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Newsletter: January 2010

Published: 17 Mar 2010

Semliki is special for many reasons, but to quote writer Melanie Finn who visited several years ago: “Semliki allows you to give leave to your senses”. So in this spirit of letting go, let’s celebrate the smaller things that come to the forefront when you do indeed give leave to your senses. Ever wondered what makes that wonderfully comic, liquid ‘boink’ when you listen to the forest at night? It’s the Senegal Kassina, a tiny little tree frog. Despite the fact that these creatures are widely distributed throughout Africa, they are tremendously difficult to see…unless you know where their hiding spots are. Which we do!

And while you’re busy letting go, have you noticed the variety of life fluttering past you? Semliki is a haven for butterflies and moths for the simple reason that the lodge is perched above a forested river valley, with savannah woodland stretching out behind it, giving us a tripling effect when it comes to habitat. With diversity of habitat comes a greater diversity of life, and the Lepidopterans are here in abundance. With moths and butterflies come caterpillars, and sometimes they are even prettier than their future selves. Roberto Cavalli need look no further for inspiration.

Wild Places Conservation Trust , Semliki

We have been extremely lucky to have Sarah Chudnovsky, a conservation education volunteer, working here with us at the moment. Sarah is working in several local schools on the park boundaries, using the PACE curriculum (Pan African Conservation Education) to teach the importance of conservation and preserving the environment, each lesson focusing on a different aspect of the environment. She has also organized several environmental days where the school students spend the day participating in eco-friendly activities, such as rubbish removal or tree planting.

So far, this education campaign has had a great positive impact, and we plan to continue the program next year. Sarah will train teachers on conservation education methods which can be integrated as part of their regular curriculum. She is also currently teaching local families to build fuel efficient wood stoves with the aim of reducing the need for firewood by up to 70%.

By January, the former Uganda Wildlife Headquarters will have been converted into a Community Nature Center, providing a meeting point for any further conservation activities. Sarah has done a fantastic job and we are looking forward to rolling out the program into next year.

Nkuringo Orphans Group

The Nkuringo Orphans Group had a magical Christmas with Arthur having the opening party to his new home on New Years day and the children being spoilt with a great party The group really started the year off very well. The Nkuringo Orphans Group also received a donation for Christmas which they have managed to buy a nice plot of land with the future plans of building an education center and a safe house for Children of the community.

The Sponsored children performed very well in 2009 and have all been promoted to their next level of Primary school, so they all have a big year ahead.

The NCDF has also launched their own website www.ncdfuganda.org so please log on and read the interesting things they are doing and how you can get involved.

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

The Volcano in Congo has been active and the views from the lodge have been exquisite … a safe place to stand from and admire the views, it erupted on the 2 January 2010.

The Nkuringo Gorilla Family is doing very well, giving birth to a healthy baby boy in December. The numbers steadily increase and the park officials keep doing all they can to protect them. If you still have not become a fan of our Friend a gorilla web site www.friendagorilla.org

Apoka Safari Lodge

Photos by Chui Tours

Recently from Clients that had been on a Wildplaces Safari with TUSC

Wow! What a holiday. Uganda was extraordinary. We loved it. If you haven’t been, then you have to go. Astonishing wildlife experiences, beautiful and diverse scenery, superb lodges, great people and all of the arrangements worked like clockwork. We were glad to spend some time in this beautiful country rather than do a fly-in fly-out hit on the gorillas.