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Newsletter – June

Published: 4 Jul 2010

Semliki Safari Lodge

This lone male lion was hanging around the lodge this week. Here he was photographed just off the lodge driveway in the northern savannah where he relaxed in the shade for most of the day. Later on, he retreated to the car park where he continuously treated guests to a concert of roaring periodically throughout the night. He was still in the car park in the morning when the staff came to work, but eventually moved on down towards the river below the lodge.

Rock pythons have been seen with increasing frequency around the reserve lately. These photos were taken this month on a game drive in which the guests watched a python devour a female Uganda kob from start to finish. They originally came upon the dead kob in the grass and noted that on its leg it had a bite wound that looked like it came from a python. So they decided to sit and wait for the python to return and sure enough, 10 minutes later the python returned to eat. As you can see, the python started at the head and slowly moved along until he had ingested the entire kob. The whole process took about 30 minutes.

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge

There has been lots happening at Clouds, Melissa has had several meeting with local groups. We are currently discussing plans for a HIV/AIDS satellite clinic, and eventually a community clinic, run by Bwindi Community hospital. Melissa has just met with the health Inspector in Rubuguri, to talk about public health issues we are facing and we will be meeting again to start a program of sensitizing.

There are negotiations for a Cultural center in Rubuguri and we are discussing a garden project with the Orphan group here in Nkuringo. Two of our establish school gardens projects have received more seeds and advice from Tophil and the NCDF with our help has applied for funding for growing lemongrass in the Buffer-zone, we have been an active member of the buffer-zone sub-committee on livelihoods in the Nkuringo community. Richard from Virunga Artisans has donated more seeds and sweet potato plants that we distributed to the Orphans, Batwa and local community members.

Very sadly one of the twins in the Nkuringo group of gorillas has passed away, They think the mother wasn’t producing enough milk.

Melissa personally bought some world maps for a local school, though we do need more it has been a great start for teaching the children. NCDF is currently building school teacher facilities so that the teachers can get to work without hours of traveling to and from the school.

We have been continuing work on the weavers shed, using NCDF and IGCP funds as well as donating a couple of employees from the lodge.

Weather is favorable for gorilla trekking as there is not too much rain for this time of year.

The Nyiragongo Volcanoes is still active and from the main building of Clouds you can have spectacular viewing on a clear night.

Apoka Safari Lodge

Kidepo has seen a lot of rain this last month, the grass is high but we are still having fantastic sightings of our lion prides. Early mornings are a struggle to get out of one’s scratcher but slowly the day heats up and it makes it all seam worthwhile.

Recent agents staying at the lodge from Spain and Belgium, enjoyed Karamajong true hospitality whilst visiting Lorukul village, Apoka’s closest village.