Uganda Introduces Direct Flights to National Parks
Like most safari destinations in Africa, most of the national parks in Uganda lie far from Kampala city centre and in one way or the other, most tourists have been finding it hard for them to realize their long time dreams in the destination. What is amazing is that, tourists can now fly directly up to the national parks without necessarily clearing from the immigration at Entebbe International Airport. This is indeed great news in the tourism industry! The agreement was shared at the Giant Club Conservation and Investment Forum that was held on 6th October in Kampala and chaired by H.E. President Yoweri Museveni, the president of the Republic of Uganda. The forum attracted global tourism innovators, international financiers, philanthropists and conservationists. The Giants Club is an initiative introduced by the International Conservation NGO Space for Giants. The forum brings together various political leaders, philanthropists, business heads and conservationists in developing innovative new solutions to conserve the major wilderness areas in Africa.
The initiative of directive flights to the remotest national parks in Uganda was approved by the Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs and its Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The move is aimed at improving East Africa’s unique attractions at large especially by attracting most of international travelers from across the world who wish to visit at least one or two of the East Africa’s popular safari holiday destinations. In addition, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)-government organ which is in charge conserving wildlife species in Uganda’s protected areas as well as other related tourism attractions also assured visitors on safari to Uganda of incentives which included 50% discount on hotel bed night levies for visitors staying for over 5 nights within the facility established by the forum and for those who will travel in groups of 10 members and above, they will enjoy the discount of 20%. Other incentives include waiving off aircraft landing fees in the course of investors’ first period of operation which gives them a 12 month grace period on new operators’ annual charges and also includes costs of marketing the new product with Uganda Wildlife Authority. At a moment, Uganda Wildlife Authority covers the charges of airfield maintenance and also access to the roads in the national parks and reserves.
Before, the Entebbe International Airport featured as the major airport of entry for nearly all passengers traveling to Uganda whether for wildlife safaris in the parks or business. However, with the new arrangements, tourists on safari to Uganda can now continue their journeys straight to any of the wildlife destinations that they prefer to visit and those with connecting domestic flights are of an added advantage. Direct regional flights featured after 3 years following the introduction of the Single East African tourist visa for Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya which gives tourists on safari to Africa to visit any of the 3 (three) destinations without necessarily applying for another visa.
The East African Single Visa can be obtained at $100 per tourist and can be accessed from Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya depending on the port of your entry. This type of visa allows visitors to have multiple entries within that particular country and this gives visitors opportunity to save time and reduce on stress while at the border points. In the past, tourists had to apply for every country’s visa which is different today. A single visa isn’t only remarkable achievement in East African destinations but also great opportunity that tourists on safari should utilize so as to enjoy a variety of attractions. It allows cross border attraction exploration and the multi country itineraries implementation in respective destinations of visitor preference.
Given the new arrangements, visitors on wildlife safari in Maasai Mara National Reserve can simply fly to the Uganda gorilla destinations of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which allows you to have a most memorable combined safari. Uganda offers refuge to half of the world’s mountain gorillas and gorilla trekking permits cost $600 per person. Around Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park, visitors can land in Kisoro and Kihihi airstrip. This initiative also gives tourists opportunity to enjoy other protected areas like Queen Elizabeth National Park which features three airstrips; Mweya, Ishasha and Kasese airfields. In Murchison Falls National Park, there is Pakuba and Chobe airstrip; in Kidepo Valley National Park visitors can fly and land in Apoka airstrip and in Semuliki and Kibale National Park, there is Semuliki airstrip.
In conclusion, with variety of attractions that Uganda has in offer for the world, direct flights are exceptionally the best way to go for country to boost its tourism which in turn will boost not only the country’s revenues but also sector at large especially when most of remotest national parks are explored by many tourists. In the long run, it also benefits the local community livelihoods.
