UGANDA TOURISM TAKES PROMOTION TO RWANDA REGIONAL EXPO.
Ugandan tour operators, hoteliers and other tourism stakeholders are delegated in Rwanda for the Kwita Izina ceremony and exhibition which takes place in September. The ceremony Kwita Izina “naming of infant gorillas” is done annually in September in volcano national park which is the only park in Rwanda that harbors mountain gorillas.
Due to the fact that Uganda has got the representatives in Rwika Izina, this regional expo comes after an Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) led team returns from the UK’s biggest birding expo in Rutland. These members are the Association of Uganda Tour Operators, the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, Uganda Tourism Association, Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda Tourism Board among other tourism stakeholders.
The UTB Chief Executive Officer Stephen Asiimwe says Kwita Izina is one of the three regional expos that are designed to promote both Rwanda and the East Africa region.
Asiimwe continuously said under the Northern Corridor Infrastructure Project (NCIP), Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda market themselves as a single tourist destination.
The UTB Chief Executive Officer said as part of the engagement, each country has chosen a signature event with Kenya taking on Magical Kenya Expo, Kwita Izina for Rwanda and Martyrs Day for Uganda.” the partner states now actively work to support each other regionally and internationally.” He added.
It is now the 12th year since Rwanda has been carrying out the ceremony of gorilla naming and at the expo, Uganda hosts destination training for Rwanda tour operators and travel agencies to market Uganda.
The best way to enable the visitor’s experience and discover what Rwanda has to offer is through familiarization which gives an opportunity to the participants to experience Rwanda tourism products so that they can be able to ably include Rwanda on their tour packages.
The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Professor Ephraim Kamuntu led Uganda delegates.
While at the pearl of Africa, Uganda hosted counterparts in Kenya and Rwanda from 24th -to 29th to experience the variety that makes up Uganda’s tourism with the tourism boards, tour operators and other tourism stakeholders. Uganda is well known for harboring 50% of mountain gorillas compared to Rwanda and Congo.
About Rwanda.
Rwanda is a landlocked country which is located in central Africa bordering Uganda from north, Burundi from south and Tanzania from East and Democratic Republic of Congo from west. Do you want to experience the land of thousand Hills, warm, friendly with stunning sceneries? Rwanda is the best destination for you during the Walks around the city center will lead to impressive 5 -star hotels, high-end restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Due to modern structures, clean streets, safety and good governance, Kigali has been chosen as host to many important international conferences like 2020 commonwealth conference due to its security, beauty as well as cleanliness.
What to expect in Rwanda?
Mountain gorilla trekking.
Rwanda is the best destination for mountain gorilla trekking in volcano national park. Gorillas are known to be close relatives of humans due to DNA and their characters like breast feeding, silver back protecting their family and many more. To access gorillas, a visitor pays the gorilla permit at $1500 and they are expected to pack cameras, comfortable hiking boots, hiking sticks, water and snacks, long trousers, long stockings and long t-shirts. It is advisable to book in time due to high demand in market. 8 individuals are allowed to trek, children below 15 years aren’t allowed to trek and it’s a must to carrying masks with sanitizer not affect mountain gorillas, visitors with covid, cough and flue are not allowed to trek.
Visiting Kigali city.
The capital city of Rwanda is Kigali city which is well organized and very clean. Visiting the city takes one day where by you visit the museum, markets, artisans, malls, genocide sites, cultures. The city is beautifully made with a thousand hills surrounding the city which is close to volcano national park where mountain gorillas are spotted. Traveling miles to Kigali is a great experience if at all you plan the visit in September month, you can’t afford to miss kwita izina ceremony where gorilla infants are given names. Rwanda has a great history due to Dian Fossey who researched more about gorillas, so come and experience such places that will be unforgettable in your life.
Climb Mount Kigali
If at all you love adventure, mount Kigali is the best hiking place for you. Mount Kigali is not so high but just 6000ft which will test how flexible you are. The starting point is in Nyamirambo near the Sun City Hotel however reaching at the top is not so tiresome due to gentle slopes. While at the top, there is an amazing view of Kigali city with it beautifully made. You’re free to take very many photos of your choice for unforgettable moment in Kigali Rwanda.
Chimpanzees trekking.
Nyungwe forest national park is the best destination for chimpanzees trekking. It is one of the oldest rainforests which not only harbors chimps but also doze of other primates that is monkeys, different plant species, orchids and birds which are spotted during the trekking , listening to singing birds in the trees. During the tracking, visitors are expected to pack water and snacks, cameras, comfortable hiking boots, hiking sticks, long trousers, long t-shirts and long stockings.
Akagera national park.
The park is located eastern part of Rwanda and was named after Kagera River which flows along Rwanda’s eastern boundary with Tanzania. Akagera national park is 25000sqkm and mainly its savannah land. The park is the best destination for five big animals like elephants, giraffes, lions, buffalos, zebras, hyenas, Rhinos, Hippopotamus, warthogs, antelopes and many more. These animals can be spotted during game drive where different bird species are also spotted like crowned cranes, egrets, owls, kingfishers long-horned billed bird, Egyptian birds.
Birding.
Due to the fact that Rwanda is a land of thousand hills, it’s the best destination paradise for birding. Bird lovers are able to spot a variety of colorful bird such as woodland birds, savannah birds and endemic birds. These birds include White-collared Olive back, African Swamphen, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Bat Hawk, Narina Trogon, Lesser Honey guide, Brown-backed Honey bird, Black Cuckoo-Shrike, Olive-bellied, Red-chested Sunbird and Bronzy Sunbirds, African Goshawk, Palm Nut Vulture, Crested Barbet, Grey-backed Fiscal, Rüppell’s Starling.
