Enjoy a cheap safari in Uganda

TRAVEL & PLACES

Newly-built Engiri Game Lodge and Campsite in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) is determined to revolutionize the tourism industry by attracting wananchi (citizens) and budget tourists globally.

Once there, one is treated to the impressive views of the Rwenzori Mountains. In a distance, buffaloes, bush bucks , warthogs and elephants graze in the nearby bushes.

At night, you cannot miss the hippos, lions and hyenas breathing outside the tent.  Engiri offers accommodation options ranging from tents to self-contained deluxe cottages within a price range of $25-$50 (sh80,000-sh170,000) per night.

In a group of more than six guests, management offers the guests a bonus of a game walk, a goat roast, and traditional dances from a local women's troupe.

A banda, a self-contained room with two beds, is seen here at Engiri Campsite

The marketing manager, Peter Akankwatsa, says: "We are targeting budget, domestic tourists and adventure seekers who cannot afford up-class rates that cost $120 (sh400,000) and above for bed and meals."

This strategy coincides with speculation by IPK International that presented the latest forecast for global and European tourism industry at the ITB Convention.

"Worldwide, international travel is expected to grow by three percent in 2016," explained IPK CEO Rolf D. Freitag while unveiling findings of World Travel Monitor. "The recent terrorist attacks in the main source markets of international tourism have created a great deal of uncertainty regarding people's travel planning for 2016."

He added that the impact of terror threats could have on tourism this year is not ignorable as 15 percent of respondents said they have cancelled trips and are going on domestic trips back home. Worse still another 25 percent said they would go to destinations they consider safe.

For Uganda, the good news is, Asia, where UTB has lately been marketing destination Uganda, is expected to have more travelers than elsewhere. Better still, there is a slight increase expected of tourists from The Netherlands, UK, Germany and Switzerland.

Engiri provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. And after any meal, guests are given fruit salads

Proving that tourism is no longer the preserve of grey-haired wealthy pensioners from Europe as it were, Engiri Game Lodge and Campsite management is introducing affordable packages to attract more backpackers, honeymooners and entire families.

This was revealed during a recent FAM (familiarization) trip for the media, hotel owners and tour operators there.

Asked why management had introduced a low-cost facility in a historically expensive service provision, Akankwatsa had this to say: "The tent and self-contained suites can affordably accommodate two people in each."

"This tourism product was inspired by a group of women we met at Uganda Expo, at Serena Hotel, last year who annually pool resources and go touring different destinations in the country."

Engiri provides a game drive, which is punctuated with packed breakfast at Bunyampaka

Also asked what the tourist expects from this safari, Amanda Lwanga of About Africa tour operating company counts the attractions off her fingers.

"There is something to interest a traveler however sophisticated they are. There are the Big Five (elephants, hippos, lions, buffalos and giraffes.) This is in addition to more than 450 species of birds and communities living within Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP)."

She added that they would recommend the food at Engiri and a well-stocked bar. The lodge is full-time secured with UWA trained Tourism Police to provide security in case of any aggressive animal behaviour.

On the FAM trip, another tour operator, Thelma Kirunda of Adventure Expedition, said she saw more hippos and birds there than she had ever seen in one place.

"I was shocked to hear they used to maul between five to seven people in a year before Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) erected a wire mesh which they have begun tearing apart," said Kirunda.

"Such tales are what thrills tourists and makes them ask for more. Times are gone of shooting animals dead to take heads or skins as trophies. They shoot them with a smart phone or camera and share the snap on Facebook."

Here, travelers pose for a panoramic picture by a motorboat. Not far away in the middleground, a hippo can spotted

MJ Safaris tour guide James Mwere says he has handled a cross-section of tourists and has discovered domestic tourists prefer to use a route to QENP with many towns but those from Europe come specifically for either the Big Five or birds.

"Others prefer reptiles, primates, mountain ranges or water bodies," says Mwere.

"But students prefer getting there using the Masaka route which has a stopover at The Equator. They love to have health breaks to eat snacks or critically look at what is studied in history and geography lessons. These comprise Maramagambo Forest, the rift valley, crater lakes and Mountains of the moon.

"With this pocket-friendly service, two families can fuel a minibus then have moments to remember in life at QENP."

Site-seeing at Bunyampaka

The reception of Engiri Lodge and Campsite. Up is the dining and bar