Uganda is endowed with some of the most bio-diverse national parks in the World with over 13 national parks and game reserves. Each of them is unique with different major attractions. Kibale forest national park for instance has the highest density of primates in the World where as Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is renown for its population of mountain gorillas. Bwindi has the largest number of mountain gorillas in the World.
Martin Ssebuyira writes about his experience with chimps in Kibale forest national park.
It was a very surreal experience tracking man’s ‘cousins’ and seeing the way they feed, climb trees, respond to humans and care for their young ones, writes Martin Ssebuyira.
Chimpanzee tracking is one of the most loved activities at Kibaale National Park in Kamwenge District, attracting tourists from various countries around the world.
It was on November 1 that I made up my mind to visit the park and experience this famed thrill. I couldn’t contain my excitement as I boarded a bus to Fort Portal town, where I took a special hire to the park in Kamwenge. Here, one is free to tromp through the rainforest jungles, making their own paths as they follow the guides.
At first, we were given gumboots to enable us trail through the forest with ease, then issued instructions on how to behave in the forest when trailing our “closest relatives”. “There are 90 per cent chances of viewing the chimpanzees either by luck, following sounds of the troops moving through forests, or going to their usual camps,” our guide, Geoffrey Tazenya, let on.
We then walked through the thick rain forest for close to three hours while the guides kept communicating to each other on radio calls to find the exact location of the chimpanzees.
After a two-hour trek, I took a sigh of relief when we heard sounds of the troops communicating to each other, but became horrified as we drew near the troops, fearing they could trounce on us. “They are quite habituated to human presence, so they do not run as we walk nearby, but do not mimic them, get near them or eat in their presence because this could provoke them,” Tazenya warned.
We then left the forest trails to meet the chimp groups. One of the females was quite obviously in heat and there was much commotion as the males vied for her attention.
Tazenya explained that the female chimp could reject any suitor she wished, and we saw it happen as she fought off the advances of the 40-year-old grey-chinned Mobuto, named after the Congolese dictator Mobuto Ssese Seko because he is the head of this particular tribe and bullies his mates. The brush-off was loud and intense and took place with such a flurry of motion that capturing it on camera was impossible.
We saw several adorable babies perched on the backs of their mothers but they too were very difficult to photograph as the light in the dense forest was quite dim. We had to leave soon because after sighting a tribe, visitors were only allowed to watch them for one hour.
The most accessible of Uganda’s major rainforests, Kibaale is home to a remarkable 13 primate species, including the much localised red colobus and Lhotse’s monkey.
John Batandashi, the head guide, said Kibaale’s major attraction is the opportunity to track these delightful apes and watch as they squabble and play in fruit trees, adding that a network of shady forest trails provides much to delight botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders are in for a treat with 335 species available including the endemic Prigogine’s Ground Thrush.
The elusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier than its savannah counterpart, moves seasonally into the developed part of the park, while other terrestrial mammals include buffalos, giant forest hogs and a half dozen antelope species. “We get about 36 tourists per day who track the chimps in groups of two,” Bantandashi said, adding that tourists are required to obtain a tracking permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala at Shs55,000 and entry fee at Shs5,000.
A chimpanzees’ day starts at 6:30a.m as they leave their nests to have breakfast and start moving through the forest to look for food. They then rest to groom each other as others mate. After this break, they have lunch, rest again, then move in groups of 20 until they find an appropriate place for nesting at around 6p.m. “Chimpanzees have a great phorbia for snakes and run upon seeing them, but will fight and kill any chimp foreign to a group, unless it’s a female without a male baby. If it has a male baby, the baby is killed for fear that it could take over their females,” said Batandashi. gorilla tracking
About 20 metres from the park’s main gate are fairly large families of baboons, but tourists are usually more interested in the chimps because tracking them is thrilling.
Source: Monitor Publications
For Chimpanzee tracking as Ngamba Island chimpanzee tracking visit us
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Animals From Queen Elizabeth national Park Destroy Crops
ANIMALS from Queen Elizabeth National Park have destroyed over 500 acres of crops in Rubirizi district, local authorities have confirmed.
Dominic Bakesima, the chairperson of Kasisa-Kagogo farmers’ Forum in Kichwamba sub-county, named the most hit villages as Kasisa and Kagogo in Kichwamba sub-county in Katerera county.
The animals, mostly elephants, destroyed banana plantations.
Bakesima said on Thursday that the two villages have gardens for people from the neighbouring villages.
He said they had appealed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the district leadership for help in vain.
“The locals have threatened to stage a peaceful demonstration and boycott the coming elections if nothing is done to rescue the situation,” Bakesima said.
Dinavensi Ndijunwoha, a farmer in Kagogo village, said the area MP, Gaudiosio Tindamanyire, promised to help fence the areas neighbouring the park two years ago but nothing has been done.
Ndijunwoha said many people deserted farming and were redundant, noting that this was likely to cause famine in the area.
The Kichwamba sub-county LC3 chairperson, Philly Masiko, said over 40 people were admitted in dispensaries for malaria contracted from the park as they were guarding their crops from the animals.
Masiko said over 140 farmers cultivate in the villages near the park. He appealed to the disaster preparedness ministry to provide food to the affected people.
END
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Dominic Bakesima, the chairperson of Kasisa-Kagogo farmers’ Forum in Kichwamba sub-county, named the most hit villages as Kasisa and Kagogo in Kichwamba sub-county in Katerera county.
The animals, mostly elephants, destroyed banana plantations.
Bakesima said on Thursday that the two villages have gardens for people from the neighbouring villages.
He said they had appealed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the district leadership for help in vain.
“The locals have threatened to stage a peaceful demonstration and boycott the coming elections if nothing is done to rescue the situation,” Bakesima said.
Dinavensi Ndijunwoha, a farmer in Kagogo village, said the area MP, Gaudiosio Tindamanyire, promised to help fence the areas neighbouring the park two years ago but nothing has been done.
Ndijunwoha said many people deserted farming and were redundant, noting that this was likely to cause famine in the area.
The Kichwamba sub-county LC3 chairperson, Philly Masiko, said over 40 people were admitted in dispensaries for malaria contracted from the park as they were guarding their crops from the animals.
Masiko said over 140 farmers cultivate in the villages near the park. He appealed to the disaster preparedness ministry to provide food to the affected people.
END
Visit our Uganda homes blog
UWA took the right decision on officials
I am not surprised that the managers of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have been suspended and one of them sacked.
There is a public outcry about the way UWA runs its business. I have read about incidents where wild animals are shot by rangers and the public share the meat.
Many people have called UWA to rescue animals without any response. The organisation has no department to help communities that live near protected areas. Many Ugandans have been killed by crocodiles, elephants, buffalos and leopards without any intervention by UWA. UWA had completely lost track.
You can tell this by looking at the organisational structure. A wildlife authority should have at least a laboratory for early detection of diseases like anthrax which has killed many hippos. It should have a very effective veterinary department and a well-equipped capture department that can handle problem animals.
The management of UWA has been putting more emphasis on their personal interest than the interests of Ugandans. I do not blame the UWA board for the steps taken. However, those who are innocent should be called back.
Uganda safari
There is a public outcry about the way UWA runs its business. I have read about incidents where wild animals are shot by rangers and the public share the meat.
Many people have called UWA to rescue animals without any response. The organisation has no department to help communities that live near protected areas. Many Ugandans have been killed by crocodiles, elephants, buffalos and leopards without any intervention by UWA. UWA had completely lost track.
You can tell this by looking at the organisational structure. A wildlife authority should have at least a laboratory for early detection of diseases like anthrax which has killed many hippos. It should have a very effective veterinary department and a well-equipped capture department that can handle problem animals.
The management of UWA has been putting more emphasis on their personal interest than the interests of Ugandans. I do not blame the UWA board for the steps taken. However, those who are innocent should be called back.
Uganda safari
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Zakayo to mark 46th birthday
Preparations to celebrate the 46th birthday of the oldest alpha male Chimpanzee at the Uganda Wildlife Educational Centre are under way. According to officials at the centre, a huge cake has been made for the ageing chimpanzee while its keepers are teaching it table manners for the occasion to be witnessed by UWEC staff, conservationists and students on Saturday.
“The chimpanzee has been trained to use a sharp stick to cut posho in preparation for its birthday,’’ Ms Belinda Atim, the UWEC spokesperson, told Daily Monitor yesterday.
She said the keepers would first talk to invited guests on the importance of chimp conservation while focusing on Zakayo’s history and personality.
“Zakayo will first be let out of the holding facility into the island with Acan, the youngest member of the family and later cut his cake while children invited from various schools sing for him,” said Ms Atim.
She said a few members of the public will get an opportunity to feed Zakayo with fruits while other schools would be singing chimp conservation songs and reciting poems. A quiz competition has also been organised where winners will walk away with various prizes.
Zakayo has been a protective and fatherly primate to young chimps, especially Onapa, Aluma and Shaka. He is ‘married’ to Amina and Ruth and likes spending hours resting, grooming or being groomed by one of his two wives.
If you want to track chimpanzees in the wild click these links;
“The chimpanzee has been trained to use a sharp stick to cut posho in preparation for its birthday,’’ Ms Belinda Atim, the UWEC spokesperson, told Daily Monitor yesterday.
She said the keepers would first talk to invited guests on the importance of chimp conservation while focusing on Zakayo’s history and personality.
“Zakayo will first be let out of the holding facility into the island with Acan, the youngest member of the family and later cut his cake while children invited from various schools sing for him,” said Ms Atim.
She said a few members of the public will get an opportunity to feed Zakayo with fruits while other schools would be singing chimp conservation songs and reciting poems. A quiz competition has also been organised where winners will walk away with various prizes.
Zakayo has been a protective and fatherly primate to young chimps, especially Onapa, Aluma and Shaka. He is ‘married’ to Amina and Ruth and likes spending hours resting, grooming or being groomed by one of his two wives.
If you want to track chimpanzees in the wild click these links;
- chimp trekking
- chimp trekking in Ngamba Island
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Wildebeest Migration Has Begun!
It's official - the annual migration of the wildebeest from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya started six days ago. The comical animals nicknamed "the clown of the plains" and said to be put together by a committee, have moved across the south Mara plains. The herds split before entering the Central Plains with one herd heading west and the other to the north.
It’s a welcome surprise to see the migration start earlier than expected. Also this time, the main migration for the south arrived before the Loita herds as has been the tradition.
GREAT MIGRATION OF WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRAS
Having crossed the Sand River, the wildebeest with the zebras mowed their way from Keekorok to the Mara Bridge covering a distance of about 25 to 30 kilometers in a few days. Marching north towards Lookout Hill, they are busy and noisy as this is their rutting season. The males are calling, running up and down and fighting any competition to win over the females. It is indeed an interesting time to be in the Mara.
The females with their five-month-old calves are relishing the fresh red oat grass. However many natural water holes in the Mara are dry which will hasten the wildebeest to move further in search of water and fresh grasslands.
Click the following links for your Masai Mara safari package and Kenya safaris
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It’s a welcome surprise to see the migration start earlier than expected. Also this time, the main migration for the south arrived before the Loita herds as has been the tradition.
GREAT MIGRATION OF WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRAS
Having crossed the Sand River, the wildebeest with the zebras mowed their way from Keekorok to the Mara Bridge covering a distance of about 25 to 30 kilometers in a few days. Marching north towards Lookout Hill, they are busy and noisy as this is their rutting season. The males are calling, running up and down and fighting any competition to win over the females. It is indeed an interesting time to be in the Mara.
The females with their five-month-old calves are relishing the fresh red oat grass. However many natural water holes in the Mara are dry which will hasten the wildebeest to move further in search of water and fresh grasslands.
Click the following links for your Masai Mara safari package and Kenya safaris
=====================================================================================
Other Blogs: for your Uganda real estate articles or that on houses to buy in Uganda
Five poachers go missing in Queen Elizabeth National Park
FIVE people, including a woman, are suspected to have been killed by wild animals while poaching in the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese district.
Sajoni Kibaya, Nelson Bwambale, Mulewa Kathungu, Kibaya Muhekwa, the woman, and another man only identified as Nyamusunzura, all residents of Kitabu village in Muhokya sub-county, are said to have recently gone missing in the park.
However, the Uganda Wildlife Authority chief, Moses Mapesa, dismissed the allegations, saying he crossed-checked the reports but found no trace of dead poachers in the park.
During a recent district council meeting, Muhokya sub-county councillor John Kimadi, had appealed to the district security organs to help the relatives of the missing people to search the park and give the dead decent burials.
Kimadi told the council, which was chaired by the district speaker, John Baguma, that retrieving the bodies would help other people understand the dangers of poaching.
In a separate interview, he added that over 150 children had been orphaned as a result of their fathers being killed in the park.
The district Police commander, Paul Mumbogwe, said the local authorities and the Police had mounted a search for the bodies but in vain.
Mumbogwe added that the bodies might have been eaten up by wild animals.
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Sajoni Kibaya, Nelson Bwambale, Mulewa Kathungu, Kibaya Muhekwa, the woman, and another man only identified as Nyamusunzura, all residents of Kitabu village in Muhokya sub-county, are said to have recently gone missing in the park.
However, the Uganda Wildlife Authority chief, Moses Mapesa, dismissed the allegations, saying he crossed-checked the reports but found no trace of dead poachers in the park.
During a recent district council meeting, Muhokya sub-county councillor John Kimadi, had appealed to the district security organs to help the relatives of the missing people to search the park and give the dead decent burials.
Kimadi told the council, which was chaired by the district speaker, John Baguma, that retrieving the bodies would help other people understand the dangers of poaching.
In a separate interview, he added that over 150 children had been orphaned as a result of their fathers being killed in the park.
The district Police commander, Paul Mumbogwe, said the local authorities and the Police had mounted a search for the bodies but in vain.
Mumbogwe added that the bodies might have been eaten up by wild animals.
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Houses on sale and rentals in Kampala Uganda
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
One fine young artist
He has had President Yoweri Museveni as a special VIP guest to his London art exhibition in 2007 and the Kabaka of Buganda launched his first solo exhibition a year before that. Ismael Kateregga (pictured), one of Uganda’s most gifted artists has another exhibition which started on the November 7th .
He studied Industrial and Fine Arts at Makerere University before beginning his career as a painter. Famed for his depictions of Kampala’s bustling life, he uses an impressionistic (between realism and abstract) approach where the images seem kind of abstract and more distinct from long distances.
One of the country’s young artists, he has already held eight solo exhibitions, participated in the 2007 Crafts and Arts Awards and had his work featured in the East African Art Biennale. This is however going to be his first wild life exhibition with animals and a few plants. The change in them came easier than he would have thought after he first painted an elephant in 2007 and someone from Netherlands bought it immediately. “I loved that painting and although I was selling it, losing it hurt,” he says, joking that it was the one piece he would have wanted to hold on to. After that, he felt like he needed a replacement and studied different animals in Ugandan, taking great interest in the way they lived and interacted with each other. He was intrigued to find that most animals had a sense of togetherness and unity which most human beings are incapable of - gorilla tours in Uganda
This, combined with the natural beauty of Uganda, made it a personal goal for Kateregga to raise awareness about wildlife and its conservation among fellow Ugandans. He remembers travelling to Bunyoro where oil is being drilled with no consideration for the young antelopes that reside there. “It hurts me that the beauty is not being recognised and these animals are approached as a source of food only,” he said. Using another technique of washes (where the paint is more fluid than usual), Kateregga is going to display 26 to 27 paintings at Ndere Centre for a month in the hope of speaking to Ugandans and the world about wildlife and co-existing with it. We have other blogs offering safari packages review as well as African travel
He studied Industrial and Fine Arts at Makerere University before beginning his career as a painter. Famed for his depictions of Kampala’s bustling life, he uses an impressionistic (between realism and abstract) approach where the images seem kind of abstract and more distinct from long distances.
One of the country’s young artists, he has already held eight solo exhibitions, participated in the 2007 Crafts and Arts Awards and had his work featured in the East African Art Biennale. This is however going to be his first wild life exhibition with animals and a few plants. The change in them came easier than he would have thought after he first painted an elephant in 2007 and someone from Netherlands bought it immediately. “I loved that painting and although I was selling it, losing it hurt,” he says, joking that it was the one piece he would have wanted to hold on to. After that, he felt like he needed a replacement and studied different animals in Ugandan, taking great interest in the way they lived and interacted with each other. He was intrigued to find that most animals had a sense of togetherness and unity which most human beings are incapable of - gorilla tours in Uganda
This, combined with the natural beauty of Uganda, made it a personal goal for Kateregga to raise awareness about wildlife and its conservation among fellow Ugandans. He remembers travelling to Bunyoro where oil is being drilled with no consideration for the young antelopes that reside there. “It hurts me that the beauty is not being recognised and these animals are approached as a source of food only,” he said. Using another technique of washes (where the paint is more fluid than usual), Kateregga is going to display 26 to 27 paintings at Ndere Centre for a month in the hope of speaking to Ugandans and the world about wildlife and co-existing with it. We have other blogs offering safari packages review as well as African travel
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