Au Cap, Seychelles | AFP | It is the world’s largest seed, and with a shape suggestive of a woman’s hips and myths of love-making powers, the coco de mer is an icon of the Seychelles. With a 10-kilogramme (22-pound) coconut wedged between his feet, experienced nut cutter Christophe Bristol uses …
Read More »Why coronavirus could help save China’s endangered species
Paris, France | AFP | The novel coronavirus outbreak in China may end up saving one of the world’s most trafficked animals after Beijing announced a total ban on the sale and consumption of the pangolin. The scaly mammal — listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature …
Read More »Four rare mountain gorillas ‘killed by lightning’
Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Four endangered mountain gorillas, including three adult females, have been killed by an apparent lightning strike in a Ugandan national park, a conservation group has said. A post-mortem examination has been performed on the four, including a male infant, who died on February 3 in …
Read More »The Independent tourism book on sale at Pearl of Africa Expo
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Lilly Ajarova, the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has told delegates to the ongoing 2020 Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) that Uganda is full of abundant tourism opportunities characterised by the richest tourism attractions portfolio, best value for money for investors …
Read More »Uganda showcases top attractions at Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo 2020
✳Forex earnings from tourism have grown by 22% over the last 5 years from $1.31 billion to $1.6 billion an average growth of 4% per year ✳The tourism sector in 2018, contributed Shs8.3trillion worth of GDP- equivalent of 7.7% of Uganda’s GDP ✳ Tourism created 670,000 jobs in 2018 (6.7% of total …
Read More »Tale of Ssezibwa falls where tourists, traditional believers go to seek blessings
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ssezibwa falls on Ssezibwa river is located about 3km off the Kampala-Jinja highway at Kayanja trading center in Buikwe district. The river flows from the wetlands between Lake Victoria into Lake Kyoga in Kayunga District. According to one of the falls tour guide Janet …
Read More »Installation of electric fence around Murchison Falls National Park starts
Murchison, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has started installing electric fences around Murchison Falls National Park in a bid to stop animals from straying into neighboring communities. The exercise kicked off over the weekend from Pabit parish in Purongo sub county Nwoya district with digging of …
Read More »Charles Njonjo marks 100th birthday with visit to Uganda
Kabale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kenya’s former Attorney General Charles Njonjo started celebrations leading to his 100th birthday this week by tracking gorillas in Uganda at the weekend. The former flamboyant and powerful Attorney General of Kenya in the Jomo Kenyatta and early Daniel Arap Moi presidency, was at Mgahinga Gorilla …
Read More »New Cultural museum to change Kalangala’s tourism fortunes
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A new cultural museum, the first of its kind has been set up in Kalangala, to preserve and promote the islands’ rich heritage to the rest of the world. Kalangala’s heritage stretches from the royal regalia in the Bukasa and Bubembe shrines, the tree species …
Read More »All you need to know as you trek up Rwenzori Mountains
Kampala, Uganda | Patricia Akankwatsa | The Rwenzori Mountains or better known as the Mountains of the Moon, are ranges located on the border between Uganda and DR Congo. The mountain ranges are home to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the DR Congo as well …
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