Tag: Frequently Asked Questions
A series of articles answering frequently asked questions about the Gorilla Highlands region of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo.
Our Stories:
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Why Do Gorillas Fart So Much?
Article from the series: Frequently Asked Questions about Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo For more about gorillas and gorilla tracking please listen to the podcast episode below. You may also enjoy Episode #5, Grauer’s Gorillas, Bonobos & Community Issues. Contrary to old myths about bloodthirsty gorillas hunting humans, mountain gorillas are peaceful vegetarians. What Do Mountain…
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To Fly or Not to Fly? Let’s Talk Responsible Tourism!
Ecotourism & Sustainable Tourism In recent years there has been — rightly so — a lot of attention devoted to ecotourism or sustainable tourism. While ecotourism clearly focuses on being ecological, or not harming the environment, the term sustainable tourism is a bit more encompassing. Sustainable seems to be the buzzword of the last decade;…
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Advice on Buying your Own Camping Gear
Last week we talked about the beauty and challenges of camping in the Gorilla Highlands and promised we would move a level higher today: into buying your own camping gear. We are still helping an East African beginner enjoy the thrill of sleeping in nature, but now we will be guiding your tent shopping in…
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Love in Traditional Rwanda: Arranged and Communal
Love in the traditional Rwandan society meant learning to love the partner others chose for you. It began with a relative of a bachelor pointing out a young lady as a potential bride for him. This was known as Kuranga which translates directly as ‘to announce’. The bachelor’s family would then select a man as…
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A is for Adventure, B is for Beginners, C is for…
Are you new to camping, hiking, canoeing and all these adventure things? You’ve come to the right place! This year on the Gorilla Highlands blog there will be quite some emphasis on domestic tourism, on Rwandans and Ugandans getting comfortable in our astonishing wilderness. And, to be properly inclusive, we do know there are many…
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Building Traditions: New Year’s Eve Celebration on Habukomi Island
“How do local people celebrate New Year’s Eve?” visitors to the Gorilla Highlands often ask. Until 2007 there wasn’t much to say. The drumming that traditionally announces Christmas would get repeated to some degree, and that would be all. But now that we have awaited a new year on Habukomi Island ten years in a…
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![Here We Go: Apply Online for Uganda Visa [Updated]](https://gorillahighlands.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/e-visa-1-1.jpg)
Here We Go: Apply Online for Uganda Visa [Updated]
UPDATE, 22/7/2016: The cost of the single entry visa for Uganda has been reduced to USD 50. UPDATE, 15/7/2016: Two travellers coming from Slovenia have emailed us some details on how the border-crossing experience was. Business as usual, basically, but they did get a printout with the following text: “It is still possible to get a visa…
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Avoid Uganda Visa Worries by Flying through Kigali
Uganda is following in the footsteps of Rwanda and Kenya by introducing online visa applications. The plan was announced on the Uganda Immigration website in December 2015 and the latest information is that the new arrangement will start on 1 June 2016. (Update: it eventually got implemented on 1 July 2016.) Keeping in mind how, without…
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Hiking in Surprising Africa: Free Your Mind
When you consider trekking in the Gorilla Highlands of Uganda and Rwanda—towards our extraordinary mountain gorillas or through the dramatic cultural landscapes—you should free your mind first. There are many preconceptions that have to do with Africa and simply do not apply. How safe is Uganda? How safe is Rwanda? In one word: very. The…