The Best 10 Things to Do in Jinja
Jinja is the adventure capital of East Africa. Located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Eastern Uganda, Jinja is a prime destination for tourists taking adventure safaris in Uganda. There are lots of things to do in the adventure capital of Uganda. Here are the best 10 things to do in Jinja;
Visit the source of the Nile
Visiting the source of the Nile will take you through a life of adventure. There is a golf course unwinding along the banks and the source of the Nile provides a pretty focal point to the flow of water from Lake Victoria’s only outlet. A boat ride out to Samuka Island is another trip of itself, not counting the beautiful fauna you will see along. The Nile is one of the world’s longest rivers and it flows up to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt.
Bungee jumping
Plunge about 44m from a platform above the Nile River. If you want adrenaline pumping action, this is your call.
White-water rafting
Explore the Nile by taking on its rapids. Some of the rapids are intense Grave IV and V rapids. The Nile is one of the best white-water rafting destinations in Africa. This has been rated the most memorable wild adventure and activity in Uganda and East Africa at large. You can never forget the experience of rafting on the Nile in Jinja. Start with a pre-safety training before the rafting experience to make sure you will know what to do once you get into the water. A safety boat is always provided for those who fear & are scared of the grade 3 & 5 trips. Age limits are 14 & 16 years for the grade 3 & grade 5 trips respectively. Kayakers are always there to save you in-case you don’t know how to swim & also take photos and videos of you. Family rafting is also available.
Horseback Riding Safaris
This gives you a unique ride through a typical Ugandan Village and a stunning section along the banks of river Nile. Horseback riding safari experience offers you the views from the hills overlooking the Nile valley, canter through the stunning plantations and relax in the tranquility of Mabira forest.
Quad biking
All-Terrain Vehicle Quad biking along the River Nile taking in the sights and the local cultures as you ride through various villages. Visitors to Jinja find this an exhilarating experience. This activity is Ideal for small groups and families.
Jet boating
Take your family or friends for a motorized trip on the Nile in a speedboat reaching a speed of 90km/hr. The jumps, the wind, the spins, the sprays are unforgettable.
Kayaking
Experienced and first time kayakers have a lot to experience on the Nile. There are instructors too who coach first time paddlers before they take on the untamed waters of the Nile.
Boat cruise
Take in the beautiful landscape through day cruises on River Nile. Sunset cruises over the lake are magical. Take a beautiful sunset Cruise with dinner and drink to the source of the Nile and Lake Victoria. It is one of the most enjoyable experiences. You get to enjoy the amazing food and endless cocktails while you watch sun go down.
Fishing
Test your fishing skills in one of the best fishing spots in East Africa. Fishing tours are offered on the Nile and on Lake Victoria. Your best catch ought to be the Nile perch. jinja features the waters of the Nile and those of Lake Victoria offering the perfect haven for the mighty Nile Perch and other indigenous species like the Cat fish types. This is the perfect option for you who loves to cast a line in the water but also want to share a great day out on the lake with family and friends. With all the fishing equipment supplied including GPS, Fish-finder, the latest rods and reels, all the latest lures, you won’t miss catching the Big Fish.
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How to Avoid Traffic Jams in Uganda
Are you a new traveler to Uganda. Have you book a rental car in Uganda and wondering how you can beat off traffic jams that have characterized most roads. Most people prefer and choose to live in urban areas therefore highway and city traffic has increasingly become a problem. When there is no choice but to drive to your destination, you can take precautions to avoid routes that will be congested and plan around rush hours to save time and money. Consider the following:
Use GPS traffic tools
In addition to helping you to navigate the roads, GPS systems and cell phone apps can alert you to where traffic is happening on all roads in Uganda. If your car has a GPS system installed, read through the help guide or user’s manual to learn how to use the traffic-information function.
Try using a cell phone app that displays up-to-the-minute traffic information, such as Google Maps .Driving while using a cell phone is dangerous, and is illegal in Uganda .Only use traffic information apps if you are a passenger in the vehicle, or when parked if you’re the driver
Avoid construction areas
If you’ll be traveling on highways or in a city during the warmer months, there is a good chance you could encounter traffic caused by road construction. In this case, you might want to plan an alternate route. You can find out just where construction is taking place by using the local and national governmental sites that provide updated information on roads under construction.
Check for sporting events and festivals
Highways near sports stadiums can become congested two hours before and two hours after games. Check your local professional teams’ schedules to see whether a match will be taking place within two hours after or before you plan to drive on these highways. If this is the case, consider alternate routes. Take similar precautions with large city festivals and concerts.
Drive on the weekends
If you’re planning a trip or a shopping day, try scheduling it on the weekends, when traffic is substantially reduced in most metropolitan areas. Be careful, though, to find out when major weekend city festivals are taking place, since roads can fill up quickly before and after these events..
Plan an alternate route
Check traffic websites, and use GPS systems and software to help you plan alternate routes past familiar congestion areas. Try to plan at least two routes, in case the best secondary way is congested itself or under construction. Having several optional routes planned will allow you to adjust on the fly, without having to check maps or ask for directions.
Sometimes an alternate route on city streets or state highways can get you to your destination faster than the congested road. But sometimes they can take longer, especially if you encounter several traffic lights or involve a major detour.
Avoid taking an alternate route that you haven’t planned. Just getting off a congested highway spontaneously, especially in an area you’re not familiar with, is an easy way to get lost. You must be sure of what route to take.
Avoid rush hours
If you are able to choose which time of day to drive during the week, be sure to avoid rush hours or peak hours. Most Uganda’s’ lanes rush hours run from 8 to 9 a.m. (08:00 to 9:00) and 5 to 6 p.m. (17:00–18:00), with less-severe congestion about one hour before and after these peak periods. High-density areas are also known to have a lunchtime rush period lasting roughly from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m especially in the city centres.
If you routinely get caught in traffic during your work commute, ask your supervisor about the possibility of changing the hours when you begin and end work in order to avoid the heaviest periods of traffic.
Listen to radio traffic reports
Most cities and towns in Uganda where traffic is a problem have traffic reports available through local radio stations. In larger cities, these can be broadcast as often as every 30 minutes during rush hour or peak hours. Check these reports while driving to help you decide whether to take an alternate route.
Using Alternative Transportation
Take advantage of rail systems. Look at public train schedules and maps for your city to see if they cover routes serving your origin and destination. You’ll save time, spend less money on fuel and parking, and cut down on pollution. Plus, you can read, relax, or get work done during the commute.
Try taking the bus
While not always as efficient as rail, metropolitan bus networks commonly serve broader areas, and can save you money on fuel and parking. On the highway and in city streets, buses can sometimes take advantage of bus-only lanes that bypass traffic.
Consider riding your bike
If you live fairly close to work, try going there by bicycle instead of driving. You might find that your travel time is not much different from when you were driving to and from work in traffic. Plus you’ll get some fresh air, save money on fuel, and get a good amount of exercise.
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5 Mistakes People Do When Booking A Uganda Safari & How To Avoid Them
Planning African safari or road trip Uganda like any new destination can be that frustrating and in most cases, visitors make lots of mistakes when booking for their lifetime trips. They include among others;
Selecting the wrong group
Group trips are exciting and amazing but it becomes a main issue when you land into a group that doesn’t accommodate your interest especially those with varying age groups. What is usually important if you want to travel as a group is for you to ensure that you are all of the same age bracket, have the same travel interests and a common goal of traveling. That said, make sure that when booking for a group trip, you choose the right group and definitely, you will have enjoyable safari in this pearl of Africa. Group tours usually come with advantages especially if are such a person who wants to cut down costs it is the best option the fact that you and other members can easily share some of the costs compared to if you booked your trip alone.
Not picking the best travel plan
A travel plan is a complete guide for your tour in Uganda and even in any country; you need one to have an organized road trip. Avoid short trips and make sure that your travel plan is flexible and allows you to engage in different activities. Uganda features diversity of attractions and unique destinations that are worth exploring while on your safari. That said; make sure that you at least book for a safari of about 7-14 days to allow you enjoy variety of attractions in this stunning country.
Booking a safari that has many smaller trips
Most people do not know that the 21 day tour comes with many smaller trips in between although it allows you to meet people, enjoy variety of attractions. The disadvantage with it is that it can be too exhausting. While it is everyone’s wish to explore activities, make sure that they are well planned to allow you rest and relax as some activities can be exhausting for instance gorilla trekking, mountaineering a mention but a few.
Booking a safari personally
While you may book a trip in Uganda on your own, this may come with much stress as well especially if you do not find that dream accommodation or if you miss a flight. To avoid being stressed at the end of the day, make sure that you book your trip with a ground tour operator and you will be at a safer hand. That said, we are one of the best ground tour companies that can take you through Uganda’s stunning destinations that include among other the ten national parks-Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park which are popular for wildlife safaris as well as Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park which are famous for mountain gorillas.
Not getting the fine print
While booking for a safari, visitors tend to be excited and they forget even to carryout research on the costs. Usually, majority of travelers get attracted to websites with low prices because they want to cut down the costs. However, note that some tour operators tend to display low cost with hidden costs which later are added and you get surprised when the figure hikes. That said, make sure that you cross check your travel plan well otherwise what you look at as budget tour may turn to be a luxury safari which you may not be prepared for. When planning for a trip, the cost is very key for one to consider before you make a booking.
Conclusively, while planning for a safari to Uganda or any African state, make sure that the above mistakes are avoided and you will have an ultimate safari experience.
Read More7 Important Factors to Guide You When Choosing a Rental Car in Uganda
Do you have any plan to take a safari in Uganda? If yes, have you thought of which car hire company to deal with to get that dream car to help you get your dream destination? Let this not be the last thing for you to think about but should be among the first because how you are to get to that dream destination does matter a lot. Also, with ever cropping car rental companies in Uganda, it may not be that easier for you to find that trust worthy car rental company to deal. Most importantly, you need to deal with a trust worthy, reliable car hire agency in Uganda to help you realize your dreams. The advantage with car hire is that, you have a chance to have a successful, flexible and above all a trip that leaves lasting memories in you. For others, they opt to borrowing from relatives or public means, however, while this may be one way to find a car to get that dream destination, they may not be reliable and yet your plan is to spend short time. The best alternative is a car hire as it offers you with total comfort and come at pocket friendly prices. With many car rental companies that are distributed in Uganda, choosing one to deal with is very challenging and a number of factors need to be looked at that include among others;
1. The price of car rental
Every car hire company attaches a price to his or her cars just like it is a case with any business entity. Before you think of making any payments, ask yourself how much is it to hire a car or how much does that company you intend to deal hire out its cars. That said, price becomes a critical factor for anyone to consider while choosing which car rental company to deal with. It is better that you need to carry out some research, Google out a number of car rental companies that offer a similar service and make comparison on their prices and see which one has better costs with more offers to help you have enjoyable trip.
Make sure that the car rental company’s rates are not exploitative but favorable to your wallet. As well, be keen on those with low costs as they also come with perhaps poor services especially car with bad mechanical conditions, giving you totally a different vehicle from that you booked and even they might be poor in time management. However, some of them may offer low costs with better services meaning it all depends on the car hire company you choose and don’t associate high prices to better offers otherwise some of them can be worse. As for our case, our prices are really pocket friendly and our clients are always our major priority. It is our joy to see you realize your dreams in Uganda and Rwanda.
2. Fuel
Some car hire companies provide car hire quotes which cover fuel costs and others make quotation with excluding fuel cost. While others provide a car with fuel with expectations that you return it with the same amount of fuel in the tank and for any breach of this means that you will be fined and extra cost will be levied on you. Therefore, ensure that you make necessary inquiries from different car hire companies on fuel payment to avoid any kind of inconveniences.
3. Additional costs
When you think of hiring a car for your trip ensure that you make an inquiry on what car rental company you intend to deal with includes and exclude and also if there are any hidden costs. And if there are extra service offers for instance child seat, camping gear or GPS hire then inquire how much you need for each and don’t assume that perhaps they are covered in the package unless you have confirmed about this with car Rental Company itself.
4. Insurance
Equally, every car rental company has its own insurance policies and terms for their cars on hire. That said, don’t think that a given car hire dealer provides comprehensive or 3rd party insurance and the best alternative is for you to make an inquiry and understand which policy do they use. To other car hire dealers, insurance policy plays a significant role especially when it covers costs of the car and even those of the visitors’ life and property and to other car rental companies, you might be required to purchase your own insurance both life and car. This means that you have to be careful while making choice on which car hire company to deal with. If you are the one to insure yourself then ask how much you will need to cove this cost.
5. Mileage offers
Although the other car hire service providers offer unlimited mileage for their car rental packages, on other hand, others offer limited mileage just in case you exceed it, then you will be the one to make payment for the additional kilometers you will cover. Make sure that you have up to date information on what mileage that company you intend to deal with has in offer and then make your booking when you know it favors you to avoid any additional and unplanned expenses.
6. Reputation of the car rental company
The reputation of car Hire Company matters a lot too. Don’t just bump into any car rental dealer on internet instead take your time and go through their company profile, reviews and see what other visitor who could have used dealt with the same company have said about their offers or services. This will help you know if there is any contradiction that may perhaps have an impact in case you booked with them. In case, there isn’t any kind of sort then go on and make your booking.
7. Road assistance
Prior booking with that car hire company, inquire more especially for cases of breakdown if there is any alternative to rescue a vehicle and it is you to pay the additional cost for such cases or not. While most car hire companies in Uganda and Rwanda offer 24 hour road assistance, on other hand you shouldn’t take this for granted and perhaps make inquiries to have a clear view of it just to cover the other part of in case of anything happens on your way.
Read MoreDriving Around the Big Bend in Western Uganda
Our car shuddered to a standstill beside a wooden sign on a deserted western region part of Uganda road. “This is fountain of the pearl of Africa”, I read as I stepped from the car into the shimmering mid day heat. We’d been heading through Queen Elizabeth National Park towards the Uganda-Rwanda border, to a town called Kisoro which boasted of a very conducive climate for a night. Unfortunately as we rounded a bend I was faced with a rock slide in progress and totally misjudged the clearance of my rented car from Uganda Self Drive, a reputable car renting company in Uganda opting to try and drive over the bouncing debris. There were a series of sickening thuds and bangs which caused my partner and I to cringe, and the car to grind to a standstill after around a hundred yards, with an alarming flow of unidentified liquid pouring onto the road surface.
We both looked under the car at the damage, then at each other then down the long straight road ahead of us. On average we’d been passing another vehicle about every half an hour and we were around an hour’s drive from our isolated hotel. Around ten miles back down the road, we’d passed a small garage at a cross roads, with a sign which read ‘this shop protected by a sawed off shot gun 3 days per week. You guess which days’. We’d also seen a hand painted sign pointing to the hills reading ‘Ghost Town Road’. That was the only sign of life and it looked like we could be waiting for some time to be rescued.
After about 20 minutes, with my partner berating me for my lack of driving judgment as we sat in the now roasting car, the air conditioner having failed with the engine, I notice a speck on the horizon, tailed by a large dust cloud.”Told you we wouldn’t wait long”, I said, trying to sound optimistic. It took around 10 minutes before I noticed that I had to do some thing very fast. I reached for my mobile phone, called the car rental company from which we had hired the car. This company is so generous that it contacted it’s area agent and with in a blink of an eye a rescue car was at our footsteps and we were 0ffered another car and off we proceeded with our journey.
Eventually we arrived Kabale town which is at the border of these two countries for at least a night before embarking on our journey. Reclaimed by a hardy bunch of artists, musicians, loners and eccentrics. Today, Kabale boasts a couple of eating options, some shops and lodgings and as we trudged, sweating into town we were greeted by the site of a graveyard with tumbledown tombstones, a few scattered dwellings in various states of disrepair…and the Starlight Theatre. An incongruous sight in this far flung corner of western Uganda, the Starlight had once provided entertainment for the miners and their families. Now it had been converted into the Ghost town’s only bar, and its appearance was so unexpected I almost expected it to fade, mirage like, from view as we approached.
There are some meals that stick in your memory. Sometimes because of their quality, but often because you were so hungry that whatever you ate would seem like a sumptuous banquet. Similarly with drinks. On an occasion where your mouth is parched and dry and you feel that you’ve perspired every last bead of sweat from your body, an ice cold beer can live as long in the memory as a bottle of the finest champagne. And so it was with the icy bottle of Shiner Bock which I threw down in one gulp in that strange little bar.
The room was populated by a number of bewhiskered characters who all looked strangely similar to the mailman… in fact one of them was the mailman! He raised an arm in greeting, while some of his drinking buddies glanced in our direction but barely raised a bushy eyebrow. It seemed that two sweaty, red faced, stranded travelers stumbling into their local bar was a regular occurrence. We sank a couple more cold beers and began to consider how we’d get back to the hotel to await delivery of the replacement car. It seemed that no one was making a water run that day so we headed back to the Main Road and continued with our journey to Rwanda the land of a thousand hills. After crossing the Rwandan border everything turned different.
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Why Hire 4×4 Vehicles For Self Drive in Uganda?
Going on a safari should be on any bucket list and joining in on an organized safari can and should be unforgettable to think about. The 4×4 car rentals in Uganda have been modified according to specific regulations ensuring safety of the clients being moved. The regulations also vary from place to place as well as park regulations.
The 4×4 pickups that are converted for the use of safaris since they offer a maximum seating capacity of over 10 seats and the driver. The game drive frames have to be a minimum of 3 upright roll bars. The roll bars that are upright have to be a minimum of 38mm and a minimum of 2mm thickness. The entrance for the clients must be close or lock securely. Each frame has got a roof and it may be covered with fabric or comprise of a hard top. The seats of the car have to be staggered in height, the row of the seats have to be with foot rest, as well as a first aid kit and fire extinguisher.
The 4×4 vehicles that travel on any arterial or national road conveying clients have got certificate of fitness certificate. These certificates are normally renewed annually and are given out after inspection has been completed and passed. These 4×4 vehicles have got a different number places are issued.
The main benefit of the 4 X4 vehicle is the traction and power. These are able to climb over the boulders and rocks that are up high especially in the mountainous areas. This will make it easy to reach all the places where you want to go. in order you are climbing a steep hill or are off loading, you will want the increased power in order to get over the obstacles and climb the steep hills. While 2WD will get you over even the steepest hills of San Francisco, if you are off-loading you will probably want the extra power that comes with 4WD.
The 4 WD improves the traction in dangerous driving conditions like in snow areas, rocks and many other scenarios that can make control difficult. By engaging both sets of wheels, traction and control improves.
The 4X4 vehicles have additional weight which contributes to better grip on the road. More so these vehicles are great for those who like off loading.
These vehicles have got un obstructed views. In addition to that is the fact that each row of the benches or seats is staggered in height. Therefore the last row will be the highest and the first row will be the lowest.
The seats are so comfortable however restrict movement most especially if you are a keen photographer. The benches give absolute flexibility and the advantage of being able to move one’s camera with ease.
The communication with one’s ranger or guide is made easier as t6heir is no obstruction between client and ranger. Ranger or Guide, these men or woman are passionate about what it is that they do. Each individual has to complete various courses and all courses vary in difficulty. No matter where one travels on safari it is the ranger or guide that will inevitably make the outing a memorable one.
The other advantages of a 4×4 vehicle include; safety well assured, the photographic opportunities assured, the vintage points from within the game drive vehicle, you have enough comfort, always with very qualifies Ranger/Guide as well as sit back and relax positions so present.
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Bespoke Uganda Safari Holidays
Planning for a holiday should be everyone’s expectations after a long hustle for a full year; this can be well organized for you by Nature adventure Africa Safaris limited. Uganda is the best country to travel to for a tour due to the incredible adventures found within her national parks located in the different regions of the country. Uganda has got ten national parks all suitable for paying a visit due to the diversity of the wildlife including the floras found in them that has acted as a habitant to wildlife.
Besides national parks, visitors can take a tour to the different leisure parks within the country including other cultural centers found around the city of Kampala. Lake Bunyonyi- is another place to go for a hideout, while in Uganda one cannot miss enjoy the un disputable river Nile which is found in Jinja another amazing city in the eastern Uganda.
This is known to be the longest River in Africa, those who wish to do white water rafting can do it from this river as there are many service providers. One cannot leave the river minus visiting the Bujagali falls alongside the Itanda falls which is known for being bad waterfalls around the Nile and this is one of the discovery tours to be made in Uganda.
Enjoy the best Kidepo Valley National Park and Murchison Falls National Park while on your Uganda safari and start with Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo and then you can pass via the Pian Upe Reserve in Moroto.
Murchison falls national park is located in Murchison Falls Conservation Area which is comprised of Bugungu and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserves, the park is crossed by the Longest River in Africa that’s River Nile forming an explosion of a great Waterfall within the Park. This park was later named after this great river; it is characterized by a savannah and Riverine forest with some dominant woodland with abundant wildlife. The park has got a number of activities that can be performed while here and these include,
Boat safari at the Nile River, this is taken up to the falls, this trip is one of the best enjoyed trip while at the park since visitors get a chance of disembarking from the boat and take up a hike to the top of the main stream and also come back to the boat for more wildlife viewing. While at the boat, visitors take a glance to see the herds of hippos bouncing off the bottoms of the river, Crocodiles are also another water residents, these are seen alongside the waters sun bathing and elephants flock to the river for water hence giving visitors a nice stunning photographic scene.
Hiking to the falls, Murchison Falls is regarded as the world’s most powerful waterfall, visitors spare around 45minutes of hiking to the falls, while towards the falls, one will experience the ground shake and vibrations surrounds the place due to the powers exhibited by the flowing water from a cliff of around 50fts. From here visitors can proceed to the Nile Delta on a boat ride where river Nile joins Lake Albert and it is also another supplement for seeing an abundance of wild animals and the birds.
Hot air ballooning safaris, this is another activity that is done from Murchison Falls National Park and it is one of not to be missed by every tourist who visit the park. While up in the sky, visitors enjoy seeing almost every wild animal that is within the park since the balloon takes around the park, herds of elephants, buffaloes, a glide above the trees within the park early in the morning will enable you to see the sun rising while seeing the herds of wildlife enjoying their territories.
Birding, for birders this is another birding option due to the vast numbers of bird species found around the park, this can be done while on boat or on a safari vehicle. Here the possibilities of seeing a number of birds are endless, guides will take you around every bird spotting corner where you will see a number of them in different locations. The savannah vegetation and the Riverine forest plus the swamps within the park offers a great habitat for a number of bird species, this is the reason as to why the park is a birders choice while on a trip to Uganda.
Game drives, there is no way you can escape taking on a game drive while on the park, this is the greatest mechanisms of seeing a variety of wildlife including the Uganda Kobs, Oribi, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests among others, the park rangers are always available to guide you throughout the activity. Game drives can be done during the morning hours, afternoon, evening and at night but the best spotting time for the various animals is during the morning hours as the animals are always awake to start looking for food.
After a long experiential tour around Murchison falls national park, visitors can proceed to Kidepo valley national park for another experiential tour in addition to the various activities,
Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the north eastern Uganda and it is on the border Uganda with South Sudan, the park covers 1442km²; the park is one of the best places to hide due to its magnificent scenery. This makes it a visitor’s centre for over and over again, though the park is the only isolated park among the top ten national parks. This park offers spectacular Savannah landscapes that end in rocky horizon, reaching this park from Kampala takes around 10-12hours of drive hence visitors usually set early in the morning to reach the place at Apoka where the Park Headquarters are. Kidepo has got a number of sightseeing and attraction
Hiking and Sightseeing in Kidepo, this is one of the best interesting activities within Kidepo; hiking is done around Mountain Lamoj which is a few kilometres from the park headquarters. During this hike, visitors may have a chance to see the Kidepo river valley with its borassus palm forest, a hike can take you to Kanangorok Hot Spring that is 11km from Kidepo river valley. The savannah landscape of this park is a breath taking one and it is one of the best leading landscapes suitable for hiking.
Game viewing in Kidepo, this park is endowed with abundant wildlife with a nice landscape suitable for game drives that can be done in the morning and evening hours, during your game drives, you cannot escape seeing animals such as cheetah, caracal, aard Wolf, Oribi, Jackson’s hartebeests, bush pigs, eland, buffaloes, elephants, Warthogs, black-backed jackals, stripped hyenas, bat-eared fox, leopards, lions, and some spotted hyenas. All this makes the park a better place to be since visitors on different occasions don not want to leave the park due to the herds of wild animals seen here.
Cultural performance, the surrounding local communities have got numerous cultural performance groups that entertain visitors at a given fee, a wider range of traditional dances and songs such as the Emuya and Nyangia plus the Naporre Ethnic groups. Larakaraka and the Apiti are among the performed dances and songs from the Acholi culture, visitors on their wish can participate while the performers are doing what they know best.
Bird Watching in Kidepo, the park is renowned for its exceptional variety of birds. Out of the Fifty eight recorded birds of prey, fourteen are thought to be specifically endemic to the Kidepo as well as the Karamoja region. Included in these are: the pygmy Falcon, Verreaux’s Eagle plus the Egyptian Vulture just to mention but a few as many more are seen depending on your time of stay.
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Do You know Uganda’s Local Musical Instruments
Uganda has a number of traditional instruments which aren’t well known but tend to make appearances in local bands and world music. Abraham Sekasi specialises in these instruments and helps make introductions to them.
Drum: In Buganda, we called the drum, Engoma, and it’s one of the most treasured instruments in the African community. In my tribe, it was used to communicate events and tragedies that either happened, were happening, or about to happen – like hunting, war, and worship. A tune, or percusive melody, was played and each melody could indicate a different event in order that the community could respond.
Akogo/Kalimba/Mbira: In English, this is called the ‘Thumb Piano’ and it is a small, hand-held, hollow box with metal prongs that are plucked by the musician. This was originally used mostly by nomads because it was simple, compact and could be easily carried. When they sat down to rest they could simply take out the instrument and play to forget the past and pass the time. In Uganda, this instrument is more normally found and used by West Nile tribes and those from the north of the country.
Endingidi: This is a stringed fiddle and it is easily recongisable as it usually has one string stretched along a wood piece between a base and the instrument’s top. It is played with a bow. The Endingidi is tuned on a pentatonic scale which has five notes per octave rather than the normal seven. It is mostly used by the Baganda and the Basoga people in their traditional orchestras.
Mbaire (Lusoga) / Madinda (Luganda): This is also known as the Marimba or Xylophone in English. This tends to be the lead instrument in many traditional orchestras in Uganda as it is used to tune the other instruments.
Adungu: This is also known as the African bow harp and it originated from the Northern and Western Nile areas. It plays on the diatonic scale which has eight notes in it. You can recognise it as the player holds the base and then plucks the many strings that are attached to its curved bow. The Adungu has specific stories and dances that accompany it.
Entongooli: This is known as the Lyre. In Uganda it usually has a round base and a triangular frame on which the strings are attached. It is mostly played by the Baganda and Basoga. In Kenya, it is mostly played by the Kikuyus.
These are some of the main instruments but don’t even touch on the wind section with the Enkwanzi (Panpipes), Omulele (Flutes) and Agwara (Horns).
The wood instruments, such as the Madinda and Endingidi are made from the native Ugandan Musambya tree – also known as the Nile Tulip or the Bell Bean Tree.
If you’d like to see a whole orchestra of traditional instruments played the best place to go is the Ndere Centre in Kisaasi on Sunday nights for their family show from 4pm to 9pm. If you’d like lessons or to know more about traditional instruments contact Abraham Sekasi: . Email: abramsek@gmail.com. Or phone: +256 (0) 774 146 040.
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The Magical Kagulu Hill
Standing tall in the Eastern based Buyende district, the permanent, mysterical Kagulu hill appears vibrant close to the horizon. It is here where the founding father of Busoga’s royal house rested after crossing to Busoga from Bunyoro via Lake Kyoga.
Today it’s toweringly revolving into a must visit tourist site in the stunning Busoga region of the eminent “Pearl of Africa.’’ Thousands of hiking enthusiasts travel to this astonishing spot to call nature to a challenge as they bid to climb the strange Kagulu hill. You will lend both ears to strange but so intriguing magical tales that will get you stunned during cultural your tour in Busoga.
One of the several pleasurable tales that will keep you inspired during your great expedition to accomplish the Kagulu challenge is that the coronation ceremony of the Busoga kingship registers its climax here, as the Kyabazinga (king) as the local direct refers to him, he is tasked to climb the hill, for the record.
Kagulu is really an anomalous hill and should the king fail out on this celebrated task, then traditionally, that individual is not the rightful heir to the Busoga throne! There’s yet another great tale of all time that a variegated dual-headed snake and pluck leopard guarded, you will be stunned as you listen to these timely narratives during this great hiking challenge on the vertiginous Kagulu Hill.
With anxiety you shall take your maiden attempt to climb uphill. And as you advance closer, the hill will deceitful seem to be moving further away. It has a staircase on the southern side, built on the orders of now deceased former of Uganda president Idi Amin who was enchanted by the clear view it gave of neighboring districts in Busoga, Teso and Lango regions. The staircase was one of the two options of reaching the top of the hill, the other, climbing it from the northern side.
The journey to the top takes you through six small rocks which tradition says are Mukama’s brides; Kagweere, Bukolimo, Butadewo, Mpanga, Kagweese and Muwaale. The summit of the hill, 10,000 feet above sea level is home to a number of brilliant black and grey rocks and caves which are now habitats to primates and reptiles. But considering to Busoga mythology, these caves once offered sanctuary to early settlers in the land.
There’s a miniature lake atop the hill that attracts people from all over Busoga who believe it allots good fortune. The residents here assert that the lake never runs out, no matter the magnitude of drought. Locals from Busoga region believe that this water is a source of blessings, but the condition is “what you want and how you ask the gods to meet your needs.”
Dropping a coin into the water, they say, earns you a reward from the ancestors. You will meet a number of women beseeching the gods to bless and strengthen their marriages. You will meet one who has come along with a child for blessing, saying she “got it” from the gods last year when she came to Kagulu after a decade in a childless marriage; these and many more mythical stories can only be heard while on this spot. Come savor a magical hiking safari as unseen.
Birding In Lake Mburo National Park
Planing a birding Safari in Uganda? Lake Mburo national park is located in the western part of Uganda in Kiruhura district, 30 kilometers east of the largest city of the sub-region Mbarara. Lake Mburo national park was gazette as a national park in 1983 after being used as a hunting ground and later as a grazing field for the Bahima.
Currently it is the smallest savannah conservation area in Uganda, meaning it is the smallest park in Uganda covering an estimated area of 260 square kilometers but with some outstanding attributes that are so unique from other destinations in Uganda.
Lake Mburo national park is well known for its unique mammals like the zebras, impala, elands, leopards, buffaloes, warthogs, jackals and others. Though this amazing national park is known for its zebras but it is also one of the incredible birding destinations of Uganda, harboring over 310 bird species that has been sighted in this small but interesting savannah park. The lake Mburo national park will always leave you with need for more stay in this destination because of its scenic free standing acacia trees, with the dwelling birds not forgetting the forest species that are commonly seen in the Rubanga forest.
One other unique attribute of Lake Mburo national park is the presence of the swamps of course with its amazing and spectacular six papyrus endemic birds including the Papyrus gonolek and the blue-headed coucal ,don’t also forget that lake Mburo national park is a place that one can get the southern species in the northern limit of their range ,clear experience can be seen from the black-collared barbet and the ground hornbill and of course this same national park has the migratory birds that are commonly seen in the park during months of November to April.
One destination that any birder shouldn’t miss is Lake Mburo national park just for some of its notable species that are endemic to Uganda. Some of the key endemic species include; the shoebill with its attribute of inhabiting swamps and been a quiet , gentle and standing in the side point, and for long described as a statue- like bird species, the Abyssinian ground hornbill is an occasional bird, attributed to be one of the most endemic and migratory bird species in the park, the greater painted snipe is one of the most sought after bird species with its characters being as not a vocal bird, enjoys staying in reed beds but along water shorelines of marshes, swamps, streams, and ponds. There are many endemic bird species but to mention are these few.
The notable common species are; the African wattled lapwing, black-bellied bustard, and saddle billed stork, Brown-chested lapwing, bare-face go-away bird, African scops owl, blue-headed coucal, etc.
Birding in Lake Mburo national park is a year round activity that is done in the interior of the national park, with May, June and July comprised of less rain fall, then Jan, February, march and April having heavy rain, but interesting months are from November to April, where you can sight the migratory birds.
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