Summer 2008

Recent Guests
This summer we have hosted many wonderful new and returning guests for custom safaris. Just recently a past guest from New Haven, Connecticut who is a Yale University professor doing research in East Africa, extended her work-related trip for a safari with her family. Simon, the youngest member of the family became an excited new birder and the whole Doss family loved the safari cruise on the Kazinga Channel.

Good friends from the United Kingdom, the Temple family with mom, grandmom and auntie have been traveling with CEU in July, 2008 on a tour designed especially for three generations. While visiting Murchison Falls, the three children were delighted and surprised by the appearance of a huge hippo lying on the grass just outside our rooms at the Paraa Lodge! Of course we still took the morning game drive where we were lucky to be surrounded by many elephants crossing the road in front and behind and very close to our vehicle.

Cliff Edge Uganda has been honored to be the chosen safari tour company for Jane Goodall Institute, Netherlands. We organized a special tour for a number of their members including extra time in Kaniyo Pabidi for snare removal in the forest near the chimp habituation area. There are plans for more JGI trips in 2009.

Wildlife News

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary Opens to Public
One of the more recent additions to wildlife experience in Uganda is the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. White and black rhinos, one of the Big Five animals in Africa, which had been missing in Uganda since the early 80’s from poaching, began to be reintroduced in 2001, under the auspices of the Rhino Fund Uganda in partnership with other worldwide organizations, such as the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund. Cliff Edge Uganda has been involved in programs and trainings to prepare for safari visits to this special sanctuary. Just two hours from Kampala, it is a great opportunity to see the rhinos roam freely in the beautiful savanna and swamps among the spectacular euphorbia candelabrum trees. The sanctuary is also home to many other wildlife animals and to a large number of our birds. We look forward to bringing our safari clients to Ziwa.

Opening of Kaniyo Pabidi EcoTourism Site in Budongo Forest
Several years ago the Jane Goodall Institute began a chimp habituation program at Kaniyo Pabidi in cooperation with the National Forest Authority. There was need to provide more chimp trekking opportunities to enable reduction of visits per day at the popular Kibale Forest. The Budongo Forest is the largest mahogany forest in East Africa with trees reaching 250 feet high. The new center with African-style Bandas made of local materials and a visitor reception area, was officially open in April, 2008. Cliff Edge Uganda participated in special trainings by JGI. Here is Cliff with the U.S. ambassador at the opening.

In another part of the Budongo Forest is the site of the Royal Mile, a beautiful bird walking track with hundreds of birds including many rare species, available by permit only. CEU has arranged on-going permission from JGI to lead guests on this spectacular site. We can arrange overnight lodging for more extensive exploration of the Royal Mile track which you see below.