ARTICLES WRITTEN BY admin

Uganda is a vibrant safari destination with a difference at the crossroads of Eastern and Central Africa. The biodiversity is a mixture of savanna species and animals and birds more commonly associated with the forest and jungles of Central Africa.

Uganda is very friendly and safe and with bountiful natural resources stunning scenery and some fascinating culture just waiting to be explored.

Unusually Uganda has not followed the trend of pursuing only high-end tourists, there is accommodation for all budgets and even the gorilla trekking is surprisingly affordable. Most of the roads connecting the various tourist destinations are in good condition and there is also an expanding air network.

The two biggest attractions in Uganda are the Mountain Gorillas undoubtedly the highlight of any visit and Chimp trekking, where you can come into close contact with wild but habituated chimpanzees, a hugely underrated experience.

Uganda has many other primates, most of which are not found in other mainstream safari destinations and is rated as one of Africa’s top birding destinations.

Uganda’s many national parks see only a fraction of the visitors that visit neighboring Tanzania and Kenya.The major parks do lack the diversity of East and Southern Africa’s big five reserves, so,  to see the widest range of general wildlife possible it would be necessary to visit several different parks.

My short overland trip included the Mabamba swamp in Lake Victoria to see the prehistoric looking shoebill storks, Kibale Forest Reserve for chimpanzees and other primates, Queen Elizabeth National Park for general game viewing, Bwindi Forest for mountain gorillas and Lake Mburo National Park for birding and general game.

Lake Victoria and Entebbe

The area on the lakeshore is surprisingly pleasant with plenty of reasonable accommodation options. Most visitors may only spend the night here but there are a few places of interest nearby. We had a day to spare and took the opportunity of a guided punt in the Mabamba Swamps with the objective of seeing the prehistoric looking and quite rare shoebill stork. The swamps are about 90 minutes’ drive from Entebbe and in addition to the storks there are also many other waterbirds seen in the papyrus beds.

Other activities on offer around Entebbe include boat trips and fishing and visits to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Ngamba Island.

Kibale Forest Reserve

A long drive takes you to Kibale, home to many groups of chimpanzees and other primates.

The forest walk with the park rangers is excellent and once the chimpanzees are located you can spend an hour with them. The habituated chimpanzees generally ignore the human interlopers and carry on with their routine of eating, sleeping, playing, mutual grooming, chattering and so on, an unforgettable experience.

The tracking is through fairly dense jungle but the ground is usually quite flat, so it is less challenging than the gorilla trekking.

Seeing the chimps up close as they go about their business is a genuinely special experience and runs a close second to the gorilla trekking.

We also saw some other primates and heard, rather than saw, a whole range of bird species.

I would advise clients to consider booking the “habituation experience” as this allows much more time with the chimps at only slightly more cost.

Our accommodation here was at the Primate Lodge, the rooms here are right inside the forest with plenty of wildlife and birds around. The rooms were large and quite comfortable but certainly not luxury. There are other more top end lodges in the vicinity most of which are located on the Crater lakes close to the park, unfortunately we did not have time to see them.

Tips:

I would suggest flying to Kibale and meeting your guide here as the road transfer is long.

If you are fit, I would suggest the habituation experience which gives the best of all worlds

Queen Elizabeth National Park

This large scenically beautiful park includes Lakes George and Edward and stretches along the Congo border. There is plentiful plains game here although the Diversity is limited, the principal predators are lion, leopard and hyena with plentiful crocodiles in the lakes and rivers.

A boat trip along the Kazinga channel which connect the two lakes is a highlight for many. There are excellent photo opportunities for hippo, crocodile, elephant and other animals on the banks and a staggering selection of African birdlife on view.

On the drive through the reserve on route to the Ishasha area we were fortunate to see a leopard and also a large male lion sitting in a tree.

Our accommodation here was at the brand-new Elephant Plains Camp which has a stunning location overlooking the rift valley and Lakes Albert and Edward. The camp had not received its first guests at the time of our visit and was still experiencing a few minor teething troubles.

Tips:

If time permits stay in both the Western and Eastern areas of the park to maximise the experience.

Be sure to book the Kazinga Channel boat trip

Bwindi Forest Reserve

Bwindi is the home of the charismatic mountain gorilla and a great conservation success story, from just over 600 hundred left in the wild ten years ago over 1000 now live in the mountainous jungles of Uganda, Rwanda and the Congo. Seeing these gentle but incredibly powerful animals in the wild can be a life changing experience and one that clearly demonstrates the reality of what will be lost if we don’t protect the wildlife with which we share our planet.

The forest itself is beautiful and home to many other species. A walk here would be enjoyable, but it is the gorillas that bring in the visitors. The degree of difficulty in the trekking can vary considerably and where the trekked group of gorillas are located can also have a significant effect on the quality of the experience. We were lucky and the group we followed were only about a half hours’ easy trek into the forest.  They were located in an open area which was perfect for photography and the little ones were a particular joy as they played around a few feet from us.

Whilst in the area we did also take an interesting village walk and spent a fascinating half hour with the Batwa people who are the original human inhabitants of the forest.

We stayed at Buhoma Forest Lodge which was quite a nice property and also visited the equally likeable Mahogany Springs and more upmarket Gorilla Forest Camp,  whatever class of lodge you choose the gorilla trekking will be the same.

Lake Mburo National Park

This smallish National Park is usually visited as a stopover on the long road journey between Bwindi and Entebbe. Actually, the park is quite interesting, although lions and elephant are absent there is plenty of other game here including species not seen in other parks such as zebra and eland. The park also has a very high density of leopard and is probably the best place to see them in Uganda, we saw one on our way out of the park.

The park is a birding hotspot and activities here include boat trips on Lake Mburo where a wide variety of water birds can be spotted along with the hippos and crocodiles. Birders will note that this is a good place to see the rare and secretive African finfoot.

Additional activities include mountain bike rides and guided walks.

Our stay here was at Rwakobo Rock which I felt seemed tired and needed a bit of TLC. New managers had just arrived when I visited so hopefully things will soon improve. On the plus side it is very affordable and the location on a hill overlooking the park was superb. The activities on offer were fun.

Tips:

If travelling between Bwindi and Entebbe by road allow two days to make the visit worthwhile.

June is one of my favourite times of year in this part of Africa. Lovely warms sunny days with temperatures in the mid-twenties are complimented by cool evenings. Colours are still bright and the bush still green following the rains which usually finish around March.

By June, dwindling water supplies are drawing the wildlife closer to Zambia’s beautiful rivers providing excellent and easily accessible game viewing.

On this trip we visited Zambia’s three best known reserves, South Luangwa National Park in the East, Lower Zambezi in the south and Kafue in the centre area.

Compared to other top safari locations, Zambia’s parks are relatively unknown, visitor density is low and there are just a few relatively widely spaced safari camps, particularly outside of the central Mfuwe area of South Luangwa so you really do feel as though you are pioneers in wild Africa.

KAFUE NATIONAL PARK

Kafue is Zambia’s largest and one if the biggest National Parks in Africa. Kafue has a wide range of habitats including woodland, open areas, several wild rivers, the Nanzhila plains in the South and the spectacular Busanga Plains in the North. Safari camps here are widely spread throughout the park and, except for the central area close to the main road that bisects the park, one is unlikely to see many other vehicles.

Activities here are day and night game drives, guided walks, boat safaris and fishing.

This is probably not a park for first timers as wildlife, although plentiful in some areas can be more elusive than in other parks and in certain areas the Tsetse flies are a nuisance.

The biodiversity in Kafue is greater than in the other parks and includes, cheetah, red lechwe,  hartebeest, roan and sable antelope are also common. A first for me here was the bushpig, similar to the European wild boar. Other animals I have rarely seen elsewhere included lesser bushbaby, oribi and Sharps grysbok.

Birders will love it too with unusual birds such as the black cheeked lovebird, Pels fishing owl and the secretive African finfoot among the specials.

Fishing in the pristine Kafue river is also reputed to be extremely good.

As time was limited we concentrated on the Central and Northern Areas of the reserve on this trip starting at the new Ila Safari Lodge close to the main road. The wildlife in this area is more used to vehicles than further north and so unsurprisingly more relaxed. We did see some lions here and heard them roaring throughout the night unfortunately we did not have time for a full game drive or boat trip on the Kafue River. The lodge itself was very comfortable a great value.

We then headed North to Musekese Camp which is run by a couple of highly dedicated and enthusiastic young guides, located in a previously undeveloped section of the reserve known locally as Eden for its profusion of wildlife. Whilst definitely more rustic than the other properties we visited, we think true safari enthusiasts will love it, there is great game viewing in the Eden lagoon opposite the camp and also on the river and no neighbours nearby to spoil the exclusivity of it. Guests usually access the camp by boat. Lions could be heard roaring all night.

Our final destination, the Busanga Plains, holds a special place in the hearts of many real wildlife enthusiasts. It remote location and inaccessibility for most of the year due to seasonal flooding make Busanga a relatively untouched wilderness, teeming with abundant and unusual wildlife.

In June the first safari camps are just opening for the new season which begins in earnest in July. The area is still very much a wetland and access to some camps including those we stayed at is by Mokoro.

Activities in June include limited day and night game drives and boat safaris. Due to water levels at this time of year, the prevalent species are of the water loving variety lechwe, puku, buffalo, elephant, rare sitatunga and of course numerous hippo and crocodile. There also quite a few lions hunting on the plains and we saw them daily and heard them every night. Later in the year many other species migrate to the rich grazing and the full range of Kafue’s wildlife can be easily seen on the treeless plains.

Birding is also very good with one of the highlights being the wattled crane, a large bird known for its extravagant courtship dance.

The highlight for me was watching two large male lions who had killed a buffalo defending there kill from the hundreds of Vultures who were on the scene awaiting their chance.

From a visitors point of view I would suggest visiting Busanga a bit later possibly between August and September when the game viewing is much more diverse and more extensive game drives possible.

A bonus is that there do not appear to be Tsetse flies on the Busanga Plain.

Favourite camp – Musekese for its unusual and varied wildlife and rustic simplicity with the luxury Shumba Camp on the Busanga Plains a close second.

June is one of my favourite times of year in this part of Africa. Lovely warms sunny days with temperatures in the mid-twenties are complimented by cool evenings. Colours are still bright and the bush still green following the rains which usually finish around March.

By June, dwindling water supplies are drawing the wildlife closer to Zambia’s beautiful rivers providing excellent and easily accessible game viewing.

On this trip we visited Zambia’s three best known reserves, South Luangwa National Park in the East, Lower Zambezi in the south and Kafue in the centre area.

Compared to other top safari locations, Zambia’s parks are relatively unknown, visitor density is low and there are just a few relatively widely spaced safari camps, particularly outside of the central Mfuwe area of South Luangwa so you really do feel as though you are pioneers in wild Africa.

LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK

I have always loved this park both for its spectacular scenery and for the exciting range of safari activities on offer. The activities which are available at most lodges include, in addition to day and night game drives, boat safaris, canoe trips, tiger fishing, guided walks and sleep outs.

Unfortunately, you need deep pockets to visit with a night at most of the lodges within or very close to the park costs around US$1000 per night or more in peak season. The only lower budget options are outside the park in the game management area to the west, however in my opinion these are not worthwhile as visiting the park involves a long drive or boat trip.

Lower Zambezi has a huge elephant population which increases as the season goes on peaking at the height of the dry season around October. The sight of a herd of elephants enjoying themselves playing in the river or swimming out to an Island is unforgettable.

In common with other Zambian Parks the bush was thicker than normal for June due to late rains although this did not seem to spoil the game viewing.

We did very much enjoy a gentle canoe trip along one of the channels, a wonderfully relaxing way to see the wildlife and birds, although I suspect that eyeballing at close quarters the hippos and large crocodiles one meets along the way is not for those of a nervous disposition.

We started our visit at Chongwe River Camp, a lovely and very friendly camp in a beautiful location just outside the Western border of the Reserve, if the camp were further into the park where generally the game viewing improves the further East you go this might be my camp of choice, but its location and new higher price tag make it a less attractive proposition.

We gradually headed further east visiting or staying at all the camps in the park, at the top end is Sausage Tree camp which has recently been rebuilt to a very high standard and includes private guided safari activities as standard. Guests who like a lot of luxury and exclusivity on their safari will love it despite the hefty price tag.

Favourite camp – Amanzi Camp due to its high-quality accommodation, a great location in the best game viewing area of the park. Amanzi is a bit less expensive than some, Chiawa Camp is also a lovely choice.

The enduring fascination of a safari holiday is that no two safaris are ever the same. wildlife, culture, scenery vary from country to country and park to park and season to season. Is it the anticipation before setting out on a game drive, boat safari, or walk, never knowing quite what you will find but secure in the knowledge that there is a very good chance that you will experience something new and wonderful?

As a veteran of more than fifty safaris with visits to most of Africa’s great parks the feeling of excitement anticipation starts from the moment I start planning my next trip and doesn’t leave me until I board the final charter flight at the start of my journey home. If you have been to Africa with Safari Club you will know the feeling, many of our guests return year after year forsaking the trappings of Western civilization for a couple of weeks to enjoy the thrilling sounds, smells and sights of timeless Africa. In this newsletter we feature a few safaris most of which are flexible that might appeal to guests looking to travel next year.

Botswana
Elephants Kingdom – an eight-night trip visiting Victoria Falls, the Chobe Game Reserve and exclusive private concessions in the Okavango Delta and the Moremi Game reserve. An affordable but high quality, “all inclusive” flying safari.
From £3807 to £6071pp on a Victoria Falls to Maun basis.
 
Northern Highlights (classic) -A ten night “all inclusive” flying safari visiting Victoria Falls, the legendary Savute Marsh in Chobe, the Khwai community area of the Okavango Delta and a private concession in the South East Delta. Superb game viewing with the opportunity for elephant interaction at Stanleys Camp.
From £4412 to £7591 on a Victoria Falls to Maun basis

Moremi and Chobe Private Luxury Mobile Camping
Safari in Style on a budget. try our nine day, fully serviced, luxury mobile camping safari starting in Maun and finishing in Kasane. This safari visits the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve before heading North to the Chobe Game Reserve with the option of extending your tour to include Victoria Falls. The price is the same throughout the year and is the most cost-effective way to visit Botswana’s superb reserves in peak season. This is a great choice for four or more people and perfect for a family with older children.
Price £3456 per person based on four travellers on a Maun to Kasane basis

Guests interested in visiting Botswana may be interested in our report of the Safari Club visit to Botswana in May 2017.

Zimbabwe
Zambezi Wanderer –Two World Heritage sites in one trip

An eight-night trip visiting three of Zimbabwe’s most spectacular tourist attractions,
Your safari starts at the spectacular Victoria Falls and continues into Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest reserve and home to up to 100000 elephants. The final part of your journey takes you to another World Heritage Site, Mana Pools on the Zambezi River, a stunning wildlife haven teeming with big game. You can enjoy boat safaris, guided walks and tiger fishing in addition to your game drives.
From £2693 to £4010 per person on a Victoria Falls to Harare basis.
Guests interested in visiting Zimbabwe may be interested in our report of the Safari Club visit to Zimbabwe in June 2017.

Seychelles – Romance with adventure
From March 2018 BA will be commencing daily flights to the Seychelles, as BA also flies direct to Johannesburg and Nairobi which have direct flight connections to Seychelles the planning of a safari and beach holiday becomes much easier and cheaper.
Either of these safari destinations combined with one of the stunningly beautiful islands of the Seychelles could be the perfect romantic holiday combination for honeymoons and anniversaries.
 
Give us a call if you love this idea 0845 0545889

Tanzania
Stars of the North – The Northern Circuit
An attractively priced, seven nights, set departure safari, visiting Tanzania’s fantastic Northern Parks. 
This safari travels overland from Arusha visiting the Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, the Ngorongoro Crater and of course the Serengeti National Reserve. The tour is suitable for 2 to 6 guests and includes all accommodation, meals, park fees and transport.
This is a great stand-alone safari but it is also ideal to combine with a beach holiday in Zanzibar or other Tanzanian Islands.
From £2568 to £3172 per person on a Kilimanjaro to Kilimanjaro basis

Selous and Ruaha Adventure – Great value for families with teenage children
An eight night trip vising the exciting but less well known Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park.
Fantastic value for money in peak season, with family accommodation staying in comfortable tented camps. Includes game drives and boat safaris. Why not add a few days relaxation on a beautiful tropical beach to complement the safari?
From £13200 Family of four £15500 family of five

Mozambique – Dugong anyone?

Mozambique is one of the last bastions of truly wild Africa, large country with plenty of game reserves and only a smattering of visitors. In the 1960’s Mozambique’s game reserves rivalled the best in Africa with the Gorongosa National Park the jewel in the crown. Civil war and rampant poaching reduced these once prolific reserves to a shadow of their former glory. The parks are now slowly recovering but are unlikely to appeal to mainstream wildlife enthusiasts for a few years yet.

Mozambique though has another trick up its sleeve. The country is blessed with some of the finest beaches and most pristine coral reefs in Africa. This part of the Indian Ocean is home to whales, sharks, manta rays and turtles. Mozambique has a specialty that you are unlikely to find elsewhere. The Dugong is a large and endangered marine mammal that can be found in the waters around Vilanculos. They are usually found in small groups feeding on sea grass in shallow water. If you want to see a Dugong let us help to plan a trip to Mozambique for you.
Mozambique has good flight connections with South Africa,, Kenya and Tanzania so it is a great place to relax after a safari in one of the traditional “Big Five” countries.

New wildlife documentaries featuring African destinations keep on coming, a sure sign of the interest in this vast and spectacular continent from tourists from around the world.

Luangwa Valley
The spectacular Luangwa Valley in Zambia recently warranted its own three part ITV documentary “Lion Country”, which showcases perfectly the beauty and sense of timeless Africa that you get in this raw and compelling wilderness. Safari Club have sent many guests to this exciting destination and look forward to sending many more. If you would like to visit the Luangwa Valley take a look at our 2017 “Land of the Big Cats” itinerary.

Zambia
Zambia is an increasingly popular wildlife destination and now that the government is taking tourism seriously we have noticed an increased level of interest in areas outside the usual circuit of South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi and Victoria Falls. Other attractions include North Luangwa which is only accessible for four months of the year and is the ultimate walking destination with just two small camps. Liuwa Plain which is getting its first permanent safari camp this year and is one of the best places to see cheetah and hyena in Zambia as well as huge herds of assorted plains game. Perhaps most importantly of all the vast Kafue National Park, real rising star on the safari circuit. Following previous articles on this park we have been asked for an idea of an itinerary and costing so please take a look at “Spirit of the Kafue”.

Ready to visit Serengeti?

Africa’s best known reserve is never a cheap place to visit but remains at the top of many bucket lists. If you are able to travel within six weeks we have a special offer that lets you get right into the heart of the Serengeti at around half the normal price. This is a flexible, flying safari staying in top quality camps on an all-inclusive basis which can be extended to visit other reserves. The final itinerary and price will depend on availability at camps so all you need to do is to provide us with dates and we will prepare a tailor made itinerary to suit. This special remains available throughout 2017 and is priced on a Kilimanjaro to Kilimanjaro basis.
7nts US$3834  per person sharing; 10nts US$5547 per person sharing.

Zimbabwe Magic
Zimbabwe remains one of the finest safari destinations in Africa with some excellent National Parks teeming with wild game not to mention the iconic Victoria Falls. The country is safe and peaceful and the local Zimbabwean people are friendly and very welcoming. In terms of value for money Zimbabwe is very attractive as well. If you fancy visiting, see our “Victoria Falls to Kariba” safari visiting Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba and Matusadona or contact us for a detailed itinerary. 
9nts US$3666 pp 12nts from US$5711 pp.

Maasai Mara to Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe?

Yes really! It is now possible to visit these diverse and iconic African destinations using the latest Kenya Airways flights. If you would like to visit these area’s staying in the excellent Governors and Wilderness Safaris camps please take a look at this “Iconic Africa”.
9nts from US$4531 to US$4863 (Excludes International Flights)

Ever seen African Wild Dogs?
For many safari enthusiasts seeing the endangered African wild dog, also known as the painted dog, is the highlight of an African safari. We can arrange a trip for you to the Painted Dog Conservancy adjacent to the Hwange National Park, where tracking these fascinating creatures with the specialist researchers is possible and sightings highly probable. See “Alison Dewar’s recent blog” on her trip to the dogs. Why not add a visit to our “Victoria Falls to Kariba” safari.

Baby Boom – Gorillas
Mountain gorillas have been regularly featuring in TV news bulletins in recent weeks. The reason for this is that buy acyclovir walmart there has been a baby boom, particularly in Uganda where a new baby is being born in most months. This is fantastic news for a species which reproduces slowly and remains highly endangered Much of this success derives from increased conservation efforts largely funded by wildlife tourism. If you can get to Rwanda or Uganda possibly taking advantage of the new direct flights from London Gatwick, then do go! you will enjoy a very special experience whilst helping to conserve one of our closest relatives.

Chimpanzee habitation
If you go to Uganda to meet the gorillas, you could also visit the chimpanzees in Kibale or Budongo and possibly go out with the researchers for a whole day as they go about habituating a group of wild chimpanzees to human presence.

Rwanda Gorilla Permits to double
The Rwanda Development board has announced that the price of a gorilla tracking permit will double from US$750 to US$1500 with immediate effect. Safari Club guests already booked to go to Rwanda have no need to worry as all permits are already secured! Permits for Uganda remain at US$600 at the time of writing making Uganda a very attractive option for guests wanting to see mountain gorillas! Read more

Elephant translocation breeding success
You may have read our blog from last year regarding the translocation of 500 elephants to Nkhotahota National Park from the overcrowded Liwonde and Majete National Parks. Nkhotakota was once home to more than 1,500 elephants. Lack of protection coupled with the insatiable demand for ivory reduced the population to just 100 individuals. Between July and August in 2016, 261 elephants were successfully moved from Liwonde to a sanctuary within Nkhotakota. The new arrivals are thriving! Recently rangers on patrol have sighted some very young elephants that have been born in Nkhotakota in the last six months. While we have yet to confirm numbers, given gestation is 22 months for elephants, these calves were conceived before making the journey to their new home. These elephants will soon be joined by 240 others, coming from Liwonde and Majete Wildlife Reserve between June and August 2017. Would you like to visit Nkhotahota and see some of these animals in their new and very beautiful home? Time it right and you could witness the arrival of the next batch of elephants. A safari here would combine very nicely with a trip to Zambia’s spectacular South Luangwa National Park and a few days relaxing on Lake Malawi.
Contact us if you would like to visit Malawi or read more about the translocation.
9nts from US$4531 to US$4863 (Excludes International Flights)

Botswana summer- Perfect Bargain
Past newsletters have featured “Green Season” safaris in Botswana between December and March. The cost of a safari in Botswana is around half the cost of a visit in the peak season. Green season game viewing remains excellent, with the bush green and fresh, birds in full mating plumage, many animals choosing to have their young in this time of plenty and the light is perfect for photography. Take a look at our “Sightings report” for March 2017 for taste of what could be in store.

Polish up your photography skills in Botswana
Would you like to improve your photography skills whilst enjoying a fabulous safari holiday in Botswana visiting the fabulous Selinda Reserve and the Okavango Delta? Our “Wild Studio” photography tour includes free tuition and advice and is suitable for beginners as well as experienced photographers. Accompanying partners are very welcome and will enjoy normal guided game drives.  The rates offered for the Wild Studio” are the same as normal seasonal lodge rates with no extra expense for specialist wildlife photographer/guide tuition. We recommend starting with three days on the “Wild Studio workshop” and then continuing with a regular safari to other areas of Botswana to practice your new-found skills.