New UWA fee structure

As of 1 July 2011, the Uganda Wildlife Authority implemented a fee structure that increases entrance fees for National Parks by around 15% and institutes new fees for various unguided activities such as US$100 for birding in Semliki or US$80 for hiking on a trail in Mgahinga.  Please click here for the full 2011-2013 tariff structure [...]

Kampala hotel & restaurant feedback

My first hotel was Hotel Ruch, which I had found via the internet. It is situated close to the Sheraton, but the standard is not impressive. The rooms are very basic – and the bath rooms are simply too basic – for example no shampoo, looboard defective. There was only one mosquito net in the [...]

Lodge and campsite reports

Entebbe Airport Guest House is a firm favourite 120,000Ush triple, 100,000Ush double and 65,000Ush single. Very comfortable rooms, lovely garden, good food and congenial atmosphere. Mubende Had lunch at Nakayima Hotel. Almost instant service (but they did have a seminar running) quite tasty beef and rice and a soda for 4200Ugsh. Kibale Forest & Crater [...]

New website for Bigodi Wetlands

The Bigodi Wetlands conservation area bordering Kabale Forest National Park (on the road from Fort Portal to Kamwenge) now has a website, http://www.bigodi-tourism.org/, which I maintain for John Tinka. Wayne Lobb

Overland to Musoma (Tanzania) via Kenya

Crossed Tororo to Musoma via Kenya in one day (11 hours, set off 7.30 am, 457 km—1hr to pass through the border). Took northern border so as to pass by Kakamega forest. The Webuye- Kakamega-Kisumu road is the worst ‘paved’ road I have driven on, rutted with potholes all the way in serious condition. We wanted to [...]

Jinja & Tororo

Jinja. We liked Jinja very much. The suburban surrounds with lots of gardens and greenery, the old fashioned street with friendly people and the best iced coffee of our trip at the Source café. They also built a brand new silencer for our Rav 4 in 4 hours (or was it lifted from someone else’s [...]

Murchison Falls & road there from Fort Portal

Drive from Fort Portal to Masindi, 45 min to turning at Kyenjojo, 3 hours to Hoima then another hour to Masindi. Road in moderate state, very bumpy but managed average of 45 kph. Recently graded, narrow in parts. Lunch at Call In Pub/Restaurant at Hoima, shaded veranda with breeze. Instant 6000Ush buffet. Good value. Stayed [...]

Fort Portal & surrounds

Excellent road from QENP to Fort Portal. Stayed at Eriiba Guest House, no sign, about 1 km on the right after turning at Mountains of the Moon Hotel behind large wall and gate. No one had heard of the Guesthouse but they did know where the Professor lived. Architect designed house with splendid octagonal living [...]

Accommodation at Ishasha & Mweya (QENP)

Isasha (QENP). Again had not been able to book bandas either through UWA (email, no reply) or by contacting park (no phone contact). Subsequently they said number was 0774230938 and 0772625125. They were full up so had to stay at the new camp River Ntungwe River Camp (almost opposite entrance to Ishasha). There are covered [...]

Overland from Kabale to Kigali (Rwanda)

Kabale to Gatuna on Rwandan border, reasonable road, moneychangers at border gave reasonable rate, third party car insurance for 2 weeks 12,000RFr Clocks change one hour back 3 hours to Kigale on good, winding road with many people walking Rupert Gude