Author: eatrails

Tips on keeping safe during safari in Akagera national park

Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savannah park and the only destination for a wildlife safari trip in Rwanda, is home to the famous African big five (Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant) and many other animals such as giraffes, hyena, antelopes, crocodiles and hippos.

Many travelers visit Akagera national park on non-guided safari tours, exploring the different parts of the vast park on their own. As much as there have not been any incidents of animal attacks and accidents, however with the increasing population of animals and reintroduction of lions and rhinos in Akagera it will not be long before these incidences happen. In this article I share tips on how to explore the park safely.

1. Keep on the drive tracks

Akagera National Park has a good network of drive tracks that allows for easy exploring of the different parts of the park. Tourists are also provided a map of the park showing the different trails/tracks in the park for easy navigation. Sometimes it may be tempting to get off the track and get closer views of an animal. However this is risky as you have no escape route in case you are charged at by a large animal such as an elephant. Going off the track is also illegal and attracts a heavy fine by the authorities if found.

2. Go slow, do not drive beyond 40km/hr

40km/hr is the accepted speed limit in Akagera National Park. Some sections of the tracks are quite smooth but do not be tempted to drive at higher speed because any time an animal could cross the road. Knocking a large animal like an elephant, buffalo, or rhino will be fatal for you. Or you will put the small animals at risk and causing a roadkill attracts a heavy fine by the park if caught.

3. Do not get too close to animals, do not get closer than 10 meters

10 meters is considered the safe distance from an animal, getting closer than that would agitate the animal. This is especially advised for the large dangerous animals such as elephants, rhinos, giraffes and buffaloes, as well as the predators like the lions, leopard, and hyena. However depending on the behavior displayed by the animal you may need to keep as far as possible. Keep farther away from lone elephant bulls and buffaloes that in most cases have been forced out of their herds and are frustrated. They take any chance to vent their anger. You should also not get too close to animals with babies such as elephants, and predators like leopards who are very protective of their babies.

4. Wear nature blending colors. Avoid red

Wear nature blending colors such as the brown and green colors. Avoid bright colors, especially red because it looks like blood to predators like lions that can be attracted to attack. To some other animals and birds, it is a color that signifies danger and will flee away thereby spoiling your experience. Tsetse flies which are present in the southern part of Akagera National Park are also attracted to bright colors and will give you nasty bites.

5. Do not leave the car except in designated areas i.e. camping/picnic grounds

Do not be tempted to leave the car, especially near bushes and thickets. An animal could be larking nearby and pounce you. The biggest threat are the buffaloes which are fond of ambushing from bushes, and the snakes of course of which Akagera national Park has plenty. Only get out of the car from designated cleared areas in camping grounds. But even here you should first scan the nearby environment for animals and snakes on the ground!

6. Do not smoke in the park

Do not be tempted to smoke near bushes because you can start a fire

7. Do not feed the animals

Feeding animals such as monkeys, baboons, elephants can cause them to lose their natural instinct of looking for food and will result to attacking humans when they see foods such as fruits in the car.

8. Keep the car and room doors closed

Keep the doors closed and locked to keep out animals and snakes that could easily creep in and could harm you!

9. Take a park guide for the safari drive

The park provides guides for hire on game drive. The guides know about the wildlife of the park and the best spots to find particular animals. They also know about animal behavior and will know what to do when faced with an agitated animal.

Top animals to be extra careful about

Hippo – number one killer animal in Africa! Good thing they spend the day in water and only come out in the evening when the temperature is cool. Be vigilant when walking around your lodge at night more so if staying near water

Elephant – Do not get too close to a herd with babies, elephants are very protective. Also avoid close encounter with lone bulls, they are frustrated after being chased out of their herds.

Buffalo – Avoid lone buffaloes, these are mostly bulls that have been chased from their herds and are very frustrated and angry and will look for an opportunity to vent their anger.

Rhinos (black rhino) – the black rhinos are now present in the southern area of the park which is largely covered by woodland and forest. The black rhino is known to be more aggressive than the white rhino. Already, one of the experts brought in to train the local management of the park on monitoring the rhinos was killed by a black rhino in Akagera.

Crocodile – huge crocodiles can be seen basking along the shores of lakes and wetlands in Akagera National Park. Avoid getting too close to the shores.

Snakes – Akagera National Park is home to many species of snakes, including the highly venous mabamba family, vipers, cobras, etc… Avoid walking bushes and scan your immediate environment when out of the car.

Tsetse flies – the southern region of the park has tsetse flies and they give a nasty bite. Put on insect repellent and avoid bright colors and keep the car windows up when going through the acacia woodland in the south of the park.

Lions – lions are thought of as the most dangerous animals but on the contrary they do not attack what they are not interested in eating and luckily humans are not on the menu. However keep away from a lioness with cubs, same with all other predators with cubs such as leopards, they are very dangerous during this time!

Tips on how to keep safe during safari in Murchison Falls national park

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s biggest park. It is also the most popular park in Uganda for wildlife safaris because it offers the best chances to see most of the animals, and the thrilling boat cruise experience on the River Nile leading to spectacular views of the famous Murchison Falls – the world’s strongest waterfalls! The park is also easy to access with a good paved road from Kampala going all the way into the park (takes 5 – 6 hours drive).

The excellent safari experience and easy access make Murchison Falls National Park the destination of choice for most safari trips, attracting more independent travelers on self-drive trips! But, as more people opt for self-drive safari trips to the Murchison Falls National Park, incidences of fatal animal attacks and accidents are on the rise in the park. This is largely because travelers do not how to conduct themselves during safari in Murchison Falls National Park.

In this article I share tips on how to keep safe while in the park and also highlight animals and other wildlife that pose the biggest threat or danger to you while on safari that you need to be careful about.

1. Do not go off the game drive track!

This is perhaps one of the biggest causes of animal accidents in the park. Tourists are tempted to get off the drive track to get closer and get clear views of a prized animal (such as lion) that is far away from the track or is hidden behind a bush. However, you may be ambushed and cornered by another aggressive animal (such as elephant or buffalo) and it would be difficult for you to escape because of bushes in the way. The car may also get stuck in the bush tempting you to get out of the car and putting your life in danger.

2. Do not drive beyond 40km/hr

The legal speed limit anywhere in the park is 40km/hr and driving beyond that is over speeding that will put you at a risk of colliding with a large animal such as an elephant, giraffe, hippo and buffalo, the result of which is fatal. Driving beyond the speed limit also puts other smaller animals at risk and killing an animal attracts a heavy penalty.

3. Do not hoot in the park

Hooting in the park is illegal and can be risky for you as some animals are put off by noise. An agitated elephant can charge at you if it relates the sound of the hooting with a threat. Hooting will also scare other wildlife spoiling the safari experience for you and other visitors in the park.

4. Respect the 10 meter rule

It is advised the closest you should get to an animal should be not less than 10 meters. But this also depends on the behavior of the animal at that particular time. If you notice a large animal such as an elephant or buffalo  is agitated, please keep far away from it. You should also not attempt to get closer to animals with babies.

5. Do not feed the animals or eat near animals

Tourists are tempted to throw a banana or biscuit to a monkey, baboon or even elephant, but this is not advised because this causes the animals to lose their natural instinct of looking for food in the bush and in the end, they start invading people and grabbing food causing injury in the process. There are incidents when baboons have ripped faces of tourists in an attempt to grab food.

6. Do not leave the car door or hotel room open.

Scavenging animals like monkeys, baboons, warthogs are always in the vicinity looking for an opening for some free goodies. Elephants also sniff around for bananas and fruits. The most dangerous perhaps are the snakes that can easily crawl into the room without being noticed.

7. Put on a life jacket during the boat safari on the Nile.

However good a swimmer you may be, the fast-flowing waters of the Nile may be too much for you in case of a boat accident. In the last decade only one tragic incident of a boat accident has been recorded in Murchison Falls National Park, and it is remembered only those that had life jackets on survived.

8. Wear nature blending colors such as greens and browns.

Avoid bright colors. For instance, color red is seen as blood by predators and can attract an attack, while for some other animals and wildlife such as birds it signifies danger and will scare them away.

9. Do not get out of the car during safari drive in the park

Do not get out of the car except in designated places but still be on the lookout for which animals are nearby, and look where you step. Also do not wonder too far from the car.

10. Do not smoke in the park, you can easily start a fire

11. Take a professional tour guide/driver

If you can, hire a professional tour guide/driver. A professional tour guide/driver has undergone intense training about animal behavior and will know what to do in case faced with a difficult situation from an aggressive animal.

12. Take an armed park ranger/guide for the safari drive

Park rangers/guides are available in the park for hire. The park guide knows well about animal behavior and will guide on how to approach particular animals. The ranger guide also knows the best places to find certain animals of interest that will help you avoid unnecessary drive in the park that can lead you into dangerous situations.

13. Be care while at the Top of the Murchison falls

Avoid getting closer to the wet rocks and the raging water. The temptation to get a perfect selfie or video has led travelers slipping into the falls or being swept away by a gush of water!

Dangerous animals & wildlife to watch out for in Murchison Falls National Park

1. Elephants

Watch out for herds with babies. Elephants are very protective of their babies and if you aggressively get too close they will charge at you. Lone elderly elephant bulls that have been pushed out of their herds are very frustrated and easily charge when approached. But thankfully, unlike most animals, elephants will warn before attacking to give you a chance to leave. Look out for the aggressive flapping of ears as the initial sign.

2. Buffaloes

Buffaloes are sadist killers; they do not need a reason to bump you off! They are also good at ambushing from cover so never leave the car when near a bush. The most dangerous buffaloes are the lone males that have been pushed out of the herds. They are very frustrated and will look for any opportunity to vent their rage and humans are a soft target

3. Hippos

The number one killer in Africa! As long as you get close it will simply cut you into pieces with its big teeth. Thankfully they spend the hot day in water and mud pools and only come out to graze in the evening/night when the temperatures drop. Always be on the look out when walking around in the night, or do not move at all.

4. Leopard

A very stealth predator that is missed most of the time on safari. They are also quite shy and will not allow you get close before they disappear into the bushes. However, it is the most dangerous animal when it has babies (cubs)! If you ever notice a leopard with cubs, do not dare leave the car or get close. The leopard does not go for any other body part apart from the neck!

5. Lion

The king of the jungle has a reputation of being the most powerful and dangerous predator, but, on the contrary attacks by lions are very rare! Lions normally attack prey to eat of which humans are not on the menu, and also attack other predators that venture into their territory. Otherwise, being the apex predator, the lion is in most cases less concerned by presence of non-prey & non-predator near them.

6. Snakes

Snakes bites are not common and in fact during the last decade there is only one recorded fatal snake bite victim and that was a park ranger, not a tourist. However there are very many dangerous snakes in the park, especially of the highly venous mamba family, more specifically the super dangerous black mamba! Avoid walking in the bush, and scan your close environment for snakes when you walk anywhere.

7. Baboons

Baboons have turned out to be very dangerous because of getting used to being fed by tourists. They can be aggressive and attack if they have seen you with any goodies they like. Close the car windows and keep any food far away from their view and reach!

8. Tsetse flies and mosquitoes

There are tsetse flies in the southern part of the Murchison Falls National Park that is largely covered by forest and woodland. You will encounter them as you drive from the southern gate through Budongo forest and at the top of the Murchison Falls. Tsetse flies are known to cause sleeping sickness but studies have shown the ones in Murchison Falls National Park are not in sufficient number to cause sleeping sickness.  However they give such as a painful bite! Apply enough insect repellent when visiting the top of the falls. The northern savannah part of the park has no tsetse flies, but there are mosquitoes which you can protect against by applying the insect repellent and sleeping under a mosquito net.

9. Crocodiles on the Nile.

Crocodiles are very dangerous, but you can only encounter them if you fall in the Nile or get too close to the banks of the river.

10. Chimpanzees in Budongo forest

Chimpanzees are found in the Budongo forest reserve in the southern region of the park. Unless if you are doing the chimpanzee trekking activity in Budongo forest it is rare to encounter chimps. Chimpanzees are normally cruel to intruders in their territory and have been reported to rough up tourists who wandered into Budongo forest without a park ranger (the chimps know the rangers). Therefore to avoid an unpleasant encounter with chimps avoid trekking in Budongo forest without a park guide.

Would you like to book a guided safari trip to Murchison Falls national park?

2 day safari trip to Murchison Falls National Park

3 day Murchison Falls National tour and Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

4 days Murchison Falls safari and Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest

6 days Murchison Falls and Kidepo national Park ultimate wildlife safari

Rwanda – Uganda borders fully reopen on March 7

The government of Rwanda has announced the full reopening of the land borders between Uganda and Rwanda effective on 7th of March 2022. This is perhaps so far, the best of news of 2022 for the people of both countries. For about two years the government of Rwanda closed the land borders to all travelers including tourists and local people, with the reason of controlling the spread of covid 19.

Uganda and Rwanda highly depend on each other for trade, tourism, and agriculture among others. Also, the people of the two countries are closely related with many families shared across the borders. The closure of the border therefore brought economic hardship to many people in both Uganda and Rwanda, as well as causing a lot of anxiety among the people who could not see their families for the last two or so years.

Uganda – Rwanda tours and safaris resume

Many African tour itineraries combine Uganda and Rwanda as the two destinations complement each other well in terms of a variety of experiences and activities one can have, including gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, hiking and birding among others. Also, because it is so easy to travel between the countries. The popular attractions are located near the borders.

Many tourists start their tours in Rwanda and go on to visit Uganda as the primary destination of their itinerary, and vice versa. For example, many tourists start their gorilla trekking trips in Uganda from Rwanda because it is a shorter driver. Read this guide about starting Uganda gorilla tours from Kigali Rwanda.

The most popular combo is the gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda. Many tourists who want to track the gorillas two times combine Uganda and Rwanda, that is, tracking the gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park where they experience the awe-inspiring Virunga mountains, and another gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where they experience a true African jungle!

Below are some of our tours and safaris combining Uganda and Rwanda via the land borders!

3 days Gorilla tour in Uganda starting from Kigali, Rwanda

4 days Rwanda golden monkeys and Uganda gorillas

5 days Rwanda chimpanzees and Uganda gorillas

10 days Uganda and Rwanda primates adventure

18 days Rwanda and Uganda birding tour

10 interesting facts about mountain gorillas

The (mountain) gorilla is an iconic ape that often is portrayed in “King Kong” movies as a savagely and fierce beast. On the contrary, the mountain gorilla is a gentle and shy primate yet big and so powerful. Tourists have a once in a lifetime opportunity to see up close these gentle giants in their natural environment through gorilla trekking in Uganda and gorilla trekking in Rwanda tour activities.

Below are 10 interesting facts about the mountain gorillas that you did not know

  1. Mountain Gorillas are called so because…you guessed it…because they live in mountains at altitudes of 8000 to 13000 feet. Their thick fur keeps them warm.
  2. Mountain Gorillas are found in only 3 countries: Uganda, Rwanda the Democratic Republic of Congo which share an area called the Virunga massif, a mountainous zone home to the mountain gorillas. Yes, you may have seen a gorilla in the zoo but that is a lowland gorilla and not a mountain gorilla. Mountain Gorillas do not survive for long outside their environment.
  3. Mountain Gorillas and other gorilla species share 98% DNA with humans. This makes the gorillas susceptible to human diseases. Hopefully they do not catch covid 19!
  4. The Mountain Gorilla is the most powerful of the great apes. The strength of one adult male gorilla is said to be equivalent to 5 – 8 adult human males
  5. Mountain Gorillas are largely herbivores eating vegetation and fruit. However they have been observed to eat snails
  6. Mountain Gorillas eat their dead babies. When a baby gorilla dies, the gorillas will know it is dead when it starts to decompose after which they will devour the remains. It is said the reason for this bizarre cannibal behavior is so that other animals do NOT eat the remains which would entice them to go after gorilla babies. The mountain gorillas however do not eat remains of the adult gorillas.
  7. Mountain Gorillas live in small family units of about 10 to 20 individuals. This is in contrast to chimpanzees that live as a big community comprising of smaller units just like humans.
  8. A mountain gorilla family is led by a dominant male. The dominant male is in most cases a silverback which is an adult male that has developed a silver wash on the back. The silverback protects the family and directs the movement and activities of the group.
  9. Gorillas make new nests every day to sleep. Gorillas make new “beds” each day in the new place where they will have ended the day.
  10. Mountain Gorillas have unique nose prints the way humans have unique finger prints. This is also the way park rangers are able to identify each individual gorilla.

how is the gorilla trekking in Rwanda during the covid era

The covid 19 pandemic has disrupted the normal order of life and introduced a new normal, as a way of controlling the spread & effect of this virus (or should I say as way of living with the virus). This includes how gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done during this covid pandemic era.

Gorillas and humans share than 98% DNA, meaning humans and gorillas can suffer from the same diseases and that includes covid 19. Therefore, the biggest task of gorilla tourism in this covid era is to prevent humans from passing the SARS-CoV-2 virus on to the gorillas. At the moment it is not known how the virus would affect the gorillas if infected but it could be as devasting as it has done in humans or even worse. The virus crossing over to the gorillas would also mean the virus will stay around longer and potentially cross back to humans with even worse variants.

The government of Rwanda has taken the lead in protecting the gorillas and other primates from covid by imposing stricter guidelines/requirements for visiting primate parks including Volcanoes National Park home to the gorillas and golden monkeys, Gishwati – Mukura National Park home to chimpanzees and Nyungwe forest national park home to the chimpanzees and many species of monkeys and is popular for the chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda and the canopy walk

What are the guidelines/requirements for the gorilla trekking in Rwanda during the covid 19 pandemic?

Before visiting the gorillas, a tourist much have a negative PCR test result done within 72 hours from the time of gorilla trekking or golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park. This is perhaps the most outstanding requirement!

Only a PCR test is accepted but not the rapid test.

On the day of the gorilla trek should a tourist show any covid symptoms such as high temperature, cough or flue, he or she shall not be allowed to proceed with the gorilla trek.

Tourists must put on masks when with the gorillas.

Where to do a PCR test for your gorilla trek in Rwanda?

You can do the covid test in Kigali at RBC. Results are supposed to return within 24 hours, but on average return within 12 hours. You can therefore do a test in the morning of traveling to the park and by evening have the results if you are trekking the following day.

You can also test at the government hospital in Musanze. This is if your gorilla trekking date will be a few days away from the time you travel from Kigali a test from Kigali would have expired by the time of your tracking date! The Musanze testing point also works if you are not traveling from Kigali so you do not have to travel back to Kigali for the test.

Another PCR testing center is in Gisenyi where you can test if traveling from the south or western parts of Rwanda enroute to the Volcanoes National Park!