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murchision falls

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September 14, 2022 • 0 Comment
shoe bill stork In Uganda

 

 

Shoebill-stork

Shoebill-stork

The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) also known as whale head, whale-headed stork, or shoe-billed stork, is a very large stork-like bird. It derives its name from its enormous shoe-shaped bill.

It has a somewhat stork-like overall form and has previously been classified with the storks in the order Ciconiiformes based on this morphology. However, genetic evidence places it with the PelecaniKformes.

The adult is mainly grey while the juveniles are browner. It lives in tropical East Africa in large swamps.

The shoebill is a tall bird, with a typical height range of 110 to 140 cm (43 to 55 in) and some specimens reaching as much as 152 cm (60 in).

Length from tail to beak can range from 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in) and wingspan is 230 to 260 cm (7 ft. 7 in to 8 ft. 6 in). Weight has reportedly ranged from 4 to 7 kg (8.8 to 15.4 lb.).

A male will weigh on average around 5.6 kg (12 lb.) and is larger than a typical female of 4.9 kg (11 lb.). The signature feature of the species is its huge, bulbous bill, which is straw-colored with erratic greyish markings.

The exposed culmen (or the measurement along the top of the upper mandible) is 18.8 to 24 cm (7.4 to 9.4 in), the third longest bill among extant birds after pelicans and large storks, and can outrival the pelicans in bill circumference, especially if the bill is considered as the hard, bony keratin portion.

As in the pelicans, the upper mandible is strongly keeled, ending in a sharp nail. The dark coloured legs are fairly long, with a tarsus length of 21.7 to 25.5 cm (8.5 to 10.0 in).

The shoebill’s feet are exceptionally large, with the middle toe reaching 16.8 to 18.5 cm (6.6 to 7.3 in) in length, likely assisting the species in its ability to stand on aquatic vegetation while hunting.

The neck is relatively shorter and thicker than other long-legged wading birds such as herons and cranes. The wings are broad, with a wing chord length of 58.8 to 78 cm (23.1 to 30.7 in)

Shoebill-stork

Shoebill-stork

facts about the shoebill

  1. A shoe bill’s broad wings may span up to 2.5 meters from tip to tip well adapted to soaring. Its flapping rate of approximately 150 flaps per minute is among the slowest of any bird.
  2. Shoebills are specialist predators of lungfish. Their distribution through tropical East Africa seems to coincide with the availability of these fish – and also with papyrus reed beds, which is their preferred nesting habitat.
  3. A shoebill often benefit from living alongside hippos. These huge amphibious mammals bulldoze channels through papyrus swamps, allowing shoe bills access to otherwise inaccessible feeding areas. They also force fish to the surface, making them easier for the bird to capture.
  4. Shoebills take a wide variety of prey in addition to fish, including frogs, snails, water snakes, turtles, waterbirds and baby crocodiles. There is even an unconfirmed report of shoe bills feeding on a baby lechwe antelope.
  5. A shoebill may hatch two or more chicks, but seldom raise more than one. Stronger chicks will bully their weaker siblings, depriving them of food and sometimes killing them outright. This brutal practice also occurs among eagles. The younger chicks are a form of insurance: back-ups in case the eldest fails to survive.

In Uganda, this unique bird can be spotted in Murchison falls National park, Mabamba swamp on lake Victoria, Lake mburo National park, Toro-Semuliki game reserve, Makanaga swamp, Lwera swamp (along masaka road), Ishasha sector, Lugogo swamp (Ziwa Rhino sanctuary) and Uganda Wildlife Education Center Entebbe.

spotting the shoe bill on a safari in Uganda makes it a memorable experience.

Shoebill-stork

Shoebill-stork

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www.azas-safarisuganda.com

 

 

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Ostriches
February 11, 2022 • 0 Comment
Ostriches

COMMON NAME: Ostrich Scientific

NAME: Struthio camelus

TYPE: Birds

DIET: Omnivore

GROUP NAME: Herd

AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 30 to 40 years

SIZE: 7 to 9 feet

WEIGHT: 220 to 350 pounds

SIZE RELATIVE TO A 6-FT MAN: Ostrich is the world’s largest flightless bird found in the continent of Africa Very long bare neck and legs; the only bird with two toes; males are black with white wings and tail feathers, females are brown with “dirty” white wings and tail feathers

Speed and Movement

Though they cannot fly, ostriches are fleet, strong runners. They can sprint up to 43 miles an hour and run over distance at 31 miles an hour. They may use their wings as “rudders” to help them change direction while running. An ostrich’s powerful, long legs can cover 10 to 16 feet in a single stride. These legs can also be formidable weapons. Ostrich kicks can kill a human or a potential predator like a lion. Each two-toed foot has a long, sharp claw.

Herds and Reproduction

Ostriches live in small herds that typically contain less than a dozen birds. Alpha males maintain these herds, and mate with the group’s dominant hen. The male sometimes mates with others in the group, and wandering males may also mate with lesser hens. All of the group’s hens place their eggs in the dominant hen’s nest—though her own are given the prominent center place. The dominant hen and male take turns incubating the giant eggs, each one of which weighs as much as two dozen chicken eggs.

Behavior and Diet

Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. The old saw probably originates with one of the bird’s defensive behaviors. At the approach of trouble, ostriches will lie low and press their long necks to the ground in an attempt to become less visible. Their plumage blends well with sandy soil and, from a distance, gives the appearance that they have buried their heads in the sand.

Ostriches typically eat plants, roots, and seeds but will also eat insects, lizards, or other creatures available in their sometimes harsh habitat.

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Small Dock and Boat at the lake
January 20, 2022 • 0 Comment
Common & Popular Ugandan Travel Words & Phrases

10 Ugandan Words and Phrases to Enrich Your Trip to Uganda

Luganda is the most spoken language in Uganda. Every little corner in the country vibrates with the language’s dialect and yet the world knows so little about it. However, Luganda can be an intimidating language to learn, with sounds that don’t come naturally to a native English-speaking palate. Luganda has its own set of quirks, but travelers will find that learning some basic phrases packs benefits disproportionate to the effort—plus, it’s an excellent way to return the famous Uganda hospitality you’ll experience on your Uganda safari holiday. 

In the alphabet of Luganda, there is no letter Q or X, but have ŋ and ny. ŋ as in singing and ny as in lasagna. Syllable Ki is pronounced ‘chi’. Luganda has five vowels: a, e, i, o, u. pronounced the same as in Spanish:

  • A – ah (Like the “a” in “father”)
  • E – eh (Like the “a” in “say”)
  • I – ee (Like the “ee” in “see”)
  • O – oh (Like the “o” in “cot”)
  • U – oo (Like the “oo” in “doom”)

Here are 10 phrases you can use to enrich your time in Uganda, whether you’re stepping into the golden realms of the African savannah or combing the streets of Kampala in search of the city’s most attractive cultural center. olaɪə

Oli otya (olaɪətɪə) : How are you?

This is an all-purpose greeting that can be shortened to simply “chi kati,” meaning “how are you,” and it is near universally well received. Starting your conversation with a local greeting is respectful and friendly, even if you immediately switch to English. The appropriate response is “gyendi”—“I’m okay.”

Ssebo/nnyabo: Sir/madam

Greetings are very important in Luganda. They are used often to begin a conversation with someone. In a formal setting, it is important to use titles of address. To a man, you say ‘ssebo’ and to a woman you say ‘nnyabo.’

Wasuze otya nno: Good morning 

Kampala crackles with energy well into the night: Outdoor cafés seem to spring from the sidewalk the moment the sun sets, and citizens of all ages spend hours socializing over African coffee, Nile beer, katogo, and selfies. After each busy night, the sun rises and shortly thereafter, the buzzing sounds of matatu taxi conductors resonate through the streets. It’s morning in Kampala, and a moment of busy-ness settles over the city before the heat of the day sets in. You might tell your neighbor “Wasuze otya nno,” or “good morning,” on your way to breakfast and hear a sleepy “bulungi,” or “very well,” in response.

Weebale: Thank you 

Experienced travelers know it’s essential to learn how to say “thank you” wherever they visit, and this small politeness goes a long way in Uganda. Luckily, the word is a relatively easy one, and perfectly appropriate to use whenever you wish to express gratitude, whether you’re ordering a fresh mango juice or checking out at the counter. You will almost certainly hear a happy “kale”—“you’re welcome”—in return. And to make it effective, add “nyo”, meaning “very much”. “Webale nyo!”, ny as in lasagna.

Grey crowned crane or Crested Crane (Balearica regulorum): Basic Facts About Uganda Every Traveller Should Know.

Basic Facts About Uganda Every Traveller Should Know.

Uganda Facts

Munyenye: Stars 

The Uganda wildlife parks are some of the best places to stargaze on the planet. The darkness in these places enables the Milky Way to shine and sparkle in the heavens above, with thousands and millions of twinkling stars in between. Because these places are less polluted with light, the night skies in these areas are phenomenal. The skies come alive every night!.

Owange: Excuse me

Because of the difference in dialect, many times someone will say something you can’t pick up easily for the first time and you’ll often ask for excuses to catch up. Owange, could you say that again. 

Amazzi: Water 

Uganda’s total land area is 241,559 sq. km. About 37,000 sq km of this area is occupied by open water while the rest is land. The longest river in the world collects most of its waters from Uganda and the neighboring countries before it begins its odious journey to Egypt. Because of the tropical climate, it can show down anytime in Uganda. In three of the most popular savannah parks, you’ll most probably take a boat safari on the Nile, lake or a channel to catch sight of the big and small savannah animals. It may be a kind-of difficult to avoid amazzi on your trip to Uganda.

Mzungu (m̩ˈzuŋɡu): wanderer, or someone with white skin

The word mzungu comes from Kiswahili, where zungu or zunguka is the word for spinning around on the same spot. Kuzungazunga is a Luganda word for dizziness or wandering around aimlessly. Dating back to the 18th century, the European explorers were seen by locals as just wandering around aimlessly, thus named Mzungu.

The term is now used to refer to “someone with white skin” or “white skin” but can refer to all foreigners more generally. The word can also mean someone who speaks English or is “behaving rich.” Traditionally, Europeans were seen as people of means and rich, so the terminology was extended to denote affluent persons regardless of race.

While wandering around the country, you’ll often be called out by children to get your attention, wave back with a smile, and say back ‘Oli otya!’ (olaɪətɪə).

Mukwano: My love or my friend

I was in a dusty spice shop in Kasese trying to find change in my wallet to pay for my plantain snack, and the fast-talking seller was adding pieces to my bag faster than I could say “owange.” The price was mounting quickly and I couldn’t get his attention until, in a move I only had the privilege to get away with as a foreigner in this part of Uganda, I dropped “mukwano,” a term of endearment widely used for all manner of sweet talking. Mothers use it with their kids, close friends use it with each other, and it’s ubiquitous in Ugandan pop music. In my case, the shopkeeper broke into a huge smile, told me she had underestimated me, and gave me a better price for my snacks—plus she threw in a free piece of plantain.

Know the best time to plan a Uganda trip. Uganda language words for traveler

Know the best time to plan a Uganda trip

Best time for a trip to Uganda

Nkooye: I’m tired

Going on an African safari can be tiring especially if you’re driving on unpaved tracks in the park or driving long distances between destinations, the African savannah is vast and takes hours to cover or find the animals you expect to see. Tell your driver or guide “Nkooye” and find a breather.

Tugende: Let’s go

For many travelers, a safari guide is usually a great choice on their trip to Uganda. When exploring with one of these experts, each new sighting is contextualized and interpreted with skill, sensitivity, and critical thought around what they mean for Uganda and for the world at large. As you’ll learn more on your journey through the country, you don’t need as much explanation to situate anything you see, but each morning will still start with an overview of what you see, ending with a wave and a quick “tugende”—“let’s go”—from your guide. You’ll later associate the phrase with the giddy anticipation of new experiences.

Mukwano, Tugende!

Mukwano, if you’re planning your next trip to Uganda, these are not many words to grasp even on your 8 hour flight to Entebbe. By the time you land, you’ll have mastered the secret passwords that are the Ugandan words and phrases to make your trip to Uganda a fantastic one. Talk to a safari consultant from our most trusted local operator,  to help you put together a custom-made safari trip that suits your style of travel. 

Send an email to 

www.azas-safarisuganda.com

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  • Giraffes
  • Gorilla trekking
  • Azas safaris Uganda

January 20, 2022 • 0 Comment
Best Time To Visit Uganda

Accurate information on the best time to visit Uganda that will help you fix perfect calendar dates on your all-inclusive Azas safari Uganda itinerary.

Uganda is a fast-growing Azas safari Uganda that’s lately getting significant attention from the leisure travel world. Uganda has treasures no other place on earth can duplicate—an extraordinary legacy of the still primitive, still wild, yet accessible on a wide scale.

That legacy includes not only the mountain gorillas, big game, small game, birdlife, other fascinating life forms, and seeing the descent, unpretentious, friendly local people. It is a tremendous assemblage of wildlife, the spectacle, the chief drawing card for Uganda safari trips, and all happening on open plains, mountains, forests, and one to be concerned about the best time to visit this extraordinary legacy, it’s pretty understandable.

Uganda is part of the economically integrated East African Community (EAC), including pioneer safari destinations like Kenya, Tanzania, and fast-growing Rwanda. All these destinations share almost the same weather patterns, but as you move west into the higher altitudes, the weather gets cooler and wet in the mountains.

Carefully considering the weather patterns, altitudes of your selected destinations, and the activities that will engage you, you can get the best time for your Uganda Visit.

Let’s take a look month-by-month by weather and climate details.

Best Time Time To Visit Uganda

By Weather and Climate

Like Kenya, DR Congo, and ten other countries, Uganda straddle the equator, which means a slight annual fluctuation in temperatures. The hottest average temperature rarely exceeds 29° Celcius (84° Fahrenheit) in the capital, Kampala, and environs.

However, as you head towards the northern regions of the country, the hottest day time temperatures average between 24-33° Celsius (52-91° Fahrenheit) with peaks up to 40° Celcius (104° Fahrenheit) in the extreme north towards Kidepo National Park. And this usually during January and February.

Uganda’s tropical climate primarily has two seasons: the dry season and the wet season.

The Dry season in northern Uganda ranges from December through February and Wet season from March through to November. This period encompasses Murchison Falls NP, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kidepo NP, and Pian Upe Game Reserve.

Sandwiched between the Rwenzori mountains, Virunga Massif, and the massive Lake Victoria, the southwestern region, where we find almost all significant parks, has two wet seasons. The first runs from mid-September through to November, and the second runs from March to May. But what you should note as you visit this region is that it can rain at any time of the day. 

The Dry Season: June to August & December to February

Average temperatures during the dry season in Uganda get as low as 16° Celcius (61° Fahrenheit) in the morning and as high as 27° Celcius (81° Fahrenheit) in the afternoon. In higher altitudes, like where the gorillas are found, it gets very chilly at 1,300 m (4,265 ft). 

June, July & August

June and July are the driest months in the southwestern region but expect to see some occasional rains because the area is mostly covered with rainforests. Unlike the southwest, these months form part of the Wet season in the northern regions. But if you’re heading to the far north, to Pian Upe or Kidepo Valley, the region is semi-arid and can experience droughts during this period.

December, January & February

Compared to June and July, most of the southwest region gets a little more rainfall in December, January, and February. But the north is clearly dry with little or no rain. 

Why You Should Visit Uganda in February, Bets time to visit Uganda

Why you should visit Uganda in Feb.

Compelling Reasons Why Feb is the Best Time

Travel Advice

In general, December to January and June to August is the best time to visit Uganda on safari during the two dry seasons. The dry season is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda because the forest floors are less damp, trails are passable, and you’re sure you and your photography equipment will not get drenched in the torrential downpours. However, it would be best if you didn’t rule out rain because you’re hiking in a rainforest.

The dry season is also the best time to visit Uganda’s wildlife savannah reserves, when the skies are clear, less rain, more sunshine, and vegetation are less. The water holes are practically an animal magnet, and the animals gather around main water sources, making wildlife easier to spot. It is also the best time to take that boat launch safari on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth NP and on Victoria Nile in Murchison Falls NP.

The high or peak travel season in Uganda is usually the two dry seasons of June to September and December to January. Unlike Kenya and Tanzania, the savannah parks in Uganda during this time don’t feel as crowded, and you can almost privately enjoy vast savannah plains to yourself.

Because the best time to see mountain gorillas in Uganda is during the two dry seasons, gorilla trekking permits become scarce. We advise trekkers to book the gorilla permit months in advance; at least 4-12 months earlier, to avoid disappointments. When should you book the gorilla permit?


Uganda Wildlife Authority issues the gorilla permit for USD 700 per person and allows only eight people to visit each gorilla group. Uganda has 20 gorilla groups available for tourism and 2 more available for habituation experience. Therefore Uganda offers only 160 gorilla permits and 8 habituation permits per day. That’s a small number for an activity that gets heated attention, small enough to make you want to book the permit months ahead of your trip date.

Mountain Gorilla found in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Wet season: March to May and September to November

Average temperatures during the wet season in Uganda get as low as 16° Celcius (61° Fahrenheit) in the morning and as high as 28° Celcius (82° Fahrenheit) in the afternoon. In the gorilla mountains at higher altitudes, it gets chilly and warmer in the north.

The wet season in Uganda is during two periods of March to May and September to November.

March, April & May 

The wet season period of March to May has more downpour throughout the country and peaking in April in the southern region.

From March to May is not the best time to visit Uganda because rain can make navigating some trails difficult. But it does not rain throughout time, and some days have warm sunshine as well.

September, October & November

These months are commonly referred to as the months of short rains and are comparable to March, April, and May, but, on average, there is a bit less rain.

Travel Advice

It’s low season (off-peak) in Uganda during Wet season. Hotels, Camps, and lodges charge lower rates because there’s less travel traffic. If you don’t mind a downpour once a day and are looking to travel on a budget, this is the best time to visit Uganda.

During the wet seasons is when the Pearl of Africa is at its most beautiful. Generally, the green vegetation illuminates the whole country showing off the most spectacular landscape features. Go southwest of the country, the highlands flash out enchanting emerald vegetation, and the snow-capped Rwenzori mountains of the moon decorate the western and southern borders. Photography is at its best, especially when the sun shines over the afternoons.

During the wet seasons, vegetation overgrows and animals spread all over the savannah plains like little dots on a map. Although wildlife in the savannah reserves is more challenging to spot during wet season, you’ll still see plenty of newborns and witness concomitant gut-wrenching thrills when hungry predators battle with vigilant mothers or snatch the helpless young.

Some of the roads get very bad, bridges are washed away by heavy rains, and cars often get stuck, especially in the gorilla mountains where roads are not yet paved with tarmac. The rainforest trails become damp, slippery, and challenging to hike.

For some savvy travelers with a thrill of adventure, November is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda because this is when the mountain gorillas don’t forage too far from the trailheads. The gorillas can find food easily and prefer to stay in lower altitudes to avoid the freezing temperatures up. In other words, gorilla trekking is easier in November, ignoring that it could be raining.

When to go see mountain gorillas in Uganda. best time to Visit Uganda

Is the odious jungle trek to see gorillas really worth it?

Find out if gorilla trekking in Uganda is worth it

It’s important to note that you won’t be able to change your expensive gorilla permit if it pours with rain and you chose not to trek. The UWA officials stick to departure times and go as scheduled. 

Onward

No matter your preferences, it is apparent that Uganda’s wilderness is extremely variable, making it difficult to choose the best time to visit the Pearl of Africa. Destination Uganda will connect you directly to a local operator with ground knowledge on everything you need for your Uganda safari trip combining the elements you prefer in one trip. They will offer outstanding assistance and convenience by their expert knowledge of the region and network of reliable accommodation suppliers, logistical team partners, guides, and ranger informants who make it possible to offer unrivaled service in crafting the best possible solution to your preferred style of travel. 

for more information

 www.azas-safarisuganda.com

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mabamba-wetland.
January 17, 2022 • 0 Comment
THE MABAMBA BAY SWAMP AND WETLAND

Mabamba Swamp

The Mabamba Bay Swamp and Wetland

Mabamba Swamp and Wetland is one of the places you go to and realize just how blessed Uganda is by nature. Though a relatively small country, Uganda is one of the best countries for bird watching in the world.  The sheer variety and density of bird species is truly amazing. The Mabamba bay Swamp is just one of the many important birding areas in Uganda. Mabamba (meaning lungfish swamp in the Luganda dialect) swamp is located in a convenient place close to Kampala city and Entebbe town allowing birders to spot many of Uganda’s famous birds without having to go to the remoter parks.

Mabamba Wetland in Uganda

Mabamba Bay Wetland is one of the vast swamps found in Lake Victoria. It is located close to Entebbe town (40km) and Kampala city in a small village in Kasanje. The main economic activities among the communities living close to the wetland are hunting, fishing and and mining. The Mabamba Swamp is more renowned for its amazing bird collection (Over 260 species recorded). It is one of the top tourist attractions in Entebbe town. In 2006, the swamp was chosen as a Ramsar Site and wetland of international importance because of the rare and attractive bird species like the Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Shoebill Stork (Balaeniceps rex), Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) and Sitatunga (swamp antelope) among others. The Ramsar Convention on wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that champions the conservation, wise use and safeguarding of wetlands and their treasures. The treaty came into force in 1971 in the city of  Ramsar (Iran).

Shoebill Stork in Mabamba Swamp
Birding in Mabamba Swamp
Bird watching in Mabamba Swamp
Bird watching in Mabamba swamp and wetland

Because of this international recognition (among others), the Mabamba Swamp has become an Important Bird Area (IBA) helping attract a lot of birders to Uganda. It is one of the best places for birding safaris in Uganda.

Because of its location close to the Entebbe international airport, it is an ideal starting point for those interested in a long safari in Uganda. The key attraction is the Shoebill Stork. Along with the Murchison Falls National Park,

The Mabamba Swamp is the best place to spot the Shoebill Stork. In Mabamba and Murchison Falls National Park, Shoebill Storks can be sighted throughout the day. Mabamba wetland is not all about Shoebill Storks, it is a sanctuary to four threatened species including the Papyrus Gonolek, Blue Swallow, Pallid Harrier and White-Winged Warbler.

Other species found in the swamp include the Yellow-throated Greenbul, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-billed Tinkerbird, Yellow-billed Ducks, Yellow-backed Weaver, Yellow warble, Yellow Wagtail, Yellow-Billed Stork, Yellow-billed duck, Yello-billed Kite, Woodland Kingfisher, Wood Sandpiper, Winding Cistocola, White-winged Warbler, White-winged Black Terns, White-throated Bee-eater, 

White-shouldered Tit, White-faced Whistling-duck, White-browed Cuckoo, White-browed Coucal, Whiskered Terns, Whinchat, Weyn’s Weaver, Weaver birds, Water Thicknee, Violet-backed Sterling,

Village Weaver, Veilots’ Black Weaver, the Blue Swallow, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Tawny Eagle, Tambourine Dove,  Swamp Flycatcher, Stripped Kingfisher, Squacco heron, Spur-winged, Spur-winged Lapwing, Spur-winged Geese, Speckled Mouse bird, Slender-billed Weaver,

Slender-billed Gull, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Sand Martin, Sand Martin, Saddle-billed Stork, Ruppell’s Long-tailed Sterling, Rufous-napped Lark, Rufous-bellied Herons, Ross’ Turaco, Red-shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, Red-headed Love-bird, Red-eyed Dove, Red-chested Cuckoo, Red-billed Fire-finch, Pygmy Geese, Purple Heron, Pint-tailed Whyda, Pink-backed Pelican, 

Pied Wagtail, Pied Kingfishers, Papyrus yellow warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Pallid Harrier, Orange Weaver,  Olivaceous Warbler, Northern Brown-throated Weather, Mosque Swallow, Marsh Harrier, Malachite Kingfisher, 

Long-toed Lapwings, Long-tailed Cormorant, Long-Crested Eagle, Long tod lapwig blover, Little Stilt, Little Egret, Little bee-eater,

Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Lesser Jacana, Intermediate Egret, Harmerkop, Hadada Ibis, Gull-billed Terns, Grosbeak Weaver, Grey-rumped, Grey-Headed Sparrow, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Grey-headed Gulls, Grey-crowned Crane, Grey Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Grey Parrot, Grey Heron, Green Cuckoo, Great White Pelican, Great White Egret, Great Cormorant, Great Blue Turaco,

Grassland Pipit, Goliath Herons, Glossy Ibis, Fulvous Whistling-duck, Fork-tailed Drongo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Fly catcher, Flappet Lark, Feral Pigeon, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Eurasian Hobby, 

Eastern Grey Plantain Eater, Double Toothed Barbet, Crowned Hornbill, Comrants,

Common Waxbill, Common Stonechat, Common Sqacco Heron, Common Sandpiper, Common Moorhens, Common Greenshank, Common Bulbul, Cattle Egret, 

Carruther’s Cisticola, Brown Snake-Eagle, Brown Parrot, Blue-headed Cuckoo, Blue-headed Coucal, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, 

Blue Swallow, Blue headed coucal, Blue Breasted Bee-eater, Black-winged Stilt, Black-headed Weavers, Black-headed Heron, Black-faced Rufous Warbler,

Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black- headed weavers, Black Headed Gonolek, Black Headed Gonolek, Black Egret, Black Crake,

Banded Martin, Ashy Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Angola Swallows, Afrikan Jakana,  African water rail, Pallid Harrier, African Water Rail, African Pygmy Goose, African Purple Swamp-hen, African Pigmy Goose, African Pied Wagtail,  African Marsh Harrier, 

African Jacana, African Hoopoe, African Green Pigeon, African Fish Eagle, African Firefinch and African common Moorhen.

About the Shoebill Stork and Birding Tours in Mabamba Swamp

Known locally as “Bbulwe”, the Shoebill Stork gets its name from it huge shoe-shaped bill. The Shoebill stork is the most sought out bird in Uganda. It is a shy and intriguing bird with a mysterious physical appearance. Its most striking feature is a massive, uneven, large and yellow colored bill.

Shoebill Storks are considered by some to be an ugly bird which looks like a creature straight out of the Jurassic age. Regardless what some think, tourists and seasoned birders find them very fascinating. Hundreds of birders flock to Uganda purposely to see these large birds.

Mabamba Bay Wetland

Shoebills are found in the papyrus swamps of Sub-Saharan Africa including DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan. Uganda has about 1000 individuals. The Shoebill Storks in Uganda can also be sighted in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha Sector), Nabajuzi Swamp (in Masaka), Murchison Falls Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Mburo National Park, Semliki Wildlife Reserve and around Lake Kyoga.

Shoebill Storks love Lungfish but will also feed on smaller water birds, water snakes, frogs, lizards, Turtles, Crocodiles (young), Snails and Rodents. Their favorite food in Mabamba is Lungfish. The fish thrive here because many Baganda people do not eat them. One of the Baganda clans is named after the lungfish.

Mabamba Bay Wetland in Uganda

The Shoebill Stork is a solitary bird. Two pairs only get together during the breeding season. The breeding season generally occurs during the dry season – perhaps to prevent the nests from getting damaged by heavy floods. Females lay between one to three eggs.

The male and female both share incubation roles until the chicks hatch. After hatching, the pair has a task of feeding their young until they are can look for food on their own.

It takes between 3 to 4 years for the young ones to start breeding. Usually only one survives up to adulthood (the strongest one). Adult Shoe bills weigh about 14 pounds and can live for more than 50 years.

How to Reach Mabamba Swamp and Wetland

Mabamba bay swamp can be accessed from both Kampala and Entebbe. Those coming from Entebbe can follow the old Entebbe- Kampala road and branch off from Kisubi.

From Kisubi, one drives to Nakawuka then Kasanje before reaching Mabamba. Those coming from Kampala have two options. The first is to take a taxi from the new taxi park to Kasanje trading centre. After reaching Kasenje trading centre, one can hire a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) up to Mabamba which is 13.5 km away.

Alternatively one can use the Masaka road and branch off after about 30 kilometers to Buyege. The distance from Buyege to Mabamba is about 22 kilomeres.

Visiting Mabamba Swamp

Instead of using the road as described above, a more convenient and easy way to reach the swamp from Entebbe town is by taking a speed boat through Lake Victoria.

Using the lake route is more adventurous and allows one to marvel at the beautiful Lake Victoria while bypassing Entebbe town and the airport. Using a speed boat to the starting point in Mabamba takes between 45 to 50 minutes.

The speedboats can be hired from some hotels in Entebbe town or at the Entebbe sailing club. The boats are in great condition, comfortable and with life jackets.

However these large speed boats are not suitable for navigating through the papyrus swamps. Once you get near the Mabamba wetland, you need to prepare to board smaller canoes that are used to navigate through the papayrus swamps.

A tour of the Mabamba Swamp

On arrival at the starting point, expect to find many birding Guides and fishermen waiting to escort you deep into the wetland to spot the birds. The boatmen and bird guides are well organized.

They have a leader who speaks on their behalf. It is this spokesperson who assigns a boatman and guide to visitors. The canoes can only take three birders (excluding the guide and boat driver).

You need to first pay a community charge of about $7 at their small office. The boat and Guide together cost about $35. You need to move with a life Jacket or request for one because many of the boats do not have them. The owners of these boats and birding guides are locals from the nearby communities.

By paying for their services, you are giving back to the community and helping save the birds and other creatures in the wetland. People are less inclined to destroy something that is of a benefit to them.

birdwatchin in Mabamba wetland

As soon as the boat starts moving into the reeds, pay attention on both sides of the narrow pathways and in the air. Your guide and boatman will help you get close to the birds by navigating through the papyrus and lily pads.

After rowing for a few minutes, the narrow papyrus reeds open up to reveal flat grassy swamps. Have your binoculars and camera ready. The number of birds here will surprise you if you are not prepared. Watch out for the bee-eaters, kingfishers and other species.

Don’t miss the beautiful butterflies and lotus flowers. The best time to find the Shoebills is during the morning hours when they go out to feed.  Talking photos of the Storks is easier compared to many of the other bird species.

This is because they stay still for long periods as they observe the movement of fish, frogs and other prey before making a lightning strike. They support themselves by standing on floating reeds.

The Mabamba wetland in Uganda

The chances of seeing the Shoebills in Mabamba are very high. One of the reasons for the high success rate is the great corporation and teamwork among the Birding guides.

When there are several visitors at the bay, the guides spread out and head to different sections of the swamp. They are in constant communication and any who spots the Shoe bills first alerts the others about their presence. Within no time all the boats gather at the same place stealthily to allow birders spot the birds.

After locating the Shoebill and spotting enough of the birds, you should head back to the lake and find the larger boat waiting to take you back to your hotel. As you leave the Mabamba wetland, you might get lucky to spot more shoebills along the swampy shores of the lake or nearby lagoons.

Important information about Birding tours in Mabamba

Birders in Mabamba Bay wetland

Birding tours are arranged daily and takes about 4 hours. Full day birding can also be arranged on request. The period between September and March are the best for birding. There is a lot of activity within the wetland as migratory birds arrive from Europe.

It is important to book a tour of Mabamba swamp a day in advance for better planning. Your tour company or private driver should pick you up very early in the morning from your hotel or residence. A one day birding tour in Mabamba costs about $400 per person.

For the best bird watching experience, move with a backpack, packed food (in case you get hungry), binoculars, insect repellents, a hat, sunscreen, a rain jacket, trousers and long-sleeved shirts.

Other things to do and look out for while visiting the Mabamba swamp

Watching Butterflies: Whereas birdwatching is the main highlight of a tour of the Mabamba wetland; the countless butterfly species also catch the eye. The Mabamba swamp has over 200 species of butterflies. The most common species are the Bicyclus sebetus, Acraea consanquine, Acraea aganice, Achaea aurivilli and Abisaraneavei.

Fishing in Mabamba Island

Spot fishing: Before tourism became more prominent, the main activity in Mabamba was fishing. Fishing is still the main economic activity in the area and the most popular species are the Tilapia, mudfish, lungfish and the large Nile Perch. There are several fishermen around the area. You can join one of them or watch them from afar. If you wish to join them, then you can go with your own equipment or make do with one of the locally made hooks and rods.

Sitatunga Swamp antelope in Mabamba swamp and wetland

Spotting the Sitatunga antelope: The Mabamba swamp is an important sanctuary for the Sitatunga. While on a birdwatching tour in the vast swamp, it is possible to encounter these elusive antelopes. Their numbers have dwindled in the recent past because of uncontrolled poaching. The poachers expose and catch them by burning down their hiding places – the marshes. There are efforts by the government and other Wildlife conservationists to protect them through community sensitization.

Canoeing: Canoeing for longer periods of time can be arranged to spot more of the birds, go fishing and touring the nearby islands of Lake Victoria. It is important to board the canoe with life jackets. If you don’t have in, choose a boat that can provide one.

Communities near Mabamba Swamp

Village walks and visiting Craft Shops: The village walks provide opportunities to mingle with the locals as you learn about how they live and make ends meet. Many of the local people living close to the swamp practice  subsistence farming. You can also go to one or two of the crafts shops to admire beautifully crafted bags, mats, baskets and huts. Most of these items are made with reeds got from the swamp. The swamp also provides herbs and building materials for local huts.

Visiting other spots in Entebbe: Entebbe is a small but beautiful town to tour. After birding at the Mabamba bay wetland, one can relax by the Lake Victoria or visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Center (zoo). Other great attractions include the virgin Ssese islands and the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary.

Conservation activities and the future of the Mabamba wetland

Hundreds of tourists visit Uganda each year with the sole purpose of spotting the Shoebill Stork. This has helped bring greater attention to their dwindling numbers and the need for their overall protection not only in Mabamba bay wetland but also in other locations within Uganda where they are found. The Mabamba swamp is not only home to the Shoebill stork but to over 200 other bird species. The swamp is also home to rare creatures like the Sitatunga antelope. Whereas these swamp antelopes are threatened by uncontrolled poaching, the greatest threat to the Shoebill Stork is habitat loss. The wetland continues to be drained by humans who are encroaching on it to put up houses and other infrastructure.

It is also worth pointing put that many Shoebills in Mabamba swamp were lost to fishermen in the past. Fishermen believed that encountering a Shoebill stork as they went to fish was a bad omen that would result in a poor catch. Some individuals used to steal Shoebill eggs and sell them in the black market. The designation of the place as a Ramsar site has resulted in greater protection of the birds. The government and other Wildlife conservation Agencies continue to sensitize the fishermen and communities living near the swamp about the importance of the wetland and wildlife to the overall eco-system. Through this sensitization, the community and fishermen have realized the great benefit of the swamp and creatures therein. The fishermen benefit greatly by renting out their boats to tourists. Because of their experience in the area, some of the fishermen have been trained as birding Guides. The economic benefits resulting from tourism has a turned the Shoebills into highly respected birds worth protecting.

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Cheetahs
January 14, 2022 • 0 Comment
History of cheetahs

A cheetah family rests together in Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

The world’s fastest land mammal is racing toward extinction, with the latest cheetah census suggesting that the big cats, which are already few in number, may decline by an additional 53 percent over the next 15 years.

Today there are just 7,100 cheetahs left in the wild, according to the new study, which appears this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. That’s down from an estimated 14,000 cheetahs in 1975, when researchers made the last comprehensive count of the animals across the African continent, Hunter says.

In addition, the cheetah has been driven out of 91 percent of its historic range the big cats once roamed nearly all of Africa and much of Asia, but their population is now confined predominantly to six African countries: Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, and Mozambique. The species is already almost extinct in Asia, with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in one isolated pocket of Iran.

Based on these results, the study authors are calling for the cheetah’s status to be changed from “vulnerable” to “endangered” on the IUCN Red List.

“These large carnivores, when they are declining at that sort of rate, then extinction becomes a real possibility,” Hunter says.

Double Whammy

Perhaps unsurprisingly, humans are the main reason that cheetahs are in peril.

Like other large carnivores, cheetahs face habitat loss driven by conversion of wilderness areas into managed land dedicated to agriculture or livestock. People will then sometimes kill cheetahs if they perceive the animals as a threat to their livestock, even though cheetahs rarely take domesticated animals, Hunter says.

An Asiatic cheetah crosses the Miandasht Wildlife Reserve in Iran.

An Asiatic cheetah crosses the Miandasht Wildlife Reserve in Iran.

Cheetahs are also subject to vehicle collisions, poaching for their skin and other body parts, and even being killed for bush meat, though that threat is mostly targeted at cheetah’s prey species, such as antelopes, gazelles, impalas, and warthogs. All are ideal cheetah prey, and all are heavily hunted by people in many areas, Hunter says.

“Cheetahs are facing a double whammy: They are getting killed directly, and then also their prey species are getting killed in these savannah areas, so the cheetahs having nothing to subsist on,” Hunter says.

Other threats include high demand for cheetah cubs as pets, mainly in the Middle East, which results in the illegal trade of cubs from North Africa.

Conservation Catalyst

Some cheetahs already live in protected areas like national parks, where it is safer, more accessible, and the animals are expected to be subjected to fewer threats, says study leader Sarah Durant of the Zoological Society of London.

But during the new assessment, Durant and her colleagues found that two-thirds of the cheetah population lives outside of these protected zones, in part because the animals need room to roam.

“We can’t have any more cheetahs in protected areas … the density is already the maximum it can be,” Durant says. “The key to the survival of the cheetah is its survival outside of protected areas.”

The study team, led by Panthera, the Zoological Society of London, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, hope that their results will spur the IUCN to re-classify the cheetah as endangered.

A cheetah and two cubs gaze across the landscape in Kenya.

A cheetah and two cubs gaze across the landscape in Kenya.

It is likely too late to grow and protect the species in areas like West or Central Africa, where these big cats have long been on the decline, Hunter adds. But there is enormous potential for the population to rebound quickly in other areas.

The new conservation status would provide a platform for these groups to try and reverse the trends affecting cheetahs. For instance, such a change can create openings for funding streams that are available only to endangered species, and they might allow for conversations with African governments about cheetah conservation programs.

“What we are really hoping,” Durant says, “is this will catalyze action to start thinking outside the box for cheetah and landscape conservation, to start looking beyond the protected-area system and looking at how we can get communities engaged in and supportive of conservation, and make sure we have the policy and financial policy framework in place so that they will benefit from conservation.”

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Owen Falls
January 12, 2022 • 0 Comment
About the Owen Falls

The Owen Falls was a waterfall on the White Nile in Uganda near the city of Jinja. The falls, together with the nearby Ripon Falls, were submerged in 1954 with the completion of the Nalubaale Hydroelectric Power Station. The dam that houses the power station was originally named Owen Falls Dam, but was later renamed Nalubaale Dam and the name of the power station was also changed, from Owen Falls Power Station to Nalubaale Power Station.

Location

The waterfalls were located approximately 4 kilometres (2 mi), north (downstream), of the point where the river leaves Lake Victoria. This is the location of Nalubaale Dam, previously called Owen Falls Dam. The geographical location of the former Owen Falls are:00°26’37.0″N, 33°11’05.0″E (Latitude:0.443611; Longitude:33.184722).

The power station

Main article: Nalubaale Hydroelectric Power Station Construction of the Owen Falls Dam in early 1950s

The original Owen Falls Power Station consisted of a concrete gravity dam with a close coupled intake powerhouse unit. It controls the Lake Victoria outflows through a series of ten turbines and six sluices in the dam. When fully opened, the six sluices provide a spill capacity of about 1,200 cubic metres per second (cumecs).

At the time of its commissioning by Queen Elizabeth II, in 1954, the power station had two units of 15 megawatts each, for generation capacity of 30 megawatts. The table below illustrates how generation capacity was gradually increased until all ten units were operational in 1968. That year, generation capacity at the power station reached 150 megawatts.

Operations and upgrade

According to agreements between the Colonial British government and the government of Egypt, signed in 1929 and amended in 1949, the power station is operated through the Agreed Curve, so that the outflow from Lake Victoria remains the same as it was before the construction of the dam; when the outflow from the lake was naturally controlled by the rocky barrier of mukkibi falls.Due to neglect and lack of maintenance from 1971 until 1986, generation capacity at Owen Falls Dam deteriorated to 60 megawatts by 1986. This required repairs and rehabilitation, including the increase of each turbine’s capacity from 15 megawatts to 18 megawatts, to meet demand. The power station’s generation capacity reached 180 megawatts in 1996.

Extension

The feasibility of increasing the power generating capacity of the Nile River at this location, was studied at the end of the 1980s by Acres International, which today is part of Hatch Ltd of Canada. The new project is a second powerhouse located about 1 kilometre (1 mi) northeast of the Nalubaale Power Station. A new canal was cut to bring water from Lake Victoria to the new powerhouse. Major construction was completed in 1999. The first power from two units out of the installed five units, came online in 2000. The fifth and final turbine was installed in 2007. Each turbine has a capacity of 40 megawatts. The new power station is called Kiira Hydroelectric Power Station.

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MT Mgahinga
December 14, 2021 • 0 Comment
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Virunga Region

Welcome to Mgahinga National Park, a complete guide for visitors with everything you need to know about the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in South West Uganda. Our aim is to provide free and inspiring advice to help you plan an amazing experience in Mgahinga National Park. Whether you are looking at gorilla trekking in the park, hiking the Virunga Volcanoes, golden monkey tracking, you will find all the information to plan your trip.

Find information about the park, things to see (attractions), things to do (activities) and a travel planner to help you plan a perfect gorilla safari to Mgahinga Forest. Our exclusive safari planner section has detailed information on planning a gorilla trek, when to go, gorilla permits, how to book your safari, where to stay and more!

Top Safari Experiences – Tours and Activities

Would you like to go gorilla trekking in Uganda? We bring to you all year round tours to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the neighboring areas including Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Mutanda, Lake Bunyonyi and the Virunga Region. Interested in hiking, biking, sightseeing or gorilla tours? Here are some private custom tours that are offered by selected tour operators at discounted prices to enable you experience Mgahinga National Park.$1,480

All About Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

At just 33.7km2, Mgahinga National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda. The Park covers the northern slopes of the three northernmost Virunga Volcanoes: Mt. Muhavura (4,127 m), Mt. Gahinga (3,474 m), and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645 m). The Park is about 10 km south of Kisoro and is bordered to the south by the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and to the west by the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The park is part of the larger Virunga Conservation area that spreads over the three countries. Each of these countries protects its own portion of the Virungas, in the Parc National des Volcans and Parc National des Virunga respectively. The three parks together form the 434-sq. km. ‘Virunga Conservation Area’ or VCA. Mgahinga is 33.7 sq. km, just 8% of the VCA. The entire Park is in Bufumbira County of Kisoro District.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is 33.7 sq. km and consists of the partly forested slopes of three extinct volcanoes. From far away, the huge cones of the Virunga volcanoes dominate the landscape and beckon you as you approach. When you reach the park you can get a great overview of the area by walking up the viewpoint, just 15 minutes from Ntebeko Gate.

Mgahinga Park has great biological importance because throughout the climatic changes of the Pleistocene ice ages, mountains such as these provided a refuge for mountain plants and animals, which moved up or down the slopes as climate became warmer or cooler. The Virunga’s are home to a large variety of wildlife, including about half the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas.

Things to See in Mgahinga National Park

There are lots of things to see in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. From the endangered mountain gorillas to golden monkeys, three of the Virunga Volcanoes and unique flora and fauna. Here are the top attractions of Mgahinga National Park. that you should not miss!

Mountain Gorillas

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to more than half of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorilla. Fortunately for the gorillas are the main reason as to why the park was created by the Uganda government.

Virunga Volcanoes

Mgahinga is one of the most scenic given that the park lies on the northern slopes of Mt. Muhavura, Mgahinga and Sabinyo. These three volcanoes create an unforgettable regional backdrop. 

Golden Monkeys

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only destination where Silver meets Gold. The park protects both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. The golden monkeys are an ancient group of monkeys that are only found in the Virunga. 

The Virunga Volcanoes

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to three of the eight conical Virunga Volcanoes.

Mount Sabyinyo

Sabinyo has three peaks. Sabinyo is a local word that comes from the word ‘Iryinyo’, meaning tooth. The borders of three countries converge on this summit and you will find yourself simultaneously in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. 

Mount Gahinga

Mgahinga National Park derives its name from this volcanic mountain. This dormant/extinct volcano lies on the border between Uganda and Rwanda. An ascent of Mount Gahinga climbs from Ntebeko takes around 6 hours. 

Mount Muhavura

This classic volcanic cone is capped by a small but lake; a modest reward for a 5 hour trek that rises 1700m to over 41OOm. The word Gahinga comes from the local Rufumbira dialect meaning “a small pile of stones”.

Things to Do in Mgahinga National Park

There are lots of things to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. From gorilla trekking to Volcano Hiking, Mgahinga is such a place where you can engage in several adventure activities.

Gorilla Tracking

Gorilla Tracking is the most popular activity that is done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Most travelers to Mgahinga visit the park for mountain gorilla trekking. There is one habituated gorilla family i.e. Nyakagezi Gorilla Family. 

Volcano Hiking

Though gorilla trekking is the park’s most popular activity, Mgahinga merits a visit simply to appreciate the scenery. A choice of hikes allows for all abilities, ranging from the 8 hour return trip to the summit of Mt. Muhabura, to gentle strolls across the lower slopes beneath the magnificent three peak backdrop. 

Golden Monkey Tracking

Golden monkey tracking is one of the top activities that make this park an interesting place for tourists to visit for a primate safari. Challenge yourself an engage in this life changing activity and achieve an excitement of a lifetime. 

Batwa Trail

The Batwa Trail leads from the base of Muhavura Cave. This walk is conducted by Batwa guides who provide insights into their traditional forest life and culture. The Batwa used to live with the gorillas in hamony within the Mgahinga Forests.

Bird Watching

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is ideal for birding. Bird through different places including the Buffalo Wall, forests, wetlands and other habitats. Some of the birds to see include ibis, speckled mous, fire finch and many others found in the area.

Garama Cave Exploration

The 342m long Garama Cave lies beneath a plateu northern edge of the park, 3km from Ntebeko. It is set in the former farmland zone but in earlier times, the cave forest when it was occupied periodically by Batwa who used it as a council chamber and a retreat.

Safari Planner

Plan a safari to Mgahinga National Park

Planning to go for the thrilling gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park? Here is all the information you need to plan a perfect trip to see the endangered mountain gorillas within the park.

When to Go

Wondering about the best time to visit Mgahinga? The park experiences two rainy seasons; March-May and September-November. October is the wettest month, with 250mm of rain and July the driest with just 10mm. Most tourists go for gorilla safaris during the dry months of June-October and December to March. It is advisable to book your gorilla passes at least 4 months to the travel period given that there is a high demand for the Mgahinga gorilla passes.

Where is Mgahinga National Park?

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in South Western Uganda. The Park is situated about 8-10 hours drive from Kampala, Uganda and about 6 hours drive from Kigali, Rwanda. The can be accessed using both road and air transport.

Which entrance to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park should I take?

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has one main entrance for visitors and it is accessible from all directions. The Ntebeko gate is accessible from Kisoro Town and there is proper signage to the park headquarters.

How should I get to Mgahinga National Park

Most people travel on pre-booked Uganda safaris that are arranged by various tour operators. If you are looking to an independent trip, you should consider driving to to the park or using public transport as per our resource information. On this website, you can also check out our road trip ideas. Once you get to the park, you hike through the park on foot.

Where should I stay on my Safari Vacation?

There are several campgrounds, hotels and lodges around Kisoro and Lake Mutanda Area. There are no developed lodging facilities inside the park. There are various lodging options near the Ntebeko’s entrances. Depending on the season, you will need to reserve hotels and campgrounds well in advance.

What animals will I see in Mgahinga National Park?

There are several animals that have been recorded within the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Though gorilla trekking is the most popular adventure, there are several wildlife viewing activities that you can take within the park such as golden monkey tracking, buffalo viewing, bird watching etc. Check out our wildlife checklist for a detailed listing of animals that you can see in the region’ Septembers 28, 2021 

Things to See
  • Garama Cave
  • Mount Gahinga
  • Mount Muhavura
  • Mount Sabinyo
  • Virunga Volcanoes
  • Wildlife
  • Golden Monkeys
  • Mountain Gorillas
Things to Do
  • Batwa Trail
  • Birding in Mgahinga
  • Golden Monkey Tracking
  • Mountain Climbing
  • Mount Muhabura Hike
  • Nature Walks
  • Nature Walks
Plan a Gorilla Trek
  • Gorilla Families
  • Nyakagezi Gorilla Group
  • Gorilla Permits
  • Gorilla Trekking
  • When  to Go Gorilla Trekking
  • Habituated Gorilla Families in Mgahinga
  • Gorilla Safari Companies to Use
  • What to Wear on a Gorilla Trek
  • What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking
  • How to Book Gorilla Permits
  • Gorilla Trekking Rules & Regulations
  • Facts About Mgahinga Gorillas
Where to Stay
  • Budget Lodges
  • Guest Houses
  • Hotels
  • Lodges
  • Safari Lodges

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zebras at kidepo valley national park
November 25, 2021 • 0 Comment
Kidepo Valley National Park

kidepo valley national park

Kidepo Valley National Park is a 1,442 square kilometres (557 sq mile) national park in the Karamoja region in northeast Uganda. Kidepo is rugged Savannah, dominated by the 2,750 metres (9,020 ft) Mount Morungole and transected by the Kidepo and Narus rivers.

Location of kidepo valley national park

Kidepo Valley National Park is located near Karenga in Kaabong District, in the northeastern corner of Uganda. The park is approximately 220 kilometres (140 mi), by road northwest of Moroto, the largest town in the sub-region. It is approximately 520 kilometres (320 mi), by road, northeast of Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city.

The northwestern boundary of the park runs along the international frontier with Bira, South Sudan and abuts against its Kidepo Game Reserve.

History of kidepo valley national park

The Ketebo or Mening are the original inhabitants of the area, who had been living here since 1800. It was gazetted as a game reserve by the British colonial government in 1958, and the people were evicted. The purpose was both to protect the animals from hunting and to prevent further clearing of bush for tsetse fly-control.The eviction of the resident people and the resultant famine, especially the Ketebo people who were forcefully relocated to other areas within Bira such as Napotpot, Kalo Kudo, Namosingo, Loriwo and Naurkori in South Sudan, was cited by park management as an example of the unacceptable consequences of not taking community needs into account when designating reserves.

The newly independent government of Uganda under Milton Obote converted the reserve into the Kidepo Valley National Park in 1962. The first chief warden of the park was Ian Ross, a Briton. In 1972, Paul Ssali, a Ugandan, replaced him. Their handover and training was the subject of the 1974 American documentary film, “The Wild and the Brave.

Geology

The park consists of the two major valley systems of the Kidepo and Narus Rivers. The valley floors lie between 3,000 feet (910 m) and 4,000 feet (1,200 m)

Kanangorok (also spelled Kananorok or Kanatarok) is a tepid hot spring in the extreme north of the park, in Lotukei, South Sudanese boundary. This spring is the most permanent source of water in the park.

The soil in the park is clayey. In the Kidepo Valley, black chalky clay and sandy-clay loam predominate, while the Narus Valley has freer-draining red clays and loams.

Wildlife in kidepo valley national park

kidepo valley national park

Maneless zebras, a form of the plains zebra

Most of the park is open tree Savannah. Because of differences in rainfall — with annual averages of 89 centimetres (35 in) in Narus and 64 centimetres (25 in) in the Kidepo basin — vegetation and animal populations vary between the two valleys.

Narus Valley

Narus valley in kidepo

Narus is a name given by the Ketebo or Mening or Amening Clan which were the people living in the Valley. Primary grasses in the Narus Valley are the shorter red oat grass and taller bunchy Guinea grass and fine thatching grass. Common trees in the drier areas are red thorn acacias, desert dates, and to a lesser extent drumstick trees. The iconic sausage trees and fan palms line the water courses. Euphorbia candelabrum and the shorter monkey bread (or camel’s foot) and Buffalo thorn trees are also found.
Perennial water makes River Kidepo an oasis in the semi-desert which hosts over 86 mammal species including spotted hyena, lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, elephant, giraffe, zebra, African buffalo, bat-eared foxes, Rothschild’s giraffe — as well as almost 500 bird species.

Kidepo Valley

Streams in the Kidepo Valley are likewise dotted with palms. Higher areas have whistling thorn acacias bush.

Park management

Kidepo valley national park

The park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The USAID as of August 2013 was financing the improvement of roads within the park.

Leadership

The administration of the park is led by a Chief Warden. This position has been held by the following wardens:

  • 1958–1962 Tony Henley
  • 1964–1972 Ian Ross

ODUR first black African to be chief park warden managed Kidepo in the 1960s before Paul Ssali

  • 1972– ? Paul Ssali
  • –1981 A.M.K. Bendebule (died in air crash in the park)
  • 1994– Peter Lotyang
  • 1996 Anjelo Ajoka
  • 1998 (acting) Daniel Aleper 
  • 2001-2002 Joseph Sentongo 
  • 2003-2006 Kuloao Okwongo 

Edward Asalu as chief park warden Capt. John Emille Otekat also worked as chief park warden

  • 2008 Henry Tusubira 
  • 2013 Johnson Masereka 

Finances

In the fiscal year 2009-2010 Kidepo received 294M Uganda Shillings (US$129k or €99k as of August 1, 2010) from 2100 visitors. By the 2012-2013 fiscal year this had grown to UGX 466M ($178k or €134k as of August 1, 2013) from 2300 visitors.

Conservation activity

Giraffe

kidepo valley national park giraffes

Mercy Corps volunteers on a hide

During the 1960s Kidepo had a sustainable Rothschild giraffe population of over 400 animals. By 1992 this had been poached down to only three animals, including a single female. In 1997 Warden Peter Möller obtained funding from the Frankfurt Zoological Society to trans locate giraffes from Kenya’s Lake Nakuru National Park. One female died in the holding facility in Lake Nakuru. Two females and one male were flown to Kidepo. In Kidepo one male was eaten by lions shortly after being released.

Tourism

Game viewing is possible by vehicle on dirt roads that crisscross the southern and western parts of the park. A few trunk roads are improved with murram and are passable in all weather.

for more information visit

http://www.azas-safarisuganda.com

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karuma falls
November 22, 2021 • 0 Comment
karuma falls uniqueness features

Karuma Falls

karuma falls

Karuma falls became famous when John Speke one of the first explorers in Uganda during his mission for the true source of the river Nile which is the longest River in the World from Jinja where we find the source of the Nile flowing southwards in Sudan while he walked past the Karuma falls then also discovering the fall

Karuma falls are situated on Victoria Nile  in Uganda, they are the most beautiful waterfalls that one would not like to stop enjoy viewing their scenic beauty and great appearance.

Karuma falls are strategically located within the eastern part of Murchison falls national park which is the largest national park in Uganda and it is famously known as a home to the great Murchison fall found in north eastern region of Uganda.

Murchison falls is not only famous for the might Murchison fall but it harbors a lot of great wildlife wonders that tourist would prefer to enjoy when they visit the park thus making Murchison falls one of the top destinations for Uganda safaris.

Karuma falls is dominated by a series of natural nice looking rocks that were formed on the base of Victoria Nile and due to the sequence of this great beautiful rocks, the Albertine river Nile has been rippled which  offers a great outlook and appearance of the Nile incredible and impressive white foam.

Karuma name was delivered from a belief that the Great Spirit called karuma placed these beautiful and nice looking rocks to block the river waters of Victoria Nile that is why the falls in karuma are called karuma falls.

Karuma falls are greatly considered as one of the key tourism attraction due to the fact that is it is strategically located at the base of the Victoria Albertine and it became famous when the first explorer called john Speke passed through karuma falls when he was trying to tress the source of the river Nile which is the longest river in the world flowing southwards in Sudan.

Historical myth about karuma falls

Way back in 2007, the karuma falls used to be a danger zone for the Lord Resistance Army Rebels that used to attack vehicles on the road with its passengers until they were dealt with by the Uganda government and they were forced to go back to the tropical rain forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Within karuma falls, a bride was constructed which is known as the karuma bridge acts as a connecting point between Gulu district and Masindi district. The karuma bridge was purposely constructed 1963 to support the cotton farmers in west Nile.

Karuma fall acts a generation source to the power station that is about 750 megawatts hydro-power development that was greatly supported by the government of Uganda as well as foreign investors or partners.

Activities at karuma fall

Karuma is strategically located at the eastern part of Murchison fall national park and is one of the oldest national parks that are highly visited by a large percentage of tourists that come Africa.  A visit to karuma fall can be customized together with a safari to Murchison fall national park that is not only a home to the might Murchison falls but there is a lot to enjoy while on your safari to Murchison fall national.

Such as wildlife game viewing that is best done in the northern sector of the park where there is high concentration of wildlife animals which include, the Rothschild giraffes, the elephants, the lions, hippos, the African buffaloes, the impala antelopes, zebras, bush bucks, water bucks, warthogs, among others.

Boot cruise ride on the victoria Nile will offer you an amazing you an amazing adventure experience as you will enjoy viewing different wildlife and birds at the river banks such as the Nile crocodile, the hippos, elephants taking water, antelopes among others. Boat cruise can be done with the delta boat to the Nile boat that is done on the bottom of the falls and at the downstream of the Albertine Nile.

Nature on budongo forest that will give an insight to explore the tropical forest that is home to various primate animals such as the grey checked mangabey, the white and black colobus monkeys, the red tailed monkeys, the olive baboons, among others as well as different bird species such as the Exclusive shoebill stork and many others.

Where to stay at karuma falls

There are a wide range of accommodation facilities that travelers can use when they visit karuma falls. These range from budget, mid-range as well as luxury facilities, such as red chill camp, Chobe safari lodge, karuma falls campsite, simbiya river lodge among others that offer excellent service to all travelers.

How to get to karuma safari lodge?

Travelers from Kampala to karuma falls can use road transport using either public means such as buses or private services of a tour operator from Kampala via Masindi-Gulu road and it takes about 3-4 hours’ drive covering a distance of approximately 255 kilometers.

From Gulu town to karuma falls, it will take travelers about one hour covering a distance of 78 kilometers, from Arua town to karuma falls it will take you about 3 hours covering a distance of 241 kilometers and from Masindi town it will take travelers about one and half hours covering a distance of 97 kilometers.

In conclusion, karuma falls is one of the great and beautiful waterfalls that is visited throughout the year regardless of which season the traveler has come to Uganda.

The Karuma Falls comprise of a sequence of natural good locking rock formations all the way at the base of the Victoria Nile, within this place, and these result into the waters of the great River Nile to ripple, offering the Nile an appearance of stunning white foam. 

The falls are found at the place where the main road of Masindi-Gulu crosses the great river Nile, about 110 km northeast of the town of Masindi and only 70 km south of the town of Gulu.

These 2 districts are connected by the Karuma Bridge, constructed in 1963 to assist cotton farmers within the west Nile. This bridge crosses the huge waterfall whereas the sprays of water of the white water move towards Southern Sudan in the northern part of Uganda.

It also has a Power Station, the largest hydro power project in Uganda with a planned capacity of 600 megawatts. These roaring waterfalls found on the beautiful Victoria Nile are among the most impressive and leading tourist attractions in Uganda. Locally called the Karuma Falls, the name was derived from a notion that Karuma, a great spirit, positioned the stones which break the waters of the river.

The stunning Karuma Falls are located on the eastern border of the Murchison Fall National Park (which is the largest reserve in Uganda), and just an hour drive from the district of Gulu in north-western Uganda.

the land of the park around these falls pride in a broad diversity of birds, buffaloes, antelopes, monkeys, Uganda azas safari lions, baboons, elephants, leopards, Uganda Kobs, Hartebeest as well as giraffes.

The main activity that takes place here is Sport fishing. To visit the falls, you can combine your journey as you go visiting Murchison Falls National Park. Organised a 3 day safari to Murchison Falls.

Day 1: Kampala to Karuma Falls.

Our company representative will pick you up and then you will leave Kampala to Karuma falls.  You will enjoy the beautiful sceneries along the way as you proceed to your destination. You will have a brief stopover in luwero for fruits such as pineapples, oranges, mangoes, guavas and others

Then again branch off in Nakitoma in Nakasongola for a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Lunch will be taken in Masindi and thereafter the journey will continue up to Murchison falls. You will have a sunset cruise on victoria Nile, an evening  game  drive or drive to the top of the falls where you will view the falls i.e. Murchison falls and the smaller sister fall called the uhuru falls.

There after you will have check in for dinner and overnight any lodge of your choice some of which include; Paraa safari lodge, Chobe safari lodge, UWA campsite, Murchison safari lodge, Budongo Eco lodge.

Day 2:  Explore Murchison Falls National Park

After the early morning breakfast, you will then Set off for an early game view drive around the Buligi game tracks on the northern bank with a trained ranger guide to see a wide range of animals in the Nile valley  like Lions, buffaloes, water buck, Jackson’s hartebeest, Rothschild’s giraffe, oribi and baboons and others.

You will have a break for lunch for about one and a half hrs. and in the afternoon   you can take a launch cruise on the Murchison falls in about two hrs. Spot the bank residents which include:  the largest hippos and crocodiles, small herds of buffalo. There is rich birdlife on the papyrus banks, encounter shoe bill stork, the most sought after bird in Africa. There after you will go back to your hotel for dinner, some drinks and an overnight.

Day 3: Fishing in Karuma Falls

After your morning breakfast, get ready with your fishing equipment for the most exciting activity. The guide will then pick you up to go fishing at falls by boat below the world renowned Murchison falls for the Nile perch and other species. You will spend the whole day fishing from the boat and at the shore.

This boat trip is also excellent for game viewing as you will be fishing in one of the best game areas on the Nile which can prove very exciting at times. Well, within the dramatic pools below the legendary waterfalls we will be targeting the large Nile Perch which is caught in these waters weighing over 100 kilos. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay

for more details visit

www.azas-safaris-uganda.com

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karuma falls