6 April 2011 - The Search For new emotions

At the childrens farm

 The expedition of the “Search” lead by Swedish tour leader Mr. Fredrik Hermelin has just been concluded after a journey of 14 days between Uganda and Rwanda. The group was composed of 14 travelers, of Swedish and Danish nationalities and the presence of Tanzanian Mrs. Mary Carneiro, the Director of Easy Travel. Destination Jungle staff was involved through the work of our guides Charles, Kasule and Ismail. 

One of the most emotional moments of the tour was the encounter with the Children’s Farm in Bukomeru on 3^rd April. Our visitors met the children of the orphanage, which is supported by Destination Jungle under the sustainable tourism projects of the company’s policies. The Director of Volsfan Ms. Elisa Straffi welcomed the group and the children were singing and dancing all their known songs, part of their educational activities. 

We had a good typical meal together and some games. In the words of Mr. Fredrik: “We received so much from this country in terms of emotions that the minimum we could do is to give back something”. The Search expedition brought a number of toys, school material and clothes which are so much needed in this remote orphanage. 

Having a meal with the children

Please follow the pictures of the Search expedition at this link:

http://www.pixbox.se/usr_show_id182314_page0_order1.html

Children recieving gifts

More information about the Children’s farm at the following link:

http://www.safaritoeastafrica.com/the-childrens-farm.html

1 February 2011 - INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS 2011

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests (http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/).

Forests and sustainable forest management contribute significantly to adverse climate change, sustainable development, poverty eradication and the achievement of internationally agreed development goals. The need for sustainable management of all types of forest, including the fragile forest ecosystems should be emphasized.

Concerted efforts should focus on raising awareness at all levels to strengthen the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

In Uganda we as tour operators should take the lead in sensitizing the whole tourist community, the civil society and the government bodies about the threat of rampant deforestation. This is a serious threat for the future of tourism in the country, where the main tourism products are forest based, like the primate trekking and the mountain gorilla trekking. Particularly, Bwindi forest is at risk if interventions of requalification will not take place in the near future, which will support the compromised gorilla habitat as well as the local communities from revamping tourist products with real benefits than the actual gorilla permits.

See this photo from Bwindi forest at Engagi Lodge.

See more information about forests in Uganda and deforestation in our website:

http://www.safaritoeastafrica.com/save-the-forests.html