas, Impalas and Gazelles. There’s a rich variety of bird life at Akagera as well.

There is also a vast range of primates like Angola colobus monkey, an estimated 500 chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, silver monkey, vervet monkey, olive baboon, grey-cheeked mangabey and red-tailed monkey.

Rwanda is blessed with water bodies, which are ideal for water sports and fishing, particularly Lake Kivu in the west of the country and Lake Muhazi in the east. Lake Kivu also offers beautiful beaches, jutting peninsulas and an archipelago of beautiful islands.

Rwanda, in a nutshell, is a nature lover’s paradise. It is also one of the friendliest of countries. A warm welcome is complemented by comfortable facilities, fine food and a rich cultural heritage.

Gorilla Tracking

Dubbed ‘exciting and adventurous’ by those that have conquered the lushly forested slopes of the volcanoes which stand out in Parc National des Volcans (PNV), which form an appropriately dramatic natural setting for what is arguably the most poignant and memorable wildlife experience in the world, gorilla tracking is an exhilarating climb to the primate’s natural habitat of shady bamboo forest.

This offers fantastic views in all directions, before the trackers are immersed into the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colourful birds and the chattering of the rare golden monkey.

The anxiety of encountering a fully-grown silverback gorilla, up to three times the size of an average man, yet remarkably peaceable and tolerant of human visitors is an experience worth reliving.

Trekking through thick forest as you weave through overhanging vines, moss covered Hagenia trees and giant Lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate of the forest Gorilla tracking in Rwanda is a memorable experience.

At the forefront of packaging these nature’s gifts into acceptable products to tourists is ORTPN and Rwigamba. They let us in on the massive reforms that had to be undertaken to turn around this otherwise lucrative trade that had gone to ruins.

“ORTPN was restructured in 2002, that’s when we got these two agencies (wild life agency and tourism agency); before that we had just one main agency. The wild life agency, is mostly in charge of national parks while the tourism agency is in charge of tourism promotion,” she says.

She adds that each of these agencies has different departments each of which is charged with different operations. “In the wildlife agency, we have the community conservation department which is a new department that didn’t exist, the tourism department specifically dealing with the national parks.

We have the law enforcement department which governs and protects the parks, the veterinary department, the research and monitoring department that goes with the fauna and flora in the national park,” she says.
She adds that the tourism and promotion department is charged with developing, marketing and distributing products outside the parks and public relations.

She says that following the successful restructuring process, improving the image and perception about Rwanda took priority.

“People out there were thinking of Rwanda as a genocide country. We were putting the message across that look, Rwanda had the unfortunate incident of genocide, but here we are, we are over it and we are ready to move on,” she says.

She adds that in a bid to promote domestic and international tourism, tourism as an industry and economic activity was re-launched both locally and internationally in 2003.

“That was the first thing we did for people to know that Rwanda is once again a stable country with unique tourist attractions. Since then, we have been going to different international fora, promoting Rwanda.

The figures we have achieved show that our work is not in vain; that actually what we have preached is indeed true. The visitors who have witnessed it all have acted as our ambassadors,” she says.

But these successes have not come on a silver platter. Rwigamba says that there is still a big challenge of completely turning the negative image about Rwanda, which is compounded by the instability in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

“We are working on it, it is a long process, ten years is not a very long time, to forget about what happened in Rwanda, That is the main challenge,” she says.

She adds that low investment in tourism attributed to high interest rates regime, poor infrastructure development, few airlines flying to Rwanda and capacity building have in one way or another affected the growth rates. “We are in a competitive environment, where we have neighbouring countries, that have already picked up. We really need to be, running rather than walking,” she says.

Tourism has not only been raking in millions of dollars and providing employment but also has done a lot in promoting the image of Rwanda. Tourism has also in a way played a role in reconciling Rwandans.

“In tourism we have also been promoting culture. The culture of Rwanda does not discriminate people. It is one Rwandan culture, it is one people and I believe it has really played a role in reconciliation,” she explains.

Way forward for tourism industry.

“I think we are on the right track. When somebody is coming to spend a lot of money, they need good service. So we all need to own that strategy to provide a very good product and ORTPN cannot do it alone. So we need all the Rwandans to own that strategy in whatever they do, a smile, anything, should be doing a role in promoting tourism.” She talks of the national dream to develop tourism as a major export and one of the flag bearers of the economy.

By Kiiza Calah
gorilla safari news.

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The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Tourism Uganda are to market and promote Uganda’s tourism potential jointly.

A newsletter from the Uganda Tourism Board said a memorandum between the trio was in final stages and was awaiting provision of budgeted funds and formulation of concepts for upcoming exhibitions.Uganda exhibitors are keen to display a better and more spacious stand at the World Travel Market exhibition in the UK this November.

Posted by Kiiza Calah
For Uganda gorilla safari news

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The trade show at Jinja is the biggest event in Busoga and the eastern region. Most noticeable among exhibitors at the 16th Source of The Nile Agricultural and Trade Show that ran from July 22 to July 27 at Jinja was the Ugiran Tractor Manufacturing Company, a joint venture between Uganda and Iran. The company belongs to the National Enterprise Corporation, the commercial arm of the Uganda people’s Defense Forces (UPDF).

Also notable was Parambot Breweries, the manufacturers of Moonberg Lager beer. These two, exhibiting for the first time at the Agricultural show, attracted a lot of attention.
Ugiran was launched by President Museveni a few months ago with the aim of mechanising agriculture to cause an economic revolution in the rural areas. Their products go for basically half the price of machinery on the open market.

Warid Telecom’s presence also attracted attention.
Seed companies; Farm Input Care (Fica), Easeed and Victoria Seeds, and the sugar companies attracted show goers.
Soft drinks companies were present and like the brewers they simply made fun and noise. Although there are two brands of beer made from locally grown sorghum, neither Nile Breweries nor East African Breweries had demonstration plots for this sorghum. If it was there it could not be seen.

But brewers like Nile Breweries and East African Breweries competed more in noise pollution than impressing farmers on growing sorghum which both use in one of their beer brands.

Animal exhibitors were not allowed at this year’s show because Jinja District is under quarantine due to the foot-and-mouth disease.
President Yoweri Museveni opened the show on July 22 and although his speech dwelt more on politics and complaints against FM stations, he was there to inspire farmers, and acknowledge that they contribute more to the GDP since the district has tourists attractions like the source of the Nile and Bujagali falls with wildlife in Uganda contributing the largest GDP from from tourists who come for gorilla trekking.

However, farmers wanted to hear that the President would reduce the interest rate on Bonna Bagagagawale funds to 1 percent. That rural roads would be fixed so that produce gets to the markets easily and that taxes on farm implements can be waived and that the government will set up tractor hire services in villages for farmers who cannot buy tractors to hire them.

Animal farmers wanted to hear that the government has banned export of unprocessed food so that by-products used to make animal feeds can be available.

The commonest visitor at the show, but who is no commoner, was absent this time – the Kyabazinga of Busoga Henry Muloki had been taken to India for treatment.

Kabaka Ronald Mutebi visited the show and advised agriculture graduates to start demonstration farms so that small scale farmers can learn from them.

All indications are that the show was successful as per the testimonies of exhibitors and visitors. This is the only national forum where farmers gather in one area to display farm produce and learn more about markets.

Mr Denis Twahika, the Marketing Manager of Ugiran, says he learnt that the problem of labour scarcity can be solved by availing tractors to farmers.

He said they will impress upon the government to start tractor hire schemes in the villages so that poor farmers who cannot buy tractors can hire them.

But the biggest discovery for Mr Turyamanya is when he learnt that matooke can be processed into food products.
He says a few years ago, Farm Africa exhibited solar driers which can dry matooke and other types of bananas.

“I secured a drier and now we are able to dry matooke and process it into powder, juice, chips and other products,” Mr Turyamanya said. “The government is planning to build a factory so that we can process food and sell to the World Food Programme.”

Mr Joshua Ssebwato from Nakasongola District says shows like this help them gauge progress among their farmers. “We get information about markets, so that we produce what the market wants,” he said.
From Kamuli District, Mr Tom Zijja is happy that poultry products fetch a high price in urban areas. “That is an opportunity for the rural farmer to sell our chicken in the city,” he said.
It is perhaps for this reason that more people are attending the show.

Mr Charles Ogang, the vice president of the National Farmers Federation, the show organisers, said this year’s show has had the biggest turn up. It had about 300 local and international exhibitors and attracted more than 200,000 show goers. The number would have been higher if animal exhibitors had participated.

Mr Ogang said the UNFFE will next year start regional shows. Despite its success a lot needs to be done. The grounds have to be developed to the standards of the Uganda Manufacturers Association stalls at Lugogo in Kampala. When it rains the muddy grounds may put off some potential show goers who don’t have anywhere to get shelter since most exhibitors have open plots of land.

Facilities for conferences, canteens or restaurants are lacking. Currently food is sold in shacks under doubtful hygiene conditions.
A lot needs to be done on sanitation, which facilities should be free for all since show goers pay to enter the grounds. More publicity needs to be done both on local FM stations, TVs and newspapers.

Although the music excites show goers, the organisers can set permissible levels so that exhibitors, like brewers, soft drinks and telecom sectors don’t turn the show into one big party.

It was irritating to see the huge number of show goers struggling to listen to the Kabaka of Buganda, because of the noise from the uganda telecom (utl) van and the many beer and soft drinks company stalls. Other exhibitors missed the chance of explaining their products because of the noise competition at the grounds.

At such occasions, organisers should set rules whereby loud speakers are switched off so that show goers can listen to the leaders.
With more planning the show can go a long way in improving farming and crop marketing and eventually transform our rural areas.
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Uganda gorilla safari news

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By Kiiza Calah
For Uganda gorilla safari news
A permanent building sits fairly isolated within a semi-natural environment, in a neatly trimmed compound. The doors are proper and the windows firmly fitted with wire mesh. It could pass for a home of a middle class Ugandan, except the neighbourhood is surrounded by a jungle, feathered with tree canopies and grass.

That is home for 11 Uganda chimpanzees now living in captivity at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (Uwec) in Entebbe. Last Friday was a special moment for the chimps as Zakayo; the alpha male and oldest-known chimpanzee living in captivity, celebrated his 44th birthday.

On a long table covered in linen stood two large birthday cakes prepared for the bash. Other gifts neatly wrapped included packets of milk, pineapples and bananas. Pupils presented songs and poems for the occasion and several trees were planted, all to give Zakayo a befitting birthday party.

To crown the occasion, guests planted trees, while school children participated in a quiz organised by Uwec to spread the conservation message. The winner won a trip to Gombe Islands. Probably anxious about the pending party, Zakayo and the rest of the chimps banged windows, made noise and thumped their chests before the party begun.

The chimps, which usually get out to the wild in the mornings, stayed indoors until 2pm probably waiting for other guests. Guests were delighted as they watched the chimps share cakes and splash juice, Uwec said the occasion provided not only an opportunity to celebrate, but also educate the public about the importance of ape conservation.

Uwec public relations officer Niwomujuni Mbagaya said: “Zakayo is a historical member of the centre whom we think deserved a celebrated birthday with the public.”

He added: “Zakayo is one of the lucky animals who has lived through all the regimes and survived brutality of former president Idi Amin

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By Kiiza Calah
For Uganda Gorilla safari news
Tanzania expects to earn US$1.35 billion from tourism in 2009, up from a projected $1.2 billion in 2008, helped by increased marketing in North America and Europe.

Last year Tanzania received 719,030 tourists, fetching just over $1 billion, making the sector the leading foreign exchange earner.

Tanzania’s main markets are Britain, Germany, US, Italy, France, Spain and the Scandinavian countries. Tanzania also receives a sizeable number of tourists from South Africa and Kenya.

Tourism employs around 200,000 Tanzanians directly and accounts for around a quarter of the country’s total foreign exchange inflows.

Mr. Macolm Ryen, the Chief Ecologist of Coastal Travel Ltd (CTL) says in order for Tanzania to develop tourism industry its major attention should now be directed to other forms of tourism.

“We have been largely promoting national parks tourism forgetting other areas which also have great potential,” he said. He said the government and other stakeholders should now encourage tourists to spend time in the country, not only to rush from one park to the other. “Tanzania has perfect climate, very nice people and good food. Why could we not promote lifestyle tourism?” he asked.

“With more than 900 km of coastline, tourists could even buy their own houses and come and spend their winter time here, bringing investment and cash. The same is true for the mainland in places like Iringa, Mwanza, Bukoba. All suitable attractions,” he said.

According to him, local bed and breakfast should be promoted by allowing people to start their own business as it happens in South Africa, but regulation must be simple and easy, otherwise all investors, foreigners and locals will be discouraged.

He said Tanzania has a lot of potential which needed to be fully utilized by both local and foreign tourists, from the coastline beaches, with all connected activities, such as diving, snorkeling, surfing, sport fishing and visiting historical sites such as Kilwa.

Ryen said other countries especially in Africa have managed to promote other types of tourism, which led to increased foreign earnings.

Citing South Africa as an example, he said apart from animal viewing in national parks, more than 90% of tourists in the country visited other tourist attractions in Uganda like mountain gorillas, Chimpanzee and other wildlife . Tourists’ arrival in South Africa currently stands at 6 million per annum. According to Mr Ryen, his company plans to develop untapped tourism potential in the southern circuit of Tanzania this year.

Experience shows that southern parks and reserves including Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountains, Selous, Ruaha and Katavi receive very few visitors compared to their northern counterparts and offer a unique African wilderness experience.

The company in collaboration with the Rufiji District Council, is in the process to develop Lake Utunge Photographic Project which would be used for tourism activities. The project was authorized last year.

Once started the project would help villagers around to get employment, increase revenue, construction of two camping sites and rehabilitation of airstrip. The project would also help to reduce poaching and illegal logging since the area would be under surveillance.

Utunge area which covers 350 sq. km is a home of various species of animals, including elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, impala, lions, leopards and the very rare wild dogs.

Experts in the tourism industry are optimistic that cultural tourism resources will continue to serve as a base for Tanzania’s tourism industry.

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