Category: Travel News

Kidepo Valley National Uganda’s Untamed Wilderness Park is located in Karamoja region in the northeastern corner of Uganda bordering South Sudan, this park spans over 1,442 square kilometers and it has been in existence since 1964. Kidepo Valley National Park is the most distant among the 10 National Parks and can take around 10 to 12 hours to get there from Kampala and is considered the most remote park with untouched beauty - ranked among the Africa’s finest wilderness. Kidepo Valley National Park is a prime destination characterized by magnificent landscapes, including rugged mountains, open savannahs, and lush valleys. The park is home to a diversity of wildlife, visitors can expect to see large herds of elephants, buffaloes, and giraffes roaming the plains, along with predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs. The park is particularly known for its unique wildlife, including species that are rare in other Ugandan parks. These include the massive Kidepo Valley ostrich and the elusive roan antelope. Kidepo also supports over 475 bird species, making it a fantastic destination for birdwatchers. Notable birds include the striking African fish eagle, the secretary bird, and various hornbills. The park provides an unmatched cultural experience, serving as a home to the indigenous Karamojong, Acholi, Maasai, and IK tribes. Activities And Attractions Around Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda Kidepo Valley National Park offers a range of activities for visitors: Game Drives In Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda Guided game drives provide opportunities to spot a variety of wildlife in their natural habitats, especially during the early morning or late afternoon when animals are most active. Kidepo Valley National Park offers incredible game-viewing experiences. Visitors can see a variety of mammals, including the greater kudu, Chandler's mountain reedbuck, elephants, and bush pigs. The park features dry savanna landscapes and stunning

Kibale National Park the  primate capital of the world is located in western Uganda, and is one of Africa’s most beautiful and biologically diverse national parks. Kibale  National Park  The Primate Capital of the world spanning over 766 square kilometers approximately 300 kilometers from Kampala – the capital city of Uganda and is also in very close proximate to Fort Portal city. The park is easily accessible by road, making it a convenient stop for those exploring the western region of Uganda and its closeness to Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Rwenzori Mountains is an added tourism advantage. Kibale  National Park  The Primate Capital of the world is home to an astonishing 13 species of primates hence the title of the primate capital of the world including the famous chimpanzees, which are one of the main attractions. Visitors can take guided chimpanzee tracking tours to observe these incredible creatures in their natural habitat. Other primates found in the park include red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, and the rare L'Hoest's monkey. In addition to primates, Kibale boasts a rich variety of flora and fauna. The park is home to over 350 bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. Notable bird species include the African grey parrot, the Great Blue Turaco, and various forest hornbills. The park's diverse ecosystems also support a range of mammals, including elephants, buffalo, and bush pigs, as well as an array of reptiles and amphibians. Activities And Attractions Around Kibale National Park The Primate Capital of the world Kibale National Park offers a variety of activities for visitors: Chimpanzee Tracking In Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda One of the most popular activities, guided tracking tours allow visitors to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat while learning about their behaviors and conservation efforts. As you

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park covers  over 331 square kilometers  and is one of the last remaining habitats for mountain gorillas in the world and it is home to half of the world’s population. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site after being converted into a National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in South Western Uganda and it is one of the most treasured natural wonders due to its rich biodiversity boasting more than 120 species of mammals, 200 species of butterflies, and over 350 species of birds, including the rare Albertine Rift endemics. The dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are a sanctuary for various primate species, including the grey-cheeked mangabey and the L’Hoest’s monkey in addition to its popularity of endangered mountain gorillas’ population in the spectacular landscapes featuring steep hills, deep valleys, and a mix of vegetational zones ranging from montane and lowland forests to bamboo and swampy areas covered in mist. Beyond its natural beauty, Bwindi is also home to the Batwa people, an indigenous group that has lived in harmony with the forest for centuries. Visitors can engage with the Batwa through cultural experiences that highlight their traditions, songs, and dances. This interaction provides insight into the rich cultural tapestry of the region and the importance of conservation. Activities Around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda. The Gorilla Trekking Experience In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda One of Bwindi's main attractions is the opportunity to trek to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Guided treks allow visitors to witness these magnificent creatures up close while learning about their behavior and conservation efforts. Each trek is an adventure, with paths that wind through dense vegetation and steep hills. The thrill of encountering a gorilla family is a lifetime memory. The park

The history of Queen Elizabeth national park goes back as far as 1912, this is when the place was declared a restricted area after the outbreak of sleeping sickness. The locals that were living in the park by then doing agriculture and fishing were asked to move out and settle in the nearby areas. This created more land for wild animals because the area was depopulated. When the area become big enough for different wildlife to survive, the British government decided to evict the few remaining people to create game reserves. They destroyed their homes and even killed the park animals forcing them to move to neighboring areas like DR Congo, Kasese, Bushenyi, Rukunguri, and many others to seek refuge. In 1952, the large protected area was named Kazinga channel national park by the local people. The area has two game reserves one in the Ankole kingdom and the other in the toro kingdom and these were separated by the long water channel. In 1954, when Queen Elizabeth national park visited the places, two lakes Rutanzige and Katunguru found within the park were named after Queen Elizabeth’s father George, and uncle Edward The present day Queen Elizabeth national park started to be famous in 1954 after the visit of the British monarch to the park. From the visit of the Queen, the Kazinga channel was donated to connect Ankole to Toro kingdom and from there the two game reserves named lake George and lake Edward were merged to form Queen Elizabeth national park During the visit of Queen Elizabeth in 1954, she held a meeting at a now called Queen pavilion where she held a meeting with three traditional leaders from Ankole, Toro, and Bunyoro. From this meeting to remember her visit to the park, the government decided to change

Gates to Queen Elizabeth national park are those entry points to the park and exit points from the park. Queen Elizabeth national park is large protected area covering 1978sq.km and it can be accessed using different gates. There are four main gates of Queen Elizabeth national park found in different sections of the park. These are Kabatoro gate, Katunguru gate, cater gate, and Ishasha gate.   Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the oldest protected areas in Uganda having been gazetted in 1952 by the government of Uganda to protect a wide range of wildlife. The national park is the second largest protected area in the country covering 1978 sq. km of savannah grassland vegetation. Queen Elizabeth national park extends to Kasese, Rukungiri, Rubirizi, and Kamwenge districts and tourists have got a variety of gates to use to access the park depending on where they are going to sleep or visit.   Access to Queen Elizabeth national park gives tourists an opportunity to see the different attractions that are said to be in the park. These are 95 mammals, 10 primates, 600 bird species, and water bodies such as Kazinga channel. To see these attractions of Queen Elizabeth national park, you will have to be part of different activities among which include game drives, birding watching, nature walks, chimpanzee trekking, boat cruise, and community tours among others. Entering Queen Elizabeth national park gives tourists a chance to see park animals such as lions, giant forest hogs, sitatungas, warthogs, elephants, duikers, buffaloes, hippos, leopards, hyenas, Uganda kobs, bushbabies, crocodiles, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and while colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and much more during game drives, nature walks, and boat cruise activities. Chimpanzees are seen during chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge. Tourists into Queen Elizabeth national park will also see

On the trekking day, every group of 8 people is assigned to gorilla families to trek. Mountain gorillas are used to move deep into the forest searching for food, this makes it difficult to allocate a gorilla family before.  Every evening, park rangers or trackers go deep into the forest to mark where different gorilla families will sleep, and then the next day, they go very early in the morning to check on them, and they go back to the park office to tell them about where to find mountain gorilla families on that day. This helps park management to know a gorilla family one can manage to trek but it depends on the location of the gorilla family, physical fitness plus others. These are factors one should consider while choosing a gorilla family to trek as below;

Allocation of gorilla families. Even though a tourist chooses a gorilla family he/she wants to visit, the park management is the one responsible to allocate which gorilla family a tourist can trek and enjoy an unforgettable experience. Gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park are tracked in four sectors that is Nkulingo and Rushaga in the south, Buhoma in the north, and Ruhija in the east, these sectors together make up the amazing Bwindi Forest. on the day of trekking, park rangers are the one to allocate a gorilla family in the early morning during the period of briefing. Why a mountain gorilla family trek allocated on the day of trekking. On the trekking day, every group of 8 people is assigned to gorilla families to trek. Mountain gorillas are used to move deep into the forest searching for food, this makes it difficult to allocate a gorilla family before.  Every evening, park rangers or trackers go deep into the forest to mark where different gorilla families will sleep, and then the next day, they go very early in the morning to check on them, and they go back to the park office to tell them about where to find mountain gorilla families on that day. This helps park management to know a gorilla family one can manage to trek but it depends on the location of the gorilla family, physical fitness plus others. These are factors one should consider while choosing a gorilla family to trek as below;

What is the importance of a porter while trekking mountain gorilla in Uganda? Hiking the big forests where the mountain gorillas are found is not easy whereby sometimes it requires a certain level of fitness. After booking a gorilla permit for visiting mountain gorillas, the next step is to start arranging things such as gear for gorilla trekking, passports, and so on. Another important thing to think of is hiring a porter mostly those with heavy luggage and even tourists who are not physically fit yet it is very useful to this activity.  To enjoy the gorilla trekking experience, it needs you to have a certain level of fitness and when you prepared enough. Reasons why you should hire a porter on a gorilla safari. Hiring porters are very important because these people are very expert in trekking mountain gorillas, all the tracking trials in the forests also make you feel comfortable and safe while searching these primates in big forests. Tipping porters help them improve their standards of living since they are not paid like park workers. Another reason why it is truly a tourist to hire a porter is that porters are also among the people who make your gorilla trekking an amazing experience in your entire lifetime. You will also participate in supporting local members since porters are the peoples who stay in the gorilla destinations. Tipping them also helps to embrace gorilla conservation and tourism in the place. Some of the porters in past were poachers but when gorilla tourism started, they have now realized the value in gorillas as well as wildlife conservation in the society as well as engaging in protecting gorillas safe and their natural habitats.

On the tracking day, every tourist is allocated to a single habituated gorilla family in a small group of 8 people. There are different factors considering while the allocation of gorilla families. Even though a tourist chooses a gorilla family he/she wants to visit, the park management is the one responsible to allocate which gorilla family a tourist can trek and enjoy an unforgettable experience. Gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park are tracked in four sectors that is Nkulingo and Rushaga in the south, Buhoma in the north, and Ruhija in the east, these sectors together make up the amazing Bwindi Forest. on the day of trekking, park rangers are the one to allocate a gorilla family in the early morning during the period of briefing. Why a mountain gorilla family trek allocated on the day of trekking. On the trekking day, every group of 8 people is assigned to gorilla families to trek. Mountain gorillas are used to move deep into the forest searching for food, this makes it difficult to allocate a gorilla family before.  Every evening, park rangers or trackers go deep into the forest to mark where different gorilla families will sleep, and then the next day, they go very early in the morning to check on them, and they go back to the park office to tell them about where to find mountain gorilla families on that day. This helps park management to know a gorilla family one can manage to trek but it depends on the location of the gorilla family, physical fitness plus others. These are factors one should consider while choosing a gorilla family to trek as below;