05/13/17

A fabulous Honeymoon – Queen Elizabeth National Park

At the beginning of this year, my longtime friends I and my husband took a honeymoon trip to a place we had never been before. This actually still remains my memorable day ever in my life. I had never been to an African country before and I did not know how beautiful Africa was but Uganda truly gave me a true portrait of Africa. It really proves that Africa is the most blessed continents on the globe.

On the day when our friends surprised us with the good news about the package, we really had to hit the internet to look for a good tour company in Uganda that would organize our trip at affordable prices and other benefits and also to hire a car in Uganda that we would use to travel to our destination.

As we were in Uganda, we took an expedition to Queen Elizabeth national park in Western Park the home of animals and birds. I had never seen such playful and friendly creatures like elephants, hippos as well as antelopes before. As which reached the Mweya sector, we went down through large expanse of savanna grassland in search of these animals and rare bird species. Hiking through the some of the rain forest was very tiresome but this was a thriller and adventurous as we spent 5 hours searching for the bird species. We were very excited to see birds like Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Shoebill, African Skimmer, Lesser plus Greater Flamingo, Chapin’s Flycatcher, White-tailed Lark, Corncrake, Pinkbacked Pelican, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Papyrus Canary, White-winged Warbler, African Broadbill which are very rare in our home country.

After three days at Mweya, we proceeded to kyambula where we spent one hour with amazing elephants and red eyed monkeys but this was not all about looking at these animals, this went beyond as we learnt a lot of things about elephants as well as Uganda cobs. These are animals behave like humans in the way they associate with each other and the silver back is the leader and the protector of the family. Everything done within the family revolves around the silver back. It was a life time experience that I can never forget in my entire life. I saw things that I had never seen before an animal well organized like humans, having a head animal that directs them where to go and what to do.

After finishing a long conversation with these amazing animals, we headed to the most amazing part of Uganda with wonderful physical features. What amazing lake is Lake Nyungu! A lake that has a shape of map of Africa, Lake Kigere that has a human foot like shape, I really recall it was a fantastic experience one can never forget. I remember my husband confusing me with identical twin lakes around Lake Nyungu. Those lakes explain exactly how twins look like.

Later in the evening, Kichwamba cultural site where my husband participated in amazing culture dances with local people. We could even here amazing voices of hissing sounds of small insects and tinny reptiles while feeling warmth from the camp fire. In the following morning, we took a canoe ride Kazinga channel as we popped some champagne while on the ride. In my opinion, Queen Elizabeth National park Uganda is the best place for the lovers to spend their honeymoon due to its natural setup.

Ishasha Tree Climbing Lions

 

The Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National park is a home to tree climbing lions. Once you visit the is park, don’t ever miss out a game drive in Ishasha sector for tree climbing lions along side other animals like Elephants, Buffalo, Antelopes and many Savannah bird species. We stayed at Ishasha wilderness camp where we had a fantastic guided nature walk through the park.

The park can be accessed by road from Kampala via Masaka-Mbarara and this Journey takes 6-8 hrs drive. You can book an all-inclusive tour to the park through tour companies, or if you want to drive your own adventure, you will hire a car in Kampala or Entebbe. The park can also be accessed by air to Kihihi or Kasese airstip. It is about 50 minute flight.

04/13/17

First Time Gorilla Trekking Experience in Africa

When my two daughters came back from college with good grades, they decide to have a Sabbath from school life. The young one decided to visit his father in Holland since it has been long without her seeing him. I was happy for her since the two’s relationship was on a rock. I supported her and she travelled to Holland. Then the old daughter told me that she wanted to try out something new in life and we brain stormed about what she wanted to engage in and she found something nature based as the best option.

After, she chose taking a wildlife safari to see animals in the wild in Africa. She decided to go for a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. She told me it was something she wanted to do for a long time. Many of her colleagues at school were talking about Rwanda as the best gorilla trekking destination in Africa. She really had a good time at this safari as it changed her entire life. She came back with brand new vast ideas and experience of conserving nature. You could really see it in her face that she was euphoric of nature and wildlife. She became a naturalist from that time.

While in Rwanda, she came up close with mountain gorillas and got connected to them. She took fantastic photos of these huge beasts and they look so beautiful when you look at them. She told me Africa is the future of the world since the world is on the campaign to preserve and conserve the environment in its natural state. It is Africa that has maintained its natural state. She told me she had a cultural encounter with the people of Rwanda around volcanoes national park that is the Iby’iwacu cultural village. This was an epic hell of an experience as she engaged in local activities like bricklaying and also preparation of some local food. She also visited the local herb pharmacy in this village and the herbs really worked for these people. The people of the village were so authentic and darling to the people who visited them.

She said Rwanda has a good climate. Every day is a sunny day and if you are sun bathing person, then this would be your dream destination. The people in Kigali city were also full of life and love and she said that it became her second home. She is even looking forward to travel to Rwanda again. I also got envious about her experience, I must go to Rwanda to watch the mountain gorillas in their natural environment. I cannot wait to see these beasts in their wildness.

08/5/15

Gorilla Expeditions offering Once in a Lifetime Experience!

With my fiance, we recently returned from an amazing safari in Rwanda and our major interest was tracking the mountain gorillas. We began our journey in Kigali-Rwanda. It was the first time of our trip arranged by Gorilla Expeditions Ltd. They had arranged for Rwanda Primate Safaris to manage this portion of the journey. When our flight landed at Kigali International Airport (KGL), we were a little nervous and didn’t know quite what to expect but as soon as we collected our luggage we were warmly greeted by our guide Baker.

Thereafter, we went to Kigali for Lunch, later traveled to Ruhengeri town and then we took our overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge on the edges of Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. We had great services from the local hospitable Rwandese, then the following day we prepared for our gorilla trekking experience that we enjoyed after our exciting briefing from the park chief ranger. We started our walk into the jungle looking for the endangered mountain gorillas in the mist and upon our meeting with the gorillas we took the photographs and video was so stunning and later we retired at our lodge for dinner and overnight.

Then after we transferred to Lake Kivu where we enjoyed our honey moon stay after the gorilla trekking experience and at this Lake we stayed at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel which is situated at the shores where you can relax with the panoramic view of the Lake and the surroundings. Then in the morning we had a boat ride along the Lake Kivu visiting the various fishing villages, hot springs, coffee Island and the local communities, and we visited one area and from hear we participated in the fish net alignment and then we returned to our lodge for relax again!

We highly appreciate all the staff of Gorilla Expeditions Ltd, they took great care to let us know exactly what to expect and settled us nicely into our hotel for the night. We were picked up by Baker, our guide, in the morning to begin our adventure. We spent the next few days in the care of Baker who was better than excellent! He took great care to explain everything to us, patiently stopped for any photos we wished to take, and provided us with a wealth of knowledge about his wonderful country and its people.

The gorilla encounter was amazing and the company had ensured that our every need was looked after. The porters that were available took great care to ensure that we were safe and comfortable as we hiked the mountain and they made the experience even more wonderful. Can’t say enough well about this life changing experience and the wonderful way it was all handled by Gorilla Expeditions Ltd and before you think to take your gorilla safari in Rwanda I highly recommend this company that is managed by natives of Rwanda and Uganda!

We booked a private guided tour because we were on our honeymoon. However, if you are on tight budget, Gorilla Expeditions organizes group tours, your you can book a 4×4 car and take self drive tour in East Africa. Contact 4×4 Uganda Limited on www.4x4uganda.com for reliable vehicles at the most affordable prices on the market with GPS navigation systems. This is the leading car rental Agency in Uganda with excellent cars at very good prices.