FROM HELSINKI TO ENTEBBE; AN OSPREY BIRD DOESNOT REQUIRE AN AIR TICKET

An Osprey Bird is now well settled at the Uganda Safari tour site of Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) following a flight from Finland in the continent of Europe.
An Osprey from the hawk family was found by the ground staff at the turf of the runway of Entebbe International Airport – the main gateway to Uganda handling a range of travelers including those on safaris and tours to Uganda. Upon spotting the bird, the team at UWEC was alerted and they came to its rescue. Unfortunately, they found that the wings of the bird had been shattered following its collision with the plane but interestingly the team was able to amputate them after reaching at the center.
Amazingly, this wondrous Osprey bird stretching to 1.8ft in length was found to be belonging to the Finnish Museum of Natural History in Finland in Northern Europe. This was further confirmed by Finland Museum approving that the bird had disappeared and thus were very appreciative to learn its location. For nature enthusiasts, it was an amusing moment as the creature proved that even when the world is bewildered with myriad of travel formalities, nature is still beyond man’s control.
The Osprey is noted to be among the range of seasonal migratory bird species where each features its own migration behavioural pattern. Some of these birds can fly away for breeding while others may be forced by changes in climate which may stimulate movements for food search. The UWEC Marketing and Business Development Officer Mr. Isaac Mujansi notes in affirmation that migratory species of birds have increased at the center since December 2014 mesmerizing a range of visitors including those on birding tours in Uganda.
Also referred as the Sea Hawk, the Osprey is bird of prey and notably diurnal fish eating. With 60cm in length and 180cm across the wings, the Osprey can be considered as a large raptor. Its upper part is brown while the under part and the head are majorly greyish. The Osprey is noted to tolerate a range of habitats and nests close to water bodies to ensure steady supply of food. It is known to thrive on all world continents except Antarctica.
By Siima Simon Peter

GETTING TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK BY AIR

Today, the Gorilla trekking safaris to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be less-hectic because besides driving from Kampala to this Park, one can always fly to and from Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for gorilla tracking.
Traveler on a Uganda safari can choose to fly from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro air-strip. Additionally there are planes that may as well be chartered to the grass Kayonza airstrips in kihihi.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is served by 3 airfields:  Kihihi, Kayonza for the northern section of the park and Nyakabande in Kisoro for mountain gorilla trackers within the southern area of the park.
One can use scheduled or charter flight with Eagle air, Aero link Uganda, Ndege ya ju among others.
There are always daily flights with morning flights departing at around 7:30 am at Entebbe airport and afternoons one departs at 12:30pm.
This also means that if one is just arriving in Uganda and departing for Bwindi impenetrable forest national park on that same day, you must have arrived there before afternoon for you to catch that afternoon flight otherwise; you will have to fly the next day.
From Entebbe international airport, it takes about 2 hours to get to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airfield depending on the section of the park one will be tracking the mountain gorillas from.
When flying from Bwindi impenetrable forest national park to Entebbe international air-port, the flight departs in the morning at 9: 00 am and in the afternoon at 2pm daily.
How to book for those internal flights
Prime Uganda safaris and tours limited is willing to handle all internal flight booking for persons willing to fly to Bwindi for gorilla tracking. The company will check the availability of the flight for the clients on the particular planned date and make provisional booking and then later confirm with full payment with a discounted rate since they are booking through an agent.
When the travelers arrive at the air strip, one of our guides will be waiting for him with a car ready to drive to the safari lodge in this park where he will be staying. The guide will take you throughout your trip, guiding on what to do, how and when to do that particular activity.
While flying back to Entebbe international airport, our safari guide will transfer you to the air-strip and to board back.

GORILLA TRACKING IN RWANDA; UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS

Mountain Gorillas have emerged in the second half of the 20^th Century to surpass the reputation of Africa’s ancient wild game such as the Big five a reason why apparently gorilla safaris including gorilla safaris in Rwanda is ranked the best safari activity in Africa.
To the north west of Rwanda, Mountain Gorillas make their homes in the Bamboo forest and the surrounding areas on the volcanic slopes of Virunga highlands sheltered by Volcanoes National Park. The native Rwandans have been trained and are in control of the species conservation including expert guiding of the travelers that take up gorilla trekking safaris and tours to Rwanda.
The moment of gorilla trekking is a historical one. It is a journey to an ancient re-union with our long lost cousins. The hike to the gorilla highlands has no fixed duration but can stretch from 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the allocated gorilla family. The journey back could take the similar duration but the bewilderment of the gorilla encounter will likely be the point of attention other than the journey.
The pre-tracking briefing by park staff refreshes the visitors on gorilla tracking in Rwanda of the gorilla trekking rules which have to be observed for the purpose of sustainability. The elevation of 2500m to 4000m can at times be challenging and thus considering a porter to carry a heavy back pack or a camera can be worth it.
The ten (10) gorilla families have been habituated primarily for this activity. Ranging from Susa to Sabinyo, Amahoro, Agashya, Kwitonda, Umubano, Hirwa, Titus, Ugenda and Kuryama, the chances of encountering any of them are guaranteed. The gorilla permit is still priced $750 and the minimum age for the activity is fifteen (15).
The Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda is the leading tourist activity accounting for the tourism industry’s best performance among the foreign exchange generating sectors in the destination Rwanda.

KWITA IZINA CEREMONY; BEYOND THE BABY GORILLA NAMING

Rwanda is a lively country with everyone engaged in rebuilding the image of this small country bewildered by a record of ethnic conflict. It’s a flowing thing that circulates all over the country that even the Rwanda safari travelers end up being part of it.
The Kwita Izina Ceremony is a unique initiative of its kind. None of the countries with mountain gorillas have ever come up with such a conservation strategy but Rwanda did and this demonstrates her capacity to move ahead of others in positioning herself as a gorilla sanctuary – something that continue to pull the primate enthusiasts to plan gorilla safaris and tours to Rwanda.
Though primarily built on the baby gorilla naming cause, the Kwita Izina presents an iconic opportunity to showcase the unmatchable Rwanda tour products especially culture, art and history. An exhibition is always arranged days to the naming date and country’s beauty is showcased while the neighbouring states are also given the opportunity to showcase theirs.
This annual event is becoming a mile stone in the conservation story of Rwanda as it attracts counts of people world over among which include re-known conservationists, veterinary experts, leisure travelers on gorilla safari in Rwanda, the government officials and the local people all gathering to learn more and appreciate the purpose of conservation for the benefit of the present and the future.
The 12^th Edition of the Kwita Izina Event is scheduled to occur on September 2^nd to the north west of Rwanda in the famous gorilla highlands of volcanoes National Park.  It will be a moment of celebrating the achievements in the field of conservation and sustainable tourism evidenced by the steady increase in the mountain gorilla population. The event will run under the theme United in driving growth through Conservation.
The count of 19 baby gorillas are set to be given names in the forthcoming event including the twins which makes the event very exciting than never before.  This comes at a time when the gorilla census is undergoing with the results excepted to be out next year. The Virunga massif features 480 mountain gorillas as per the last census in 2010 depicting 26.3% increase from the 2003 figure of 380.
The whole week will be filled with activities including trade exhibition, customised scientific tours, familiarization tours and the Conservation on Conservation – a high level forum

WILD SAFARI VENTURES INTO THE LAND OF A THOUSAND HILLS

Wild Safaris has for long been one of the frontier lights in African visits and when it comes to launching properties that take sustainable interaction with in the surrounding environment, so we are excited announce the enhancement of the venture into the land with a thousand hills.
What makes you set your eyes on a Rwanda safari and why now?
Rwanda falls in the heart of a mega bio-diverse Albertine Rift valley. Much of Africa’s biodiversity has centered itself on the Great Rift Valley floor where over thousands of years; different ecosystems have been connected and at the same time isolated.
It is on this reason that the Albertine Rift valley is one of the most important biodiversity spots on this continent. 31 of over 300 mammal species and over 35 of its 900 plus bird species are found nowhere else in the whole world. The Albertine rift is also the only area in Africa hosting the highest number of endemic birds and mammals.
The country has an iconic story in its own right from the tragedy of 1994 genocide which is a story everyone in the world should be told while on safari tour in Rwanda. The Rwandan government is inspiringly organized and accountable that you would feel nothing but being welcomed by the beautiful country and its people that are excited to contribute to the momentum of this tiny nation.
The location of most Rwanda safari lodges is in an amphitheater of eroded volcanic cones, hill sides and on lake shores which offers a dramatic and unique experience while on safaris and tours in Rwanda. The luxurious Rwanda tour lodges will have sweeping views towards the spectacular and often volcanoes and valleys of the Virunga ranges. This will allow you to imagine pioneering efforts of gorilla conservationists like Dian Fossey and George Schaller, and also epitomize the drama of ‘Gorillas in the Mist. The Rwanda lodge sites are incomparable in terms of natural splendor and the sweeping views towards the volcanoes.
Besides Rwanda gorilla safaris, the visitors can be able to immerse themselves in the traditional social and agricultural life of the surrounding communities, enjoying a holistic experience of the local culture and the area’s biodiversity.
Rwanda’s miraculous momentum since 1994 in the genocide saga and the achievement of forgiveness, restoration and the rebirth of this model country has become something you can’t afford missing.
Beyond this there are the gorillas of the Virunga ranges, a life changing experience and a whole raft of Albertine Rift valley bio-diversity make Rwanda quite simply one of those countries that you have to visit for a safari. Prime Uganda safaris and tours limited is truly excited to contribute to the momentum of this tiny, beautiful nation by offering you ultimate safari experiences.