Experience the Unique Culture of Uganda
Uganda as commonly referred to as the pearl of Africa is a land locked country on the equator and surrounded by the great lakes of central Africa, Uganda was one of the last parts that the foreigners reached, these where Arabs who came first spreading the gossip of Islam, slaves and ivory in the 1840s. These were followed by white’s British nationals who came to meet the Kabaka by then Muteesa the King of Buganda.
The existence of the Kingdoms in Uganda had a great impact on tradition. All the ruling was done the old way from food, clothes, trade and behaviors’ and lot is still in place and preserved as we could. Given the fact that Uganda was scrambled in the 1880 not only Uganda but Africa at large. The existence of these wars and new behaviors in Uganda brought too much change that up to date Uganda has taken up the western life style as their daily life but embrace tradition as much as they can.
Categorized into the batwa and Nilotic ethnic groups, who are believed to have originated from west Africa in Cameroon. Migrated, divided and settled in Uganda, the batwa who are the “twa” speaking people settled in West, central, south and East of Uganda. It is of great surprise that the divided ethnic groups scattered around the country speak up to over 40 different languages.
For your visit whether on a self drive car hire in Uganda or guided trips with Auto Rental Uganda, you can be able to see how we lived, the ancient life style and behavior and more interesting when with one of our resourceful driver guides. Uganda is still privileged to have people who like tradition much and live it as their life style every single day. Be sure to enjoy Uganda’s tradition to the fullest in real life not only in the museum. In the northern Uganda lives and settles a tribe the Karamajong who decided to stay as our great grand fathers typically. Rarely will you find them here in the central but many will be in the villages who are the Batwa and Bagishu.
On your guided trip to Uganda you can ask your resourceful driver guide at Auto Rental Uganda to not only schedule for you the wild life but also the ancient Uganda. It can be seen in many ways around Uganda in museums and in real life style, food in all delicacies highlighting the ancient Uganda like we used not cook in saucepans but clay made pots that are still in place up to-date, traditional dance and attires, kingdoms and the process they go through to be a king, where they are buried. The ancient Uganda is better than the modern Uganda, for comparison you must visit Uganda. For some reason the Kampala city tour that takes you through the biggest tribe of the Buganda, highlights the long history of Buganda and the long chain of the kings. This doesn’t stop here but proceeds to the tombs where they were buried and also the first of its kind in Africa huge grass thatched huts. Unfortunately that was brought down by arsonists and still no trace of the criminals has been found.
In Uganda everything is a must see, just mention it and it will be served to you on a silver plate with that mouth-dropping dessert of course; this is the time you should plan your trip to Uganda. It’s one of the few places in Africa where you have value for your money to the maximum with a bonus.
As they say traveling is discovering the wrong perception others have about the others. Lets travel and take away the perceptions.
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Uganda Offers Discount Gorilla Permits for May 2016
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) revised the rates for discount gorilla permits for 2016. In this promotion, the price for gorilla permits have been lowered to $450 (a discount of $150 off the regular price) for foreign nonresidents. These permits are available for use during the months of November, April and May 2016.
These gorilla permits allow entry to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, a Unesco site protecting almost half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas. The park protects an estimate of over 460 mountain gorillas that inhabit the hilly ranges. To observe the gorillas, visitors need a seasoned guide and a permit secured well in advance, usually by local tour operators. To take advantage of these discount gorilla trekking permits you can contact Go Gorilla Trekking, one of the local tour operators, specializing in arranging gorilla tours in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular of Ugandan parks and the most visited. The park has 15 habituated gorilla groups that can be visited by only 8 tourists per group. The park has also recently introduced gorilla habituation as a new adventure activity costing USD1500 for a permit. On this activity only 4 tourists visit a gorilla group and follow the gorillas for up to four hours.
The park also protects a population of non-habituated chimpanzees that visitors occasionally see in Buhoma, more than 100 other species of mammals including elephants, 346 species of birds, and 163 species.
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Planning a Road Trip in Uganda
In order to have a breathtaking road trip safari to Uganda here are some of the tips you must put under consideration in order to have a wonderful safari.
Always draft an itinerary
This is very important on any safari whether on self-drive or with a driver, know the number of days you will be on the safari and the destination you want to visit. Drafting the itinerary will help you to know which routes to use and when to stop for lunch or to have stopovers for sightseeing. It’s also very important to figure out the duration from point A to B, this will help you to avoid over straining yourself plus the people you are driving andit will help you to plan for your fuel estimations.
Book your room(s)in advance.
This is also very vital as road trip is very tiring so you will be tired and need abed every night. Due to this it is always advised to book your room in advance before even traveling to Uganda to avoid inconveniences. Many lodges/hotels and safari camps are located inside or close to all national parks and local attraction and at times especially during the high season they get fully booked very fast, so to avoid all these figure out which destinations you will be visiting and book your accommodation in time at least one month before arrival to avoid disappointments like missing out on your preferred accommodation, if you’ve made reservation, it’s also very important to make a phone call to those responsible for your accommodation ensuring them your dates of arrival.
Try to research about local attractions along the way
It’s not good to drive for a long journey without stopovers on the way to have a look at the local attractions. Before traveling try to search through Google and Travel guide books among others to get to know some of the attraction you will be visiting before arrival to your visit destination, however you can decide to visit the less popularly known attraction to have great experience on your safari to Uganda. Visit our website to get more information about parks, accommodation, routes and cars to rent. It’s recommended to purchase a travel map to avoid getting lost or you can download the Google maps app to help you determine your location no matter which place you are in at that particular time.
Packing list
Before travelling it’s also of important to know the packing list of the vital things needed for the safari. Always pack what is needed to avoid the big size of the luggage. Unless you are going to embark on a camping or hiking trip, it is suitable to pack light clothes and a few gadgets to get that extra room in the car boot. For those coming on a gorilla safari don’t forget to pack sturdy pair of walking shoes/boots, long sleeved shirts or blouses, insect repellent, jacket. Most safari lodges and hotels in Uganda offer laundry services so you can always be assured of putting fresh clothes.
Don’t fear locals, ask them
Uganda is known as a country with friendly people, so in case of anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask them in any destination you will be traveling, in case you need to find where you are going, or looking for a cheap place to get food, the local people are always more than willing to help you out, many are even more eager to teach you their language, this will add fun to your whole experience in Africa.
Take Pictures
Take as many photos as you can at the site you visited, as photos are the only thing that can make your safari memorable, pose and take photos with the people you came with. It’s advisable to come with good cameras plus back-up batteries & film to ensure you don’t miss out any nice scenes.
In case you need to know more about planning a road trip or booking with us contact us at 4×4 Uganda Car Hire or call +256-751552950
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Meet the Gorillas & Chimpanzees in Uganda
As far as tourism is concerned, whenever one hears Uganda, what comes in any foreigners mind is the primate excursions that are always carried out in this country. And not only that, but what also rings a bell to them is the gorilla tracking as well as chimpanzee trekking. However, there are distinctive features that separate these two primates in the way they are tracked and how best one can prepare for both to have an ultimate experience.
Where they are both found in Uganda;
Chimpanzees in Uganda are located in different places but habituated chimpanzees only exist in Kibale National Park located in western Uganda, Kyambura Gorge located in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu forest located closer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park located in Northern Uganda. We also have orphaned chimpanzees in Ngamba Island which is approximately 23 km in Lake Victoria and can be accessed by boats.
On the other hand, habituated gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. According to the 2013 mountain gorilla census, it was discovered that Bwindi Impenetrable National park has almost half the number of mountain gorillas in the whole while the other population of gorillas are in the Virunga Ranges shared between Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic republic of Congo. Today Bwindi is one of the most popular parks for gorilla safaris on the African continent.
Gorilla and chimp trekking experience compared
When compared, gorilla tracking is a more organized activity both in Uganda and Rwanda and chances of seeing gorillas is above 90%. This is because gorillas live in families each headed by a dominant silver back. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the activity is so organized in such a way that early in the morning, there is an advanced team that goes to the forest to look for where the gorillas would have slept and once they find them, then they communicate to the park head quarters to inform the guides where gorillas are. It’s from here that tourists plus their guide will start the trek to look for gorillas starting from where they slept the previous night until they find them. Once they have found them, they are given one hour to observe and take photographs.
Chimpanzee trekking on the other hand is not as organized as gorilla trekking and chances are high in Kibale National Park and Budongo forest to other places such as Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu forest. The same process of having an advanced team applies to chimps but chimpanzees on the other hand live in communities of around 100 individuals or more and during the day, these communities breakup into small parties to reduce on food competition. Each party is therefore tracked by 6 people. Once you have found the chimpanzees, you are allowed only one hour to view and photograph them.
Family composition
A family of habituated gorillas is trekked by a maximum of 8 people in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga while Chimpanzee parties in Kibale National Park is restricted to only 6 people. While a habituated gorilla family can only be seen by a maximum of 8 people PER DAY, chimpanzee parties are trekked twice in a day (morning and afternoon). Taking a close look at chimp trekking in Kibale National Park, a maximum of 18 people do trek chimps both in the morning and in the afternoon. It is arranged in such a way that each chimpanzee party is trekked by 6 people thus 3 parties for 18 people. The fact that chimpanzees keep on breaking into small parties and regrouping, at a given point, you might find yourselves trekking the same party (18 people) they can join together. This tends to cause confusion amongst tourists if not briefed very well. This sometimes leads to congestion and kills the whole Eco- experience as expected by clients. Mountain gorillas tend to be on ground in most cases and depending on the height of the vegetation, they are better seen compared to chimpanzees which are in most cases up in the trees (Not all the time though as so many people have found them on ground).
What to pack for gorilla or chimp trekking
Both gorilla and chimp trekking requires one to have hiking boots, garden gloves, long sleeved trousers and shirts, rain jackets, sun glasses, huts, a hiking stick and some energy giving foods to give you that extra strength when needed. You might not need a porter for chimp trekking in Kibale but we highly recommend one for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for your gorilla trek.
Gorilla and Chimp permits
In Uganda, you require a permit to either trek gorillas or chimpanzees. Gorilla tracking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park costs USD600.00 which normally goes down from that in low seasons (Feb-may) to the tune of USD350.00. enabling you to save USD150.00. The above includes trekking gorillas, a guide for the trek and park entrance fees. Chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda vary according to where you will be trekking them. In Kibale, a permit is USD150 while in Kyambura is at USD50.00 per person and includes guide, park entrance and viewing chimps.
Distances compared
Gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi and Mgahinga and they are approximately 8-9 hours from Kampala while driving and it also depends on which side of Bwindi you are going to. If you are flying, then it might take you around about one and half hours to Bwindi or Kisoro. Kibale National Park is about 5-6 hours from Kampala; Kyambura Gorge is approximately 7-8 hours drive from Kampala while Budongo is also approximately 5-6 hours drive to northern Uganda.
Read MoreSelf Driving in Uganda – Know Your Responsibilities
Do you like self driving on your Africa Safari? For all of you out there, always remember that when you are entering into a car rental agreement for a vehicle, you should patiently and also carefully read the entire contract top to bottom as many times as possible so that you understand your rights, obligations, terms and conditions. Always remember to shop around for the best deal for your own personal circumstances. This does not only apply to car hire only, but it also applies to minibus hire and all forms of other vehicle hire.
Make sure you check the contract you are signing to find out how and when you will have to pay for any damages that you do to the vehicle, and what avenues of appeal you have if you disagree with the damage assessment given by the rental company. Please note if you have extra fees such as early, late or airport drop-off or pick-up fees, taxes and mileage charges.
Check your rights and responsibilities in the event of a single vehicle accident and also check for clauses which would leave you fully liable for any damage. Check the size of the damage excess, and in what circumstances you will be required to pay it. Make sure your license is current, and find out where you can and cannot drive the vehicle as some hire vehicles may be restricted to a fixed area or road type.
When you hire a car or locate a minibus for hire, make sure you read the policy careful, check for damage and pay any traffic offense fees you may incur during the hire term. By observing the rules and regulations set down in the contract, you will avoid complications if anything occurs that damages your car or others during the car hiring.
Read MoreUganda Listed Among 20 Best Destinations to Visit in 2016
It takes no minute to tell that Uganda is one of Africa’s friendliest country from its hospitality, culture and tradition. You can have several moments to celebrate while in the pearl of Africa starting with the warm welcome at Entebbe international Airport immediately after landing. The scenic drive to your hotel exposes you to great views but Zika forest & Entebbe Botanical gardens, Lake Victoria island shores plus the breath taking beaches are a must. It’s more than clear that Uganda is a great safari destination with all you need for a holiday in Africa having taken a glance at what it has to offer you.
Known as the land of lakes, water adventures & spots ,Boat cruise are one of Uganda’s most done tourist activity which add value and fun to every guest to the country for a holiday vacation. Besides it’s something you can’t miss out while in Murchison falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National park, Jinja the source of the Nile and Entebbe on Lake Victoria. Other places of tourist interest are the colorful tropical birds, mountain Gorillas at Bwindi forest, Monkeys and chimpanzees in kibale forest, the might falls of Itanda & Murchison, tree climbing lions at Ishasha, wildlife in Uganda’s best game parks, Rwenzori & Elgon mountain, the Uganda culture & its people among others.
Above all its only here that the African Savannah meets the West African Jungle in Uganda a country where hundreds observe lions in open plains in the morning and evening, track chimpanzees through the rain forest on same schedule and also navigate the tropical channels with hippos and crocodiles before heading to the misty forest for the Mountain Gorilla Encounter at Bwindi forest. A wide range of impressive forest primates, plains Scattered with Kobs, giraffes, antelopes,Zebras are the other wildlife that you yet to spot in the pearl of Africa.There is a lot to see and discover more than wildlife and primates like the world ‘s most thrilling white water rafting ,the rewarding hikes and mountaineering mountains of Rwenzori and Elgon, the beautiful islands of lake bunyonyi & Ssese on lake Victoria, the different religious and cultural sites Namugongo shrines, Kasubi tombs, Budo coronation ground, Sezibwa falls among others.
Also the Country city night life is worthy to spend more nights in Uganda since you will have a lot to explore and see from entertainments, shopping, bars and restaurant. If it’s your first time to take a safari to Uganda, the outstanding culture, nature beauty and weather which makes it the pearl of Africa will make you get the very best wonderful holiday throughout your stay.
Read MoreUganda Tourism to Tackle Country’s Negative Image
The minister for Tourism in Uganda Hon, Uganda’s Minister for Tourism, has launched a new media unit to tackle challenges and wrong perceptions about Uganda. The media unit aimed will aim at putting positive messages about tourism, culture, and related topics into the public domain.
The so-called Tourism Communications Working Group will be headed by the Ministry’s Head of PR, Mrs. Emma Mugizi, who will be assisted by a further six regular members drawn from across the ministry’s various departments and agencies under its supervision.
From Minister to Permanent Secretary to the head of the working group, the message was unanimous that it was important to provide facts and figures to the global media and promote good news about Uganda’s tourism attractions, parks, and society events.
Uganda in the past often failed to respond adequately and promptly when negative news emerged on international television channels, in newspapers, and magazines. The country that has seen peace for over 25 years now is still having a big problem in marketing its tourism products and the problem is largely the “bad image’ of its past. It is not surprising when you ask about Uganda; many will get the images of the past brutal leader “Idi Amin” killings of Joseph Kony, arsonists and such terrible incidents! The image of the country is a very important factor in the development of tourism and therefore the establishment of such campaigns is an important step in promoting the country.
It is hoped that the new media unit will finally be able to put push more positive information that will work upon creating rather a positive image for the country. The media unit will as well engage with global, regional, and local media organizations and key media individuals so that positive and clear images about Uganda as a destination will be directed into the public domain including TVS, radios, newspapers etc. Deliberate networking with the media in fact must include those using the new age channels like social media and blogs, to create an overall better picture of the country abroad by tapping into all available resources.
Minister Mutagamba called the launch a step into the right direction that will improve the marketability of Uganda as a destination. Uganda is one of the most beautiful places on Africa – an upcoming destination on the African continent. It is the number one spot for <a href=”http://www.ugandagorillatour.com”>gorilla tours</a>, wild adventures where tourists hike within the impenetrable forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park to see the endangered mountain gorillas! Other rewarding experiences in the country include big five game viewing, mountain trekking, white water rafting, primates watching and more.
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Uganda Tourism Launches UK Marketing Push on Nat Geo Wild
The Uganda Tourism Board also known as “Tourism Uganda” in a bid to promote tourism for the country will sponsor all programming on Nat Geo Wild throughout the month of June 2016.
This promotional campaign will represent Uganda’s tourism potentials to viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This is the first Marketing & PR Campaign targeted in both countries that Uganda seeks as tourist generating regions.
The Uganda tourism’s sponsorship campaign is aimed to encouraging the National Geographic Wild viewers to discover the wonders of the country and to experience their very own Uganda. This beautiful country in East Africa is one of the most beautiful places on earth with a lot of amazing wonders compressed into a tiny country.
The campaign will focus on promoting gorilla tracking and chimpanzee tracking and will largely showcase Uganda’s famous mountain gorillas and chimpanzees showing how you can see them up close for yourself, and will feature at least 3 times every hour, achieving approximately 210 hours of sponsored content per month and 1680 credits per month at the channel.
Nat Geo Wild channel expands National Geographic Channel International’s commitment to quality wildlife programming, exciting people’s passion for wild animals and wild places. Nat Geo Wild is available in more than 10.4 million homes in the UK and is dedicated to providing a unique insight into the natural world, our environment and the amazing creatures that inhabit it.
Nat Geo Wild is one of the most popular travel channels viewed by millions of people around the world. This cable/satellite TV channel is focused primarily on wildlife and natural history programming.
The TV is also very popular on Social Media, having more than 7.8 million Facebook likes, 500,000 twitter followers and 800,000 YouTube viewers.
Read MoreRent a Car for Self Drive in Uganda
After being voted “the best travel destination to visit in 2012″, Uganda is currently receiving an enormous number of tourist arrivals. From gorilla safaris to chimpanzee trekking adventures, many tour packages are on sale being offered by many tour operators and travel agents. With the verdant rainforests that are home to the rare mountain gorillas, thousands of chimpanzees, monkeys as we;; as the interesting wildlife in the Savanna Parks, Uganda Safaris offers one-of-a-kind experience to all those who venture to this wondrous haven that was named the Pearl of Africa by the Sir Winston Churchill, one of the past adventure travelers who visited Uganda in 1902.
What kind of adventure would you like to try out in 2015? Could it be a high adventure that you seek or deep relaxation. The Pearl of Africa, one of the most beautiful country on the African Continent provides boundless excitement and ultimate pleasure for the vacation of a lifetime.
As more tourists visit Uganda, many travelers are looking for both guided and self drive tour packages so that they can adventure through the Pearl of Africa. From those looking to gorilla watching in the remote southern part of Uganda to those seeking for road trips through various parks, a lot of options are available for travelers!
While traveling in Uganda can be both challenging and fun, one need to organize his or her holiday in time. One of the best ways to enjoy your adventure is to hire a car in Uganda and travel at your convenience! Car Rental Services are available in Kampala and can even be booked online. From small vehicles to 4X4 Safari Vehicle Rentals many cars are available at many car rental companies such as Car Rental Uganda to any traveler interested in taking a self drive vacation that will allow you and your family or friends at the same time to discover the country in so many exciting ways.
How much time it really takes you to travel in the country, really depends on the road conditions, traffic and the weather. Traveling in the dry season is preferable as unpaved roads tend to get washed away during the rainy season. Given the nature of road conditions, tourists looking to self drive options in Uganda should consider great caution and respect for road signs on Ugandan roads. Those who know defensive driving will find less problems given the way the local drivers behave on the road.
Over the past 20 years, Uganda has tried to develop an excellent transportation system. As the sector grows, more and better service providers are joining the industry and today we can say that the country has good private transport agencies that can offer a good service!
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Investing in Uganda Tourism
Tourism contributes $1.2bn to Uganda’s GDP, making it the country’s second largest export. The Ugandan government named the tourism sector as one of its “Primary Growth Drivers of the Economy” and recently unveiled a Presidential Initiative for Sustainable Tourism. UTB and the Ugandan government are committed to promoting the future of Ugandan tourism through aggressive marketing along with the effective management and preservation of the country’s national parks.
The last year has brought significant international awareness to Uganda’s exciting tourist destinations. Uganda’s wildlife viewing, birding and hiking were recognized in major publications such as National Geographic, and the country was named “Number One Destination for 2012” by Lonely Planet. As interest in Uganda grows, UTB recognizes even more need to invest in tourism infrastructure to meet future demand.
UTB is available to support investors and partners in developing accommodations, tour operations, wildlife management and other projects in and around the 10 national parks to offer lucrative business opportunities in this emerging tourism hotspot.
Investment partnerships are a key part of UTB’s strategy for the sustainable, medium and long-term growth of tourism in Uganda in order to meet the growing market demands of international travelers.
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