Lion vs Giraffe Shocking Giraffe Kills Lion Bloody

the king of the jungle does not always get lucky.Despite being king, the hunting days can get messy.

Basic Facts About Elephants

Basic Facts About Elephants

Habitat loss is one of the key threats facing elephants. Many climate change projections indicate that key portions of elephants’ habitat will become significantly hotter and drier, resulting in poorer foraging conditions and threatening calf survival. Increasing conflict with human populations taking over more and more elephant habitat and poaching for ivory are additional threats that are placing the elephant’s future at risk.

Defenders of Wildlife is working through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to maintain a ban on the sale of ivory as well as on regulations that govern worldwide elephant protection.

Of the two species, African elephants are divided into two subspecies (savannah and forest), while the Asian elephant is divided into four subspecies (Sri Lankan, Indian, Sumatran and Borneo). Asian elephants have been very important to Asian culture for thousands of years – they have been domesticated and are used for religious festivals, transportation and to move heavy objects.

Diet

Staples: Grasses, leaves, bamboo, bark, roots. Elephants are also known to eat crops like banana and sugarcane which are grown by farmers. Adult elephants eat 136-180 kgs of food per day.

Population

At the turn of the 20th century, there were a few million African elephants and about 100,000 Asian elephants. Today, there are an estimated 450,000 - 700,000 African elephants and between 35,000 - 40,000 wild Asian elephants.

Range

African savannah elephants are found in savannah zones in 37 countries south of the Sahara Desert. African forest elephants inhabit the dense rainforests of west and central Africa. The Asian elephant is found in India, Sri Lanka, China and much of Southeast Asia.

Behavior expeditions

Elephants form deep family bonds and live in tight matriarchal family groups of related females called a herd. The herd is led by the oldest and often largest female in the herd, called a matriarch. Herds consist of 8-100 individuals depending on terrain and family size. When a calf is born, it is raised and protected by the whole matriarchal herd. Males leave the family unit between the ages of 12-15 and may lead solitary lives or live temporarily with other males.

Elephants are extremely intelligent animals and have memories that span many years. It is this memory that serves matriarchs well during dry seasons when they need to guide their herds, sometimes for tens of miles, to watering holes that they remember from the past. They also display signs of grief, joy, anger and play.

Recent discoveries have shown that elephants can communicate over long distances by producing a sub-sonic rumble that can travel over the ground faster than sound through air. Other elephants receive the messages through the sensitive skin on their feet and trunks. It is believed that this is how potential mates and social groups communicate.

Reproduction

Mating Season: Mostly during the rainy season.

Gestation: 22 months.

Litter size: 1 calf (twins rare).

Calves weigh between 90-115 Kgs at birth. At birth, a calf's trunk has no muscle tone, therefore it will suckle through its mouth. It takes several months for a calf to gain full control of its trunk.

​Elephant Safaris. Want an elephant experience? Jewel Safaris Uganda is here to give you a memorable elephant tracking experience in Uganda. The best places to see elephants in Uganda include Kibale Forest-Rwenzori Mountains Foothills, Mgahinga Gorilla Park, Semliki Park, Mount Elgon, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth Park.

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Basic Facts About Gorillas

Basic Facts About Gorillas

Closely linked by DNA, gorillas (family Hominidae) are one of the four species of great apes that are the closest living relatives of humans – the other three are chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans. Great apes are different from monkeys for a variety of reasons: they are larger, walk upright for a longer period of time, don’t have tails and have much larger, more developed brains.

There are four subspecies of gorillas: the eastern lowland or Grauer’s gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri); the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei); the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla); and the Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehl).

Like all great apes, gorillas have arms that are longer than their legs and tend to walk on all four limbs at certain times – a movement that is called knuckle walking. Adult males are known as 'silverbacks' due to the distinctive silver-colored hair on their backs.

Gorillas' appearances can vary based on sub-species, but for the most part, the western subspecies tend to be brownish gray in color, while the eastern and mountain gorillas tend to have a more blackish coat. Mountain gorillas also have longer and thicker fur which is adapted to their colder mountainous habitat. The three lowland subspecies of gorillas sport short, fine hair. Eastern lowland gorillas are the largest of the four subspecies.

Diet

Gorillas are herbivores and eat leaves, shoots, roots, vines and fruits.

Population

Eastern lowland gorilla numbers have rapidly declined to below 5,000 today. Critically endangered, there are fewer than 300 Cross River gorillas. Mountain gorillas, another endangered subspecies, number at around 700. A recent survey has shown that there are around 150,000-200,000 western lowland gorillas.

Range

Eastern lowland gorillas are found in part of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and Rwanda, while mountain gorillas are only found within the Virunga mountain region straddling the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda borders, as well as the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Western lowland gorillas inhabit Cameroon, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, eastern DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Angola. Cross River gorillas are confined to a small region in Nigeria and Cameroon.

Behavior

Gorillas are ground-dwelling and live in groups of 6-12 with the oldest and largest silverback leading a family of females, their young and younger males called blackbacks. The silverback makes the decisions on when his group wakes up, eats, moves and rests for the night. Because he must protect his family at all times, the silverback tends to be the most aggressive. In such situations, he will beat his chest and charge at the perceived threat.

Gorillas are shy animals that are most active during the day. At dusk, each gorilla constructs a ‘nest’ of leaves and plant material in which it will sleep. Mothers usually share their nests with nursing infants.

Young males may leave their family groups as they become older and either live as solitary silverbacks or create their own family groups. The silverback has the exclusive rights to mate with the females in his group.

Reproduction

Mating Season: Throughout the year.

Gestation: 8.5 months.

Litter size: 1 baby.

Gorilla infants are helpless at birth and weigh about 3-4 lbs. They learn to crawl at about 2 months and are walking by the time they are around 8 or 9 months. Mother gorillas nurse their babies for about 3 years, following which the young become more independent.

Threats

Gorillas are threatened by habitat loss due to increasing human populations, poaching for the bushmeat trade and diseases like ebola. Species that live in higher elevations, like mountain gorillas, are also affected by climate change, which has the potential to impact gorillas directly by altering their habitat, and indirectly by affecting agriculture yields in nearby communities, which in turn puts more pressure on remaining habitat.

Porpular Gorilla Safaris by Jewel Safaris 

5 DAY – BWINDI GORILLA TREK & QUEEN ELIZABETH SAFARI

12 DAY – BEST OF UGANDA SAFARI; BWINDI GORILLA TREK, QUEEN ELIZABETH, KIBALE, MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARKS & ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY

1 DAY  GORILLA TRACKING (RWANDA)

2 DAY GORILLA TRACKING (RWANDA)

BASIC FACTS ABOUT LIONS

BASIC FACTS ABOUT LIONS

Renowned for its majesty and nicknamed "the king of the jungle," the lion possesses both beauty and strength. Lions vary in color but typically sport light yellow-brown coats. Mature male lions are unique among big cats due the thick brown or black manes that encircle their necks and protect them while fighting.

Diet

Lions consume a wide variety of prey, from wildebeest, impala, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and wild hogs to sometimes rhinos and hippos. They will also feed on smaller animals such as hares, birds and reptiles. Lions are also known to attack elephants when food is scarce.

Population

The lion population in Africa has been reduced by half since the early 1950s. Today, fewer than 21,000 remain in all of Africa.

Range

Though lions used to live in most parts of Africa, they are now found only in the south Sahara desert and in parts of southern and eastern Africa. Historically, in addition to Africa, lions were found from Greece through the Middle East to northern India.

Behavior

Did You Know?

Both male and female lions roar, and that roar can be heard over five miles away!

The only social member of the cat (Felidae) family, lions live in large groups called "prides," consisting of about 15 lions. Related females and their young make up the majority of the pride. A single male, or sometimes a small group of 2-3 males, will join a pride for an indefinite period, usually about 3 years or until another group of males takes over.

Lions within a pride are often affectionate and, when resting, seem to enjoy good fellowship with lots of touching, head rubbing, licking and purring. The males are territorial, and will roar and use scent markings to establish their domains.

Females do almost all of the hunting. They are mainly nocturnal and work in teams to stalk and ambush prey. Lions inhabit grassy plains, savannahs, open woodlands and scrub country. These landscapes allow the hunters to creep stealthily through vegetation and leap upon their unsuspecting prey.

Reproduction

Did You Know?

Lions are the second largest living feline species, second only to the tiger.

Mating Season: Throughout the year.

Gestation: Around 110 days.

Litter size: 3-4 cubs.

Young cubs are vulnerable to predation by hyenas, leopards and black-backed jackals. The cubs begin hunting at 11 months but remain with their mother for at least two years.

WATER SPORTS IN UGANDA

Uganda is not famous for its watersports, but there is a lot of water around and being so hot most afternoons, it is very refreshing to make use of the natural abundance of lakes and rivers.  The one very famous water-related activity center is just north of Jinja on theNile River.  Here the rapids are a big hit with the rafters; this area quite well known for the whitewater rafting.  And in the same place, there is an opportunity to go bungee jumping as well.

Lake Victoria is the second biggest inland fresh water lake in the world, after Lake Superior in North America.  The lake is bounded by Kenya in the East, Tanzania in the South and West, and Uganda in the north and northwest.  The lake, as most in Africa, has bilharzia and although it is not totally infested with the snails that spread this rather serious disease, it is quite commonly found.  Despite this, swimming is very popular around the lake, and in the Kampala-Entebbe area alone, there are many beaches.  

A popular beach just one kilometer from the Entebbe International Airport is Lido Beach.  On the weekends this is a very busy party spot for the locals; everything from family-oriented gatherings to wild parties.  Ironically, here swimming is discouraged due to the prevalence of bilharzia.   The Imperial Resort Beach and the Imperial Botanical Beach, both maintained by the Imperial Beach Resort Hotel, are ideal for water sports and sunbathing.  Right behind the Lutembe wetlands, a well-known bird sanctuary and home to the white-winged terns, is Lutembe Beach.  This beach is public and there is no fee; it is clean and ideal for camping.  Bobi Wine, a popular Ugandan artist, owns One Love Beach in Busabala.  Here volleyball, sunbathing as well as boat cruises are the regular fare for One Love Beach.   In the upscale neighbourhood of Monyonyo, near the 5-star hotels and Martyrs’ Shrine, is Munyonyo Beach.  Here one can rent a speedboat or a canoe and visit Bullago and Chimp Islands.  Serena Resort Beach is in the Kigo District, is exclusively for the use of Hotel guests.  Again, this part of the lake is not recommended for swimming; for the guests of the hotel there is a large pool.  Another popular beach on Lake Victoria off Entebbe Road, is Spennah Beach.  Here on the weekends there are parties, weddings, fashion shows and sometimes music concerts on the beach.

The Ssese Islands are a group of 84 various sized islands off the coast of Entebbe in Lake Victoria.  The largest, Bugala, is the location of the largest urban center, Kalangala.  Here, at the eastern end of the island, at a place called Latobika, one can find a stretch of white sand beach, with a number of beach resorts scattered along the shoreline.  In better times, the islands were covered in a dense tropical rainforest with exotic birds, monkeys and even the occasional hippo and crocodile.  The forests have been replaced with palm oil plantations, but the beaches and resorts are still there.

In the West of Uganda, there sits the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi; and Lost Paradise Beach.  This is a quiet relaxing beach regularly visited for yoga and meditation.  Lake Bunyonyi poses no risk of bilharzia, and has no hippos or crocodiles, hence one of the few places in Uganda that is ideal for swimming.   The lake has many interesting small islands to visit; this can be done by canoe or by motor boats.

FEASTING ON FRUITS IN UGANDA

The variety of exotic fruits that are available in Uganda is quite extensive.  When one goes to the fruit and vegetable market in the center of Kampala, Nakasero, one can really see the great abundance of fruits that are grown in this country.  These fruits are in large numbers and available for a very reasonable price.  For instance there are, Pineapples, Watermellons, Passion Fruits, Jackfruits, Mangoes, Papayas, Avocadoes, Apples, Pears, Oranges, Lemons,  and of course bananas; many types and sizes of bananas.

To the west of Kampala, in and around Masaka, there are so many pineapples grown that it is estimated that about a third of them are wasted.  As you travel to the National Parks to the west of Kampala, such as Lake Mburu, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you will see numerous pineapple plantations off the roads in the distance.  These Pineapples are the world’s best; for some reason they are much sweeter and juicier than the pineapples produced in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.  It must be the soil conditions here; whatever it is, they are quite magnificent.  Pineapple slices are sold on the street by vendors for a few pennies; most refreshing on those sunny days….which are most of the days here in Uganda. 

Mango trees are everywhere and there are many differenttypes of mangoes.  In the mango season, one can see huge piles of mangoes on the sides of the highways around Arua, in the western Nile, Nakasongola and Luweero on the Gulu road, as well as the highway passing through towns such as Lira and Soroti.  Mangoes are in large numbers, very tasty and very inexpensive.  In the season, Mangoes are also sold on the street; the vendors will peel them and slice them up, ready to eat as one walks along the road.

Likewise, avocadoes grow virtually everywhere in Uganda and are very reasonable to purchase.  There are different varieties of avocadoes and again, are seasonal. For avocado lovers, Uganda is a dream world as fresh slices of avocados are served regularly in restaurants as a standard side dish.   The Citrus fruits, lemons and oranges are in great supply and very delicious.  Watermellons are much smaller than the western variety but equally as juicy and tasty.  One of the more exotic fruits that grow abundantly in Uganda are the Jackfruits.  These are huge over-sized green fruits that one can regularly see hanging from their trees in the countryside.  In Kampala and the other urban centers, Jackfruit is sliced up and sold on the roadside.  In the bus terminals, one can purchase a number of pieces wrapped in plastic.  The fruit has an unusually sweet flavor, with large pits.  The fruit is very sticky to the touch, and is usually handled with a plastic bag over ones hand.  Jackfruit is common in the Caribbean as well; a common tropical fruit that one can buy canned in North America.   

Bananas are the staple food in Uganda; one type, matoke is eaten every meal, as the Chinese eat rice and the Westerners eat bread.  The bananas are peeled and wrapped in bananaleaves and steamed for hours.  They canbe served in stick form or mashed as potatoes.   In Western Uganda around Mbarara, one can seemiles and miles of banana plantations; these supply the communities within ahundred miles, including the capital, Kampala. Large bunches of bananas, with up to 200 bananas on a bunch, are soldeverywhere in the markets as well as on the sides of the main roads in and outof Kampala.  Besides matoke, there areother bananas that are grown in Uganda.  There are the standard sweet bananas plus a variety of small bananas; in western countries, I believe we call them Apple Bananas.  In addition, there is a variety that are roasted over charcoal; they are peeled and roasted plain and sold while still warm.  A little starchy, but very delicious, as all the bananas here are.  As you travel on the roads between towns and villages, especially to the west of Kampala, you notice a lot of people pushing bicycles down the road to market with a number of large bunches of bananas tied to them.  In addition, there are many large trucks overloaded with hundreds of bunches of bananas coming from the western plantations, headed for city markets.

Juice vendors have become a common sight now, especially in Kampala.  Fresh fruit of your choice is put in a blender, without sugar and poured into a glass.  There are so many choices and combinations, all of them most delicious and reasonably priced.  These juice bars are a great improvement on the previous limited options of different kinds of sodas, mostly produced by Coca Cola.  In the supermarkets there are juice boxes of all sizes and flavours, many not produced in Uganda, but in neighbouring Kenya and South Africa; but as things are changing, so are the number of local products being produced.  Today there are an equal number of Ugandan juices on the shelves as imported ones.  Unfortunately, Ugandans are obsessed with sugar and one has to check when you order juice or buy it packaged, that they do not have added sugar.  One of the most delicious juices prepared in Uganda is Passion Fruit juice, but locally, the people add way too much sugar and quite frankly, it is not necessary, as the fruit is not tart.  As people in Uganda are becoming more health conscious, sugar is not always added to fresh juice; but its always good to check if it is just natural juice you are looking for.  

Uganda to launch E-Visa and E-Permits

Uganda to launch E-Visa and E-Permits

The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) will soon introduce the electronic application of Visas and Work Permits (E-Visa and E-permits).

Under the new application process applicants for all immigration services such as visas, permits and passes will be required to apply online, and an electronic notification/ authorization will

the East African tourist visa will also be applied for online

electronically be sent to the applicant before proceeding to the preferred Entry Point or the nearest Uganda Mission abroad for the visa to be issued or prior to entering Uganda to have the permit endorsed in the passport.

The following categories of immigration facilities will be applied for electronically:  Work Permits; residence Facilities; Visas; Entry Visa for students who are not nationals of East African Cooperation and the EastAfrican Tourist Visa (Three months Multiple Entries within Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda in a single journey

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UGANDANS:  THE FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE

Traveling in Africa, one quickly realizes that at every turn in the road there is another tribe, another language, another set of cultural differences.  This definitely makes moving about on this continent very interesting; at the same time, one starts to realize that certain countries perpetuate distinct characteristics of the indigenous people.  What is most enjoyable about the Ugandans, is that they are the friendliest people on the continent.  Over and over again, travelers comment on how different the people are immediately after crossing one of the many borders into Uganda.  The country is

surrounded by Sudan on the north, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda on the West, Tanzania to the south and Kenya to the east.  The neighbours to Uganda are many, and each is quite different from each other and from Uganda itself; particularly with respect to their friendliness.

Uganda was labeled by Winston Churchill in 1907 as the ‘Pearl of Africa’.  This label has become the slogan for Uganda; there is little doubt that it is well deserved.  When one reads Churchill’s basis for this label it refers to the magnificent landscapes and wildlife, particularly the bird life within Uganda.  There is little mention of the people, and in particular the friendliness of the Ugandans.  So many early explorers focus on this uniqueness of the Ugandans and despite all the turmoil of unrest and civil wars of the past years, the friendliness of these people remains constant.  It only takes a few minutes after arriving at Entebbe airport to realize that people are quite different here.

Unlike the more aggressive culture of Kenya, Ugandans regularly greet foreigners on the street, with no other agenda than just being friendly.   They seem to have a natural desire to make people feel welcome, even people that are complete strangers.  If you are a newcomer to Uganda and looking for an address, it is very common when asking directions, from a complete stranger that you ask on the street, to take you by the hand and escort you to where you are going.  This helpfulness and friendliness is unusual for most travelers to first accept as just that, friendliness.  In neighbouring countries, this kind of assistance is usually followed with an outstretched hand and an expectation of a monetary reward; but in Uganda, this is not the norm. 

When first meeting people in a social setting, like a bar or restaurant, one immediately realizes that things are different here in Uganda.  People smile, welcome you, even come and shake your hand in a warm greeting.  If one walks down the street in a small village, it is not uncommon for each and every person that you pass on the roadside to greet you; sometimes it is quite overwhelming.  These greetings are quite genuine and expressed warmly.  Service in Uganda is not the best, but it is warm and sincere, which seems to make up for the lack of efficiency that most Westerners are used to.  In most cases, this tradeoff is totally acceptable; genuine friendliness goes a long way to making one feel appreciated, something that is rare in the Western world. 

When one has forged a relationship with a Ugandan, friendship reaches even a higher level.  If you are invited to someone’s home that you have befriended, it can be quite overwhelming the reception one receives not only from one’s friend, but from all the relatives and neighbours.  People seem to be falling over themselves to make you feel welcome, not only in their home, but in their neighbourhood and even in their village.   Thiswarmth and hospitality is unprecedented in Africa; most African nations are known for their friendship, but Uganda has raised the bar on welcoming newcomers.

EATING CUSTOMS IN UGANDA

There are some very distinct eating customs in Uganda; some are common throughout East Africa, some quite unique.  Probably the non-use of cutlery is the single most difficult thing for Westerners to get used to when eating in a local Ugandan restaurant.  This is also true of most Ugandans in their homes, with the exception of the modernized urban Ugandans that have transitioned to forks and knives.  Coupled with eating with one’s hands, is the tradition of someone bringing to the table a bowl with a bar of soap and warm water to wash one’s hands.  Customarily, one person will go around the table and pour the water into the bowl as one by one each person seated will clean their hands.  Occasionally, there will be a towel or serviette to dry one’s hands, but more often not.  Likewise, after the meal, someone will go around again and offer water and soap to wash everyone’s hands.

Now, if you are in a 5-star lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park and sleeping in one of the Resorts in the forest, you will definitely be served cutlery. Likewise, if you are dining in an established restaurant in any of the urban destinations such as Kampala, Jinja or Entebbe you will not be eating with your hands.  But in many of the smaller towns and villages, you should be prepared for this adventure.

When ordering in a local restaurant, one soon discovers that most meals are a one-course affair.  Everything you are served is on one plate; if it is a buffet, people will pile the various items next to and on top of one another in a heap.  If you are ordering from a menu, it is totally different than in a Western context.  For instance, if you order beef stew with mashed potatoes in the West, here in Uganda you would order Mashed Potatoes as the food and beef as the ‘soup’. 

So, when you arrive in a restaurant that does not have a menu, which is typical of most Ugandan local-food establishments, you would first ask the waitress, “what food is there?”  To which she would reply, Matoke (bananas), Posho (maize meal), potatoes (sweet potatoes), Irish (white potatoes), rice, and cassava (root vegetable).  Then you would ask, “What soup is there?”.  To which she would reply, Fish, Beef, Goat Meat, Beans, and Cow Peas (green peas).  Then you tell her what you would like to eat.  An example would be: “rice, Irish and Matoke…..for soup I will have fish”.  You would then get 2 plates served, one with the starches on it, piled high and another would be a bowl with a piece of fish in a soupy gravy”.  If you want to eat with a fork, you have to order that as well, as most people will be eating with their hands; something that local people will tell you enhances the flavor.

A typical dish that many people prepare in their homes, as well as in restaurants is called “katogo”.  It is what we in the West would call a ‘combo” or combination dish.  There are various combinations; cassava and beans is a common one, also matoke and fish, matoke and beef, matoke and ofers (intestines).  These combos are cooked together and served as chili would be in the West.  These dishes are commonly served for breakfast.  

On the subject of breakfast, it is more common these days to have eggs and toast in local restaurants, but not always.  A Ugandan version of a Spanish Omelet (without the potatoes) is the most common; fried eggs are always well done, as Ugandans do not eat eggs with a wet yoke.  Hard boiled eggs are commonly found on breakfast buffets in local hotels and guesthouses, as opposed to someone cooking up a couple of eggs ‘as you like them’.  Fruits are rarely served at breakfast, and if they are, it is a small slice of pineapple or watermelon; something strange, as there is so much fruit in Uganda and it is of very high quality.

There are sometimes foods served in restaurants that we are more accustomed to.  These are classified as “snacks”; though their size is similar or bigger than the regular fare, and usually more expensive.  All these snacks are fried; they can be fish and chips, beef and chips, goat meat and chips, chicken and chips or liver and chips.  The fish is deep fried and usually a whole fish, including head, tail and fins.  The beef, goat meat and liver are usually fried with onions and green peppers in a thin gravy.  The chicken is deep fried.  Everything comes with chips; French fries as we know it.   Snacks are usually what you can order in a bar or in a restaurant after the regular foods are finished.

Many times when you are invited to eat in someone’s home, it is not uncommon for them to set you up in a chair with a small table.  Then the people will roll out a mat on the floor and sit by your side, eating on the floor.  Many local people are unaccustomed to eating at a table, and even prefer to eat on the mat.  It is also not unusual for the hostess, after serving the guests, to return to the kitchen and eat there, sometimes alone. Different tribes have different traditions and there can be slight variations from one tribe to another.

A tradition among many tribal members is to cook and serve a whole chicken and place it in front of a ‘special guest’.  This chicken is a gift to that one person and usually that special guest will take as much of the chicken that he wants, and then passes the remainder around for everyone to have a taste.  Chicken is the most expensive meat in Uganda and is usually served on special occasions, such as Christmas, Easter or a birthday celebration.  Similarly, a whole goat could be slaughtered and cooked for a gathering of a larger group; also a celebratory feast. 

Deserts are unusual, although most Ugandans love sweets and cakes.  Traditionally, there are no deserts served, but as things get more Westernized in Uganda, one can see these things on the more upscale restaurant and hotel menus.  Similar as in the West, deserts range from cookies and cakes to fruits and even ice cream in a select few places. 

Immediately, you have finished eating your meal, your plate will be whisked away from you at great speed; probably the quickest movement throughout the meal.  I find this so unusual, that sometimes I think that they need my plate to serve food to another person.  It is customary to thank the person that serves you for the food by saying, “Thank you for preparing food for me”.  The common response is, “Thank you for eating”.

One of the most pleasant customs in Uganda is that of sharing.  When one encounters a person eating their lunch, be it someone you know, or a complete stranger, before even greeting you, they will offer to share their food with you; and they are earnest.  A variation on this theme is when you go to someone’s house and they are eating, you will be immediately served some of the food that they are eating.  This generosity and hospitality is unequalled and is quite humbling.

Jewel Safaris knows only too well how important the food component of any trip can be.  It is not unusual for the Jewel Safari guides to incorporate into the itinerary of our tours, more than one visit to a local Ugandan restaurant so that our clients can taste some of these traditional foods.   

WAY OUT OF PROPORTION

On a recent tour of Western Uganda, I had occasion to visit the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.  This is one of the most unusual and beautiful places in Uganda, and not just because this is the habitat of the infamous Mountain Gorillas.  The forest itself is exceptionally wild and dense; here you will find the most interesting array of trees, vegetation, butterflies, birds and other wildlife.  There is so much to see in this particular forest, it is quite overwhelming.  It was most interesting as well, to explore the human habitat in and around the forest; there are a number of communities co-existing with the wildlife in the region.  As one passes along the narrow road that hugs the mountain sides, one can see the terraced agriculture that people employ; growing their subsistence crops in what looks like a most labor-intensive process.  It is a very beautiful sight, but when you get a closer look and watch the local farmers tending to their crops, one can appreciate how difficult and labour intensive the cultivation of the hillsides must be. 

After wandering around for a couple of hours, traveling from one trading post to another, we encountered 3 young children on a stroll.  Their English was good enough to have a simple conversation and after a few minutes it was revealed that they did not go to school that day because their parents did not have enough money to pay their school fees.   We asked how much their school fees were for the term and they told us it was 5,000 Ugandan Shillings; a term is 3 months.  5,000 Ugandan Shillings is less than $2.00 U.S.

The astonishing thing is that in the same place that these children go to school for $2.00 a term, the fee for spending one hour with the Mountain Gorillas is $750.00.  This fee is non-refundable and payable for the Gorilla Tracking; whether you successfully see the Silverbacks or not. What is most astonishing is the comparison between the cost of spending one hour tracking the Gorillas and a child going to school for 3 months.  Doing the math, the cost of the one-hour Gorilla permit is equivalent to sending 375 children to school.

Another item in Uganda that is disproportionately inexpensive for foreigners, is the cost of life-saving medicines.  Most medicines here are either generic or manufactured in India under license; these medicines retail in Uganda at a fraction of the cost in Western Countries.  A life-saving drug that a local Ugandan cannot afford to buy, could be as little as $10 U.S., which back home would be the price of a coffee and a muffin at Starbucks.  The inequities are thought provoking, at the least.

These kinds of discrepancies that one comes across in Africa are very hard to reconcile.  Such monetary inconsistencies that one discovers when traveling in the world make so little sense on the surface.  Many very basic necessities here in Uganda equate to very little money in the West; in so many cases, it just seems so unfair that people need such little money to make a huge difference in their lives.  This is the plight of those living in poverty in developing countries like Uganda.

On the other hand, getting value for your money when traveling is always a challenge.  Most travelers to Uganda come on a fixed amount of money, and budgeting is the norm.  Not knowing the local price for many things and not being totally familiar with the currency exchange rates, makes it difficult to make informed decisions about spending.  At Jewel Safaris, our personnel are always available to assist with such issues.  Steering our clients in the right direction when they are shopping, be it for toiletries, souvenirs or a good meal, your Jewel Safari guide will always provide you with options to help you make well-informed decisions about how you spend your money.

TIPPING IN UGANDA

Interesting enough, tipping goes back to the 17^th Century in Britain; and it originated more like a bribe than today’s tip.  Apparently, in taverns in jolly old England, people would give some money to the person serving drinks to improve the speed of the service.  The word tip comes from the phrase “to improve promptness”.  When rich American business people traveled to Europe after tipping was introduced there, they brought the practice back home.  It was not a popular practice initially, many people saying that the practice was anti-democratic and underscored the very foundation of the American philosophy of all people being equal.  It was seen as something very rich people did to influence poorer people.  Many states even tried to pass “anti-tipping’ laws. 

Tips will always be appreciated

Today, in the Western World, tipping is an accepted practice and the act of giving a tip is after the service is provided; the amount can vary depending on the quality of service performed.  Statistically, the average restaurant tip in the U.S. now is 17%.  And tipping is not limited to waiting staff in restaurants, but now is an accepted practice for most hotel staff, including the maids that clean the rooms, car jockeys that park your car and taxi drivers.  Not leaving a tip in a restaurant, for instance, is making a statement that either the food and/or service was unacceptable.  Usually, a client that does not leave a tip would be confronted by the server and asked why they did not do so.

In Uganda, tipping is a totally new concept.  It is very rare for a Ugandan to give a tip in a restaurant, especially in one that serves local food.  Recently a tourist was followed out of a restaurant in Uganda by the owner who told him that he left some of his money on the table.  The tourist explained that he left this for the waitress; the restaurant owner replied, that he paid the waitress a salary and there was no need for him to give her money.  Even after explaining the practice of tipping back home, the restaurant owner refused to allow the money to be given to the waitress.

Basically, the majority of tipping done in Uganda is performed by the foreign tourists, and depending where they come from, will determine the amount.  From recent studies done, it seems the biggest tippers are the North Americans; the smallest or non-tippers are the British.  The Europeans, Asians, Australians, etc., all fall somewhere in between. Guidelines are given by tour companies in Uganda; they suggest that pretty much everyone you come in contact with should be tipped, especially their tour guides, drivers, the park rangers and all hotel staff.  Many tourists are suspect that this advice is not really the accepted practice, but a ploy to have the tourists pay-direct the wages of these tour agencies’ staff. 

So, as was it in the US many centuries ago, tipping is left up to the individual.  One thing is for sure, any amount of gratuity that a foreign tourist gives to a Ugandan service provider is greatly appreciated.  Statistically, informal-arrangement jobs of people with little or no education, are at the bottom of the scale in terms of their wages.  Waiting staff in small restaurants fall into this category; the average hourly wage for such employees is just over 500 shillings ($1 U.S. is equal to approx. 3,000 UGX).  The average hours that such people work is 16 per day; that calculates to 8,000 Ugandan Shillings per day, or $2.40 U.S.  Based on the normal 6-day work week, that would amount to about $60 U.S. per month.

In Kampala, an average tourist will spend anywhere from $10 to $30 for a meal; based on the Western tipping norm of 17%, that would mean a gratuity of $1.70 to $5.40 per person.  So, it is obvious that the impact of a wait-staff receiving a tip for serving a restaurant meal is huge.  Unlike the situation in the Western World, customers not leaving a tip in Uganda do not receive a reaction; here in Uganda, it is the opposite.  A tipper is thanked, usually with a big smile and a handshake; a tip makes a huge impact on the finances of the server and his/her family. 

Popular tourist attractions such as Gorilla Tracking involve some tipping; local guides that spend many hours searching for the Silverbacks, are generally tipped afterwards.  Drivers, who always do more than just operate the vehicle, are usually tipped after spending a few days in close quarters with their clients.  Relationships develop with the service people that travelers encounter when visiting the 10 National Parks in Uganda, exchanging personal information about families and life experiences.  Such friendships are built regularly and most tourists like to tip such people to show their gratitude for the personalized service they receive.  Mountain climbingand Volcano Hiking usually involves the use of not only guides but porters to carry luggage.  These people are customarily tipped for their service. 

In 5-star lodges and resorts, the situation is somewhat unique, as most of the clientele are foreign tourists.  Many such places, have a recommended schedule of tipping; listing most of the staff positions and an appropriate amount per day to leave for their staff.  Many guests of such accommodations, do not condone such schedules, and would rather see the employer pay these monies to their staff in the form of wages, and include these fees in the cost of the rooms.  That being said, most tourists are prepared to give tips to such staff, even when it is not mentioned.  Ugandans are particularly friendly, and most accommodating; behavior that encourages gratuities. 

At Jewel Safaris we recommend to our clients that they use their discretion when it comes to tipping.  We believe that good service should be rewarded; because, it not only recognizes such good service, but encourages future good service.   In terms of the amount of tips, Jewel Safaris does not have a chart for you to follow; we consider the amount of a tip to be discretionary.  

FAST FOODS IN UGANDA

FAST FOOD IN UGANDA

Fast Food as we know it in Western Countries is basically unknown in Uganda.  For anyone that has been to Uganda and sat in a local restaurant, you know that the amount of time it takes to go through the menu (if there is one) and order is probably longer than the time it takes in Western Countries to finish eating.

That being said, there is a lot of fast food in Uganda, it is just a totally different concept than the classic definition. Typically, fast food is “mass-produced food that is prepared and served very quickly in a restaurant or to take out”.  From a western perspective, there are a couple of chicken outlets in Kampala that are pretty quick; there is even a few KFC outlets these days.  Drive-thru fast food does not exist in Uganda.  Most Ugandan fast foods are sold in urban centers, so if you are driving on a safari in Queen Elizabeth Park or Murchison Falls, you may have difficulty finding some; on the other hand if you are moving around Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe or Fort Portal, you will have no difficulty spotting fast food vendors.

The real Ugandan fast food is something totally different.  It consists of street vendors, each with a small charcoal stove, preparing a plethora of foods. These vendors cluster in very busy neighbourhoods on the sides of main roads.   Some of the foods  sold are: roasted maize, fried cassava wedges, chapattis’, rolex (a chapatti with an egg omelet and sliced tomatoes rolled up like a wrap), skewers of roasted chicken, goat meat, liver, beef and various organs of these animals, a variety of samosas and similar deep-fried snack foods.  There is fried whole tilapia and slices of fried Nile Perch, complete with french fries as well as cold smoked fish, usually tilapia as well. 

Most of these vendors set up for evening business; once it gets dark, people start roaming the streets for some food either to eat on the spot or take home.  These vendors start at dusk and cook and sell their foods until the wee hours of the morning.  In most cases, these foods are cooked and ready to eat when you arrive; occasionally, the vendors will warm the food up, which takes just a minute or two.  Either way, there is little doubt that these foods are fast.  Jewel Safaris always exposes their clients to these street markets; they are fun, reasonable and the food is great.

Another location where Ugandan fast foods are sold are the various taxi parks and bus depots.  Typically, these vehicles do not depart until all the seats are taken.  As people wait for the buses or taxis to fill up, vendors come around banging on the windows selling a variety of prepared fast foods.  These foods consist of samosas, chapattis, meals of an omelet with vegetables and fried cassava.  Each vendor specializes in one particular item, and so you may be asked by a half a dozen people, one after the other.

Similarly, there are highway stops on the major routes where buses, taxis and private cars will stop on the side of the road, and dozens of sellers will run to the windows of the various vehicles to sell their fast food items.  Two larger locations that are very popular are on the Kampala-Jinja road near the Kibera Forest, and on the Kampala-Masaka road at Lukaya.  Both these spots are famous for selling skewers of roasted chicken, goat meat, liver and beef.  In addition they sell gonja, a specific banana that is roasted with the peel removed and eaten plain.  Most of Jewel Safaris itineraries include passing on these two major highways....one to the east and one to the west of Kampala.  The foods are fresh and reasonable and the atmosphere for travelers is most entertaining.

Jewel Safaris incorporates a food component into all its itineraries; we understand that eating, especially tasting new foods when one travels, is a huge enjoyment for travelers.  Jewel Safaris enjoys introducing their clients to our version of Fast Food in Uganda; its a colourful, lively encounter for everyone and being that it is so fast, it does not take very long.