Great Lakes Safaris: Uganda & Rwanda


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Uganda and Rwanda’s Appeal

The international travelling market tends to be quite conversant with Kenya and Tanzania and less so with Uganda and Rwanda. Uganda and Rwanda’s appeal emanates from a range of factors including:

  • Being “new” unlike more well traveled destinations such as Kenya and Tanzania,Uganda and Rwanda are fresh and in vogue right now.
  • Being different– many people’s idea of Africa revolves around wildlife, remoteness, disorganization, alleged primitive characters and so on. Uganda and Rwanda sitting on the edge of the divide between the West African jungle and the East African Savanah provide a different and hip new Africa. Fertile and green lands, ample food, a generally modern people, different types of wildlife including primates like Chimpanzees and Gorillas, different cultures like Rwanda’s Batwa all set this region apart.
  • A far more diverse and therefore interesting tourism product, almost every species of land mammals found in Kenya and Tanzania are also found in Uganda including Lions, Rhinos, Giraffes, Antelopes, Leopard, Birds and Buffalo. Uganda has the very rare and endangered Mountain Gorillas which are not found in Kenya and Tanzania as well as the largest and easier to find Chimpanzees. There are 6 ancient but still living African Kingdoms in Uganda making it the foremost cultural tourism destination in East and Southern Africa.
  • Far more stunning and better weather as last frontier to the West African rain forest jungle Uganda and Rwanda enjoy far better rainfall resulting in numerous water bodies and a far greener landscape all around making them incredibly beautiful to the human eye.
  • Safe and secure Uganda and Rwanda are today the safest tourism destination in Africa with every inch inside their borders secure and protected. Tourists can move around without fear or unwarranted concern for their personal safety.
  • Just the right size, Uganda is just about half the size of Kenya and about a quarter to a third of Tanzania, pretty much every corner of the country can be reached with a days’ drive by jeep

UGANDA

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Wildlife Tours

Uganda is the land of the “Big 7”, where the popular African ‘Big 5’ i.e. Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo and Rhino , shares a home with the most significant 2 of the world’s 4 Great Apes i.e. the rare Eastern Mountain Gorilla and man’s genetically closest relative the Chimpanzee . In her 10 protected and fully accessible National Parks are found hundreds of different mammal species in their multitudes including Giraffes, Nile crocodiles, Eland, Cheetahs, Uganda Cobs, Zebras potentially thousands of Hippos, many species of reptiles, butterflies, over a thousand species of birds, Olive baboons, Black and White as well as Red Collobus Monkeys, Gazelles, Hyenas and so many other species amidst the most luscious futile, and green National Parks to be found anywhere in Africa.

Adventure Tours

When it comes to adventure, nothing beats a coming face to face with a giant Mountain Gorilla silverback, eight times the power of a grown man, in its natural habitat. Although an encounter with the over 100 strong family of chimpanzees in Kibale forest National Park must rank as the truest definition of ‘a walk on the wild side’- it could stop your heart! To partake the wildest white water rafting amongst the rapids of the magnificent river Nile, the world’s longest, is the true epitome of an adrenaline pumping river adventure and we think that a bungee jumping thrill over the Bujagali falls must be what real ‘dare-devilism’ is about.

Recreation Holidays

Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest fresh water lake, provides numerous opportunities for beach tourism on its edge in Entebbe as well as at various islands including Ssese island and Bulago island, where one can enjoy walks on the beach, boat rides, lazy bird walks, some water sports, visits to the local fishing villages etc.

Cultural Tours

Uganda features four major traditional and well established kingdoms: Buganda, Toro, Bunyoro and Busoga. Additionally Uganda has many other different tribes-peoples practicing age old cultures, customs and traditions including the pygmy Batwa in Bwindi, the Banyakole famed for their magnificent long horned cattle as well as the nomadic Karamojong living in the remote, semi- arid North East bordering Kenya and South Sudan. –Historical relics including the Kasubi tombs (burial grounds of ancient Baganda kings), the Uganda Martyrs Shrine(a much more modern religious shrine) all amongst reputedly the world’s most hospitable people, Ugandans, definitely makes Uganda one of the most ideal cultural tourism destinations in the world.

RWANDA

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Natural & Cultural Beauty

Rwanda land of a thousand Hills is best known as home of the Mountain Gorillas and lately as one of the most progressive countries in Africa with a difficult past and an incredible reincarnation, Today however it is one the most sort after tourism destinations in Africa riding on her amazing story of post genocide rebirth to the cleanest, safest – potentially best organized country in Africa. Of course it is stunningly beautiful. And her proverbial ‘thousand hills’ that literally scatter threw mist of the nation – futile, green and so beautifully terraced and her people – honestly some of the world’s most beautiful, charming and hospitable to a fault ; their ancient culture fully adapted to modern times , one of the most memorable to encounter – the music, song and dance to be a part of a tradition Rwandan wedding, the folkre and stories of bravery and conquest of the Intore’s, captivating lives of the Mwami and his broods are unforgettable but ultimately not many can compare to a face to face encounter with a Mountain Gorilla Silverback in the rainforest of Volcanoes National Park- that one is life changing!

Rebirth of a Nation

Kigali the Capital City has become a tourist attraction of her own and amongst her wide and well paved boulevards are to be found many local continental and specialty restaurants (Republika, Heaven, Zen Oriental and Bourbon Coffee) as well as entertainment spots. A visit to the Kigali genocide Memorial Center has become one of Rwanda’s “musts”. And of course it is a moving experience and we feel a lot about it but it is a present part of our recent history so it ok to connect with it. At the same time it is a thoroughly well- organized memorial center – one should not feel deterred from making a visit and it does help to put everything else around us into perspective.

Wild Primates

Nyungwe Rainforest National Park is a stunning and prehistoric nature lovers paradise. Amoungst her steep ridges and deep valleys are to be found numerous species of Primates including a semi- habituated family of Chimpanzees as well as troops of habituated Angolan Colobus Monkeys The Angolan Collobus Monkeys that you can track. Other activities include regular guided walks down the valleys to waterfalls as well as East and Central Africa’s only canopy wall which truly tests your adrenaline.

Interested in Uganda and Rwanda? Contact us today!