When the Ranger’s called out to Nandi, she never responded so they went in search of her. They had reason to rejoice when they discovered that Nandi had given birth to the first baby Rhino in the sanctuary.  Five days later, the sex of the baby Rhino is yet to be determined as the mother, Nandi, is very protective.

Ms. Angie Genade, the Executive Director of the sanctuary says that they are keeping watch of mother and child who seem to be in good health. The child is extremely playful. After suckling, the baby Rhino kept on moving a few meters from the mother.

Although the gender of the baby is yet to be identified, there are two probable names, Obama or Michelle. The Rhinos have historical ties with the two names. While Nandi, the 10 year old mother, is one of the two southern white Rhinos donated by the Disney Animal Kingdom in the US in 2006, the father of the baby originated from Kenya. Obama, the first black US president , has an ancestral home in Kenya.

The Rhinos are popular with tourists. Some of the proceeds from the fees charged are used for the community development.

Ms. Grenade said they expect a baby boom in the near future given the expectation of 12 southern white rhinos from South Africa in November and East African black Rhinos from Kenya.

Nandi, the ten year old mother,

Uganda will be hosting the 5th Africa-Asia Business Forum(AABF)2009 conference on 15th-17th June 2009.

This conference is intent on bringing together top officials and private sector representatives from 65 countries in Africa and Asia as well as International organisations to review, examine and assess the existing strategies in Africa for sustainable tourism.

The UNDP in collaboration with Japan’s foreign affairs ministry, the World Bank, UNIDO and the United Nationa World Tourism Organisation is organizing this forum. It will also discuss how to expand marketing opportunities in tourism and foster tourism investment among Asian and African nations.

This forum will also expose participants to information of of potential business opportunities.

The conference will have several activities such as a three-day exhibition, presentation on gorilla awareness, Uganda’s traditional dances among others. Big media networks such as CNBC, CNN, BBC and Reuters is expected to showcase the event live from Kampala.

The conference will be held at Kampala.s Speke Resort Munyonyo and will be organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism. Some participants who have confirmed participation from Asia are Singapore, Japan and China.

Amazing Safaris Ltd will  attend the World Travel Market in Docklands London slated for  10th – 13th of November 2008.Please visit our stall  at AF 2640.

Uganda Wildlife Authority has finalized the habituation process of a new gorilla group called  Bikutura at Ruhija  in Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Bookings for the new gorilla group started on 1^st August 2008, and the cost is USD 500 per gorilla permit.The new group now makes a total of five gorilla groups for visitor access to track gorillas namely,Mubare,Rushegura,Habinyanja,Nkuringo and Bikutura.

Uganda will join the rest of the world to celebrate World Tourism Day on the 27th September 2008. The celebrations will take place in Kasese district  in conjunction with Kasese District local Government at the Rwenzori Square which will feature unique heritage such as art and crafts, living museums ,fashion and jewelry and lots more and the evening will be crowned with a cultural gala under the theme’ celebrating the beauty of the Rwenzori’.

The much anticipated new Uganda Wildlife Authority(UWA) tariffs for entry and access to the various tourism services  offered in the Uganda National parks and Wildlife reserves will be effective form 1^st January 2009.Every two years UWA revises its tariffs. The new tariffs come with a hike in entrance fees to the national parks and cost of chimpanzee tracking permit among others .The current tariffs will continue to be used until when the new tariffs become effective

The tourism industry has proved to be a booming sector in Uganda, recording over 600,000 visitors per year, of which about 100,000 visit the protected areas. It is also a major foreign exchange earner for the country according to Mr Moses Mapesa, the Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Mapesa was speaking recently at a business breakfast meeting organized at Protea Hotel Kampala . According to Mr Mapesa, tourism is emerging as a major boost for Uganda’s economic growth through infrastructure development, employment opportunity, foreign exchange earnings and increased revenue at household levels. He called on participants to woo investors and help increase earnings for the tourism sector by putting up accommodation facilities in the protected areas, a move intended to increase the number of tourists visiting the national parks as well as increase the time spent in the National Parks.

The minister for Tourism, Trade and Industry said government will consider giving Incentives to investors who will be going to put up investments up country.

Uganda is endowed with an amazing array of wildlife including the endangered mountain gorillas. The diversity of culture in Uganda is also an incredible attraction to many tourists.

AIR Uganda has become the first airline to offer a direct flight from Entebbe to Zanzibar. Previously, passengers from Entebbe had to stop over in Dar- es- Salaam and change planes before continuing to Zanzibar.

The chief executive, Peter De Waal, said the airline will fly to Zanzibar on Fridays and Sundays owing to a growing business and holiday market in Zanzibar.

Travels agents have seen a dramatic increase in passenger traffic to Zanzibar, but the problem was the connections in getting there. Air Uganda saw the niche in the market and with the new direct flight; the market will open up more.

President Yoweri Museveni announced that Uganda would be one of the first countries to support United Nations Millennium Development Goals( MDGs). In his keynote address to the 4th International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) he noted that one of the key constraints to tourism development has been the weak law and regulations from the policy makers to guide and enforce proper development in the industry and supportive infrastructure for the private sector. He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to peace and the entire pacification of the country, the maintenance of law and order, and the provision of support infrastructure and sound economic management principles to facilitate the growth of the tourism industry.

The President also noted the need to adopt legislation that empowers the local communities to benefit from tourism opportunities and to adhere to the principles of sustainable tourism development.

IIPT’s mission is to mobilize travel and tourism. Tourism is the world’s largest industry that promotes and supports the belief that “Every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace.”

Uganda Wildlife Authority(UWA) is set to launch a new park entry tariff structure for all visitors wishing to visit its protected areas effective July 2008.The new tariff will replace the existing tariff which expires at the end of June this year. Every two years, UWA in partnership with its stakeholders, reviews its park entry tariffs.