Gorilla Watching in Uganda

Tracking the world’s greatest hairy human relative is the greatest unforgettable experience in world that you will never forget! Visiting the gorilla parks, hiking and getting to find the critically endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is a great journey that is not only interesting but also educative. Early in the morning, a group of tourists assemble at various locations to take a hike in search of one of the habituated gorilla group! The scenery and attractions relating with the surrounding areas is a plus!

Upon meeting the gorillas, you have up to one hour to watch these great apes. Your watching will not distort their activities! You can find them feeding on their bamboo shoots and green leaves! The old ones are usually seen grooming them selves as the young enjoy playing in the tree branches! The adults do not forget their duty of parenting most especially the silver back gorilla, the head of the family.

For Uganda visitors, this kind of once in a lifetime experience is attainable on a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. Elsewhere gorilla tracking can be done in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Both Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga National Park are located in the south-western part of Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. The mist covered hillsides are sheltered within one of the oldest rain forests in the world. These parks “impenetrable and Mgahinga” also protects a half of the world’s total population of gorillas estimated to be as few as 900 mountain gorillas.

Both parks also inhabit different bird species, butterflies, animals and plant species.

For ornithologists, these parks hold over 600 species of birds and they contain 90% of the Albertine Rift endemics, hardily seen in any other part of the East Africa but atleast 100 bird species can be seen a day.

You can visit Buhoma, and Ruhija to see species like the African green broad bill (psedocalptomena graveri), dwarf honey guide (indicator pumilio), kivu ground thrush (zoothera a Tanganjicak), Lagdeen’s bush shrike ( Mahacanotus legdeni), Chaplin’s flycatcher (Musticapa lend), Oberhandar’s ground thrush, yellow eyed flycatcher, montane double-collared sunbird (Nectarinia ludoviencis), and dusky twinspot.

Other Things to Do

Apart from the popular gorilla safaris, there are many other exciting adventures in the area. Gorilla tracking in these parks can be accompanied with several other tourism activities like the primate watching, nature walks, cave exploration and village walks, mountain bike rides. Within Bwindi Forest volunteering and community work is possible. Visitors can also give a hand at the Bwindi hospital, a project that was set up from as a profit sharing scheme that was introduced in Uganda’s protected areas. From Mgahinga, you can enjoy a Batwa Trail or Pygmy experience, and community volunteering.

Where to Stay

Accommodation in the area is available with different range. These are located in and outside the parks. The all have Single rooms, double rooms, twin and farmily rooms and cottages and are built and designed using local materials such as sisal ropes, forest vines and many others with bathrooms (with hot water showers) and good veranda for viewing the spectacular scenery that surrounds the lodges.

Therefore, it is a place that one will never forget once you visit this small piece of the “Pearl of Africa”.

All About the African Big Five

According to tourist brochures a modern day African safari is not complete without having spotted each member of the Big Five. Some companies even go so far as to award certificates to those guests who have experienced the big five on their safari.

Hunting and photographic safaris

The big 5 is a collective term used to describe lion, leopard, buffalo, black rhino and elephant Although seemingly patented by the photographic tourism market the big five is a term that originated during the early days of trophy hunting and indicated the five most dangerous animals to hunt and hence the most sought after trophies.

The part that constitutes the trophy differs with each animal. The lion is sought for its mane, the elephant its tusks, the buffalo and rhino the horns and the leopard the general body size and size of the head.

Private reserves and the Big 5

With the advent of luxury photographic safari travel in the 1970’s in South Africa’s private game reserves the big 5 became the largest selling point of a safari and despite attempts by many individuals and organizations at ridiculing the concept aggressive marketing ensures the popularity continues to grow.

The black rhino was the original member of the Big five but with the scarcity of the species today the more common white rhino has taken its place in many areas as many forget the original ideal.

Facts about the Big 5

The buffalo is responsible for the most human deaths annually. The leopard is hunted by setting out baits. Despite the ban on ivory trading, elephants are still legally hunted in some countries. Although many countries have banned trophy hunting it is still big business in Africa.

Why are Tanzania’s Park Entrance Fees Expensive?

Tanzania is home to some of the most famous and largest national parks in Africa, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Selous, and Ruaha. These parks attract visitors from all over the world who want to see elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, and other iconic wildlife. One thing many travellers notice is that Tanzania’s national park entrance fees are higher than those of neighbouring countries like Kenya, Uganda, or Rwanda. While this may seem expensive at first, there are important reasons behind the cost. The fees help fund wildlife conservation, protect endangered animals, support local communities living near the parks, and maintain high-quality facilities and roads inside the parks. Tanzania also follows a “high-value, low-impact” tourism approach, which focuses on fewer visitors who pay more, rather than large crowds. Understanding why these fees are higher helps visitors see them as an investment in preserving nature and having a better Tanzania safari experience.

1. Tanzania Has Very Large National Parks

One of the biggest reasons for higher fees is the size of Tanzania’s parks. Tanzania has some of the largest protected wildlife areas in Africa. For example, Serengeti National Park covers around 14,750 square kilometres. Nyerere National Park (formerly part of Selous Game Reserve) is even larger. Managing such huge areas is expensive. Rangers must patrol long distances to protect wildlife. Vehicles, fuel, communication equipment, and staff salaries all cost money. The larger the park, the more resources are needed to manage it properly. In comparison, some parks in neighbouring countries are smaller. Smaller parks usually require less funding for patrols, road maintenance, and management. Because Tanzania’s parks are so vast, the operating costs are naturally higher. 

2. Strong Focus on Wildlife Conservation

Tanzania is home to some of the largest wildlife populations in Africa. It has large numbers of elephants, lions, wildebeest, and many other species. It also protects endangered animals such as black rhinos and African wild dogs. Protecting wildlife is not cheap. Poaching remains a serious threat in Africa. Rangers must be trained and equipped to stop illegal hunting. Anti-poaching units require vehicles, surveillance systems, and proper communication tools. Entrance fees help fund these conservation efforts. A large part of the money collected from tourists goes directly toward protecting animals and preserving their habitats. Tanzania invests heavily in conservation to ensure wildlife survives for future generations. Without higher entrance fees, it would be difficult to maintain this level of protection. 

3. The Great Migration and World-Class Attractions

Tanzania offers one of the most spectacular wildlife events on Earth — the Great Migration. Every year, millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move across the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grass and water. This natural event attracts visitors from around the world. Many travellers are willing to pay more to witness such a unique experience. Because Tanzania offers globally recognized wildlife experiences, the government can charge premium entrance fees. In simple terms, Tanzania offers a “world-class product,” and the price reflects that value. 

4. High-Quality Park Management

Tanzania’s parks are managed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). The organization works to maintain high standards inside the parks. Roads are graded regularly, especially after the rainy season. Signposts are installed to help visitors navigate. Ranger posts are set up in remote areas. Public campsites and picnic areas are maintained. Good Park management improves visitor safety and comfort. But maintaining this quality requires steady funding. Higher entrance fees help support these services. In some other countries, park fees may be lower, but infrastructure inside the parks may also be less developed. Tanzania chooses to maintain high standards, and this increases costs. 

5. High-Value, Low-Impact Tourism Policy

Tanzania follows a tourism strategy known as “high-value, low-impact tourism.” This means the country prefers fewer visitors who pay more money, rather than attracting very large numbers of budget tourists.

Why does Tanzania do this?

Too many vehicles inside parks can disturb wildlife. Overcrowding can damage roads, grasslands, and sensitive ecosystems. A high number of visitors can also reduce the quality of the safari experience. By charging higher entrance fees, Tanzania controls visitor numbers. This helps protect the environment and ensures that tourists enjoy peaceful wildlife viewing without too many vehicles around animals. This policy is different from some neighbouring countries that focus on attracting higher visitor numbers with lower fees. 

6. Different Fees for Foreigners and Locals

Tanzania charges different fees for foreign tourists and Tanzanian citizens. Foreign visitors usually pay much more than locals. This helps ensure that Tanzanians can still enjoy their own parks at an affordable price while international tourists contribute significantly to conservation and park management. In other East African countries, the difference between local and foreign fees may be smaller. Tanzania’s large gap between local and foreign fees makes it seem more expensive for international visitors, but it ensures that enough money is collected to protect wildlife and maintain the parks. 

7. Supporting Local Communities

Another important reason for higher park fees is community support. Many villages are located near national parks. People living in these areas sometimes face challenges such as crop damage from wildlife or restrictions on land use. To encourage positive relationships between parks and communities, Tanzania shares part of the tourism revenue with local areas. Park revenue helps fund schools, health canters, water projects, and other community development programs. When local people benefit from tourism, they are more likely to support conservation instead of illegal activities like poaching. Higher fees help ensure that both wildlife and local communities benefit from tourism.

8. Long-Term Sustainability

Tanzania plans for the long term. The government understands that wildlife and natural landscapes must be protected not just for today’s visitors, but for future generations. Higher entrance fees help create a stable source of funding. This reduces dependence on foreign donations or external funding. Parks can operate independently and continue conservation programs even during difficult times. This long-term planning increases the cost today, but it protects the future of Tanzania’s wildlife. 

9. Comparison with Neighboring Countries

When comparing Tanzania with other East African countries, some differences are clear:

• Kenya: Kenya has famous parks like Maasai Mara, but fees are generally lower. The country focuses on attracting more mid-budget tourists. Some parks, like Maasai Mara during the Great Migration, can still be expensive.
• Uganda: Uganda’s parks, like Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth, are smaller and generally cheaper. Uganda encourages more visitors and focuses on ecotourism rather than high-value, low-impact tourism.
• Rwanda: Rwanda’s main attraction is gorilla trekking, which is very expensive. Other parks are less costly. Rwanda’s tourism strategy focuses on small, high-value experiences.
• Tanzania stands out because it combines large parks, world-famous wildlife events, strict conservation measures, and high-quality infrastructure. All of this requires more funding, which leads to higher entrance fees. 

Conclusion

Tanzania’s national park entrance fees are higher than those of other East African countries for several key reasons. They help fund wildlife conservation, support rangers, maintain large and famous parks, and provide high-quality experiences for visitors. The fees also benefit local communities and ensure that tourism has a low impact on the environment. While the cost may seem high, visitors are paying for more than just entry. They are contributing to the protection of some of the most iconic wildlife in the world and enjoying a better safari experience.

5 Amazing Facts About Mountain Gorillas

Mountain gorillas are known as the second close relative of man after the chimps which shares almost 98% of human genes and it’s the largest member of the great ape family. An adult male silver-back, which age from 12 and above can weigh up to 470 pounds and can reach six feet in height.

Habitat

Mountain gorillas live in close-knit family groups that may have up to 30 members and the group consists of a dominant male called a silver-back because of the grey hair which grow around its back, the silver-back is responsible for any activity taking place in the group these include knowing where to sleep the following night, where to feed from, defends the group against any attack together with other males and even if meaning losing life a silver-back can do in order to defend the group. Other members in a family include few subordinate males and multiple females and infants.

Diet

Mountain gorillas are purely vegetarian mainly feed on plants, leaves, buds, shoots, tuber, stalks, fruits and ferns and sometimes aunts and rarely drink water since most of the food they eat comprises too much water.

Gestation Period

A female normally last with the pregnancy for about 8-10 months, they give birth for the first time at 10 years and will have more offspring’s every three or four years, they normally produce one child, twins are a herd of in life of gorillas.

Life Span

They live to up to 50 years in the wild; gorillas can live up to 50 years where as in captivity they may live less than 35 years

Population

By the time of writing, there about 1060 individuals left in two populations; Bwindi Forest in Uganda and the Virunga Massif that is shared by three countries Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo

Threats to mountain gorillas

There major threats are human who practice deforestation to generate farmland, leaving them displaced. Poaching for trade meat and medicine is also another threat resulting into reduction in number. Also other wild animals like leopard also attack and kill them especially the young gorillas. The snares set for other animals kill gorillas. Let us work together for the survival of these endangered species by tracking/trekking them you are adding on their survival.

Most Outstanding Tourist Attractions of Africa

Here are Africa’s Most Outstanding Tourist Attractions.

The Egypt Pyramids Egypt PyramidEgypt is a land of many secrets and hidden treasures. This country holds 80 most recognizable pyramids that have been in existence for the last 5000 years. These amazing buildings have been among the ancient seven wonder of the world. They were basically built to hold the remains of Kings or Queens. A visit to this exotic place will reveal the beauty of the three and a half mile tall pyramids. The many tunnels inside the Pyramids’ will surely require that the visiting tourist be guided by a well informed tour guide.

The Victoria Falls

On the boarder of Zambia and Zimbabwe lies the amazing Victoria Falls. The Zambezi river forms one the largest falls in the world. The falls are within many gorges, with an attractive bridge joining the Second Gorge and Third Gorge. The naturally formed “Devil’s Pool”, is a pool of still water on the edge fall. Although a very dangerous place, some tourists swim despite the risk of plunging over the edge.
The Sossusvlei in Namibia

There are some places in Africa where many people doubt whether they existence Sossusvlei is possibly one of this place. It’s the foremost attraction of Namibia because the desert has astounding landscape characterized by high sand dunes of vivid pink-to-orange color, a consequence of a high percentage of iron. The amazing thing about the sand dunes is that they constantly change their shape due to the strong winds. Hiking and climbing is a very enjoyable activity
The Masai Mara In Kenya

Masai Mara is park that is inhabited by nearly all the wildlife that is found in sub-Saharan region. From the big 5 to buffalos, hyenas, giraffe and the numerous wildebeest that migrate yearly form July to October. This park is also a second home to BBC documentary on the Big cat diary.
Zanzibar Coastline
The beauty and serenity of Zanzibar beaches is yet to be competitively compared to any other coastline in Africa. The beaches are totally unpolluted and the Ocean around has hundred of sea animals. The attractively built hotels are uniquely designed in Swahili and Zanzibar architecture providing modern comforts with unspoilt natural beauty.
The Virunga Mountains

The Virunga Mountains are a chain of in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The mountains are the home of to over 880 mountain gorillas. No words can describe the first hand experience of seeing these gorillas.

5 Things I Learnt About Ringing Black Sparrowhawks

For the past three years I have been observing a pair of black sparrowhawks that nest just down the road from my family’s house in Tokai.

A couple of weeks ago I was invited by the Black Sparrowhawk Project to assist them in ringing three new chicks. Strangely, in the days leading up to the ringing, I had my best sparrowhawk sightings to date, including seeing chicks in a nest and their mother bringing them food. I was even able to watch the mother bring down a feral pigeon right in front of me.

The ringing itself was an incredibly enriching experience. I was able to witness new aspects of sparrowhawk behaviour, learn about their adaptations, and get an insight into what it takes for scientists to gain an understanding of these birds so that we can ensure their protection. Best of all, I was finally able to see the chicks up close after spending weeks barely glimpsing them in the nest.

Here are five things I learned about what is required to ring these magnificent birds.

1.      Tree climbing

There are some serious risks involved in this part of the operation. At the start of each ringing, Mark Cowen had to climb up the tree with his climbing gear to reach the nest, photograph the chicks in the nest, put them in bags and lower them down to the other researchers on the ground. All the while, both parents repeatedly and relentlessly dive-bombed him. Sometimes the female would strike his helmet, resulting in a loud crack. The bombardment eventually got so bad that at one point Mark had to cover his helmet with a thick blanket for additional protection.

2.      Taking blood samples

Dr. Petra Sumasgutner had to take blood samples from each of the three chicks. This is an essential element of the research because it allows her to look at the cell count of the birds, including blood cell count, and to determine whether or not the birds had any internal parasites or genetic problems. The institute has done a great deal of work in helping to increase our understanding about this population of black sparrowhawks.

3.      The ringing

After the chicks had been weighed, each chick was fitted with three rings. One leg bears two of the rings and the other only one. A SAFRING, with a different number for each chick, is the primary ring fitted onto one of the chick’s legs along with a green and a blue ring. Each chick has a different ring combination so that they can be accurately identified in the future. These rings are an important tool in determining the range of individual sparrowhawks here, as well as population size.

4.      Anatomy check

All three of the chicks are examined after the operations have been completed to determine what stage of growth they’re at, how developed their feathers are and whether or not they are displaying traces of hunger (which are side-effects from malnutrition that can lead to problems with the chicks’ development that could affect them in later life). Additionally, the chicks’ wings and facial features were photographed. It was amazing to be able to look at the features of these amazing birds from such close quarters. It really gave me a completely new perspective.

5.      Getting up close and personal

I learned a lot of new things about black sparrowhawks while observing the chicks up close and watching the parents. Both the male and the female sparrowhawks had different calls to one another, which meant they could be accurately identified even when they were perched among thick branches. The legs and talons of the chicks were adapted for a life of specializing in hunting, and their eyes, which were light brown, would turn bright red when they were adult. I could also see the bird’s specialized trachea and watch as their claws reflexively grabbed at everything they saw.

Currently, all three chicks are doing well. They’ve lost all of their white fluffy feathers and are now no longer in the nest but perched in the branches of the nest tree with their parents. It won’t be long before they start hunting for themselves and leave their parents’ territory to start their own families.