UTB hosts tour operators from Mombasa

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Consulate of Uganda in Mombasa in partnership with Uganda Tourism Board, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tour Operators and Hoteliers in Uganda, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Airlines, Private Sector Foundation and Uganda Tourism Association hosted a delegation of 30 tour operators from the coastal city of Mombasa for a seven-day familiarization trip to Uganda.

According to a media release shared by UTB dated Nov.28, the excursion follows the consulate’s initiatives to promote domestic and regional travel within East Africa. The delegation toured some of Uganda’s most popular tourist sites that include Ndere Cultural Centre, Namugongo Martyrs catholic shrine, Biharwe Eclipse monument, Lake Mburo, Kibale and Bwindi Forest National Parks.

According to Katherine Odongo, a tour operator with African Quest Safaris in Kenya, Uganda offers some of the most exquisite grasslands in all of Africa. Amazingly, natural beauty may be found as you pass by tourist destinations, amusement parks and wildlife like baboons in Kibale National Park along the main road.

She said, “We absolutely miss having this in our own country. I fell in love with the long-horned cow herds located in western Uganda since they represent an important cultural aspect and precious resource in the customs and ways of life of the people in the Ankole region.”

She explained that Uganda is a place where one can sell a variety of tourism products to the markets in Kenya and Mombasa. She said, the country has one of the most exhilarating gorilla tracking experiences; tracking itself is something “I’ve never done before despite having travelled to Uganda earlier. “We got up close and personal with the human-looking mountain gorilla. Going through the mountain ranges is something so unique that I had to record videos and take photos for memories to share with family and friends. We enjoyed the beautiful sights and sounds of both the gorillas and nature. Meeting the gorillas alone was a worthwhile experience that I look forward to doing over and over again.”

UTB executives encouraged the visiting team to make time and return to Uganda at their convenience.