Month: May 2019

A week by helicopter in Uganda

First stop: 2 nights in Kidepo National Park, located in the north-eastern most corner of this most wonderful country in eastern Africa.

From the base of Apoka Lodge, a Wildplaces Africa property, we explored the savannah plains – a 1,440km2 wilderness with two river systems (Kidepo and Narus), surrounded on all sides by distant hills and mountains, and with a rich diversity of wildlife and birdlife.

The scenery alone is spectacular, yet its remoteness (Uganda’s least visited park), density of buffalo, herds of giraffe and elephant, the iconic sausage trees and the vast borassus palm forests, all add to the appeal.

All photos @ Ricardo Ferreira, Manager of Apoka Lodge

The fires that raged in March and in April this year have destroyed hundreds of thousands of hectares of the moorlands on Mount Kenya.  In reality it could have been worse with the precious indigenous forest at risk.  Everyone remains vigilant, although thankfully the late rains have bought some relief.

Routes film team have captured here the challenge of controlling and putting out the fires, and the massive damage to the natural ecosystem. Mount Kenya Trust continue to be instrumental at coordinating efforts on the ground.

All photos and video by ROUTES