Thursday, November 13, 2008

BIRDERS PARADISE


CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE WITH ADVENTURE (ASSOCIATE WITH NATURE)



Birding experience in East Africa takes place in different destinations though in Uganda birding areas include ,Mabamba swamp, Entebbe sanctuary , lake Victoria areas, queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison falls areas Msambwa island , Samoka island , whereas in Kenya birding safaris are sited mostly at lake Baringo, lake Nakuru Rhino sanctuary ,lake Naivasha, sweet waters sanctuary, Lake Bugoria, Saiwa swamp, kakamega forest, Arabuko sokoke forest and many well, in Uganda . The Entebbe environments hide a variety of swamp/wetland birds as well as water birds that can be seen around the shores of Lake Victoria and the neighboring wetlands. The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre also gives you the chance to see a number of birds which include Ostriches (Struthio camelus), the crested crane, African grey parrots, Helmeted guinea fowl, the beautiful peacock, Egyptian goose among others.The trail of birding can take you to Mabamba swamp, the large accessible wetland where the rare shoebill stork can easily be seen as well as a number of other bird species. The Mabira forest found in Mukono district supports over 300 bird species many of which are difficult to see else where in Uganda. these birds include the Tit Hylia, Forest Ribbons, Snowy headed Robin-Chat, white Flycatcher, Grey capped warbler, Black and Dusky Tit and common Wattle Eye

DREAM DESTINATION S( ZANZIBAR ISLAND)




Zanzibar island the place of great deeds where all tourists interests are vest for one to spend his holiday /vacation in a paradise
Enjoy the warm water of spicy Island, Mnemba Atoll is the best snorkelling point. See lot of colourful fish, corals, at a depth not over 8meters.The best access to atoll is from Nungwi North Coast, and daily boat ride are available either Privat or Sharing per your interest. The island has a lot to offer interms of tourism and nature s the island has the high concentration of birds plus other aquartic animals where by the place is conducieve for every one to spend his holiday / vacation have an experience of your life don’t wait to told enrich your self with nature by bringing the world close to your neath
THE CITY OF ZANZIBAR AS FER BACK AND PRESENT

Zanzibar City, Tanzania-From Arab merchants to Portuguese explorers to Omani ivory-sellers and British missionaries, Zanzibar has had more than its share of visitors over the years. Now, with new direct flights to Nairobi, Kampala and Kigali, as well as several European countries, visitors are flocking to the island like never before. It's no longer spices and slaves they are coming for, but sun and sand.
Before being united with mainland Tanganyika in 1971, Zanzibar - for centuries the most important trading hub on the East African coast - fell under the rule of a succession of foreign powers. When we are greeted at the airport by soldiers in uniforms bearing the name, "The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar", we suspect that perhaps the archipelago has changed hands again. No, we're told, there hasn't been a coup, and the Revolutionary Government is just the island's misleadingly named semi-autonomous administration.
We immediately head to the north of the island to for some rest and relaxation. The beach at Kendwa could hardly be closer to perfect. Clean, fine, white sand rolls into the infinite green of the Indian Ocean and the red sun in the cloudless sky completes the postcard setting.
With its sea-level altitude, Zanzibar is hotter than mainland East Africa and temperatures touch 30C degrees all year round. A dip in the mild ocean waves is the perfect antidote to the midday heat. We pass the days there reading, sleeping, lying in the shade.
Our binges of inactivity are interposed with spells of beach volleyball with other tourists. The games get very competitive, in spite of everybody's lack of skill, and it's only when a serious clash of heads nearly takes my friend's teeth out that everyone decides it's best left to the professionals. While everybody else goes back to the books, I occupy myself with a 20-a-side game of barefoot soccer with the locals.
We depart Kendwa three days later with feet bruised, skin burnt, mouths bloodied and minds thoroughly relaxed.
The next stop is Stone Town, Zanzibar City's historic centre. The diversity of cultural influences is immediately seen in the odd blend of Islamic and British colonial architecture that lines the maze of winding lanes where children play outside the shops their fathers make a living from.
"Hello my friend, where are you from?", is a line tourists visiting Zanzibar will soon grow used to. Sadly, it's not a spontaneous outburst of hospitality but the opening salvo in the well-rehearsed sales pitch of the dozens of touts who approach tourists in Stone Town and try, with varying degrees of persistence, to sell them their services.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

LAKE BUNYONYI IN THE PEARL OF AFRICA



THE BEAUTY OF ASSOCIATED WITH LAKE BUNYONYI
every one would wish to spend his/her holiday/ honey moon in lake bunyonyi the lake is in habited by more than 34 islands where it has alot to offer interms of wild life the lake was formed as result of the tectonic movements that red to its formation as its believed that its the deepest lake in East africa.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE




CULTURE IN UGANDA

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

have an experience of your life time







HOW INTERESTING IT IS TO SEE YOUR SELF AMONG THE GORILLA TREKERS!!! FOR SURE HAVE AN EXPERIENCE OF YOUR LIFE TIME ENJOY THE TREK EITHER IN PARC DE NATIONAL RWANDA OR BWINDI !!!! HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THERE ? DONT WAIT TO BE TOLD

THE ACTIVITY IS SO ENJOYFUL !!!

HAVE FUN WITH THE GORILLAS!!

DAY 2 DAY LIFE OF THE GORILLAS

GORILLAS CAN ALSO HAVE FUN !!!!
GORILLAS ARE THE LARGEST OF ALL THE GREAT APES AND POSSES 98% OF THE SAME NUCLEAR DNA AS HUMANS AND ARE CLARIFIED UNDER THE SAME FAMILY HOMINIDAE. THEY ARE NON AGGRESSIVE AND CAN LIVE UP TO FIFTY YEARS IN THE WILD IF AT ALONE THERE'S NO EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE WITHIN THIER WILDERNESS. VEGETATION IN NATURE, GORILLAS EAT FRUITS,LEAVES AND SHOOTS AND MAY SUPREMENT THEIR DIET WITH INSECTS AND SMALL ANIMALS. GORILLAS ARE DIURNAL THAT SPEND MOST OF THIER WORKING HOURS ON THE GROUND BUT SLEEP IN THE TREES AND BUILD THIER OWN NESTS EVERY NIGHT USING BRANCHES AND FOLIAGE ,THE FIRST GORILLAS BIRTH WAS REGISTER IN DECEMBER 22ND 1956 IN CAPTIVE AT COLOMBUS ZOO IN OHIO ,GORILLAS ARE OF THE 2 SPECIES WESTERN GORILLAS AND WESTERN GORILLAS ,EASTERN GORILLAS TEND TO HAVE BLACK HAIR THAN THEIR WESTERN COUNTER PART THEN THEY TEND TO BE BROWNER .GORILLAS HAVE HAIR NOT FUR. MOUNTAIN GORILLAS HAVE LONGER HAIR ,LARGER JOES AND TEETH ,SMALLER NOISES AND SHORTER ARMS THAN OTHER GORILLAS. THEIR LARGEST SUBSPECIES OF GORILLAS IS THE GRAVER GORILLAS (EASTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS) NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THE GORILLAS IN AZOOS AROUND THE WORLD IS A MOUNTAIN GORILLAS ,THEY ARE ALL LOW LAND GORILLAS.DIAN FOSSY WAS THE FOREMOST PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR ALERTING THE PUBLIC AT LARGE TO THE PLIGHT OF THE MOUNTAIN GORILLA.MOST GORILLAS SEE ON THE SAFARI AT HABITUATED MOUNTAIN GORILLAS(BWINDI SUBSPECIES TOO) GORILLAS LIVE IN FAMILY GROUP OF (6-30)INDIVIDUAL LEED BY 1 OR 2 SILVER BACKS. AGROUP OF GOPRILLAS IS CALLED ATROOP WHILE ASILVER MATURE MALE WITH APATCH OF SILVER GREY)HAIR ON HIS BACK FROM WHENCEHEV DERIVES HIS NAME AND WEIGHYS NEARY THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS THE AVERAGE MAN UP TO 222 KGS .ADULT MALE MAY HAVE AHIGHT OF 1.7 M AND WEIGH 135-222 KGS AND EATS UPTO 40POUND OF FOOD A DAY ADULT FEMALES ARE NATURALLY SMALLER REACHING AHEIGHT OF 1.5 M AND WEIGH BTN 70-90 KGM IN THE WILD ,GIVE BIRTH ONCE EVERY 4 YEARS NORMALLY TO A SINGLE BABY BUT OCCASIONALLY TO TWINS ,AND HAVE ASMALLER GESTATION PERIOD TO HUMANS BTW 8.5-9MONTHS ADULTS ARMS ARE 20% LONGER THAN LEGS GORILLAS WALK BY USING ALL THE 4 LIMBS SUPORTED BY KNUCKLES (WALKING) GORILLAS CANOT SWIM BUT SOME TIMES WET INTO SWAMPS TO FEED ON AQUATIC PLANTS.THE FEMOUS CHEST BEATING IS USED FOR INTIMIDATING OUTSIDERS AND COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE GROUPS. INSPITE OF ALL THESE PHYSICAL EXPRESSIONS OF EMOTIONS ,GORILLAS ARE SHY AND NOT AGGRESSIVE UNLESS IMPROPERLY DISTURBED
THE UN EXPECTED APPEARANCE OF STRANGE MALE IN A GROUP MAY CAUSE THE SILVER BACK TO MOUNT AN ELABORATE WARNING DISPLAY ,HE HOOTS EXCITEDLY BUILDING TO AN EAR SPLINTING LOWER TO THE INTRUDER.HAVING RAISED TO ITS FEARFUL HEIGHT ,TEARING AT TWIGS AND BLANCHES,A GORILLA BEATS ITS CHEST WITH ACAPT PALMS OF HIS ARMS, HE MAY TAKE AFEW STEPS AT THE INTRUDER, GROWING AND NURSING HIS TEETH IF THIS DOEST DETER THE STRANGER,THE SILVER BACK MAY BE PROVOKED TO CHARGE,WAIVING HIS ARMS AND SCREAMING WITH RAGE. THE CHARGE USUALLY STOPS SORT OF ACTUAL CONTACT" THE SILVER BACK WITH THRUST ITS FACE RIGHT UP AND ITS NOSE GLORYING EACH OTHER UNTIL ONE OF THE TURNS OR TAKES OFF ANEW GUIDES WEN ON GORILLA SAFARI ASSET MAXIMUM NUMBER OF A GROUP MAY VISIT A GROUP OF HABITUATED GORILLAS IN UGANDA OR RWANDA SO AS TO MINMISE THE BEHAVIORAL DISTURBANCE TO THE GORILLA AND RISK OF THEIR EX POSER TO HUMAN BORN DISSES THE GUIDES WILL TAKE YOU TO WHERE THEY OBSERVED THE GORILLAS THE DAY BEFORE YOU WILL FOLLOW THE GORILLA TRAIL TO FIND THEM.LOOK OUT FOR THE GORILLAS ,NESTING SITES ALONG THE WAY AND WASH HANDS BEFORE YOU VISIT THEM AS FIVE MITRES DISTANCE SHOULD BE OBSERVED AT ALL; TIMES 15 MITERS FROM THE GORILLAS .KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN AT ALL TIMES. DO NOT EAT OR DRINK WHILE YOUR NEAR THE GORILLAS. SOME TIMES THE GORILLAS CHARGE,WHEN THEY DO CROUCH WHEN THEY DO DO NOT LOOK THE GORILLAS DIRECTLY IN THE EYES AND WAIT FOR THE ANIMALS TO PASS,DO NOT TAKE PICTURES OR ATTEMPT TO RUN AWAY FRASH PHOTOGRAPHS ARE NOT PERMITTED WHEN TAKING PICTURES CAREFULLY , DO NOT TOUCH THE GORILLAS DESPITE THEIR CADILY LOOK AND SPEND A MAXIMUM OF 1 HOUR WITH GORILLAS, AFTER THE VISITS ,YOUR VOICES DOWN UNTIL YOUR ARE 200 MITERS AWAY FROM THE GORILLAS

Kenya tourism has recover from the past Election Choas









NAIROBI, KENYA --TOURISMIS BACK ON THE SCENE







The tourism sector is yet to recover from the ravages of post election violence 10 months down the line with a reduction of 30 per cent in earnings in the third quarter of the year compared to the same period last year.



The earnings stood at KSh34.5 billion compared to the KSh49.2 billion registered over the same period last year.

“the post election violence and the after effects have adversely affected revenues to the sector, we lost some Sh14.7 billion as compared to what was achieved over the same period last year," said Ong’ong’a during the release of the sectors third quarter results.

This is despite an estimated KSh350 million having been used in recovery efforts mostly on marketing and advertising in key source markets such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Kenya Tourist Board Managing Director Dr. Ong’ong’a Achieng said the recovery efforts will go on until the end of 2009 with the hope that the government will honour its pledge to increase funding to the sector by another Sh1 billion this financial year.

“The recovery programmes are expected to run until the end of 2009 and we expect through this process to reach the 2007 levels," said Ong’ong’a.

“There is little we can do about the delay in disbursing the promised KSh1 billion, but we are trying our best to work with the little we have. We understand the government has quite a lot on its shoulder but still hope the money will come by," he added.

The results reveal a 30 per cent drop in consolidated tourist arrivals for the lat nine months with the figure standing at 939,791 compared to 1.3 million over the same period last year. This was however a six per cent edge improvement against the second quarter.

The global tourism market has been seriously battered by the prevailing high fuel prices that heightened the cost of travel against a background of unstable financial markets and rising inflation levels.

“High fuel prices for a significant part of the year increased the cost of air travel reducing the demand of long haul destinations from the major source markets. These factors also reduced the level of importance of travel in terms of priorities an extent," he said.

In terms of international arrivals by air and sea, the sector recorded a 36.6 per cent decline standing at 496,056 compared to the 782, 690 registered over the same period last year.

Almost all the arrival categories registered a major decline compared to 2007 with the holiday segment dipping by 55 per cent while the business segment registered a 20.9 per cent drop.

Cross boarder arrivals closed at 443,735 compared to 565,191 during the same period in 2007.

This reflects a 21.5 per cent drop but a 7.5 per cent gain compared to the lat quarter.

The hotel sub sector experienced low bed occupancy in the first half of this year. Whereas the sub sector enjoyed a 75 per cent occupancy in the first half of 2007, such occupancies dropped to between 35-40 per cent this year.

The top performing markets for the first half of 2007 were United Kingdom , 42,763, USA 25,315, Italy 13,105 Germany 11,239 tourists while India was fifth with 7,938 arrivals. These were followed by France and Eastern Europe especially Russia which registered a 4.6 per cent increase.

In the emerging markets segment, Japan which was the leading source market registered a 49 per cent decline from 10,507 arrivals last year to 5,351 arrivals in the first half of 2008.

Ong’ong’a said partnerships with airlines such as Emirates and Virgin Atlantic has increased tourist arrivals from the far eastern markets of Japan, Korea and china. The Chinese source market registered a 21 per cent decline in the first half of 2008.

KTB chairman, Jakes Grieves Cook said a Barrack Obama win the US elections next week could see the travel advisories issued by the US government rescinded which could critically boost tourism earnings.

KLM adds fifth frequency to Entebbe


KLM FLYING BEYOND ALL CORNERS


KLM has introduced a fifth flight to the current direct operations to and from Entebbe - moving its frequencies to Uganda from the current four.AS as this would increase the level of tourist flow in the country since KLm offers the best flight packages to even the budget tourists

This means the carrier's customers will have more choice on when to travel with KLM, more convenient connections and reliability.

The 5th flight will operate on Mondays beginning December 8, 2008 with Airbus A330 equipment.

In addition to the new flight, KLM has introduced extra flights to New York and Washington offering its clients earlier connections which lead to time savings while in transit at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport.

In June last year, the airline moved from three frequencies a week to four on the back of growing traffic on the route, which was re-introduced in November 2005.

Currently, the airline operates four frequencies a week into Entebbe from the Dutch capital.

As of December 8, KLM will fly into Entebbe every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The schedule will not change as another flight will just be added onto what the airline is doing.

Kenya Airways, a partner with KLM operates two flights to Amsterdam out of Nairobi but the flights go up to three in the summer. In case all the three flights are full, passengers are re-routed through Entebbe. KLM flies to Dar es Salaam daily with a stop in Arusha.

KLM resumed operating direct scheduled services between Amsterdam and Entebbe on November 1, 2005.

KLM's decision to return to Uganda after a 30-year hiatus was prompted by Uganda's booming economy and the growing demand for passenger services to and from Uganda.

Before that, KLM was offering twice-daily services to Entebbe via Nairobi through a code-sharing arrangement with KQ. This flight option has remained available to passengers after KLM launched its direct services to Entebbe.

With the increased frequency, KLM and KQ under their code-share agreement will now offer more than 15 weekly services between Amsterdam, Entebbe and Nairobi. Until the new frequency, the airline has been operating three direct services, plus 11 weekly flights via Nairobi.

The Amsterdam-Entebbe route offers passengers from Uganda non-stop service within the Air France-KLM network.

The new flights, in combination with the successful code-sharing services already offered by KLM and KQ, will further strengthen Air France-KLM's presence on the African continent.

Air France operates a weekly freighter service between Paris and Entebbe via Nairobi.