TOP NEWS
Uganda: Getting on board with Africa’s
newest tourist destination
Kidepo Valley National Park
By Vawn Himmelsbach
When clients are inquiring into African destinations, they’re most likely
considering South Africa or Tanzania,
or maybe Kenya. They might look a
bit confused if you suggest Uganda;
in fact, there’s a high probability they
won’t be able to point it out on a map.
But Uganda is emerging from years of
strife to be a compelling tourist destination that offers true African wilderness and friendly locals.
Unlike national parks in many other
countries, these parks haven’t yet been
fenced in, so animals roam freely. And
without the crowds, it feels a whole lot
more intimate when you get up close
and personal with a lion.
Uganda is perhaps best known for
gorilla tracking, with about half of the
world’s endangered mountain gorillas
residing within its borders (the rest are
in Rwanda and the Congo). But it also
offers game drives in 10 national parks
and 12 wildlife reserves, boat safaris on
the Victoria Nile, plenty of hiking, cycling, rock climbing and birding opportunities, as well as an emerging arts and
culture scene in the capital Kampala.
From savannahs to some of the
highest snow-capped peaks on the
continent, this landlocked country in
central Africa may be a destination that
Canadian travellers might want to add
to their bucket list.
Because it’s an emerging destination,
agents can help to custom-design trips
that include gorilla tracking, game drives,
boat safaris, hiking and nature walks,
birding and cultural experiences. There
is a variety of mid-range and luxury lodges to choose from, as well as budget
options (such as camping) and offerings
through adventure travel companies.
The easiest way to get around is by
charter plane (airstrips are located just
outside national parks); agents can
work with Aerolink to charter a plane
for clients at a reasonable cost. Aerolink’s domestic schedule and fares can
be found at aerolinkuganda.com/en.
“Typically, most of the inquiries we get
are for gorilla treks; it’s divided between
Uganda and Rwanda,” said Kirsty Perring,
Africa and Middle East Product Manager
with Goway Travel, who has sent staff
members on travel trade fams to Uganda to experience the product firsthand.
“But Uganda has more to offer than
Rwanda in terms of other activities.”
Goway offers a couple of itineraries in Uganda, but these are only suggested itineraries. “We tailor-make
anything, depending on the client’s
budget, time, what they want to do or
see.” The tour operator works with a
local handler on the ground in Uganda,
and is about to launch a joint marketing campaign with the Uganda Tourism
Board, which will include webinars and
e-blasts. ElderTreks is another go-to
operator for Uganda.
Bwindi Inpenetrable National Park
Bwindi – located along the southwestern tip of Uganda in the Virunga
Volcanoes mountain range – is home to
more than half the world’s endangered
mountain gorilla population. There are
four gorilla tracking trailheads here,
with nine groups of gorilla families that
have been habituated (only eight tourists are booked per group, per day).
Other gorilla tracking experiences
can be found at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Kibale National Park.
There are also opportunities for chimpanzee tracking in the Murchison Falls
area, Queen Elizabeth National Park
and Kibale National Park.
Some travel agencies will no longer
book animal interactions such as riding
elephants or diving with sharks, said
Alex Ngabirano, field assistant with Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH).
But in this case, he believes limited interaction with humans is a good thing.
“Gorillas are endangered,” he said.
6 / TRAVELWEEK / March 16, 2017
Reg_Mar16.indd 6
03-13-2017 2:22 PM
TOP NEWS
“Their survival depends on knowledge.
The less people know about them, the
higher their chances of extinction.”
Gorilla tracking is set up so local communities directly benefit from tourism
dollars (a portion of the park fee and
permit goes directly to community projects, such as building schools and hospitals). Only 18,000 permits are granted
per year, at US$600 per person. June is
the busy season, and Ngabirano recommends booking well in advance.
Along with traditional gorilla tracking, the CTPH is also offering a gorilla
habituation experience, where clients
track gorillas from sunrise until bedtime. Agents can work with a tour
operator or directly with the CTPH to
organize gorilla-related adventures.
Stay: Mahogany Springs Safari Lodge
offers cozy bungalows with wide terraces that overlook the Inpenetrable
Forest, with exotic gardens and stone
pathways leading down to the Munyango River (and a prime location close to
a gorilla tracking trailhead). Full-board
accommodations start at US$240 per
person, per night (low season) and $287
per person, per night (high season).
Murchison Falls National Park
The vast, palm-dotted savannahs
of Murchison Falls National Park are
home to 76 species of mammals and
451 birds – most notably, lions, giraffe
and elephants. The park is bisected
by the Victoria Nile (home to hippos
and Nile crocodiles), and launch trips
(aka boat safaris) head upstream, with
Local students perform a dance at Mahogany Springs Safari Lodge
plenty of opportunity to view wildlife,
culminating in a view of the falls. It’s
possible to hike to the top for views of
the aptly named Devil’s Cauldron.
Stay: Clients can fall asleep to the
oddly soothing sound of hippos grunting
in a luxury bungalow at Baker’s Lodge,
located alongside the Victoria Nile.
Thatched safari suites are raised from
the ground on pillars, each with its own
deck overlooking the river, with large,
airy facilities, custom wooden furniture
and open-plan bathrooms with solar hot
water showers. Nice touches include a
brandy decanter bedtime. Full-board accommodations start at US$230 per person, per night (low season) and $280 per
person, per night (high season).
Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Inpenetrable National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo, which borders South Sudan in
the northwest and Kenya in the northeast, is Uganda’s most remote, isolated
park, yet is well worth the trip. In the
off-season, clients may feel like they
have the park entirely to themselves
— along with lions, zebras, elephants,
giraffes, hartebeest, warthogs and possibly Africa’s largest concentration of Cape
buffalo. The open savannah with golden
grasses is surrounded by distant mountains, with opportunities for game drives,
foot safaris (with a ranger) and mountain
hikes; visits to a local Karamajong or Ik
village can also be arranged.
Stay: The luxury Apoka Safari Lodge
offer 10 expansive suites, each with
natural canvas walls, sitting room, private veranda, locally handcrafted furniture and even a private outdoor stone
bathtub. There’s a good chance you’ll
hear lions roaring at night. Full-board
accommodations are US$380 per person, per night (low season) and $585
per person, per night (high season).
Getting there
Delta/KLM flies from European hubs
to Entebbe, a suburb of Kampala. A tourist visa, available upon arrival, is US$50.
Uganda’s official language is English (the
country gained independence from Britain in 1962, but maintains its Commonwealth membership). The rainy season
runs March to May and September to November, but there is no bad time to visit
– game can be viewed year-round, and
each season has its own highlights.
March 16, 2017 / TRAVELWEEK / 7
Reg_Mar16.indd 7
03-13-2017 2:22 PM