As part of our launch-phase ecotour program, the ‘Sustainability Travelers Trip’ will be our groundbreaking promotional expedition to Uganda’s little-discovered natural places with travelers that would inform/guide our conservation travel program thru adventure and experience sharing:
DESTINATION 1: Uganda Wildlife Education Center – UWEC – though a popular destination and not categorically an ‘undiscovered ecosite’, UWEC is a must visit to give anyone a first glimpse of Uganda’s wildlife.
Formerly known as Entebbe Zoo, UWEC was opened in 1952 by the then colonial government, as an animal Orphanage housing young animals abandoned in protected areas due to the death or poaching of their parents. In the 1960s, it became a zoo until 1994 when it was converted into a wildlife education centre.
Located on the shores of Lake Victoria 7km from Entebbe International Airport, UWEC has over 50 different animal species, all housed in large open air enclosures, simulating their natural habitat in the wild. The centre is a bird watchers’ paradise where one can watch over 250 bird species and for photographers, an excellent close-up photo opportunity for wildlife in an environment very similar to the wild.
DESTINATION 2: Itanda Falls
A 20km ride from the popular Bujagali Falls (in Jinja) that have now been submerged with the construction of a new hydroelectric power plant, is the little known Itanda Falls. Very few people have been here or even know how to get there by road, and, the rather potholed muddy path to the falls can only be navigated with heeded consultations of the locals.
It “is one of the longest, biggest and most technical rapids on the White Nile river”—with a beautiful scenic view of waterfalls and hillsides sorrounding it.
The falls is steadily starting to attract kayakers and rafters. We also intend to have our own camping site here.
DESTINATION 3: Source of the Nile
Another must visit—though also not categorically a new discovery. From Itanda Fall, we will head right to the source of the the world’s longest river, The Nile, for your lifetime experience of the roaring waters and a true gift of Africa. *Note: the particpation fee does not include any boat rides to the actual site of the source in the water (which is only about 80 meters from the shore).
DESTINATION 4: Kagulu Hill in Buyende district
Our founder ‘Anthony Kalulu’ was born and raised barely 100meters or a soccer field’s length from the foot of Kagulu Hill—and this is where his childhood family, mother and siblings still live. Every aspect of life here—from depending on small water collections on the rocks as source of drinking and cooking water, to locals mounting a village-wide hunt for hyenas and baboons invading them from caves on the hill, or children being assigned to chase the animals from crop fields—was part of Anthony’s childhood life.
Until recently, the place was little known to interested medium-level mountaineers, and almost less than 20 non-natives visited every year. This is beginning to change, particularly in 2013, both through our own program and a coincidental 2013 initiative dubbed “Kagulul Hill Climbing Challenge”. The latter is a countrywide tourism promotion campaign (co-organized by the Ministry of Tourism and other unions) that will bring mountain climbers (both locals and internationals) to a competition on this Hill for 2 days during the month of May 2013.
The cultural hill raising 10,000ft above sea level provides a beautiful view of the entire eastern Uganda and the confluence of River Nile and Lake Kyoga, as well as the entire landscape beyond the great lakes region. Perhaps worth mentioning is that, typical to a mountain range, the hill stretches over a wide area, with roads and settlements in-between, and different cultural attachments to each branch-off.
DESTINATION 5: Iyingo Royal Cultural Landing Site
Located about 12km from Kagulu Hill, this is one of the biggest fishing grounds, gifted with raised rocks facing the water, holding significant cultural importance and leadership for natives. Interact with locals and catch a firsthand experience of life in a countryside beach atmosphere, or take a short water ride with a local fisherman as they collect drinking water and fish from the lake. With its waterfront location and pristine flora, the site is a proposed location of a second camping site for EcoTours & Travel Uganda, intended to promote ecotourism in the region by attracting eco-minded travelers here.
DESTINATION 6: A 1-day site visit to one of our ongoing ecoprojects in Kamuli or Buyende, with an optional additional 1 – 5 day volunteering with the projects at the end of the expedition (at no further cost—accommodation and meals provided).
Hope you will come along, or you can help spread word to your connections!