Live your journey

The DSTV team of KykNet recently travelled to Uganda to visit with myself and our team at Marasa Africa who own some of the most impressive properties within the national parks in Uganda. Gerrie Pretorius, a well-known singer and presenter of “leef jou Reis” traversed Uganda to get to know its special places and to sample and even learn how to prepare its traditional dishes.

Gerrie Pretorius with one of Premier Safaris collectible walking sticks to tackle the gorilla trek 

The programme focuses on experiences and wants their viewers to really learn about the countries that they visit.

Gerrie Pretorius from "Leef jou reis" and Corne Schalkwyk from Marasa Africa at Silverback lodge  

As part of the trip they turned at the source of the Nile in Jinja town where they were hosted by the newly opened Jinja sailing club on arrival before making their way west following the tourism route created by Premier Safaris aptly named the western wonderland tour.

Below are some of the photos from their visit to Bwindi impenetrable forest as part of their visit to silverback lodge overlooking the enchanting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south-western Uganda. The lodge is on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda's oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants. More famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 420 mountain gorillas, roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked.

Missed covered views from Silverback Lodge 

This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.

Gerrie Pretorius searching for Gorillas

The neighbouring towns of Buhoma and Nkuringo both have an impressive array of luxury lodges, rustic bandas and budget campsites, as well as restaurants, craft stalls and guiding services.

Opportunities abound to discover the local Bakiga and Batwa Pygmy cultures through performances, workshops and village walks.

Remember to tune into DSTV (KykNet) tomorrow evening for the 2nd episode on Uganda with myself and Gerrie Pretorius at one of our Marasa Africa lodges Silverback Lodge

http://kyknet.dstv.com/2014/06/13/leef-jou-reis-20-junie-2014/

Here is a small teaser of the series on DSTV (KyKNet Channel 144)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd5q0gDsMnI&feature=share

Get more information on Premier Safaris at www.premiersafaris.com or have a look at the western wonderland trip that the team experienced. 

http://www.premiersafaris.com/itineraries/western-wonderland-8-days-uganda-primate-wildlife 

Want to know more about the Marasa Africa Lodges in Uganda and Kenya? visit their website at www.marasa.net 

Views from Silverback lodge in Uganda 

Hanging with the “Hairy People”

Tracking Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas -  by Corne Schalkwyk

In a small country about the size of one of South Africa’s smaller provinces, you will find it all: from forests and fertile soils, animal life and a wide diversity of tribes, rivers and lakes to lush vegetation thick with chirping birds, and savannahs where wild beasts prowl. This is Uganda, where you will feel welcomed by the warm climate and the bright smiles. You would be forgiven for asking what to tackle first. My first mission in Uganda was to track down the “hairy people” that inhabit the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Meeting the “hairy people” of Uganda for the first time is an exciting and truly memorable experience. Nothing prepares you for the emotions you experience when you first see a Silverback gorilla in its natural surroundings. Although there are different subspecies of gorilla, these mountain gorillas cannot be found in zoos, as they don’t survive in captivity.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the south-western part of Uganda on the rim of the Rift Valley. The mist covered hillsides are sheltered within one of the oldest and most biologically varied rainforests in the world. It dates back more than 25,000 years and is home to approximately 400 different plant species. This “impenetrable” forest also protects a population of about 400 mountain gorillas – approximately half of the total remaining mountain gorilla population in the world.

Premier Safaris arranged for me to visit the area in an attempt to track the historical Mubare gorilla family, one of the first families that were habituated in Bwindi. After the tragic death of their leader, the group dwindled in numbers to only five gorillas.

We took the winding – and sometimes terrifying road up the mountain through breath-taking misty scenery to reach our base camp, aptly named Silverback Lodge. It was pouring with rain when we arrived and my guide, Erick, explained that this is normal for the area, as it rains almost daily on the mountain.

At the lodge, the general manager pointed out the last location of the group that I was about to track. The next morning we had an early start from the bottom of the mountain as we retraced the gorillas’ path from their previous evening’s nests. Erick explained that they make a new nest every evening at about 19h00. Trackers then use these nests as a starting point from which to track the group.

The steep incline of the mountain with its slippery red clay is not for the unprepared, and I was very grateful that my guide provided me with a walking stick, even after I had initially indicated that I didn’t think I would need it. The scenery and incredible diversity of plants and birds en route, however, more than made up for the long, arduous climb.

We finally reached the group a couple of hours and two mountains later and slowly approached them while being careful to stay out of sight. My first glimpse was of a Black back gorilla of about eight years old that suddenly came bursting into view, dragging a female along behind him.

Apparently this is how they steal females from other groups to add to their own. This must be how the new Silverback – the son of the previous leader – has managed to grow the Mubare family from its original five to its current eight members.

With great excitement we observed the family, sometimes a little closer than was planned, as individual members would suddenly make their way towards us, observing us with as much curiosity as we did them. They displayed uncanny human-like characteristics, such as the young member who threw a tantrum because he had to wait while the Silverback had his fill of a plant that resembled a water fuchsia.

When it was time to leave the “hairy people” and make our way down the mountain, I felt a distinct sadness as I glanced over my shoulder to get the last glimpses of the Silverback as he disciplined a member in the group.

It is a sight that I will cherish until I can return once again to this small piece of the “Pearl of Africa”.

For more information on primate safaris or national parks in Uganda visit www.premiersafaris.com or email reservations@premiersafaris.com.