LAKE KATWE SALT TOUR

Katwe Salt Lake Tour just near Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Lake Katwe is set up in south western part of Uganda within kasese district bordered by Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is one of about 52 explosion crater lakes found in Queen Elizabeth national park. 

This unusual lake is far too salty to support any wildlife – though since the 16th Century it has ensured the survival of the Katwe villagers, who spend their days under the equatorial sun, harvesting salt from its milky waters.

Unique networks of paths and huts have been built across the lake to support hundreds of workers, as selling the rock and table salt to traders from across Uganda, and as far as Congo and Rwanda, is the main source of income for the community.

This tour gives visitors a unique insight into the fascinating yet tough process of salt mining, as well as providing an alternative income for Katwe. During the tour of the lake you will see community members at work, cross the mud walkways and enter one of the traditional grass huts, used to shelter and store tools. You will also pass the nearby bird sanctuary lake, home to thousands of birds, including flamingos from October to May.

Salt mining in Katwe is one of Africa’s oldest industries still surviving. It has played an important political and economic role in the history of the western part of Uganda

The water within this lake is actually 60 percent salty.

The women crumb the bottom of the salt garden to hollow out the salt. Actually they make use of their feet to smash the salt to smaller and fine crystals, after which they wash these crystals to form edible salt (also called the washed salt or sodium chloride).

Fate of the female miners

Women are not safe either. However, most of them are shy to share the negative health effects of engaging in salt mining. It is said that when the ammonia gas from the water gets into a woman’s reproductive organs, it causes uterus irritation and abdominal pains. The women therefore, heavily pad themselves before entering the salt pans.

Besides salt mining, the lake is a big tourist destination. Its visitors include students, tourists and researchers. The peak months are June to August and mid October to December. Visitors can only access the lake with the help of a tour guide.

Accommodation

Mweya Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Sandton Hotel, Executive Inn and Silver Springs Hotel in Kasese town. There are no hotels in Katwe though. But, there are a few fair restaurants and guest houses.

UGANDAN CULTURE.

Ugandan Heritage.

Nakayima Tree on Mubende Hill

A four hundred year old tree, near the Kampala-Fort Portal road, is thought to contain the spirit of Ndahura, a medieval Bachwezi king.

The Munsa Earthworks, the remains of an elaborate fortification and Ntusi, a large settlement from the 15th century are other Bachwezi sites deeper in the interior.

Nakayima Shrine.

The shrine is found in Mubende. This is ancient witch tree, the base of which has a large buttress roots, it is sited on top of Mubende hills about 4km out of the town. This is a 2.13m hill with a flat table top where the ancient palace once stood provides an excellent view of Mubende town and the surrounding area. The tree is estimated about 400-500 years and it serves as a shrine of the spirits of Nakayima the first wife of the Bachwezi King Ndahura. The shrine is visited by people playing homage to Nakayima or Bachwezi a dynasty said to have supernatural powers. Â The tree is believed to be the spiritual home for the Bachwezi goddess respected by both the Baganda and the Banyoro.

Met Owobusobozi Bisaka:  The self-styled god in Bunyoro region.

A few hours’ drive from Kibaale town, on top of Kapyemi Hill stands a white and orange storey building. As one approaches it, the visitor is met by a wooden gate that opens to a lash green compound. To the right are two rows of classroom blocks and to the left a ranch and banana plantation.

The smell from the ranch pierces your nostrils but is quickly overcome by the sweet scent from the freshly pruned flowers as one approaches the house. A group of people, in tens, seek refuge from the burning sun; some on the verandah and tree shades.

Welcome to the residence of one of Kibaale’s most powerful and influential characters, Ow’obusobozi Bisaka, a self-professed god. Bisaka does not only run a secondary school at his home but hosts hundreds of visitors daily, who come to seek prophecy, healings and bring various prayer request.

Wondering why Uganda is called 'The Pearl of Africa'?

Are you wondering why Uganda is called 'The Pearl of Africa'? Where else can you see lions prowling across the open savanna as day breaks before white water rafting down the Nile.

The Gushing waterfalls.

The Gushing water falls along River Nile are one attraction a visitor to Uganda wouldn't like to miss. Enjoy white water rafting, boat rides, game viewing and spot fishing in fresh waters not found else where.

Murchison Falls

Located in Western Uganda, it the roots of the Murchison falls National Park.

Karuma falls

Yet another spot you don't have to miss in the Eastern region of Uganda.

Bujagali

Locally known as Budagali, located on the source of the Nile, it is one of the most vibrant attraction for water rafting lovers in Eastern Uganda.

Water bodies.

Uganda has been called a land of lakes because almost a third of the country is covered by water. Lake Victoria, the largest in Africa, dominates the southern border of the country while Lakes Edward and Albert lie to the west Other lakes include; Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Kyoga among others.

Activities

These fresh water lakes offer opportunities for water activities and sports. An example is white water rafting, pioneered by Adrift, which has caught on as a popular tourist activity, especially on the River Nile. The country now attracts 500 rafters every month. Lake Victoria is now also being increasingly used for lake cruises. Other popular activities include sport fishing and sailing.

Crater Lakes.

Lake Bunyonyi. 

 Located in Western Uganda.

Hills and Mountains.

Uganda is well endowed with several mountains, which are regarded as huge extinct volcanoes straddling in different parts of the country. They are major tourist attractions, most of them are mainly for hiking activities. They are classified into volcanic and non-volcanic mountains.

Some of the different mountains in Uganda include; Mt.Elgon which is about 4,321 meters in altitude is found in eastern Uganda. While the snow capped Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the “Mountains of the Moon” is located in western Uganda, the Moroto and Muhavura Mountains are located in the north eastern and south western parts of the country respectively.

Mountain Rwenzori

The snow capped Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the “Mountains of the Moon” is located in western Uganda.

Mt. Elgon

Mt.Elgon which is about 4,321 meters in altitude is found in eastern Uganda.

History of Tourism in Rwanda.

History of Tourism in Rwanda.

Rwanda is country that used to be situated in Central Africa and now joined East Africa among the rest of the common wealth countries. According to the research from the tourist board of Rwanda which is RDB (Rwanda Development Board) suggests that ‘’Rwanda is popularly known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’ because of its many tourist attractions. The landscapes in this green country are truly incredible. A lot of people who had the chance to visit Rwanda have remarked the country as unique on the African continent.  Rwanda is a small East African country that draws visitors from all over the world, primarily to see its rare mountain gorillas. Rwanda faced a horrible genocide in 1994 which still has not been forgotten, the memorial museum in Kigali is a “must-see”.

Rwanda has shown strong responsibility in order to promote the tourism sector; the government developed a clear tourism master plan strategy which will help to market the destination successfully, they also involved the private sectors in the policy and in general improved the country’s business environment. The key factors and their role were to ensure that tourism becomes the main source of income/economy towards the government.

                                                   
 Rwanda after Genocide

The success of tourism in Rwanda.

Tourism is one of the key factors in the whole of the country’s economy but like other sectors, tourism was affected by the genocide 1994 but it is starting to experience a explosion due to the government’s new approach to work together with neighboring countries which has an impact on the locals and the government.

Rwanda and Uganda are the only two countries in the world where mountain gorillas can be visited safely at the moment. In 2008, about 17,000 people visited the Volcanoes National Park (VNP) to see the gorillas, a large increase from the late 1980s and an impressive recovery from only 417 tourists in 1999 after the reopening of the park.

Rwanda has also seen gorilla tourism as a valuable conservation tool, enforcing strict rules for the habituation and trekking of gorilla families. Tourists are willing to pay high fees for a limited number of permits, which are usually sold out.  

The revenues from gorilla tourism provide funds to the national parks and facilitate conservation activities. Five percent of park revenues are disbursed for community projects.

Rwanda is, however, also known for its violent past, which has dominated the image of the country for several years. The international perception of Rwanda, however, has changed and at present the country is considered one of the safest destinations in the region.  Besides the VNP, Rwanda has two other national parks that offer, for example, a range of wildlife and biodiversity. Furthermore, the country has been particularly successful in attracting large numbers of business and conference

Mountain Rwenzori & Gorilla Trekking

Mt.Rwenzori Trekking

The Rwenzori Mountain of the moon are one of the world's most spectacular as well as exciting sights, with its Margareta summit hiking is a great adventure that offers life time experience! The Margareta summit of the Rwenzori Mountains stand at 5109M and the trek takes about 8 days. It is the most memorable experience of a lifetime. The Ruenzori Mountain ranges is located in western Uganda, Kasese district, about 5hrs drive from Kampala / Entebbe airport. Climbing Rwenzori Mountains is really an adventure for life time and can be combined to other tour activities like wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Lake Mburo National Parks, Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge, Kibale forest and Budongo forest, Boat cruise and Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park. During the Rwenzori climbing Adventure, the  trekkers enjoy awesome view of the Rwenzori Mountains of the moon.

It takes 9 days-8 nights hike and the trekkers get the opportunity to visit nearby attractions like satellites and stalagmites, Toro cultural sites, Semliki, lake Mburo, Kibale and Queen national park. There are a number of adventurous interests at Rwenzori mountains of the moon in Western Uganda (Africa); one has to transfer to Nyakalengeja the actual starting point of the Rwenzori Climbing Adventure. Resting time will be there during this great adventure of hiking to any of the peaks. The views of the Margareta summit and other peaks like Baker will be really amazing. When the mountain hikers reach higher altitude, they will experience cool weather and they will be walking by the ice that is frozen.

African Gorilla Population & Trends

Mountain Gorilla Population estimates and trends in Africa

Population counts and estimates of mountain gorillas are commonly carried out on the basis of nest or sleeping site counts (e.g. Inogwabini et al., 2000). Adults and immature weaned animals build new nests to sleep in each night. The nests are counted and any dung adjacent to each nest examined gives a reliable indication of group size as well as age of animal, particularly when the counts are repeated over several nights.

Mountain Gorilla in its Natural Environment

The number of mountain gorillas declined throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, and some declines were seen into the 1990s (e.g Binyeri et al., 2002). This could not allow gorilla trekking safaris in Africa. IUCN (1982) described a decline in the mountain gorilla numbers in the Virungas, from 400-500 in the late 1950s, to 275 in 1973 to 250 by 1981, with most of thedecline occurring in the DRC section. However, by the mid 1980s the mountain gorillas of the Virungas hadstarted to very gradually increase again. The 1989 count of mountain gorillas in the Volcans National Park, Virunga National Park and Mgahinga National Park was about 306 animals (Plumptre and Harris, 1995). Most recently a population estimate, based on repeated observations of 17 habituated groups and information on 15 unhabituated groups, has shown the population of the Virunga mountain gorilla to be between 359 and 395 (Kalpers et al., 2003).

1979 estimates showed there to be 95-130 mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve (IUCN, 1982). Harcourt et al. (1981) noted a total population size of c.155 in Bwindi (where 33% of the population was counted). More recently McNeilage et al. (2001) estimated the population in Bwindi- Impenetrable National Park in 1997 to be 292 individuals and note that this population appeared to be stable.
At least 300 individuals were reported in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (Uganda Wildlife Division, 2002a).

The mountain gorilla appears to be gradually increasing in numbers and this has favored rapid growth of Gorilla Safaris Uganda. Based on recent estimates (Kalpers et al., 2003 and McNeilage et al., 2001), the total number of mountain gorillas may be between 651 and 687, or according to Plumptre et al. (2003) there are a total of approximately 650-700 mountain gorillas. According to WWF (2002) the Virunga population of mountain gorilla has increased by 14% in the last 12 years. The Bwindi gorilla trekking and gorilla population is stable and may also be increasing (Uganda Wildlife Division, 2002a; WWF, 2002; McNeilage et al., 2001).

Gorilla Trekking in Congo-Poaching Reasons

Why gorillas are hunted by Poachers

In the hinterland of the Kahuzi-Biega in Democratic republic of Congo, there are traditionally acceptable behavior that hunters who annihilate the bushbucks, agrarian chimpanzees and gorillas amid added animals alone allure accident assimilate themselves. Therefore, the frequencies for hunting are low in the case of the bushbuck and chimpanzees. Surprisingly, the hunter alternative account is aerial for the gorillas: the afterlife of elephants from the breadth (771 in 1996 and <5 in 2001), the better game, may accept affronted the hunting of gorillas, the additional better beastly in the park. This affects the development of gorilla trekking Safaris in African DR Congo basin.

Moreover, the massive accession of Rwandan refugees and the access of the wars in 1996-2001 added the adopted exports of babyish gorillas from the park. Meat and abduction of babyish gorillas were mentioned as the above affidavit for hunting the gorillas. As aboriginal as July 1992, a adolescent Grauer’s apache was confiscated at Kigali airport in Rwanda!! It was about to be beatific as bales to Cairo by an Egyptian (Kalpers, 1993). He added appear that in the Virunga National Esplanade in Congo, the abundance apache on which apache biking / mountain gorilla trekking is based, G. g. beringei, was the absolute ambition of poachers who formed for a arrangement of beastly merchants, and that absolute families of gorillas were decimated to abduction adolescent individuals destined to adopted zoos.