The lake victoria serena resort

On the shores of the world’s second largest fresh water lake - Lake Victoria, there lies a gem that is far beyond the ordinary settling the aspirations of affluent travelers including those on safaris in Uganda.
Belonging to the International chain of Serena Hotels, the Lake Victoria Serena Resort is the recent addition to the East Africa establishments opening its doors in the month of October, the year 2009 with the future plans of adding a luxury residential complex, marina and golf course.
Towering over the white-terraced rose gardens descending passed the fountains and water cascades on the shores of the gigantic lake, the resort presents a tranquil environment close to Entebbe and acts as an extension of the top notch Kampala Serena Hotel thus taking into account of various travelers that prefer varying accommodation setting while on Uganda safaris.
The Lake Victoria Serena Resort features gracious terracotta along with a cream palace while the central citadel is surrounded by cocktail terraces and broad café where relaxation is guaranteed in cushioned sofas. There above the reception, there is beautiful Roman fountain while the white arched galleries tower to a clear glass atrium in which light shafts illuminate the below fountain courtyard leaving the first time guests in moments of wonder which adds to the overall Uganda safari experience.
Behind the main restaurants mosaic frescoes, a clock tower towers above a pool deck where white arch colonnades present an impressive frame for the Lake’s hazy blue and the surrounding green hills of Lweza. Amidst the remarkable gardens there lie spacious villas that present a range of rooms and the suites all featuring the panoramic view of the lake.
Lake Victoria Serena Resort offers accommodation in 124 rooms which include; 114 standard rooms, 8 executive Suites and 2 Presidential Suites. The Standard rooms feature elegant queen sized or two twin beds, work station, dressing table, marble bathroom, balcony and seating area and are located in the Tuscan Villa.
The executive Suites feature a living area with enough space along with flat Screen Television, second balcony and office space where as the Presidential Suites are positioned in the pent house floor of the main Citadel and present with them a lush bathroom, king sized bed, impressive reception area, furnished terrace, dining room featuring a private Kitchen. The Presidential floor also has a private conference space.
The rooms at Lake Victoria Serena Resort features air conditioning, the provision for 24 hour service, Wi-Fi and modem hook up internet, direct dial telephone, flat screen satellite TV, mini bar, voice mail, private safe, hair driers, facilities for making tea and coffee, concierge/ porter, 24 hour call on doctor, access to Maisha Health Spa, Business Center and provision for airport taxi, shuttle or limousine service.
The families travelling together on safaris to Uganda have got their stay well planned at Lake Victoria Serena Hotel. The resort offers accommodation free of charge to the children below 3 years of age while from 3 – 7 years, they are charged 50% and then 7 – 18 years are offered at 75%. The arrangement for the extra beds, menus and dining for children, interconnecting family rooms, children’s paddling pool and baby-sitting not forgetting the secure and extensive gardens make the place ideal for families.
In general, Lake Vitoria Serena Resort features a range of facilities including the Kigo cock tail bar, Lake View pool terrace café and bar, Health club, raised terraces for private events and cocktails, VIP entrance, dedicated car park, helipad and full security, Business Center and conference center with the capacity to accommodate 300 people
Lake Victoria Serena Hotel can be accesses in Kigo area between Entebbe and Kampala 30km form Entebbe International Airport and 15km from Kampala. It id locates off Entebbe road.

Jovago opens up officially in Uganda

Jovago which is apparently the number one on line hotel booking website in Africa enabling the world travelers including those that undertake safaris to Uganda to secure the best prices for over 25,000 hotels on the continent of Africa is officially opening its offices in Kampala Uganda.
Jovago is motivated by the desire to avail all the accommodation units on line to enable clients access and book them with ease. The efforts to avail this service to the African continent continue to generate fruits. The booming population of Uganda coupled with her fast growing economy and impressive natural sites present a rich ground for Uganda safaris.
It can be noted that Uganda is remarkably outstanding inhabited by the world’s hospitable people and amazing landscapes. As a result a couple of investors tends to visit the country exploring its great potential for business growth not only for Jovago but also other players like tourism sector and the business industry. The Country Manager of Jovago Louis Badea notes that Kampala being a close point to the most of their customers and suppliers makes the opening on an official office ideal.
The Jovago’s expansion to Uganda indicates the value that Jovago attaches to stretching to all its potential clients and the desire to extend beyond borders. This follows the similar efforts of establishing a range of five (5) new offices in Africa including Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania and Mozambique.
The Chief Executive Officer Jovago Mr. Paul Midy extends his happiness over the company’s expansion to Uganda. He notes that considering their passion to serve the travellers needs and the interest to bring along with them innovation and creativity, their official opening in Kampala will be of benefit to the clientele including those that wish to do Uganda safaris.
Jovago is noted to have opened up in 2013 and its first office in East Africa was in Nairobi. The initiative has been growing steadily reaching to over 25,000 hotels in more than forty (40) countries of Africa. And it is from the past success experience that the interest to accelerate its innovative nature of selling hospitality on line on the African continent is being enhanced.

The physical description of common eland

The common eland also scientifically referred to as Taurotragus oryx is spread in the savannah and plains of South and East Africa including Uganda where it is always encountered on Uganda safaris. The common eland is a species of Bovidae family and Taurotragus genus and was given first description in 1766 by Peter Simon Pallas.
It can be noted that the common eland is the second largest world antelope after the giant eland with a smaller distinction in size. The common elands feature spiral horns and are noted to be dimorphic sexually with the males being larger than the females. The females feature 300 – 600kg in weight measuring 200cm – 280cm in length from the snout to the tail base and rise to 125 – 153cm in height at their shoulder. The Bull elands have 400 – 942 kg in weight measuring 240 – 345cm in length from the snout to the tail base and rise to 150 – 183cm in height at their shoulder. The eland tail can be 50 – 90cm in length as usually seen by travelers on safaris in Uganda.
The eland coats tend to differ with geography. The elands in the north of Africa feature distinctive markings which are not visible among the southern elands. These marks include; leg markings, torso stripes, spinal crest and dark garters. Besides the rough mane, the elands’ coat is smooth. The female elands feature a tan coat while the male coats are darker featuring bluish grey tinge. The bull elands feature white stripes in vertical series on their sides and this is common in the Karoo parts of Southern Africa. The male coats tend to be grey when they attain old age. It can also be noted that males feature dense fur on their forehead while their throat features a large dewlap as encountered on Uganda safari.
The both eland sexes possess horns that have steady spiral ridge that resembles that of a bushbuck. The eland horns are visible as small buds in the newly born and tend to grow expeditiously in the first seven months. It can be noted that the horns of the male elands are thicker and are shorter compared to the female counterparts. The male horns stretch to 43 – 66cm while females stretch to 51 – 69cm in terms in height. The male horns are used for wrestling and butting heads with the rivals during the rutting season while the females make use of their horns for guarding the young ones against predators.
The common eland is noted to be the slowest of all antelopes and can only run to the maximum speed of 40km per hour and gets tired quickly. However the elands can maintain a 22km per hour trot without stopping. The Elands are able to jump up to 2.5m and 3m for the young ones. The life expectancy of the elands is between 15 – 20 years though some elands live up to 25 years.
The herds of elands are escorted by a clicking loud sound. It is noted that animal weight causes the two halves of its hooves to spread apart and the click sound is generated by the hoof snapping together when the leg of the animals is raised. The sound goes some distance from where the herd is and could be a communication means and guides taking visitors for game viewing on safari in Uganda at times use such sound to spot the elands.
The elands are greatly herbivore and its diet is mostly composed of leaves and grasses. The eland herds can be as large as 500 members and are not territorial. The common eland habitat features a range of flowering plants including woodlands, savannah, montane and open grasslands. It can be noted that elands tend to avoid dense forests and would invoke loud barks, postural and visual movements in communication and warning others of danger.
The elands are used by man for meat, leather and rich nutritious milk and in some areas, they have been domesticated. The Elands are native to the countries of Uganda, Botswana, Kenya, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, South Sudan, South Africa, Swaziland and Tanzania. They are extinct in the countries of Angola and Burundi. Though the population of elands is steadily reducing, it is still listed as least concern on the red list of International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The western tree hyrax

Scientifically referred to as the Dendrohyrax dorsalis, the western tree hyrax belong to the Procaviidae family and is differentiated from other Hyrax Species by its short course fur, absence of hair on the rostrum, the availability of white patch of fur under the chin along with the lower crowns of the cheek teeth as normally encountered on safaris in Uganda.
Regarding the behavior, the western tree hyraxes are noted to be solitary and rarely appear in groups of three or two. They are nocturnal species and greatly feed at night. Also to note about them is that they are skillful climbers where in captivity have been observed to climb to the top edge of an open door with no difficulty as well as being able to scale quickly on the trucks of trees. The tree hyraxes are enabled to climb by their pliant black footpads featuring counts of ridges. In captivity, they have been observed making use of their teeth to hang on vines and wires as they attempt to climb.
Regarding the range and habitat, the western tree hyrax is noted to exist in Sub Saharan Africa in the countries of Cameroon, Benin, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Senegal, South Sudan, Uganda, Togo, along with Niger. The natural habitats of tree hyrax include savannah, Sub tropical or the tropical moist lowland forests and rocky areas.
Regarding the predators, the tree hyrax is prone to leopards, eagles, servals, hawks, golden cats and pythons. On rare occasions, the tree hyrax is hunted by humans for food. In Uganda, tree hyraxes are popularly encountered in Kibale National Park and Rwenzori National Park while on Uganda safaris.