Blogs from Western Region, Uganda, Africa - page 25

A new day, a new guide, hopefully a better standard of tour... Fidel is not meeting us today, instead the driver will take us to the border and we will switch cars again, we are going to Uganda through Rwanda, good job we get free visas on the border as this wasn't mentioned in the itinerary so we could have been paying double. At the border, the same Rwandan driver is waiting with a new bloke. We finish the border formalities quickly and swap our bags over, then we're off... After 10mins we stop in a petrol station and Fidel appears, he and the new bloke chat for about 20mins, then we get petrol and again we're off. Fidel had told us the Ugandan border is only 90mins away so it should be a short day ... read more

It's one of the rarest birds in Bwindi. Its the one that twitchers travel far to find....its the diminutive African Green Broadbill. And if you want a glimpse of this magnificent 11 cm emerald green bird, then best you get your hiking boots on as not only do you have to travel to the Ruhija section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, but you have to decent into the Mubwindi Swamp, the birds favorite location. The bird likes living in high altitudes at roughly 2,200 meters above sea level. It is also only found in specific vegetations. The bird has been elluding twitchers for the past four months, but two days ago, (16th September 2010) a pair was spotted feeding in a tree on the edge of Mubwindi Swamp by Fred. (from Buhoma region) Birders have since ... read more

Even gorillas have a "birth" column because when a baby is born, its BIG news amongst gorilla enthusiasts. News in from the forest is that the Mubare Group, the oldest gorilla group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (they were habituated in 1993 and opened to visitors in 1994) has a new addition. Kashundwe, the only female left in the group of 4, has a new baby boy. He's only a few days old now, but guides have established his sex - he's a male. Female gorillas reach sexual maturity at around eight years of age. Often the silverback in their group is their father so to avoid inbreeding, females will then leave the group they were born into. They can transfer to another established group or link up with a strapping lone silverback who is setting ... read more

News confirmed by guides resident in Mgahinga Gorilla N.P. is that the Nyakagazi gorilla group, which have been based in the park since last August, (2009) have hot footed it over and into the Democratic Republic of Congo. Those who have permits to trek them are in a tad of trouble, as visitors from Uganda cannot view them when they leave the park. This is a real pitty as peak season is in full swing in Uganda, with July, August and September being peak trekking months due to the favorable weather. Will keep everyone posted as to the gorillas whereabouts. Naughty apes!... read more

1. Beautiful surroundings at Pope John Memorial Hotel Palms, terrace, patios. Women cleaning everywhere. url=http://http//www.hotels-uganda.org/en/index.php/members/kampala/6-members/central-kampala/92-pope-paul-vi-memorial-hotelhttp://www.hotels-uganda.org/en/index.php/members/kampala/6-members/central-kampala/92-pope-paul-vi-memorial-hotel 2. Visited Hope Medical Clinics with Charles Lugemwa, Director. Charles ensures that sustainable services are available for poor people who cannot afford care. Saw a small boy with malaria. His mother waited for him to be treated. Health problems here are all so preventable. http://www.stthomas.edu/news/2012/06/07/an-angel-in-africa/ 3. Charles brought us to a western place where we had fish and fries. Ha! Charles and Steve talked solar energy and the possibili... read more