CRUISE THE NILE IN STYLE; ZING THROUGH THE KAZINGA MARASA LAUNCHES NEW LUXURY BOATS

KAMPALA, Uganda (08/2013) Sure the Nile River looks pretty great from land, but why not cruise it in style with a 2- hour water safari on a luxurious boat from Mweya Safari Lodge through Uganda’s Kazinga Channel. The 22-mile channel links saltwater Lake Edward to fresh water Lake George – two rift valley lakes with royal lineage; they were named after Queen Victoria’s son Edward VII and her grandson George V.  

Mweya offers a couple of ways to experience the channel, with seasoned guides and a full crew. The Sunbird comfortably seats ten people, but for those seeking a truly special experience, the Kingfisher is perfect for a dozen people to ride in style and enjoy drinks and canapés while soaking in the beautiful surroundings and rich wildlife.

Nestled on a peninsula deep in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and surrounded by the fabled Rwenzori Mountains, (the ‘Mountains of the Moon’), Mweya is off the proverbial ‘beaten path.’ The Kazinga Channel serves as the border between the range and the Great Rift Valley Hills, and is a wildlife haven; hordes of hippos flock to the channel, and share this aquatic paradise with Nile crocodiles, while buffaloes and elephants drink at its edge. Additionally, the birding along Kazinga is truly unparalleled; there are over a hundred species of water birds, from the African Fish Eagle to the threatened, otherworldly Shoebill to the Lesser and Greater Flamingo. Mweya also boasts luxurious accommodations, a health club, and a host of activities.

A new luxury excursion boat, The Paraa Voyager, has also been launched at Paraa Safari Lodge to take guests and non-guests on a 2-1/2 hour Nile River cruise to Murchison Falls. Located in Murchison Falls National Park, Paraa overlooks the Nile as it flows from Lake Victoria to Lake Albert, where the Earth’s longest river squeezes through its narrowest point and cascades into a frothing pool below.  

Each excursion costs $36 per person and includes canapés and one soft drink/hard drink/beer/small bottle of red or white wine.

Both Paraa and Mweya are owned by Marasa Africa, which generously supported World Lion Day this year and continues to support lion conservation. Marasa has also donated two full board nights at Paraa to the Hope North event, benefiting Ugandan orphans, to be held in New York City September 18^th.

For more information or reservations, contact Corne Schalkwyk: corne@marasa.net or visit Mweya Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge

CALLING ALL ECLIPSE CHASERS: TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE SAFARI OFFERED IN UGANDA

KAMPALA, Uganda (08/2013) Premier Safaris , a specialist in adventure/luxury safaris in East Africa, announces a four-day Solar Eclipse Safari to experience a rare total eclipse of the sun in Pakwach, Northern Uganda, on November 3, 2013. The town is the country’s railhead on the White Nile, not far north of the outlet from Lake Albert. The eclipse will pass over Gabon in Western Africa, and be visible in Equatorial Uganda, Kenya and finally Ethiopia.  Rates for the package start at $2,000 per person sharing, but drop to $1861 per person for those joining the group departure from Kampala on November 1, 2013.  Mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is an optional add-on.

For the experienced eclipse chaser, such a narrow and abrupt eclipse will come with a prominent presentation of the colorful innermost atmospheric layer of the Sun – the chromosphere – and a spectacular view along the axis of the Moon’s shadow.  Premier’s director Corne Schalkwyk says, “Though the total phase of a solar eclipse is very brief, it is considered to be one of the most awe-inspiring spectacles in all of nature. The sky takes on an eerie twilight as the Sun’s bright face is replaced by the black disk of the Moon. Surrounding the Moon is a beautiful gossamer halo. This is the Sun’s spectacular solar corona, a super-heated plasma two million degrees in temperature.”

The Solar Eclipse Safari encompasses three nights at Paraa Safari Lodge, meals, game drives, a water Safari on the River Nile to see the thrilling Murchison Falls, and transport to Owiny Primary School in Pakwach, the ideal spot to await the moon’s occult of the sun.  

For detailed itinerary or bookings contact operations@premiersafaris.com

MARASA PROPERTIES ROAR INTO ACTION FOR WORLD LION DAY – AUGUST 10, 2013

KAMPALA, Uganda (05/2013) Marasa, a member of the Madhvani Group of Companies, one of the largest private-sector groups in East Africa, announces its participation in World Lion Day, August 10, 2013, a day that will be marked around the world to call attention to the endangerment of the King of Beasts.  On that date, Marasa properties in Uganda – Chobe Safari Lodge; Paraa Safari Lodge and Mweya Safari Lodge, will donate $1.00 for each room night at these lodges to the non-profit Uganda Conservation Foundation which helps free lions from snares.

World Lion Day is the first global campaign to celebrate the importance of the lion worldwide and to call attention to the need for conservation efforts in the lions’ behalf.  Organizers say, “Since the dawn of man, the lion has played an integral role in our lives:  symbolically, religiously, culturally, economically and biologically.  To lose the lion from our world would be to lose part of our global heritage.”

Guests can see the splendid lion in his natural habitat by going on game drives at Chobe Safari Lodge and Paraa Safari Lodge, both in Murchison Falls National Park, and both scenically situated on the River Nile.  And they can view a particular wonderment – tree-climbing lions – while on safari at Mweya Safari Lodge. Mweya is located in Queen Elizabeth National Park on the amazing natural channel, Kazinga, running between salt water Lake Edward and fresh water Lake George. The channel attracts a varied range of animals and birds, with one of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos and numerous Nile crocodiles.

Arrangements to see the Ugandan lions can be made through Premier Safaris. 

For more information on World Lion Day, visit: www.worldlionday.com

UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY OFFERING ADDITIONAL GORILLA PERMITS

KAMPALA, Uganda- What was once the world’s largest family of mountain gorillas, the Nshongi, located in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, has been reconfigured into three families.  At the same time, another band, the Kahungye, has split into two.  “These additions bring the total family groups in this sector to five, meaning more gorilla permits and more tracking options for tourists,” says Corne Schalkwyk, general manager of Premier Safaris, a specialist in adventure/luxury safaris in East Africa

Of all the groups, Schalkwyk believes the most interesting is the Busingye, led by a chest-thumping Silverback, a veritable King Kong, whose legendary forays in the wild for adult females have earned him a privileged place among gorilla Don Juans.  “He mercilessly grabs females from groups that he encounters and has grown his turf (and his brood) faster than other gorillas. Visitors can expect great encounters and interesting animal behavior to absorb,” says Schalkwyk.

Research from the BMCA (Bwindi Mkahinga Conservation Area) monitoring team led by Research Warden Kato Raymond indicates no intention of the breakaway groups returning to their parent families in the future. (Unlike today’s college kids). Interactions between the “mother” families and their seceding factions have been characterized by fierce battles mostly restricted to dominant males guarding their turf. Each group tries to avoid direct interaction with one another for fear of losing members in a fight.

Premier Safaris will arrange gorilla treks into Bwindi with stays at Silverback Lodge, the largest property in Buhoma, comprising 12 self-contained rooms overlooking the Forest. The Lodge is excellently located, just a short walk to the forest park headquarters, and affords the best, most sweeping views of the valley

Mountain Gorillas are a critically endangered species. Of the 800 or so remaining in the world (none survive outside their natural habitat), more than half are to be found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. F.Y.I. The word gorilla derives from the Greek word Gorillai meaning hairy women.

For more information:  contact gm@premiersafaris.com or visit: www.silverbacklodge.com

PREMIER SAFARIS’ ANNOUNCES NOVEL EXPLORER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

KAMPALA, Uganda-  Premier Safaris, a specialist in adventure/luxury safaris in East Africa, is launching a unique program – customized safaris with Explorer-in-Residence Julian Monroe Fisher, a 21^st century David Livingstone. Fisher, an American currently based in Austria, is an explorer, author, anthropologist, ethnographer, filmmaker, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, member of the American Anthropological Association and an International Fellow of the British Chapter of The Explorers Club in New York City.  

Between 2007 and 2011, Fisher conducted five consecutive Explorers Club flag-sanctioned research expeditions to the African continent. In 2012-13, he guided an expedition team that included David Baker, great-great-grandson of renowned Victorian-age explorer Sir Samuel White Baker, retracing Baker’s 1860’s route from Cairo to Murchison Falls in Uganda.

Open to two – six people who crave adventure, Premier Safaris will tailor an African safari with emphasis on Uganda, the “pearl of Africa,” and stays at Chobe Safari Lodge and Paraa Safari Lodge. Fisher as well as a local guide will be along for the duration of the trip. Beyond leading the safari, he will share tales, historical facts, anthropological information and anecdotes from his twenty years of spearheading expeditions across the continent. Journeys include Lake Victoria, where one of the great 19^th century quests – the source of the White Nile – was fulfilled, when Jack Speke discovered it at Jinja.

Adventurers can visit the explored or hazard the unexplored, just like Livingstone, Sir Richard Burton, Beryl Markham and other intrepid Africaphiles.  Rates vary, depending on accommodations, number of people and activities required.  General rate: about US$3300 per person for a trip with five people over seven days. Trips can be extended to 10 days for those who want to retrace Baker’s footsteps in Uganda.

For more information, contact Corne Schalkwyk at gm@premiersafaris.com  visit www.premiersafaris.com or go to Fisher’s website: www.JulianMonroeFisher.com

ANNOUNCING THE OSCARS OF THE NATURAL WORLD – AFRICA THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE

The Seven Natural Wonders Project, a non-profit conservation initiative based in Dallas, Texas and spearheaded by Dr. Phillip Imler, has declared award winners of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and they are:  The River Nile; Mt. Kilimanjaro; The Red Sea; Ngorongoro Crater; Sahara Desert; Okavango Delta; and the Serengeti Migration. Tanzania’s Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Ambassador K. Kagasheki, presided over the awards ceremony which was sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines.

The voting process was conducted by specialists* and criteria included “grandeur; amazement and wonder.” 

Uganda’s Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, the Hon. Agnes Egunyu, accepted the award for “The Nile, longest river in the world with its source in Uganda.”  She noted that this prestigious award is yet another in a series of accolades bestowed on Uganda, among which was being selected in 2012 by the New York Times as a top tourist destination.

To experience some of the wonders of this exciting country and The River Nile in all its glory, Premier Safaris has developed a six-night, all-inclusive package called Nile Spectacle, a water safari that comprises visiting the source of the White Nile, river rafting, and a boat trip to world-famous Murchison Falls and the foaming pool at its base known as the Devil’s Cauldron. Guests will enjoy stays at luxury lodges including Paraa Safari Lodge and Chobe Safari Lodge, both of which afford spectacular views of the Nile.

The rate per person for six nights, all-inclusive, start at US$3000. 

For more information, contact gm@premiersafaris.com Or call toll free +1-877-620-9329

*The Declaration Committee of the Seven Natural Wonders Project includes Alexandra Cousteau, daughter of the legendary marine explorer and founder of Blue Legacy International; Rich Beattie, executive editor of Travel + Leisure; Dr. John Francis, a vice president of the National Geographic Society; TV host Julia Dimon;  Dr. Frank Gill, president of Audubon; and Arend de Haas, co-founder of the Africa Conservation Society.

THE WILDER SHORES OF LOVE: EXPEDITION TO RE-TRACE DISCOVERY OF LAKE ALBERT & MURCHISON FALLS, UGANDA

A four-night expedition to re-trace and document the African explorations of Sir Samuel Baker, one of the more courageous and colorful 19^th century European adventurers, and his second wife, Florence, a Hungarian beauty who was a former slave, is being led by Julian Fisher and accompanied on the Uganda leg by Baker’s great-great-grandson, David Baker.

A widower and committed abolitionist, Baker attended a white slave auction in Bulgaria and rescued a beautiful blonde girl twenty years his junior, who was about to be sold into a Turkish harem. In 1864, Baker and Florence, after withstanding hunger, disease, and myriad deprivations and threats, arrived at the shores of a lake in what is now Uganda, and identified the place where the White Nile enters the lake. Baker christened the lake “Albert,” after England’s late Prince Regent. Then, upstream the couple discovered the mighty Murchison Falls, where the Nile flows through a 23-foot-wide cleft in the rocks to plunge 148 feet below, forming a spectacular rainbow. Baker named the falls in honor of the then president of the Royal Geographic Society, Sir Roderick Murchison.

Those enchanted by the romance and derring-do of Africa’s great explorers can follow in the footsteps of Samuel and Florence, who became notorious in Victorian England because they traveled as an unwed couple.  After their incredible adventures, notoriety turned into fame:  he for his discoveries, she for her resourcefulness (among other gifts, she was an expert seamstress, who made all their clothes) and together for their unconventional romance (they later married).

Premier Safaris, a specialist in adventure/luxury safaris in East Africa, is packaging a trip for those who want to follow Samuel’s and Florence’s journey to Lake Albert. It includes a boating safari on the Nile to Murchison Falls, game drives, and stays in Murchison Falls National Park at two luxury lodges:  Chobe Safari Lodge and Paraa Safari Lodge.  Located in a little-known section of the Park, Chobe boasts breathtaking, panoramic views of the River Nile, coupled with the sounds of its frothing rapids.  Paraa, known as the “jewel of the Nile,” also offers delightful views of the river and its resident population of hippos and crocodiles.

Rates for the four-night safari are $1,975 per person sharing; single room supplement is $118. Rates are valid from 1 January 2013 – 31 December 2013. There is a minimum of two guests per departure. 
Included in the rates are two nights at Chobe Safari Lodge and two nights at Paraa Safari Lodge, Murchinson Falls National Park, most meals, ground transportation in custom built safari vehicles with English speaking guides, all park fees (as specified in the program) and government taxes.

For reservations, email: GM@premiersafaris.com or visit:  www.premiersafaris.com

GORILLAS UP; PRICES DOWN: TIME TO GO TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST/UGANDA

According to the just-released 2011 Census by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the critically-endangered mountain gorilla population in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is confirmed at 400. The prior census in 2006 put the number at 302.  Part of the increase is due to improved census methods and conservation through daily ranger monitoring, but it is also due to actual population growth.  Aiding in the rising numbers is veterinary care provided by Gorilla Doctors. Their Uganda field team, led by Dr. Fred Nizeyimana, regularly monitors all of the habituated gorillas in the Park for health problems and performs medical interventions when it is determined that an individual has a life-threatening disease or illness.

Those travelers who have placed on their bucket list seeing the mountain gorillas should plan a trip to Uganda now.  The Uganda Wildlife Authority, in celebration of the country’s 50^th anniversary of independence next year, is cutting gorilla fees in April and May 2013 by $150, thus putting gorilla fees in Uganda during those two months at $350.  Beyond that, Ugandan gorilla fees, usually $500, are substantially below those of Rwanda and the Republic of the Congo – now at $750.

There are other reasons to go, too.  Marasa Africa, one of the largest diversified private-sector investors in Uganda, is offering a special fly-in three-day package to track the gorillas in the Park at $2,156 per person sharing.  The rain-forest is spectacular with a heavily vegetated and dense landscape and spending time with the shy and peaceful gorillas is an unforgettable experience.

Marasa’s fly-in four-day package at $2,693 per person sharing includes everything on the three-day package and an additional day on an escorted trek with the Batwa, the pygmies who live just outside the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.  The Batwa guides will discuss how they hunt and the medicinal plants they use.  They will also share a traditional meal and relate ancient legends and traditional songs.   It is a cultural experience like no other.

Accommodations for both packages are in the recently purchased and refurbished Silverback Lodge, part of the Marasa portfolio of quality tourism products in East Africa.  Silverback is situated in the Buhoma section of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO site home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population.  In Bwindi that includes 36 family groups and 16 lone males. Ten family groups totaling 168 gorillas are habituated to human presence for tourism. The 124-square-mile Bwindi is also inhabited by non-habituated chimpanzees, more than 100 other species of mammals, 346 species of birds, and 163 species of trees.

The rates includes accommodation with meals while on safari, domestic scheduled flights and ground transfers in custom built safari vehicles with English speaking guides, gorilla permits, all park fees, and government taxes.

There are many other reasons to go to Uganda, including a safari on the Nile River.  More internal flights are being offered there than ever before.  Premier Safaris is ready to assist.  Please contact:  operations@premiersafaris.com for itinerary suggestions and quote.

FIRST WALKING SAFARIS IN MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Developed by Chobe Safari Lodge/Uganda in Tandem with Uganda Wildlife Authority

Chobe Safari Lodge/Uganda, a Marasa* Africa luxury property, announces the first Walking Safaris in Murchison Falls National Park. The Walking Safaris were developed in tandem with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), which will provide an armed UWA Ranger to accompany the safaris. “We worked with the UWA to build a watering hole and natural salt lick around which the Nature Walks could take place,” said Roni Madhvani, Managing Director.

Being around trees and grassy areas lowers brain stress levels and is good for mental health, according to findings just released by Glasgow University from a Scottish Health Survey. The Survey concluded that walking (or jogging) in a forest has a 50% higher health benefit than working out in a gym. So, the Chobe Walking Safari is not only exciting and pleasurable, but is bound to have a calming effect on the brain.

The Walking Safari costs $20, but may be incorporated (without charge) as part of a new Nile, Nature Walk and Novelty Safari offered by Premier Safaris (for rates and itinerary, see below).

At 1480 square miles, Murchison Falls National Park in northwestern Uganda is the country’s largest national park and the location of famous Murchison Falls, where the River Nile is forced through a narrow gorge to plunge 140 feet to a frothing pool below. The Park is home to four of the Big Five – buffalo, elephant, lion and leopard (the fifth, the rhino, can now be seen at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, just 40 miles to the south). It is home, too, to the Rothschild giraffe, tallest animal on earth, whose distinguishing feature is its white “socks” – no patterning from the knees down.  There is also an amazing array of birds, some 300 different species, many with spectacular plumage, implausibly-wide wingspans, or so architecturally skilled, they build elaborate “condo” nests in the acacia trees.

Experiencing a Walking Safari is entirely different than viewing the bush or plains from a four-wheel-drive vehicle.  Safari-goers can sense the pulse of Africa, listen to its silence and its sounds, and feel the thrill of being a heartbeat away from danger. The Chobe Safari Lodge/Uganda Nature Walk takes about an hour and a half. Likely sightings include elephants, giraffes, buffalos, herds of kob (Uganda’s national animal), wart hogs and such birds as Martial Eagle, Woodland Kingfisher, African Marsh Harrier, Lizard Buzzard, African Harrier Hawk, Yellow Mantled Widow bird, African Paradise Flycatcher, the rare Fox Kestrel and many more. Also to be seen are crocodiles and hippo in the River Nile that forms part of the Walking Safari.

NILE, NATURE WALK AND NOVELTY, A PREMIER SAFARIS ADVENTURE

Day 1: Kampala – Jinja

In the morning after breakfast, our safari guide will pick you up from your place of stay, and drive you to the source of the White Nile – Jinja. Jinja is situated directly at Lake Victoria, where the Nile finds its origin. En route, we will make a stop at Mabira Forest for a forest walk with the possibility of seeing different types of primates, birds and colorful butterflies. After Mabira Forest, you will proceed to Owen Falls, and see the source of the Nile. Dinner and overnight accommodations are provided at Wild Waters Lodge.

Day 2: Jinja

Ready for a full day of adventure? Then start rafting at the source of the Nile. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and thundering rapids of the White Nile. Don’t forget to watch the incredible birdlife, as you drift quietly between the rapids of the river. Dinner and overnight accommodations are provided at Wild Waters Lodge.

Day 3: Jinja - Murchison Falls National ParkBeginning with a scenic drive northwest, we will stop and visit the ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY, to track rhino on foot (ZIWA was created to re-introduce Rhino to Uganda after their extinction in 1982). After lunch, we proceed to Murchison Falls National Park for an afternoon game drive around Chobe Safari Lodge area. Later, you will check in to the lodge, marveling at the panoramic views of the Nile, and enjoy your first evening in the African bush.

Day 4: Game Viewing Safari - Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, we embark on a morning walking safari to a nearby watering hole.  This is a fantastic experience as you can truly feel the pulse of the African bush away from the protective cocoon of your vehicle. Transfer from Chobe Safari Lodge to Paraa Safari Lodge in the heart of the Murchison Falls National Park, where your guide will help you spot the plethora of wildlife found in the Park. After lunch, you will safari upstream by boat to the calm Victoria Nile and the base of Murchison Falls, just tens of meters from the "Devil's Cauldron." Return in the evening for dinner and overnight accommodations at Paraa Safari Lodge. 

Day 5: Game Viewing Safari - Murchison Falls National ParkAfter breakfast, visit the top of the Murchison Falls. From this vantage point you will have an opportunity to see the Nile’s savage beauty, as you watch the Nile forced through a seven meter cleft in the rocks to plunge 45 meters below, forming a spectacular rainbow. Return to the lodge for lunch and, after an afternoon siesta; venture on a game drive through the Borassus Palms plains, a visual feast. Retire for dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge.

Day 6: Murchison Falls National Park – KampalaDepart from Murchison Falls, for your return to Kampala.

Rates start at $3550 per person sharing

Single room supplement $450

Included:

All accommodation (full-board basis)

All activities as per the itinerary

All in-country transport

Park entry fees

Contact:  operations@premiersafaris.com

Website: www.premiersafaris.com

Chobe Safari Lodge/Uganda

The new and luxurious five-star Chobe Safari Lodge, located in a little-known section of Murchison Falls National Park, is becoming one of Uganda’s key tourist destinations for adventurers, anglers, and aficionados of river-scapes.  It comprises 36 elegant guest rooms, 21 luxury tents, four suites and a Presidential Cottage. A state-of-the-art Conference block can host up to 100 guests and is fully equipped for business meetings.

The lodge enjoys breathtaking panoramic views of the River Nile, coupled with the sounds of its frothing rapids.  Room rates start at $275 a night for a double ($325 for full board); Tent rates start at $195 a night ($220) for full board.  All rates are inclusive of 5% service charge, all applicable government taxes and $5 per person UWA royalty fees.

www.chobelodgeuganda.com; www.premiersafaris.com

*Marasa is a member of the Madhvani Group of Companies, one of the largest private-sector groups in East Africa, employing more than 10,000 people. Starting in Uganda in 1914, the Group has developed into a widely diversified conglomerate with a geographical spread into various African countries, the Middle East and India. As the largest private sector investor in industry in Uganda, the Group has an outstanding track record in turning-around dormant companies, and has achieved a market leadership position in most of the sectors in which it operates, including tourism, sugar, agriculture, floriculture, insurance, construction, and more.  With a long-established presence and core values of integrity and long-term commitment, the Madhvani Group has a vision of continuing growth in this region.

MARASA AFRICA ACQUIRES SILVERBACK LODGE TO OFFER TOP-VALUE, ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME GORILLA EXPERIENCE

KAMPALA, Uganda (05/2012) The Madhvani Group, one of the largest diversified private-sector investors in Uganda, has recently acquired (April 1, 2012) through Marasa Africa, its tourism subsidiary, Silverback Lodge in Buhoma, Western Uganda, proximate to the rare, beloved and endangered Mountain Gorillas. Through its acquisition of Silverback and its existing portfolio of Mweya Safari Lodge (Queen Elizabeth National Park), Paraa and Chobe Safari Lodges (Murchison Falls National Park), Marasa Africa is able to offer travelers the definitive Uganda experience.

Silverback Lodge, the largest property in Buhoma, comprises 12 self-contained rooms overlooking nearby Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to Mountain Gorillas, other primates, including chimpanzees, 346 species of birds and 163 species of trees. The Lodge is excellently located, just a short walk to the forest park headquarters, and affords the best, most sweeping views of the valley. In time to welcome guests this season, Silverback will immediately undergo basic upgrading (new bedding, china, glassware, etc.). Thereafter, it will undergo soft refurbishment in keeping with its rustic, traditional style and homey feel. In addition, new kitchens will be introduced, some new furniture added, and infrastructure, including water supply and pressure, will be improved. Rates start at an exceptionally reasonable $380 full board for a double twin room. Because of its size, the lodge can accommodate larger groups.

To observe the gorillas, visitors need a seasoned guide and a permit secured well in advance, usually by the tour operator. While rates for gorilla trekking permits have recently increased by half in Rwanda to $750 per person, rates have remained at $500 in Uganda. Those who have experienced seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat invariably say, “It’s the thrill of a lifetime.”

Before farmers cleared the slopes for cultivation some 900 years ago, Bwindi was part of a larger forest that extended along the Rift Valley escarpment south to the Virunga volcanoes. In 1961, Bwindi became a Game Reserve as well as a Forest Reserve with its size increasing to 127 square miles. Then, thirty years later, as its attraction for gorilla tourism was recognized, Bwindi was elevated to a National Park. That same year habituation of two gorilla families began, and two years later the “Mubare” group was made available to tourists. Another family was habituated the following year. More groups have since been habituated, and some were even split into two to increase the number of families. Today, some three hundred plus Mountain Gorillas – half the world’s population of this highly-endangered species – live here.

Because of its outstanding beauty and scientific value as one of the densest rainforests on the planet, in 1994, the entirety of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site. At the time it was said that Bwindi’s eco-system “defines the very essence of the continent.”

In addition to gorilla trekking, visitors can hike in the park, meet the diminutive-sized indigenous peoples (once called Pygmies) through the Batwa Trail, tour the local Bwindi Community Hospital, and stroll through the community gardens.

Silverback Lodge is an hour’s flight from Entebbe or a three-hour drive from Mweya Safari Lodge, an ideal stop-over. It can also be reached directly from Kampala by road (takes an entire day) or from Kigali (a six-hour drive).

Reservations may be made through the Marasa Africa Reservations Office:

Marasa Central Reservations
Plot 96-98, 5th Street, Industrial Area
P O Box 22827, Kampala, Uganda
Ph: +256 (0) 41 4255992
Ph: +256 (0) 31 2260260/1
Fax: +256 (0) 31 2260262
Email: mweyaparaa@africaonline.co.ug
Website: www.silverbacklodge.com

THIS IS UGANDA NOW

Beautiful, peaceful and serene, a great travel destination for both renewal and adventure.