Art Festival to be held in Uganda - cultural safaris

In August 2014,Uganda is expected to hold an annual Art festival which will help to exhibit the various artistic objects the country has.This is one of the special events the country boosts of and there is a lot of wonders expected to be witnessed.As you plan your safari to Uganda in August,make it a point to attend this adventurous event and stand a chance of having a visual experience of some of the rare objects only found in Uganda.

African bag

Blessed with over 40 cultural settings, Uganda is the leading cultural destination in Africa and this is the reason why the number of visitors to this East African country has rapidly increased.The cultural fraternities in the country comprise of a unique artistic talent which the country wants to show to the rest of the world during the Art Festival slated to take place from 1st August to 31st of the same year.

Artistic Baskets

Different delegates from different countries are expected to attend the event and they will be availed with all the necessary tourism information which they will use to spread when they get back to their home countries.They will also visit other tourism sites in the country like the nationals parks,historical sites and many more.

An Art piece

Therefore as you plan for your safari to Uganda this year,extend your trip and attend the Art festival and stand a chance of viewing the beauty of Ugandan art.

The Uganda budget makes cultural safaris more costly

Many people especially tour operators expected the minister of Finance this time to read a budget that favors the tourism sector but on their surprise,more taxes were introduced in the sector.This according to the operators will affect the tourism industry as visitors will be discouraged by the increase in the cost of a Uganda safari including cultural safaris.

Lat week a budget for the next financial year was read to the public and 18% VAT on accommodation facilities where visitors stay was a newly introduced tax.Another tax which will affect the sector is the tax on the various sites including the cultural sites.These two taxes will affect the industry negatively because visitors intending to visit this East African country will be discouraged due to the increased costs.In fact a cultural visit to some of the major sites in Uganda is going to become more expensive to the visitors.The old itineraries you are used to are now going to be modified to include some element of tax.

Uganda is one of the leading tourism destinations in Africa and culture is one of the special attributes that have been attracting people from different parts of the word.However,there is fear that the number of visitors who visit this "pearl of Africa" annually will reduce as a result of the increased taxes.This is the reason why different tour operators have come out to ask the government to reduce these taxes.The government argues that its finding ways of raising more revenue forgetting that discouraging tourists from visiting the country will in a long run lead to a reduction in the revenue. Tourism industry in Uganda is the leading revenue-generating sector and by increasing taxes on the various sites and accommodation,income received from the visitors will reduce.

Apart from culture,visitors come to this country to participate in other adventurous activities like gorilla trekking,nature walks,game drives,hiking,bird watching,kayaking,chimpanzee tracking
,boat rides and many more

Ways you can have a successful cultural safari experience

Many tourists visit Uganda repeatedly but experiencing the same way they did on their last tour.They lack the basics of how to make their cultural safari tours a success without even the help of a tour company.Some tourists just pay their money with a company and wait fro fun to come their way without even doing something to provide the fun for them selves.Below are some of the things one can do to make a safari tour more colourful and enjoyable;-

Plan your safari well: Before you jump on the plane to Uganda,first draft a plan of how you want you tour to be.Off course you will need do this by the help of a tour company that you plan to use.Choose the various places you want to visit and attach a price to each.If you are planning a cultural tour,point out the various villages,sites,people and cultural centers you will visit while in Uganda.

Carry enough money: You all realize that all things work better if you have the money especially if in a foreign country.This is the reason why you are advised to carry enough money so as to meet the various bills which you may be required to clear while on a safari.Never carry inadequate money while on a safari because you may fail to enjoy safari to the maximum.The money will enable you buy some art crafts,visit extra places,buy African clothes and many more.

Research about the cultural norms in the host country: Before you visit Uganda,there is need that you get to know some things allowed and those that are not allowed culturally.Some of the things you are used to may be unwanted according to African context and this is the reason why you need to research to avoid disappointments.Get to know the cord of dressing,how to great,how to respond to different circumstances and others.

Carry enough clothes: Though some tourist prefer buying clothes from their respective destinations,its is wise to carry enough clothes for the days you will spend on a safari.Choosing the right kind of clothes to carry depends on the culture of you destination.

Make a good choice of places to visit: Do not just pick a place because a tour company has told you that is is the best place to visit but choose a place that you think will be satisfactory to you.Choose wisely depending on your desires.

Choose a credible tour company: The success of any safari largely depends on the tour company used and this is the reason why you need to choose a company that is credible and experienced like Maranatha Tours Uganda (www.adventureugandasafaris.com).

4 days cultural safaris Uganda

In these 4 days safari,you will visit one of the leading cultural sites in Uganda like Namugongo Pilgrimage site, Kabaka's Lake and Tororo Rock painting site.

Brief itinerary

Day 1:Namugongo and Kabaka's Lake

Day 2:Transfer to Tororo and village tours

Day 3:cultural walk and Tororo rock painting

Day 4:Transfer back to Kampala

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1:Namugongo and Kabaka's Lake

 Wake up early and have a cup of tea before meeting our qualified guide who will brief you about the tour.Our experienced driver will drive you to Kabaka's Lake where you will have great views and you will be told the various stories behind this treasured lake.It is found in central Uganda in Buganda Kingdom and it is the only place where you can have a real view of Uganda's history.

You will be transferred to a restaurant for lunch where you will enjoy different African dishes before proceeding to Namugongo Pilgrimage site. At this place,you will have a real feel of what the Uganda martyrs went through as they were burnt alive by the then king of Buganda.

Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight.

Day 2:Transfer to Tororo and village tours

 Wake up in the morning and have breakfast before you are transferred to Tororo town in Eastern Uganda.It is quite a long journey which takes about 5hours by road.Reach in the afternoon and have lunch and relaxation before going for an evening cultural tour through the different villages in the region.Meet and interact with the local people ho will tell you some amazing stories.

Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3:cultural walk and Tororo rock painting

This is the most exciting day on your safari as you visit the Tororo rock painting site where cement is manufactured from.This is a cultural site which involved hiking on the mountain past various caves that are believed to have been homes for the ancestors.Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation before going for another cultural walk through villages.

Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight.

Day 4:Transfer back to Kampala

Wake up in the morning and have breakfast before being transfered back to Kampala or Airport.

This will be the end of our 4 days cultural safaris Uganda.

Karimojongs get boosted by NGO's - Cultural Safari News

In the past,Karimojongs were taken to be unfriendly people with rude behaviors because of their way of life,They used to move with guns while rearing the cows in the plains so as to protect their cows from thieves and if someone dared to raid the cows,a true Karimojong wouldn't hesitate to shoot you.This is the reason why cultural safari tours to this region were at low rate as many tourists feared risking their lives.Another reason was the war that greatly affected the Karimojongs and the Acholi people.

Homesteads of Karimojongs

However,with the peace installation in Karimojong region by the Ugandan government,many developments including tourism boosts have been witnessed in the region and recently,different NGO's came out and vowed to develop the region's tourism.Though located in remote places,Karimojongs are one of the few ethnic tribes in Uganda that have reserved their cultural beliefs and norms.Today,a cultural safari tour to northern Uganda is one the best tours because of the guaranteed magnificent adventures.If you are interested in witnessing the true lifestyle of an African man or woman,then this is the best site to visit in Uganda.

Get a chance of witnessing how these Karimojongs set up their grass thatched houses which are constructed close to each other.Meet and greet the local people who will tell you different stories about their origin and what they go through as they try to forge a living.

Karimojong cultural dance

Because of the reserved cultural tourism fraternities,different NGO's have decided to encourage the local people to maintain their culture and avoid diluting it with the western culture.The fact is that some Karimojongs had started abandoning their cultures and had started copying the western cultures including way of dressing,singing,dancing,greeting and many more.According to the tourism minister,this was affecting the industry because many tourists from different parts of the world travel to northern Uganda to have a glance at the rare-culture.

With the new initiative of conserving the Karimojong culture,the region will boost of important transformations that will improve the lives of the local people and also increase revenue collected from the tourism industry.

A cultural safari tour to Uganda will enable you visit this region full of African cultural adventures that you have never seen in your lifetime.

Cultural Safaris to Uganda increase

This is one of the best moments for Uganda when it comes to tourism because of the recorded increase in the number of visitors.Most of these visitors come specifically to find out how Ugandans live and their cultural practices.The strong reason behind this improvement is the presence of various tribes and ethnic groups each with its own unique cultural practices.

Uganda is one of the leading African countries with the highest number of ethnic groups and this has marketed it more than other countries.Many tourists that have visited this great nation have a story to tell because of the adventurous experience they found.

This "pearl of Africa" consists of friendly people with courteous and gracious ways which  are hard to find else where in Africa.These people have different values and these can only be witnessed through meeting the local people physically.Meet and interact with some Ugandans who will tell you all you need to know about  culture and beliefs of the people.Get to know the conservative nature of Africans specifically Ugandans when it comes to cultural norms.

Uganda has more than 40 ethnic tribes and some of them are Buganda, Busoga, Bugisu, Ankole, Bunyoro, Iteso, and many more.Each of these tribes has its own way of living and different values and customs.The most prominent tribe in Uganda is Buganda with the highest number of people.This tribe is located in the central Uganda and it has a hereditary system of governance(headed by Kabaka-King).

Apart from meeting the local people,you can visit some of the historical sites in Uganda that portray the true culture of this nation and the first instruments to made by the early men

.Some of these sites include the Kasubi tombs,Kaggulu hill,.Namirembe pilgrimage site,the Uganda museum,different cultural palaces and many more.Still on your safari,you can enjoy some cultural dances and songs which will make you relaxed and awesome.

You may be wondering how you can enjoy this.Its simple,all you need to do is to contact us so that we can arrange a safari for you at low prices.We can organize this adventurous trip  to Uganda and also ensure that your movements in the country are classic and safe.Our skilled guides are always there to travel along with your whenever you go and they are ready to answer any question that you ask.