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Young mountain gorilla working out his day. |
I have continued to
be enthralled with what Tanzania and Uganda have to offer in terms of
wildlife viewing and superb lodging. Having been to these countries on
safari many times, including a very special recent visit to Uganda this
April, I feel inspired to write once again about their wonderful products.
In Tanzania, the well known Serengeti and Ngorongoro
need little introduction. However, after reports of the largest herds of
wildebeest recorded in years, the latest Great Migration proved to be nothing
short of spectacular. Southern Tanzania’s hidden treasures, the Selous
Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park, continue to win my admiration as
some of the greatest wilderness country left in Africa. Finally, chimpanzee
viewing in the Mahale Mountains on Lake Tanganyika’s shimmering shores
is a must for anyone with even the smallest interest in these great apes.
Uganda in turn is moving fast with the times. The
wildlife authorities are gaining respect as the most dynamic in the region
with their commitment to conserving and modernising their primate-rich
forest reserves. A dip across the border into Rwanda also provides privileged
and close-up encounters with the Mountain Gorillas of the majestic Virunga
Volcanos.
With growing pressure on the habitats of such rare
and beautiful creatures as the Great Apes of Africa, now more than ever
I feel drawn to emphasise
the quality of this experience. It will both delight and humble with
its insights into not only the natural history, but moreover the evolutionary
significance of Africa’s primates.
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