Category: Amakula Travel tips & News

As we already mentioned in our introduction, Tanzania has over 200 tribes. However, the most intriguing are the Masai tribesmen. The Masai have a reputation as great warriors. In fact, some people believe that the Masai were a lost legion or defectors of the vast army of the Roman empire. The Masai are very tall and spend most of their time tending to their domestic Top attractions in Tanzaniaanimals close to or within national parks in the northern part of the country. Their culture and traditions have remained unchanged despite exposure to modernization. They put on colorful clothing and striking beads. A Masai men can have as many wives as he wishes as long he can take care of them. A visit to Tanzania is therefore incomplete without encountering this fascinating tribe. If you cannot meet them in the national parks, you will find the Masai selling souvenirs/curios in weekly markets all over the country. If you are lucky to meet those in villages close to the parks, then you will be taken for a truly amazing cultural experience. You will have opportunities to enter their traditional huts, listen to stories from their elders, watch cultural performances and participate in their jumping ceremonies. The one who jumps the highest wins an award.

The first person to identify the mountain gorilla was Captain Robert von Beringe while on an expedition to establish the boundaries of the then German colonies in East Africa. After shooting two of the large apes, one was captured and sent to a museum in Germany. It was here that a new gorilla species was discovered. It was named Gorilla beringei after the captain Robert. In the following decades, several researchers took interest in studying this new species including George Schaller in 1959 and Dian Fossey in 1967. Fossey took Mountain gorilla research to an unprecedented level and is credited for discovering new ways of habituating mountain gorillas like mimicking their sounds and gaining the trust of the dominant male silverback. She organized the first gorilla census and changed from focusing solely on research to gorilla conservation hence bringing to the attention of the world the plight of the gorillas. Dian Fossey and Mountain GorillasDian Fossey divided gorilla conservation into three areas – Active, theoretical and community-based. Under active conservation, she suggested the need to proactively enforce laws that were against poaching including destroying poacher equipment, carrying out animal censuses. Theoretical conservation would require improving the infrastructure around gorilla habitats including renovating park offices, lodges and habituating gorilla families to encourage tourism. The final approach to gorilla conservation is the community based conservation approach where communities are involved and their interests taken into consideration. Fossey actively fought against poachers by sabotaging their operations and starting park patrols. Her brutal murder is believed to have been a result of her hard line against poachers. Her work continues to this day through what is now known as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.

Amakula African Safaris arranges Budget, Mid-range and Luxury wildlife tours. Our Luxury silverback gorilla and wildlife tours will exceed your expectations. With a luxury gorilla tour in Africa, you get to travel in our luxury tour vans and sleep in the best hotels and lodges while drinking fine wine in the African bush. Our luxury gorilla tours in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo can be arranged for individuals, families, large groups and honeymooners. Honeymoon safaris in East Africa involve special treats for lovers who want to spend their honeymoon experiencing Africa’s beautiful nature or taking part in activities like gorilla trekking. Imagine spending time with your loved one away from the hustle and bustle back in your city while watching breathtaking wildlife, relaxing on lake Kivu, enjoying the natural green African vegetation and landscape under the stars – Is there anything else more special than that? You may find our 2 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour interesting. We have over 3 years experience organizing Mission Trips for volunteers and missionaries visiting famous religious centers like the Namugongo Martyrs shrine among others. We are experienced organizing large group tours that require great planning and coordination. Are you are tour operator with a large group visiting Uganda for a safari? We can help you organize things on the ground and ensure your clients have the best time while on a tour of Uganda. Hikers may be interested in the 3 Days Mount Karisimbi Hike.

One thing you can never go wrong about Nyungwe Forest National Park is its rich diversity and the best way to discover the hidden attractions of this natural gem is by hiking right through it to appreciate the majesty of its towering trees, wide array of wildlife species, plethora of bird species and just take photos. This 1000-square kilometer Park is found in the southwestern side of the country and borders Lake Kivu, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are over 1000 plant species of which 200 are tree species while 140 are Orchids. Of the 80 over mammal species, 13 are primate species. Nyungwe is also one of the best 5 birding spots in Rwanda with over 320 bird species that include over 20 Albertine Rift endemics. If you have plans of venturing into this jungle (known for being the largest Afro-montane rainforest in Africa) and stretch your legs, here are the must-try hiking trails; Buhoro Trail At 1.8 kilometers long, the incredible Buhoro Trail is one of the shortest in this National Park and can be completed in only one and a half hours. This easy Trail is perfect for travelers looking to simply enjoy the cool breeze while appreciating the beauty of Mother Nature. Bigugu Trail Bigugu Trail is over 13.2-kilometer long (for a round trip) and usually starts from Nyabishwati for a distance of over 6 hours. While it is long, there is so much to see and these include flora species, breathtaking hills, phenomenal views of Lake Kivu, and magnificent islands in the DRC side of Lake Kivu. If you choose this trail, be prepared to hike to the highest peak of Nyungwe Forest (Bigugu). The Congo Nile Divide This is the longest Trail at 42 kilometers and is also one of the

Nairobi: Nairobi is the largest city and capital of Kenya. It is a modern, multicultural and historic town with amazing attractions (wildlife, museums and historical monuments). Nairobi was the headquarters during British colonial rule in East Africa and hence gained from having the largest group of European settlers in the region. Most of the settlers worked as plantation owners while others were and representatives of the Queen in the region. The key tourist attractions in Nairobi are the Nairobi National Park, the Karen Blixen Museum, The Giraffe Center, The Bomas of Kenya and the Nairobi National Museum. The Nairobi National Museum is where you can stop to learn about the history and culture of the people of Kenya. The Karen Blixen Museum was the home of the renowned Danish plantation owner and author Karen Blixen. As we shall find out later, the house was turned into a museum to remember her life and times in Kenya. The Nairobi National Park is the only one in the world that is located so close to a large city. You can spot all of the big five animals without having to drive to the major national parks in the countryside. We will be discussing many of the Nairobi’s attractions separately. Nightclubs and bars: If you love having fun up to late in the night, then you won’t be disappointed while visiting Kenya’s capital or any of the other larger cities. Most of the cities host concerts every weekend where both local and international artists are hired to perform for revelers. The atmosphere may be slightly different from that in your home country but the music will be familiar though with a mix of songs from the local artists. The best bars and nightclubs in Nairobi are found in the northwestern part of the

Wildlife If you’re considering an African Safari, you’re probably surfing the web aggressively, trying to find the grandest spot for wildlife sightings. You’ve got all your gear ready, the camera on standby, and all you need to know now is where to go! What I can tell you, is if Kenya was on your list, move it up to the first position, and if you hadn’t thought about it, you might need to question your sources! Kenya is a jewel embedded in East Africa. It is a country abundant in some of the world’s most majestic natural wonders. Think of spectacular mountain ranges, extraordinary rift valleys, hot springs, wildlife parks and even beaches! The country's diverse landscapes are unlike any place in the world, and it’s a destination where one can find both relaxation, thrill and of course, wildlife! Now you’re probably wondering what exactly you’d see, and while we can’t guarantee you’ll see every single animal that roams the face of the earth, we can guarantee that it gets rather close, in Kenya. We’ll put all your wildlife questions to rest and even give you the exact places in Kenya, these beautiful beasts are found.   Animals in Kenya: The Cats Lions I’m sure the king of the jungle is right up there with your most desired sightings, and the good news is; they’re in abundance, in Kenya. While you’re most likely to see them on the hunt at dawn or dusk, keep your eyes peeled during the day, for any slight movements under a shady tree. This is their favorite spot, to cool off in the beating African sun. Where to find them: If you follow the great migration through the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve, from July to September you're almost guaranteed to see

The Great Mammal Migration is undeniably one of the world’s most spectacular events and a once in a lifetime experience. Each year sees a great number of travelers, from all over the world, descend to the plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania, to witness this awe-inspiring natural wonder. Picture over 2 million mammals traveling as one force on a circular route across two countries, in search of greener pastures and a safe place to give birth to their young. These mammals, which consist of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle, face challenging terrain and often dangerous situations which sadly results in the loss of life. It is, however, difficult not to admire the incredible journey that these animals embark on; the trials and tribulations they face and the sheer determination to reach their destination. It is an experience not easily put into words but is without a doubt unlike anything on this planet.  Because the Great Migration is nothing short of jaw-dropping, here are some incredible facts to know before embarking on your safari of a lifetime! More than 2 million mammals travel approximately 500 miles across the open plains. Great migration of wildebeest, Masai Mara, Kenya The first fact to know before going on your safari is that an incredible number of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle travel through the plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya - 2 million to be exact! These mammals travel an astonishing 500 miles in search of greener pastures and a safe place to give birth. A natural instinct for any animal is to seek safety by traveling in numbers. This is a successful tactic used to avoid notorious predators such as lions and Nile crocodiles who strategically hide in the grassy Mara plains and

After realizing the worth of tracking mountain gorillas in the wild, you might decide that you want to go for safari in one of the three countries. You may have even gotten excited and already booked air tickets, accommodation and transport. The next big question on your mind would be – What is the experience of gorilla trekking like? Like all travelers in the past, the next thing to do after making reservations with your tour company is to show up in the country of choice. Your tour company or hotel should pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel or start the journey to the national park. The distance from the airport to the national park varies depending on which country you choose to do the trekking. If you are tracking in Rwanda, the driving time will be 2 hours. If you are tracking in Congo, you need to first land in Kigali international airport and then be driven to the Congo Rwanda border crossing in Goma. From the border you will be driven to the Virunga National Park which is a few kilometers away from the border. Should you decide to do gorilla trekking in Uganda, expect to travel on road for eight hours to either Bwindi of Mgahinga National Park. You can avoid the long travel from Entebbe international airport in Uganda by landing in Kigali (Rwanda) instead and driving for only 3 hours to the national parks in Uganda. If you happen to be traveling with Mission Africa Safaris, the Driver/Guide will pick you up from the airport of a hotel and take you up to your accommodation facility close to the national park. On the day of the trek, the Driver will pick you up very early in the morning from

Volcanoes National Park – Africa’s home of mountain gorillas in Rwanda if not in the whole world alongside Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – home of lowland gorillas. In this case, everything remains in the hands of the visitor to either do mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda or lowland gorilla trekking in Congo. National Park of the Mountains Rwanda is surrounded by the Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This park covers an area of 160sqkm of rain forest and bamboo. National Park of the Mountains Ten families of endangered mountain gorillas have been confirmed to live in Rwanda, and it is thanks to the country's stringent conservation policies and programs that these montane and bamboo forest ecosystems have remained intact, favoring and supporting the mountain gorilla population growth in Volcanoes National Park. The park is home to five of the eight volcanoes that make up the Virunga highlands, including Mt. Karisimbi, Mt. Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo, in addition to being a shelter for habituated mountain gorillas. In addition to all of that, it has been discovered that Rwanda is home to two habituated endangered Golden monkey troops with over 80 members each. Because of its avian diversity—more than 180 different bird species—this park is currently regarded by the majority of Rwandan birders and tourists as a must-visit birding site in Rwanda. Again, Volcanoes National Park is rich with the history of American primatologist and naturalist Dian Fossey, who tragically perished as a result of her unmatched devotion to these apes. The gorillas in the volcanoes were in danger of extinction, and Dian Fossey was a steadfast pillar who opposed any immoral deeds and activities like poaching. She conducted in-depth research on these apes once

The following Gorilla Trekking Rules and Regulations (as outlined in the printed brochure by the Uganda Wildlife Authority titled "Gorilla Rules") would apply to anyone arranging a gorilla tracking safari in Uganda. Before departing on your gorilla tracking A habituated mountain gorilla group may only have up to 8 visitors each day. By doing this, the gorillas' behavioral disruption and chance of contracting diseases spread by humans are reduced. Be sure to wash your hands before seeing the gorillas. On the way to the gorillas Please speak quietly at all times. Also, the abundant birdlife and other species in the forest will be visible to you. DON'T dispose of trash in the park. You should take everything you bring into the forest with you when you leave. You will be brought to the location where the guides saw the gorillas the day prior. From there, you can locate them by following the gorilla's track. Be on the lookout for gorilla nesting locations along the journey! The guides will warn you to get ready when you come close to the mountain gorillas. When you are with the gorillas: Try to maintain a constant 7-meter (21 foot) distance from the gorillas. The group will be more at ease the further back you are. When you are close to the gorillas, you must remain in a small group. Maintain a low voice at all times. It is acceptable to query the guide, though. Avoid smoking, drinking, and eating when you are close to the gorillas. Eating or drinking will inevitably raise the chance that food, drink, or droplets will fall, increasing the possibility that diseases will be transmitted. The gorillas occasionally charge. Observe the example provided by the guide (crouch down slowly, do not look the gorillas directly in the eyes and wait