Katwe Salt Lake – Uganda’s Tourist Attraction
Salt is one of the basic needs in life and it is widely used in Uganda. Lake Katwe salt industry is the main source of salt and income in the country. People around Lake Katwe are still practicing rudimentary mining of salt which helps them to make a living after selling salt and those employed in the salt industry.
At Lake Katwe, salt is mined from January to March and from July to September when there is much sunshine. Salt traders come from nearby markets in Uganda and from other countries like Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan and Tanzania.
It was regarded such an expensive mineral and was exchanged for other item like clothes and even guns which were given the ruler of that time in exchange of slaves.
Salt mining as in western Uganda has a strong history as in 1875, an explorer by the names; H.M Stanley was the first white man to make a written report of the history of salt Exploitation at Lake Katwe during his journey in Africa.
It is emphasized that ever since the colonial times salt production at Lake Katwe has been one of the most important sources of revenue for the local administrations in the area. Nowadays, Katwe Kabatoro Town Council is also struggling to get total ownership and administration of the same lake.
Lake Katwe is the largest salt lake in Uganda and have various types of salt produced from the same lake. It has a circumference of 8 km. 21 streams around the lake pour in fresh water every day from the surrounding rocks.
Not only salt mining, Lake katwe is a source of foreign exchange through tourism. Many tourists are seen exploring salt Lake Katwe salt region during their Uganda safaris through Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most popular national parks. From there, tourists can move to Kibale chimpanzee forest to trek chimpanzees, nature walks, and cultural walks and so on. They can also decide to go to Bwindi Impenetrable forest or Mgahinga Forest National Park to track Gorillas.
Read More5 Best Sedan Cars for Hire in Uganda
Are you searching for a compact car to rent for your safari in Uganda? You have a right to choose the right car rental in Uganda that is comfortable and pocket friendly and that is why our saloon cars are there for you to realize your dreams in Uganda. Saloon cars are also famous as Sedan cars. Our saloon vehicles are smaller in size and they accommodate about four people and the driver. Our saloon vehicles are credited for their most comfortable, stylish and simple to manage and convenient for travelers who are in their business tour, city dwellers and safaris. We have a wide array of Sedan vehicles for people to hire especially the executive one which are versatile, comfortable and secure to the budget which are just adequate for travelers to drive around. Ideally there is no reason why you shouldn’t grab one our best and affordable 4X4. To help you come up with the best choice, below is the list of our amazing sedan/saloon cars to hire in Uganda.
1. Rav4
The best 4 seater car for you to hire, it accommodates a total of four travelers but it comes with adequate space. Its interior is amazing and generally one of the strongest vehicles to help navigate through Uganda’s rough roads. Besides other fleets of Saloon cars, the Rav4 also feature in tow categories, the short tow door and the long four doors all these have similar seating capacity and strength. Most visitors intending to take up self drive safaris in Uganda, the Rav4 is preferably the best because it is very friendly in terms of fuel consumption and simple to manage. Are you planning to travel as an individual, couple or friends? Using a Rav4 is the best vehicle to help you traverse throughout your safari in all corners of Uganda.
2. Toyota premio
This features as upscale saloon car with an incredible interior which come in wood trim and good class material together with assortment of convenience features such as bottle stands, air conditioning, airbags, centralized door lock, power windows, automatic and manual, CD player and among others. It is a small vehicle and simple to run hire a Toyota premio from our authorized car hire company in Kampala, Uganda and hit the road in a comfortable way to any of the attractive areas and you won’t regret in life. This kind of car is ideal for city safaris and distant towns although it is not encouraged to use on rough roads.
3. Toyota Noah
This type of a car resembles the minivan in its physical appearance. It accommodates about seven people and driver and to enjoy more comfort and need of window seats, it can take five people. Its interior is fantastic, it has adjustable seats and you can do it your convenience. It is the most comfortable vehicle for group safaris of four and more, ideally there is no need to be worried of space to stretch your legs or pack your cargo. It also comes with sun roof that offers visitors the most stunning views of the area while in a safari.
4. Mercedes Benz
This is an ultimate luxury car. It comes in Mercedes Benz S class, E class and C class and many more brands. The Mercedes Benz is an unbeatable of all sedan cars given its entire mechanical make up, this however explains why it is acknowledged for wedding parties, executive hire and anything to do with upscale bracket. It is one of the cars that have kept their legacy of first class and durability. Renting this type of saloon car is an opportunity for visitors to save money as it is also the in terms of fuel consumption.
5. Toyota corona
This is best for traversing through Uganda’s capital city and other areas of the country. It is an exclusive four seater sedan car, best for town navigation and smooth areas. It comes in automatic and manual, air conditioned, CD player, ABC brakes, power steering, electric windows, airbags and others.
In conclusion Saloon cars are convenient, easy to drive and compact to navigate in Kampala and other areas especially on self drive safaris. Hiring our sedan cars gives you opportunity to explore different parts of Uganda at a pocket friendly price, comfort, safety and with big space to pack your luggage for safari. Enjoy your safari with our best saloon cars and you won’t regret in life!
Read MoreHow To Save Big On Uganda Car Hire
Saving is very important especially when going for a safari, and the saved money can be used on something else very important. Have you ever traveled to Africa mainly Uganda which is well know as the pearl of Africa. The country has very many tourist attractions some of which are untouched, however all these can be best explored either in a self-drive vehicle or with one of our experienced driver who know each and every corner of Uganda. If you want to make some savings on your self drive safari to Uganda or elsewhere and make the best of your trip, try to follow these simple car hire tips you will not fail to save more on your budget and use the saved money for shopping or any other personal nature.
Try to Look beyond brand name
Many car rental companies hire their cars at a very high rate just because of their names, so in order to avoid being over charged try not to concentrate more on booking with popular companies with brand names most of the time their rates are very high when you compare it with other small companies yet they offer the same services. Try looking out for some independent and trusted car hire agency in Uganda that charge lower price and on a discounted rates. Although it’s not a guarantee, it’s on record that independent companies offer cheap and friendly prices for their vehicles. You will find that you’ve saved some good money on the same car.
Avoid airport transfers
For the case of airport transfers, you should not do this mistake of transporting your self form and to the airport which many people do yet they hired a vehicle from the car hire agency. In order to save, always tell the car hire agent to pick and drop you at the airport or get you the car from the location in or around the city or at the airport. Airport pick ups and drop offs are chargeable and hence it ends up increasing your expense by more than 15%, so it’s better to agree with your agency about airport pick up and cover that extra expense, if you negotiate this before you won’t be charged. At Drive Uganda, we offer supplementary airport pick and drop offs for free when you book your rental.
Negotiate well with agent:
If you negotiate well with the car hire agent, you may end up getting the car at a reduced price. Or you may decide to do it one on one with the gent by visiting their offices and try to bargain, you never know you may get a reduced price on your car. Doing this you can be given a less expensive car than the one you confirmed with.
Always get a car that fits your needs and budget:
This is very important in case you want to save on car hire, you must hire a car based on the number of people you are traveling with and your budget constraints, as this will stop you from extra costs. if you’re a sole traveler don’t hire a van or a supper custom because it’s more expensive than a Rav4 which is suitable for 1– 3 people, and if you’re traveling with a family or with a big group from 3-8 people, a van, supper custom, land cruiser extended or a larger sedan is suitable and you can ask for a discount. It’s also advised to communicate your budget and the car of interest, the car hire agency will get it, and in case you need a special item it’s better to let them know because minus telling them, they won’t know and you may need something that may draw you in extra costs, so ask you will be given, for example, you may need a car with a tent. Also ask for discounts, most car hire services offer discounts when you rent for long period say from one week and above,
Try to know the exchange rate
This will also help you to save especially if you’re booking online, try to search online the exchange rate in Uganda shillings or any other rate of any country you’re going to, to avoid disagreeing with the agent about the exchange dollars in Uganda, you can use either the Google converter or XE currency converter. This will help you to know how much 1 USD is equivalent to in the Uganda shillings.
Book Early:
Always it’s better to book earlier before your traveling dates in order to avoid disappointments and last minutes booking. This will help you choose the right car that fits your budget and the number of people you’re traveling with. Moving on the streets of a strange nation looking for a car to hire you may get a wrong choice and expensive car.
Read MoreHow Early Should I Book a Gorilla Safari
Are you planning for a gorilla safari to Africa and you do not know when you should book your permit or how early you should book for your gorilla safari? Well, in order for you to take part in gorilla safari, a number of factors have to be considered while planning for a successful primate adventure of this kind.
As you plan for a memorable gorilla tour, one of thing you shouldn’t forget is securing your gorilla permit. This must be done early enough! How early should it be done is a main question that nearly everyone asks and very significant and at end of this article, you would have got the answer to this important question.
A gorilla permit is a very important requirement for every trekker who wishes to embark on gorilla safari in Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo. A permit is what allows you track only one habituated family and given the high demand for permits, visitors are always encouraged to book for their permits in advance to avoid any kind of disappointments. In Uganda, about 136 gorilla permits are always available for visitors to purchase and these represent about 17 habituated groups that are available for visitors to trek in Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, in Rwanda-there are about 80 permits that are always available for purchase and they represent the 10 groups that have habituated and readily available for visitors to trek then 64 in DRC which represent about 8 habituated families in Virunga National Park. Note, one gorilla group is equal to eight visitors!
Usually, visitors wishing to take part in this tremendous primate adventure are advised to book their permits at least 3-6 months earlier before the actual trekking date. However, others even book 2 years earlier. Booking a permit in advance is something of great significance. First, it gets you out of the stressful moment on the last minute booking when it becomes very challenging for one to find a permit the fact that demand for them is very high. Normally, things become worse especially during the dry season which is also regarded as high/peak season which is the busiest period in the gorilla parks. The dry season begins from June to September and December to February. However, the wet season is equally ideal for trekking and kick starts from March to May and from December to February. Besides, it allows you to plan for other things which are of great value for this adventure. Note that gorilla trekking isn’t only securing for a permit but also for you to plan for means of transportation to and fro the destination, lodges and accommodation options for your overnight stay while on safari plus meals and many other factors. By booking your gorilla safari early enough, you will have a well-planned vacation in Uganda or Rwanda that will leave a lasting memory in you.
The cost for gorilla permits varies from country to country. In Uganda, you can obtain one at $600, in Rwanda at $1500 per person while in the DR Congo you need about $400 and this also applies to those of you who wish to trek for eastern lowland gorillas at Kahuzi Biega National Park.
You can book a permit through a registered, recognized ground tour operator or company or through a reservationist at Uganda Wildlife Authority if you are to track mountain gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park; reservationist at Rwanda Development Board if you are heading off to Rwanda. Send your email with dates you wish to track gorillas and we shall check the availability of gorilla permits for you as you sit back home. The dates you intend to track gorillas are available, we shall reserve a permit for you and you will be required to make a deposit.
In conclusion, if you are planning to take part in gorilla experience in Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo, make sure that you book your permit early enough to avoid being disappointed due to shortages that come as a result of high demand for gorilla permits. Contact us and we shall be of great help to you!
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How to Easily Get a Car for Hire in Uganda
Uganda is one of the first moving countries when it comes to tourism. This is attributed to its rear attractions which include those that are not found elsewhere in the world. Currently, this country hosts a high number of people from different countries who come specifically to tour and have a look at some of the nature wonders this country possesses. As tourism develops, there is another sector that is growing alongside it and that is car hire in Uganda. Today, numerous companies have been setup in Uganda and these mainly deal in renting out cars to both people and organizations. As you well know that not all people can afford to buy their own cars yet they need them for movements and this is why they have to hire where necessary. Even tourists are forced to rent cars simply because they cannot drive their own in a foreign country given the time they are to spend on a safari.
Car hiring simply means obtaining a car for use at an agreed price and then return it to the owner after use. When one gets a car on a renting basis, he/she is charged a fee by the owner. This is charged because the owner has to maintain the car and also have some income for his company so that it can keep moving. This price is not constant as different companies have different pricing strategies and goals. Also the type of car hired contributes a lot in determining which price to be charged. Normally, small cars are charged lower prices compared to big cars because of the fuel consumption variances and the number of people carried. These are the main determinants in coming up with a fee to charge a specific customers. Here at our company, we always put our clients in mind when determining how much to charge them for using our vehicles. We always try and make both sides happy because we well know that one customer satisfied is better than investing dollars in marketing our company. This is because that a customer once satisfied he will go back to his country and speak well about us and also market our brand while there.
We have numerous cars ready to be rented out and they are in good conditions for ensuring safety on the road and making sure that clients reach their destiny without any conveniences. Self drive services are also provided in our company giving our customers the liberty to drive themselves in our vehicles at a very low price. We service them regularly and also dispose of those that appear to be in dangerous conditions. We have the best staff which is experiences in this sector well trained to deal with customers. They are always online to answer questions from customers and offer advice to them whenever required.
Booking with us is simple especially if you visit our website. All you need to do is to click the inquire button on this website and simply fill in the details in the form and then click send. Our team will immediately reply to your inquiry and they will go on to send you the costing according to your request. We always encourage our clients to first read the terms and conditions of our company before booking a car. You can now book your favorite car with us and we shall give it to you without hesitation even if it requires a self drive, we shall give it to you. Our services stretch from Uganda, Rwanda and even Kenya. We have agents in all those countries and offices so it doesn’t matter where you want to go, we allow you enjoy a drive to all destinations in these countries without charging extra costs.
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Best Things to Do On Self Drive Safari to Uganda
If you just want to hire a car from us, here are a variety of safari options you will have to watch on your self drive safari, if you don’t care we can hire you a car as well as organizing the whole safari for you, because we do both car hire as well as organizing safaris to various destination including Uganda, Rwanda, DRC and Burundi. Since it’s not easy to drive in a strange nation some ask for drivers, we have well and experience drivers who as well can work as guides, they are very knowledgeable in the field and know each and every corner of the country. However you can still go for a self-drive if you’re a careful driver and you can drive in Uganda using a foreign driving license for up to 3 three months after which you will need to get a Uganda driving license from the Uganda revenue authority or an international driving permit. Since Uganda is one of the gifted nations in the world with very many interesting things waiting for you to discover when on a Uganda safari, perhaps in a self-drive vehicle. national parks and games with abundant wildlife, plants and various species of birds, mountain hiking activities, lakes and rivers which provide memorable activities like fishing and rafting on the longest river Nile indeed the self drive safari in Uganda is worth it. Explore the pearl of Africa as it’s sometimes referred to you won’t regret. If you need a self-drive car only, we can do offer it to you at a very friendly price that will fit your budget and in fact you won’t fail to have a breathtaking safari. Considering many activities that you may enjoy on your self drive safari /car rental the following below is the list among others.
Entebbe has very many interesting places to visit like beaches over 15 beaches are located only at Entebbe , visit also the botanical gardens for refreshment /relaxing, you can also take a nature walk and here you have a chance to spot various species of primates, birds among others. When you continue to Kampala which is about 40kms around an hour drive to Kampala Uganda’s capital and its largest city, however you should not that Entebbe highway is a very busy road with very many traffic jams so some patience is needed.
When you arrive in Kampala there very many things to enjoy like you can visit the Uganda Museum here you are equipped with more information about the history of Uganda, visit the Ba’hai temple, Kasubi Tombs where over 4 kings of Buganda where buried, it’s a respectful place most especially to the Baganda tribe who contributes the highest percentage of the Ugandan population over. You can also decide to visit the Makerere art Gallery, the Uganda martyrs shrine at Namugongo where over 22 Uganda martyrs where burnt arrive for failure to renounce their religion on the orders of Kabaka (king) Mwanga , other places include craft village and local markets. With a self-drive car you can’t fail to visit all these places and all of these places are within 15 kilometers drive from the capital city Kampala.
To the south western part of Uganda is where most of the tourist attractions are located and it’s not congested with traffic jam like in Kampala, many attractions are located to this area like the equator crossing, Uganda national parks like Lake Mburo national park with spectacular wildlife, Queen Elizabeth national park a famous park for its tree climbing lions, Bwindi impenetrable national park known for housing the rare mountain gorillas, kibale forest national park a home for chimpanzee and other primate species, Semuliki national park known for birding spot, lake Bunyoyi the deepest lake in the world is located to the southern part of the country, Mgahinga National Park also for mountain gorillas. So with our good and comfortable cars reaching all these areas is just a walkover, thrust your hands into equatorial snow on mount Rwenzori, the highest and most remarkable of the Nile’s many sources.
To the north eastern part of Uganda is the Murchison falls national park Uganda’s largest national park see hear and feel the Nile explode through a chasm just 6m wide at Murchison falls. The park is also reach with a variety of animal species including the big five mammal except rhinos which can only be tracked at ziwa rhino sanctuary just on your way to this wonderful park. The park houses the big herds of elephant, buffaloes, lion, leopard, different species of antelope’s giraffe the list is endless, and all these can be spotted during a game drive to the northern part of the park.
The northern part of the country is the Kidepo Valley National Park housing, many untouched attractions just waiting for you to explore. Shake off the dust and relax on the slopes of Mount Elgon around Sipi Falls to the eastern side of the country. This is just a few on what you can do on a Uganda safari this is just a sample, with our 4×4 vehicle a combination of these places can be reached in just days.
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Choosing a Car Rental Company in Uganda – 5 Things to Consider
Traveling to Uganda has been an inspiration moment to most travelers. Wondering yourself through the countries in Africa and destined for Uganda remarkably and continuously referred to as the “Pearl of Africa”. And yes it is Uganda, Traveling in Africa guarantees you killing two birds with one stone. Located in the heart of the continent with most of the flora and fauna God created in world including the gorillas that are associated to 98% human genes. The fauna that is almost to extinction include the rhinos and the chimpanzees. Love for adventure would link you to a small land locked country and witness all what is said. Whether you are looking to a guided safari or a self drive Uganda adventure, you will enjoy the magic and thrills of Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. Safaris in Uganda enable travelers to explore deep into the artistic cultural norms of Uganda and Africa at large. Once there, do not be worried of the transportation means. Uganda has a vast number of private rental car companies who solve all your burdens of choosing the right rental car. Below are some features you would opt for to get the rental car to satisfy your desires for car hire through these beautiful lands.
Location. The best location would be the airport to choose the rental car to satisfy your demands for the trip. However most car rentals are located in the town off the airport but can link to you at the airport through their agent to the booked hotel ensuring safety and privacy.
Rentals. Always consider the type of rentals they provide for their fleet. Normally depend on the trip you wish to organize. They include round trip rental where the car is picked and brought back in the same positions. One-way rental but relative expensive to the round trip rental, which involves taking the car and being, picked up by rental companies agent. Long-term rentals are normally offered for 14 days to 30 days so you chose the type of rental that would really beat your demands.
Reservations. Most car hire companies allow their clients to book online or call through their telephone number to save time while you arrive at the airport. An online reservation informs the traveler of the availability of the car that are currently not booked so that it is reserved for you.
Additional services.Car rental services go beyond renting a car. Services like roadside assistance on the narrow Ugandan roads will save time to your desired destination or hotel.
Programs and Discounts. Most car rentals in Uganda provide discounts on their vehicles. This will help you to save the discount and re-allocate to other budgets of interest. Programs are well designed according to the period you would use the rental car.
Support. Car hire companies provide support to their clients in case of a mechanical breakdown of the car and really get sympathy of the current situation. In most, case their numbers all always available to connect to them and be solved or trusted personnel to work on your issue and be satisfied.
Vehicles.Car rental companies have variety of cars at their location to serve you conveniently with the best service you would look for. Their cars are always in good conditions that are well installed with air conditioners to feel relaxed on the road. An early booking would reserve a vehicle for your purposes
Read MoreA Self Drive Safari In Uganda – What To Know
From your country of origin, have you ever dreamt of seeing an elephant trumpeting its trunk, a lion climbing a tree, or a cheetah sprinting through the grasslands, then the pearl of Africa- Ugandan is one the places you can explore . During your safari when you have rented a car, it is very a thrilling and will give you chance to see wild animals going about their daily lives within their natural habitats. Uganda has a vast number of national parks and wildlife reserves that do offer adventurous opportunities to see wildlife up close. Most research and preparation goes into getting a safari fully arranged, deciding what national park to visit, and finding transportation and accommodation. During a typical self drive safari in Ugandan, it will cater for luxury tourists who have a quick vacation and decide to pre-book a packaged all-inclusive trip without thinking too much about the cost. After you have rented a car, there are several ways, though, to save money on an Ugandan safari. What you need to be aware of is that just be prepared to spend at least a few United States Dollars which usually depends on your personal choices.
Always package your tours because there are countless companies that offer safari packages for tourists who wish to sit back and not do any planning. Usually, these safari tours are very fitting and are worth the money if you don’t have the time to research or if you want to avoid potential hassles. The high end package deals offer one price and generally cover everything from pickup to drop off and even from the airport, including food, fees, transportation, and lodging. However, with a packaged tour company, you will have to either join a group with a pre-made itinerary. This in most cases is a great option for solo travelers. Also you can customize a safari package with an itinerary to your liking and this option best works best if you are already traveling with a group.
For you to obtain reliable information about the country, there two organization bodies which can provide you with excellent resources for more information on safari and tours in Uganda. These are Uganda Association of Tour Operators, which is locally known as AUTO and Uganda Tourism Board known as UTB. These organizations do aim at promoting and giving credibility to the safari companies that maintain a high level of service and a great value-to-price ratio. You can also do your own safari and here, it is possible that you do a safari on your own, here’s how you can organize your own safari. To successfully enjoy Uganda’s national parks, do rent your vehicle. Nearly all national parks allow you to drive your own vehicle and this opens up opportunities for saving some money as well as allowing for more flexibility in doing exactly what you want.
On the side of accommodation, there are many lodges, hotels, and camp options to choose from, depending on the park you choose. Lodge rooms need to be booked a few weeks in advance, especially during peak season. The camping options will allow you to have an adventurous traveler who loves to be close to nature and can handle the howls of animals at night, personal camping is a great option. The many national parks offer camping options include Murchison falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park among others.
There’s always something exciting to experience on a safari in Uganda. If you can make the most of your Ugandan safari by doing some pre-planning, you’ll have the adventure of your life!
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How to Book Uganda Gorilla Permits
To track/ trek the endangered Mountain Gorillas, you need to obtain a valid gorilla permit as a pass to trek the Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National park. Prior, the Uganda Wildlife Authority used to allocate gorilla permits on a first come first served basis and her one had a choice to buy permits which belonged to any Gorilla family of his/her preference. In case you wanted to track the Rushaga and the Rushegura family located in Buhoma region of Bwindi Impenetrable national park, you he would go to Uganda Wildlife Authority and purchase a gorilla permit for that particular Gorilla family.
Allocation of Gorilla Permits/ Gorilla Permit allocation
During the time 2014 to Uganda Wildlife Authority began issuing out Gorilla permits not on a basis of gorilla families. The National park of Bwindi has four regions and each region has got different gorilla families which include; Buhoma in the North of Bwindi, Ruhija in the East of Bwindi, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National park. You will need to choose the region and you will be given a permit.
What happens at Bwindi during Gorilla trekking
After you have arrived at Bwindi Impenetrable National park on the day of gorilla trekking, you will be allocated to a gorilla family depending on your physical fitness and interest. The interests include trekking a given gorilla family of your choice and if there is space, they will have you in that group. You may wish to trek your friends on families whom you came with. This is possible if there is space and you may wish to have, medium or hard trek and depending on availability they will allocate you accordingly.
Some of the regions to track/trek gorillas
Some of the most interesting regions to tack gorillas are Bwindi in the North of Bwindi Impenetrable National park and this is the most preferred region that has three gorilla families which include; Mubare Gorilla group which has the first gorilla family to be habituated, Rushegura Family and the Habinyanja, Ruhija Region of Bwindi National Park and has three families which include Butura,Oruzongo and Kyaguriro, Rushaga region in the south of Bwindi, Kahungye gorilla family, Nshongi Gorilla group, Mishaya gorilla family, Busingye Gorilla group and the Bweza gorilla family. Nkuringo region in the south still has one of the gorilla family called Nkuringo. Most genuine tour companies will book for our clients, advice on availability of permits and which region one should choose depending on your interest.
Food of the mountain Gorillas
The food of the endangered mountain Gorillas usually depends on their habitat during the time of the year. They mainly usually feed on green plants as opposed to the low land Gorillas which eat a lot of fruit. In the dry seasons only a few juicy fruits are available and so the animals have to eat more seeds and tree bark instead. Usually the fruits grow on trees; gorillas of all ages climb these trees to harvest them. Although western Gorillas eat a higher percentage of fruit than leaves, stems, pith and shoots; they still eat markedly less fruit than do chimpanzees and orangutans. However the food range of the western gorillas is a broad since they eat about 200 plant species and they particularly like plants belonging to the ginger and arrowroot families. In the contrast, the mountain Gorillas in the Virunga Volcanoes eat only 38 different species mainly Gallium, thistles, celery and nettles. Gorillas do not kill big animals; they just regularly eat small animals which constitutes far less than 0.1% of their food.
Read MoreHow to obtain Gorilla Trekking Permits in Uganda
To obtain a Uganda Gorilla trekking permit is quite easy since it is the most outstanding tourist attraction in Uganda. They are quite a much sought of commodity and usually a small number of people are allowed to track them since they are an endangered species. To fully participate in this activity, it will take you some good time to plan as you will need to ensure an opportunity by securing a gorilla tracking permit in advance. If you wish extend your tracking session to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Mountain Gorillas there are not very stable because their movements while the republic it easy to track because it at the border with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Many registered tours and Travel Company do arrange Gorilla tracking safaris and to participate in this activity, you will need to secure for yourself a Gorilla permit.
As a tourist, the best, the best bet for obtaining a Mountain Gorilla is through booking with a registered and genuine tour company in Uganda. The activity will however be done with other wildlife safaris including bird watching, Chimpanzee viewing, butterfly watching and visiting the Batwa people within the Bwindi forest. Presently, the cost of a Gorilla permit is US$ 600 and for you to participate in this activity you should be above 15 years of age. These permits can be obtained for two national parks of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla national park. However, in Mgahinga Gorilla the mountain gorillas are not stable since they keep on moving from back and forth from Rwanda to the Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic republic of Congo.
The mountain Gorilla trip organized by a genuine and registered tour operator will give you an opportunity to meet and spend time with the Mountain Gorillas. After this experience, you will be issued with a certificate by Uganda Wildlife Authority. A fee of US$ 600 is seen as a step towards Gorilla tracking though it worth and upon completion there is no mention of the money. Only a satisfaction of having seen these magnificent and rare animals is rewarding to the activity.
There are discounted Gorilla permits in Uganda for low seasons which is during the Months of April, May and November. You should note that off season prices for discounted gorilla permits in 2017 is at USD 450 per person for foreign none residents and USD 400 for east African residents who do hold work permits. The Uganda Wildlife Authority in conjunction with the Association of Uganda Tour Operators will persistently continue to offer discounted Gorilla permits in Uganda during low seasons. Residents of East Africa will save up to US$200.00 since Uganda Wildlife Authority Charges them USD 400.00. This idea has been welcomed since the country looks to improve the tourist’s inflow. Voted by lonely planet as one the best destination, Uganda has got the highest tourist growth in the whole of Africa in 2012. The president of Uganda has sighted tourism as the as a sector that will drive the country out of poverty in the coming years. With the discount of the Gorilla permits in Uganda especially on the low seasons; you will only increase on tourists inflow. Uganda giving discounts to Gorilla permits; it gives a challenge to Rwanda to do the same as it persistently increased its permits from USD 500.00 to USD 750.00. Based on the fact that Uganda has a number of attractions like beautiful National parks, source of the Nile, Rwenzori and Elgon Mountains, Lake Victoria among others coupled with relative stability, infrastructural development, things seem to be going in a positive way.
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