The Cost of An African Safari

It is important for those planning on visiting Africa during the holidays or for a safari vacation to realize that the costs may seem strange for the first-time visitor. However, with the high cost of fuel world-wide, the cost of doing an African safari has generally increased. This is particularly so for those in Europe and USA who have the largest number of tourists coming to Africa. The exorbitant cost of airlines is what makes this particularly biting. However, once in Africa, costs are generally very low except the cost of fuel in landlocked countries whose fuel has to be transported through some bad roads. These fuel costs are further reflected in the costs of the tour by the tour operators who are trying hard to see that the can give their clientèle the best without incurring losses in the process.

The depreciation of the dollar against almost all currencies has not helped matters either. Many of the local currencies have fairly gained value against the dollar. However, if you are looking for a great safari experience with minimum costs say in East Africa, you would do well to do an overland tour of the whole region beginning from any of the East African countries. East Africa has generally gained a reputation has a tourist destination due to the rich biodiversity of its protected regions. Many of the major tourist attractions are mountain gorilla safaris in Uganda and Rwanda, the great wildebeest migration of the Masai Mara and Serengeti national park, birding safaris in the Albertine region with its endemic bird species, wildlife safari in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzanian.

All this has been enhanced by the great climatic conditions of the region and the vegetations especially in the Great Rift valley areas. In the Eastern Rift valley region we have great attractions in the Ngorongoro crater area. Here there's a high density of both birds and wildlife due to the climatic conditions in the region created by the surrounding mountain peaks and the rich volcanic soils. Then there is the Albertine region with its many protected areas due to its rich biodiversity, many of which have been declared world heritage sites by UNESCO. This region boasts of bird species, butterflies, reptiles, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and many animal species found no where else in the world.

The beauty of the region which has been the focus of many a discovery channel documentaries is what has led to the high influx of tourists to East Africa. Despite the increased air travel costs, Africa is increasingly the tourist destination choice of many people from Europe, Australia, Newzeland and USA not to forget the increasing trickle of tourists from Japan, China and the UAE.
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Uganda's oil discovery rattles conservationists

The discovery of oil in the rich biodiversity region of the Albertine is both a blessing and bane for Uganda. The Albertine region which stretches from the northern end of Lake Albert to the southern end of Lake Tanganyika is blessed with a great number of wildlife and bird species endemic to the region. It also straddles the countries around the western arm of the east African rift valley.
Its mountains and lakes are a watershed for clean fresh water for the surrounding communities and the those outside of the region.

It boasts the highest concentration of mammals, birds, reptiles and butterflies in the world. The regions most notable contribution has been foreign exchange through the promotion of eco tourism in its many protected areas. Some of the species to be found here include the endangered mountain gorillas offering mountain gorilla trekking , mountain monkeys, the golden monkey, rare butterflies, bird species, fish and numerous reptiles.

All this however, is bound to be destroyed with the discovery of oil if there's no thorough environmental impact analysis of the region. Not to mention the unsightly oil pipelines that will run through the region.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) argues that, the discovery of oil in the region will most likely upset the conservation efforts they have put in place over the last 12 years. The landscape and scenery of the region will definitely be destroyed including the habitats of many the regions birds and wildlife which was already being threatened by human population explosion and encroachment.

The lure of petrol dollars and the worlds hungering for more fuel is definitely a great impetus for the government of Uganda. The minister of tourism argues that the development that will come with the drilling of oil will definitely improve the tourism industry rather than impact it negatively. He argues that the construction of hotels and road networks in the region will facilitate easy access of tourist to the protected areas.

However, when the oil wells run dry and there's no more oil to drill, what will we be left with? It is something that the government of Uganda and conservationist have to look into before any concrete steps can be taken.
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Welcome To Uganda's Safaris and Tours Blog

Welcome To Uganda

In the late 1960 s, Uganda was the most popular destination for tourists seeking to visit the African continent. Although wildlife has subsequently been reduced, Uganda still has the magic and allure to delight any travelers. For those interested in birds, it has an added appeal with over 1,000 species being recorded-Queen Elizabeth National Park, for example, has 606 species on its bird list.

While many visitors come to Uganda for mountain gorilla safaris, the country’s other natural attractions are just as rewarding; tropical rain forests with the highest number of primates in Africa, spectacular waterways, Savannah scenery and majestic snow-covered mountains abound.

This blog welcomes all who have the privilege to visit Uganda and urges them to include our system of protected areas in their itinerary. The areas under protection are truly awe-inspiring; in addition you will find the people to be friendly, courteous and willing to assist.
Here are a list of safaris options by one of the tour operators to Uganda

Uganda Primate Safaris

Primates

Uganda’s Star attraction is the endangered mountain gorilla, the bulkiest of living primates, and among the most peaceable. Staring into the pensive brown eyes of these gentle giants, who share 95% of their genes with humans is as humbling as it is thrilling; no less so when one realises that fewer than 700 individuals survive, divided between Bwindi National Park and the Virunga Mountains.

With in Uganda, five habituated gorilla troops-four in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga National park- can be visited by a total of 30 tourists daily.

Uganda is also home to man’s closest relative, the chimpanzee, a delightful ape whose evocative pant-hoot call is a definitive sound of the African rainforest. Chimpanzee communities have been habituated for tourism at Kibale forest, Budongo forest and Queen Elizabeth National Parks Kyambura gorge. A community of orphaned chimps, most of which were confiscated from poachers, can be visited on Ngamba Island, which lies on Lake Victoria 45 minutes by motorboat from Entebbe.

Monkeys are exceptionally well represented in Uganda. Indeed, Kibale forest boasts the largest primate variety and density in East Africa, with fives or six species likely to be observed over the course of one afternoon walk. Else where, Mgahinga National Park hosts habituated troops of the rare golden monkeys, while Murchison Falls is one of the few East African strongholds for the spindly, plains-dwelling patas monkey. The fossilised 20-million-year-old bones of Morotopithecus, the earliest-known ancestor of modern apes and humans, were unearthed in the 1960’s near Moroto in eastern Uganda, and are now housed in the National Museum in Kampala.

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