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.

Easter packages to Murchison Falls

Easter is a great time of the year when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its always great time to take time off with family and visit the country side. For those travelling up north of Uganda, a day off to Murchison falls would not be such a bad idea. If you leave in Gulu or Lira its just an hour and a half to Murchison falls, do the game drives, boat ride to the bottom of the falls amidst the school of hippos, crocodiles, and lots of wild animals.
No need for accommodation expenses, within the park, since you travel back home the same day after experiencing the wild. Gulu Tours can plan this perfectly well  by offering you a 4X4 car with an experienced driver guide and you can feel free to drop  an email at info@gulutours.com

We wish you a happy Easter Holidays

Col. Walter Ochora Burial date set

Gulu District's former RDC, Col Walter Ochora who passed away at Kampala International Hospital will be laid to rest on Friday 11th March at his ancestral home in Gulu. A requiem mass is being held today at Bugolobi church of Uganda.

Col. Walter Ochora dies

Col. Walter Ochora dies

Gulu Town and Uganda woke to a sad truth on Friday Morning that Col. Walter Ochora former RDC of Gulu town had passed on. This is perceived as a big blow to the northern region considering this former RDC was one of the Pillars of peace and recovery in the region and shall be greatly missed by Uganda as a nation.

Its been reported that Col. Ochora died of a heart attack at Kampala International hospital on thursday evening.

We shall surely miss you Col. Walter Ochora and May your Soul rest in Eternal peace

Discover Gulu this Christmas Season

Gulu to Murchison Falls this Christmas Holiday
Depart Gulu at 6.30am after an early morning cup of tea/coffee start the day with a  drive to the MFNP. We access the park via the northern gate that is Tanga Gate. The game drive then begins as soon as we enter this gate, On the drive you may see different animals unique to the African Savannah vegetation. These include lions, leopards, giraffes, antelopes, elephants, and many warthogs. Go to the lodge for lunch and later take a launch cruise on the Nile River. The cruise which takes you to the bottom of the thundering falls involve a scenic view of schools of hippos, huge crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants and a variety of water birds such as the rare shoebill, cormorants, ducks, bee-eaters, skimmers, fish eagle, kingfishers and herons.
After the boat safari we drive back to Gulu.
Feel free to visit www.gulutours.com to arrange this trip.

Visiting Sir Samuel Baker Fort in Patiko,

The Sir Samuel Baker Fort in Patiko, is one of the few historical sites that we have in Uganda today. Fort Patiko as its commonly known was a site where slaves were being assembled by the Arabs before being shipped off to the Middle slaves. This fort was later taken over by Sir Samuel baker who set up a military base here to partly  try to fight this vice.
A visit to Fort Patiko today still carries with it fresh memories of the past, the trenches that were used by the soldiers are still visible, the cells were captives were being held still existent, the monument of Sir samuel baker also stands tall in this area. The Fort Patiko despite not being a well developed Tourism site has a rich history as can be told by the Tour guides and local communities with this area.