Tourists warm up for Uganda safaris as country prepares to reopen airport on October 1
After nearly six months under lockdown, Uganda has finally announced that Entebbe International Airport will officially be reopened to commercial flights on October 1. The airport was closed on March 22 as part of the measures to control the spread of the novel Coronavirus in the country. Since then, only cargo and emergency flights have been allowed to land at or leave the airport despite the reopening of airports in neighboring countries like Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda by the beginning of August.
The reopening of Entebbe International Airport to normal business was confirmed by the spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Vianney Lugya who stated that they are preparing for the resumption of flights on October 1. He said that the Authority is also working on new procedures that will be put in place at the airport to be followed by the travelers to control the spread of Covid-19. Among them include the requirement for all arriving passengers to have a certificate of negative test results taken 72 hours before travel.
According to Mr. Lugya, the CAA has already notified all airlines that operate at Entebbe International Airport which include among others Kenya Airways, Emirates, Brussels Airlines, KLM, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airways, RwandAir.
Breathing life into tourism again
The closure of the airport came as a huge blow to Uganda’s tourism sector since it is the main entry point into the country for international tourists. Lack of tourism business has left those who work in the sector as one of the biggest victims of the lockdown with many losing jobs and companies shutting down. The impact was not only felt by tour agents and their employees but also some travelers especially those who had their planned trips cancelled due to the lockdown. Many of these were asked to cancel or reschedule their trips but could not be refunded their money which had already been used by the badly hit tour agents. After going through that hell of experience, many tour operators and travelers will warmly welcome the news of reopening the airport because they know how much it means to them.
Uganda’s post lockdown safaris
Uganda, as one of the best tourist destinations in the Africa possesses a variety of magnificent tourist attractions which range from wildlife to adventurous experiences.
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is the travelers’ favorite activity in Uganda with dozens flocking Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to see the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The experience of hiking through the dense montane forest for about 4 hours to meet these breathtaking apes is simply fascinating. The magical hour spent in the presence of these gentle giants who share about 98% of the human DNA is described as a unique lifetime experience by the trekkers.
Game viewing safaris
Uganda is one the best game-viewing destinations in Africa with a variety of savannah parks which have hundreds of both big and small game. The best game viewing safaris in Uganda take place in the country’s largest reserves including Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park. Some of the most popular species commonly seen in these parks include the famous Africa “big five” which include lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros. Others include zebra, Rothschild giraffe, hippos, antelopes, warthog, among others.
Chimpanzee tracking
Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda, the country’s largest home for chimpanzees is commonly referred to as the primate’s capital of the world. Unlike gorillas which are limited in number, chimps are so numerous and can be seen almost everywhere around their habitat. Our closest relatives who also share about 98% of our DNA are even friendlier than gorillas and they always try to get so close to visitors exhibiting no fear at all.
Bird watching
For bird lovers, Uganda is still the ideal destination for bird watching with over 1000 species living within the country’s boundaries. The best places for bird watching in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National Park with over 600 species, Semuliki National Park and Kibale Forest National Park. Some of the most unique bird species found in Uganda include the giant Shoebill which is commonly seen along the banks of river Nile in Murchison Falls National Park. The country also has some Rift Valley endemic birds including the Rwenzori Turaco, Grauer’s Warbler, Neumann’s Warbler, Red-faced woodland Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black flycatcher, among others.
Adventure
Some of the best adventurous experiences in Uganda include hiking to the snow-caped peak (Margherita – 5,109m) of Mount Rwenzori, the third-highest mountain in Africa and hiking Mount Elgon located in eastern Uganda at the border with Kenya. Others include water excursions like white-water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping at the source of the Nile, the longest River in the world.
Cultural and historical tours
In terms of cultural tourism, Uganda also ranks among the best in Africa with several fascinating cultural and historical tourist sites around the country. These include the famous Kasubi Tombs in Kampala, the burial site for Buganda kings, Namugongo Martyrs shrines, the Batwa and Karamojong trails in southwest and northeastern Uganda respectively, among others.
