By Frank Kamuntu
Uganda: Ahead of the upcoming holiday season, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has announced a reduction in signature attractions of Apes and Primates among other tariffs.
READ ALSO: Excitement As Bwindi Forest Park Welcomes Birth Of Five Baby Gorillas After Rafiki’s Death
A letter signed off by the Executive Director of UWA Mr. Sam Mwandha reads:
Our visitors are at the heart of our conservation efforts, and as we enter into this festive season, we are glad to be able to reward them for their continued support throughout the years and more especially through this period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ ALSO: Shock As UWA Compensates Family Of Elephant Attack Victim With Only Shs2m
The following discounts have been offered with effect from December 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021.
- 50%discount on park entrance fees for Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, Semuliki National Park, Toro Semliki, Katonga, Kabwoya, and Pian Upe Wildlife Reserves
- 50% discount on birding fees
- Reduction on the gorilla and chimpanzee tracking fees for all visitor categories as follows:
East African Community citizen gorilla tracking permits reduced from UGX
250,000 ($70) to UGX150,000 ($40)
READ ALSO: Killer Of Uganda’s Famous ‘Rafiki’ Gorilla Jailed For 11 Yrs
Foreign Resident gorilla tracking permits reduced from USD600 to USD300
Foreign Non-Resident gorilla tracking permits reduced from USD700 to USD400
East African Community resident chimpanzee tracking permits reduced from UGX150,000 ($40) to UGX100,000 ($28)
Foreign Resident chimpanzee tracking permits reduced from USD150 to USD100
Foreign Non-Resident chimpanzee tracking permits reduced from USD200 to USD150
READ ALSO: Grief As Elephants Kill Ranger In Murchison Falls Park
The reduction on gorilla and chimp fees will only apply to purchases between December 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021and not on reschedules of already deposited on permits or purchases using credit letters.
No reschedules are allowed for these promotional permits.”
The announcement comes at a time when the gorilla parks are experiencing a baby boom, the latest being in the Ruhija-based Mukiza family on October 11 increasing their number to 15 strong.
About Chimpanzee Tracking
Chimpanzee Tracking (trekking) is the activity where travellers with the help of a guide through the jungle follow the trail left by a habituated chimpanzee family and when they find them, spend some time (usually an hour) with the chimps experiencing their cultures.
Chimpanzees are close cousins to a man with almost 98% DNA; they live in huge communities of about 20-70 individuals with many family groups with one alpha male.
READ ALSO: Uganda To Eat Big In Tourism As It Fronts Unique ‘Golden Monkeys’ As New Tourist Attraction
The Alpha male is the highest-ranking male that controls the group and maintains order during arguments, in chimpanzee society male chimps normally stay within their communities where they are born while females frequently move to the neighbouring communities after reaching adolescence, Chimpanzees consume a variety of foods like fruits and plants that man eats, and the fruit of fig trees.
A well-grown male chimpanzee can weigh between 40-70 kg, while an adult female chimpanzee weighs between 25-50kg. The life expectancy of Chimpanzee is at 40-60 years. (Tramadol)
In Uganda, the best thrilling spots for Chimpanzee tracking are Kibale Forest National Park and Budongo Forest National Park.
