The best place to find the Rothschild Girrafe in Africa

Mr. Sidney Mugerwa of the New Vision notes that Giraffes are strange animals, all neck and long legs splaying about as they run awkwardly from one acacia tree to another. One wonders what the Maker was thinking when he crafted them. Watching them, one expects them to tumble into a jerky heap on the ground. It gets comical when the giraffe tries to quench its thirst at the watering hole: a tower of Babel standing 16 to 20 feet tall having to stoop to the water level. Such a spectacle!

When ancient Greeks and Romans first set eyes on a giraffe, they assumed it was the hybrid of a leopard and a camel. That could have explained the white and brown spots that resembled those of a leopard and the close likeness to desert camels. Thus they named the strange beast Giraffa camelopardalis. These esteemed gentlemen apparently did not understand the dynamics of predator versus prey.

To be frank, giraffes look  like a camel with its neck stretched out and thickened with too much good food. A ridge of neck hair is also attached for effect and coloured brown, finished with a coat of spotted skin. They have a pouting mouth and no chin at all; and beautiful, lazy heavily-lashed eyes that blink seductively. A couple of short blunt horns, called ossicones, complete the look with tufts of hair growing at the tips (for the females).

The graceful giraffe actually pulls it off, looking exotic and beautiful as they munch on leaves high up in the trees without a care in the world and all this beauty will be experienced on a uganda safari while in Africa.

Of the nine species of giraffe spread across Africa totalling a measly 80,000, the Rothschild’s giraffe is native to Uganda and the only species that is still surviving in their natural habitat. The Uganda Wildlife Authority tallies them at 1,050 in number, 750 of which are found in Murchison Falls National Park and less than 25 in Kidepo Valley National Park. The rest of the Rothschild’s population can be found in Kenya. These beauties make the shortlist in the endangered category.

Males are generally taller and heavier than the females and a shade darker. What makes the Rothschild’s giraffe stand out from its peers such as the Masai giraffe is that its legs from the knee down do not have spots; one would say that they look dashing in their knee length white socks.

A pilot research project to be based in Murchison Falls National Park has been launched that aims to understand population size, dynamics, ecology and threats giraffes face. Spearheaded by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Conservation Scientist Dr. Julian Fennessy alongside researchers, Stephanie Fennessy and Andy Tutchings will team up with a researcher at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), Henry Opio for the project: The team will be hosted by Marasa Africa at their Paraa Safari Lodge located in Murchison Falls National Park.

To plan your visit to the Murchison falls National park and have a chance to view the Rothschild Girraffe, visit  www.gulutours.com  and they will ensure you have a memorable to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. 

Gulu Tours acquires new customised Safari Mini-Bus

Gone are days when you had to endure a safari to the Murchison Falls and Kidepo National park  with a very unsuitable vehicle. Gulu Tours has now acquired a very convenient and spacious safari mini-Bus with a pop-up roof suitable for game viewing in the National parks.

The Vehicle is stationed in Gulu, when considering a weekend tour to Murchison Falls or Kidepo Valley National park, just drop by the Gulu Tours office or give us a call and we'll fix the tour immediately.
The mini-bus can sit upto 11 pax, so which ever the size of the group just let us know and we shall work out the details.

At Gulu Tours, the One day tours to Murchison falls are still very popular and and very affordable if you find yourself a group of friends willing the take the trip with you. On this tour you enjoy a game drive , boat cruise to the falls and a hike to the top of the falls.

We welcome you and look forward to seeing you in Gulu Town.