Uganda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Information about Uganda

The Republic of Uganda is a country in East Africa bordered in the East by Kenya, in the North by Sudan, by the Democratic Republic of
Congo in the West, Rwanda in the Southwest and Tanzania in the South. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, within which it shares borders with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda takes its name from the historical Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a portion of the south of the country, including the capital city of Kampala.

The current president of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, is both head of state and head of government. The president appoints a prime minister who aids him in his tasks. The parliament is formed by the National Assembly, which has 303 members. 86 of these members are nominated by interest groups, including women and the Ugandan army. The remaining members are elected for five-year terms during general elections.

Uganda is divided into districts spread across four administrative divisions: Northern, Eastern, Central and Western. The districts are all named after their ‘chief town’. Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force, with coffee accounting for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the government – with the support of foreign countries and international agencies – has acted to rehabilitate an economy decimated during the regime of Idi Amin and civil war.

 

Accommodation in Kampala & in the Field

Upon arrival and departure, depending on your flight schedule, you will be accommodated in a good three-star hotel either in Kampala (www.cassialodge.com ) or in Entebbe (www.gatelyinn.com). Your lodging in the field will be either in traditional East African safari tents or traditional grass thatched bungalows cared for by a trained staff. Clients who come to hunt Sitatunga should be prepared to fly-camp because the swamps where we hunt are scattered all over our concessions, mainly in Kafu.

Our field cooks create three good meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) per day. The food is prepared by chefs who were trained at our partner restaurant (www.bbq-lounge.co.ug ). The cooking in our restaurant samples different kitchens like Indian, African, German, Italian and Chinese. There is also a laundry service every second day in camp. Bottled water is brought from Kampala for your protection.

 

Hunting Season

Our hunting season is from January through November. It rains year around (which is why the country is so green) with slightly more
rain on average April-June and November. But the rainfall varies from year-to-year, and some species move with the rain, and we hunt where the animals are. The best time to hunt Buffalo and Hartebeest is during the months of January to end of April. After that the grass is too high for hunting. All other species can be hunted year round.

 

Geography & Climate

Uganda is located on the East African plateau, averaging about 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) above sea level, and this slopes steadily downwards to the Sudanese Plain to the north. Much of the south is poorly drained, while the center is dominated by Lake Kyoga and surrounding marshy areas. Uganda lies almost completely within the Nile basin. The Victoria Nile drains into Lake Kyoga, then into Lake Albert and north to Sudan. One small area on the eastern border of Uganda is drained by the Turkwel River, which is part of the internal drainage basin of Lake Turkana.

Although generally equatorial, Uganda’s climate is not uniform as the altitude modifies the climate, but temperatures rarely climb to the 90′s F. during the day or drop to the 40′s F. at night. Southern Uganda is wetter, with rain generally spread throughout the year. At Entebbe, on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, most rain falls March – June and November – December. Further to the north, a dry season gradually emerges so that January and February is much drier than the rest of the year at Gulu (120 miles from the Sudanese border).

Most important cities are located in the south, near Lake Victoria, including the capital, Kampala, and the “airport city” of Entebbe. Although landlocked, Uganda contains many large lakes. In addition to Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga, there is Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and the smaller Lake George, among others.

 

Clothing & Equipment

Lightweight clothing is adequate (long or short sleeves and pants) with a jacket or sweater for the evenings or early mornings. Dark khaki or green are the preferred colors. Be sure to pack some light raingear because it is common to experience some rain several
days per month in some regions. Bring good binoculars and a day pack for your camera, extra ammunition, and incidentals. A spotting scope, range finder, and walking stick are optional and are not generally useful.

 

Rifles & Ammunition

Bring what you shoot best, but we recommend a .270 – .300 for most species and a .375 – .416 for Buffalo. Most airlines limit your ammunition to 11 pounds packed in a locked case in your duffel bag. A good combination would be 60 rounds for your light rifle and 10 softs and 10 solids for your heavy rifle.

 

Insurance

Each hunter and observer is responsible for his or her health related problems and own insurance including evacuation insurance and trip cancellation insurance. You need to talk to your current medical insurance provider about coverage in another country. Each insurance company has different requirements as to what receipts they require for reimbursement of
medical costs. Generally speaking you must recognize your responsibility to take care of your health and realize we will
often be hours if not days from competent medical care. By joining these safaris you assume the responsibility of the risks associated, which can be, but are not limited, to tropical diseases, animal attacks, uprisings.

 

Health Precautions

See your doctor for routine international vaccinations including an optional yellow fever update every 10 years and an anti-malarial prescription. According to the Center for Disease Control, it is best to use atovaquone/proguanil or doxycycline or mefloquine, but
not chloroquine. You may also want to request precautionary anti-biotic and anti- diarrhea pills. No yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Uganda.

 

Passport/Visa

A passport valid for at least six months after your arrival and with some blank pages is mandatory. U.S. citizens and citizens of the European Union may obtain a visa in advance or purchase one upon arrival at Entebbe for $50.00.

 

Airlines

Quite a number of airlines fly to Uganda including KLM which offers non-stops from Amsterdam to Entebbe most days of the week. KLM cooperates with Air France, Kenya Airways, and Northwest Airlines which allows you to connect to Entebbe from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, or Nairobi. Other airlines flying to Entebbe are British Airways, South African Airways, Emirates, Brussels Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines.

 

Handling of Your Trophies

Field preparation is included in your safari package. Dip and Pack, export documents and permits are provided at reasonable extra charges by Uganda Wildlife Taxidermy & Tannery Services Ltd. (UWTTS)! Shipping to your selected taxidermist or clearing agent is at your expense.

 

Permits

All sport hunters entering Uganda have to apply for a hunting license prior to their arrival and a rifle import permit (both of which we will help you obtain). Sport hunters must pay a conservation and concession fee of 50 US$ per day which is included in your package price. Other tourists must pay 20 US$ for each per day.”

 

Our Sport Hunting Concessions

1) Kafu River Basin (KA)

The huge Kafu River Basin stretches along Lake Kyoga, Kafu & Mayanja Rivers and covers the seven districts of Luwero, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Kiboga, Kyankwansi, Kiryandongo and Masindi with about 5,000,000 hectares. The landscape in Kafu is mainly dominated by Papyrus swamps and dense bush thickets. Therefore it is a prime hunting ground for the East African Sitatunga, East African Bush Duiker, East African Bohor Reedbuck, Nile Bushbuck, Ugandan Defassa Waterbuck, Leopard, Common Oribi and Bush Pig.

 

2) Aswa Lolim Ranches (AL)

The former Aswa Lolim Wildlife Reserve was degazetted under Idi Amin. It covers the sub-counties of Purongo, Alero, Anaka and Koch-Goma. Although many commercial farmers have settled in this prime hunting ground, it still realistic to get Nile Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Hartebeest and Waterbuck. Aswa Lolim lies on the eastern side of the Nile. It covers 500,000 hectares and shares 110 km direct border with Murchsion Falls National Park in the south and about 78 km with the Nile in the west. The landscape is dominated by light rolling grass hills with palm trees, small valleys with creeks and light forest. Near the river you find dense forests and large stretches of papyrus swamps.

 

3) Mukono & Buvuma Island Sanctuary (MK)

(This concession is undergoing at the moment community sensitization with UWA, hunting will start in the last quarter of 2012)

Mukono and Buvuma Districts are located in the North of Kampala. Buvuma is a complete Island District while Mukono has got a huge
portion of mainland. There are a total of 45 islands in both districts, roughly 25 to 45 Kilometers off the mainland. Mukono District is pretty close to Kampala and can easily be reached by car. Buvuma has got a daily ferry service. In Mukono we will have a wilderness lodge right on the shores of Lake Victoria, while in Buvuma we will have a wilderness camp on one of the smaller islands. Both districts offer throughout the year great hunting opportunities for big Lake Victoria Crocodiles. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has
relocated problem animals in the past reaching 18 feet in length with a weight of 1 ton. In Mukono we mainly hunt both
Sitatunga species and Nile Bushbuck, while in Buvuma it is only the Island Sitatunga.

 

4) Other Concessions

There are other species like East African Impala, East African Eland, Topi, Gunther’s DikDik, Chanlers Mountain Reedbuck to hunt with other safari outfitters. We can organize safaris for these species if there is a need.

 

Sport Hunting Safari Packages

Safari Package	Duration	1 Hunter/1 PH	2 Hunters/1 PH	Trophy Fee Deposit
A - Plains Game	7 days	8,000 US$	7,100 US$	5,000 US$
B - Nile Buffalo	10 days	18,600 US$	16,800 US$	10,000 US$
C - East African Sitatunga	10 days	19,800 US$	N/A	10,000 US$
D - Island Sitatunga	14 days	24,760 US$	N/A	10,000 US$
E - East African & Island Sitatunga	18 days	40,520 US$	N/A	10,000 US$
F - East African Sitatunga & Nile Buffalo	14 days	30,760 US$	N/A	12,500 US$
G - Island Sitatunga & Nile Buffalo	18 days	38,600 US$	34,040 US$	15,000 US$
H - Full Bag Safari	21 days	47,540 US$	41,540 US$	20,000 US$

A deposit for your trophy fees and other expenses is required before the start of your safari. The deposit will be credited towards the trophies taken on your safari, and the balance if any is refundable. The balance is payable at the end of the safari either in cash or by wire transfer! Hunters who travel with their families can upgrade their safari packages at any time and do side trips to:

 

• Bwindi National Park for Gorilla tracking
• Queen Elisabeth NP (tree climbing Lions, Giant Forest Hogs, large herds of Buffalo, Kob & Elephant)
• Murchison Falls NP (large herds of Kob, Hartebeest, Buffalo plus many other species)
• Kidepo NP (large herds of Buffalo, Elephant, Lions and rare species like Lesser & Greater Kudu)
• Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
• Fishing on Lake Victoria or at Murchison Falls
• And many more. Please ask us for a quotation.

Non-Hunters/observers pay 300 US$ per day inclusive of 20 US$ Conservation and 20 US$ Concession Fees.

 

All Safari Packages include:

• Service of a Professional Hunter (PH)
• 4×4 Hunting vehicle
• Full accommodation in tented camps
• Field preparation of trophies
• Transfer from the airport to the hotel & return
• All meals, bottled water & soft drinks in camp
• Conservation, Concession and Area Fees
• Hunting Permit incl. 18% VAT
• Laundry services in camp
• Airport Pick Up
• Car Transfers between hunting areas

 

All Safari Package exclude:

• Transfer Kampala to hunting area by car & return 800 US$/per car plus 18% VAT
• Dip & Pack (from 500 to 2,400 US$) plus 18% VAT
• Any Charter Flights
• Hotel overnights before and after the safari
• Trophy Fees
• Alcoholic Drinks, Wine & Champagne
• Export Documents (400 US$ plus 18% VAT)
• CITES Permits (150 US$ plus 18% VAT)
• Tips to the Staff
• Any personal expenses
• Personal Insurances and Medical Evacuation coverage
• Any problems associated with delays due to weather, airlines, transportation breakdowns, emergencies, lost luggage
• Food, laundry in Kampala
• Any expenses for overnights in lodges & national park entrance fees

Trophy Fees

All trophy fees noted below include a 20% surcharge for anti-poaching projects. In case females or immature males are shot, the trophy fee is doubled. Please note that trophy fees can change at any time without notification. Due to quota limitations, please be advised, to book your safari well in advance.

Safari Package	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	Trophy Fee in US$
Species
Baboon, Olive	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Free
Buffalo, Nile		X					X	X	4,000
Bushbuck, Nile, 1st	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	1,200
Bushbuck, Nile, 2nd	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	950
Bush Pig	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	400
Crocodile, Nile*				X	X		X	X	2,500
Duiker, East African Bush	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	600
Hartebeest, Jackson’s		X				X	X	X	1,500
Hippopotamus*			X	X	X	X	X	X	2,000
Kob, Uganda, 1st X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	2,500
Kob, Uganda, 2nd		X				X	X	X	2,000
Leopard*					X		X	X	7,500
Monkey, Vervet	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Free
Oribi	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	650
Reedbuck, East African Bohor		X	X		X	X	X	X	850
Sitatunga, East African			X		X	X		X	4,000
Sitatunga, Island				X	X	X	X	X	4,000
Warthog	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	450
Waterbuck, Ugandan Defassa		X	X			X	X	X	1,500

 

*Problem Animals

Crocodile, Hippos and Leopards can only be hunted when they are identified as problem animals by Uganda Wildlife Authority (which heretofore has been rare). Even if identified before or during a safari, it might be necessary to change the booked concession and permits for problem animals might not be available when clients plan to hunt.