Area: 236,580sqkm, Population: App. 30.5million.

The highest peak is Mt.Stanley in the Rwenzori Mountains which towers at 5109m. Lake Victoria and River Nile create one of the best watered areas of Africa and they hold the records of being the largest water body in Africa and the world’s longest river respectively. Uganda borders with Kenya in the east, Democratic Republic of Congo in the west, Tanzania in the south, Sudan in the North and Rwanda in South Western Uganda.

 The big part of the country is tropical with temperatures ranging around 26 degrees Celsius during day and around 16 degrees Celsius at night. This is highly attributed to the fact that Uganda has a fairly constant altitude with mountains only in the east (the Elgon Mountains) and in the west (the Rwenzoris). However between December and February the temperatures are really high and can go up to 30C. Highlands are also generally cooler during nights. Uganda is crossed by the Equator. Uganda has got so many languages which correspond to the different people therein. Lake Kyoga separates the North from the South; with Nilotic people in the north towards Sudan and the Bantu people within the South East, South West and the Central part of the Country. There are so many local languages and the official Language is English. 

Hotels in Uganda

Uganda named the No. 1 country to visit in 2012…..

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Zakumi, simply stands for two words: ZA which is South Africa and KUMI which means ten in most African languages. ZAKUMI thereofore simply means South Africa 2010. The World cup’s long history is full of fun, adventure, entertainment and many other twists including drama. All this is focused on Africa come June 2010 and particularly South Africa. With all arrangements and preparations done, what is remaining now are the travel arrangements, bookings and all the other plans of how you will spend your time while in South Africa.
Locally known as Madibaland, South Africa is ready to welcome the world and here we bring you some of the highlights that will spice up your arrangements for the World Cup down south.
Travel: Managing the cost of travel is paramount for everyone who intends to travel, especially if you are travelling for your first time. South Africa will receive an estimated 500,000 guests and so a delay in booking an air ticket; the most viable and quickest of all transport means, might leave so many fans gasping for breath in a queue at a travel agency if one were to make arrangements in the days preceding the event. South Africa being ahead of many other African countries economically, it has got a number of direct flights from many parts of the world. If South African Airways operates in your country, then life is that easy for, but only when you book in time. Remember you are not alone!

Emirates airlines, which happens to be the official FIFA partner for this tournament operates in the major cities in South Africa and connects to Dubai. This is rather and exciting journey via Dubai. Please note also that these flights may not go to the World Cup cities but once in South Africa, a number of travel and tour experts are all waiting to take you within the mainland. Africa Safaris and travels…

Attractions down South: South Africa has got a number of natural attractions that can give you an extra flavor of your stay in South Africa. The Drakensberg Mountains that stretch along the part of the Polokwane province will surely give a dramatic view of the rugged gorges, clear streams and nature forests. You may pack a picnic and spend a day in the shade of a cool tree in the forest as you wait for the next match.
The Polokwane Game Reserve is probably one of the finest attractions where you can cut your teeth if you are to maximize your fun and tourism in South Africa. The frequent sightings of the white rhino and other game animals will surely give you and exciting view that you will live to remember.
For train fanatics there is no better way to see the breathtaking vastness of South Africa’s landscape then by train. You can even go on a genuine steam train tour. Budget and luxury options are available, South Africa is ready for the world.

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Typically, it begins in the early hours with a morning wakeup call and then you begin to prepare for your first game drive of that day. A nice cup of hot African coffee accompanied by a light breakfast of some bit of toast will help chase away that lousy bit of drowsiness will make you feel great and much ready for the day.
You then set out for the best times for the game viewing which are normally early mornings  just from before  the daybreak onwards and then from the late afternoon up to sunset. The late afternoon drive is most times extensive, turning it into a rather night drive.
The safari begins when you get into the safari vehicle, habitually in a group of around 7 people, there is a lot of excitement and everyone is full of expectation. As you get into the jungle, the bushveld then becomes quiet, with a kind of stillness hanging within the air just before dawn. At this time nocturnal life is settling down, and the noise level subsiding, while daytime life is beginning to awaken with some early birds calling out with beautiful chants to welcome the lightening up of the blue skies.
At this time, you set off with a professional game ranger just at the back the steering wheel and a very well experienced tracker on his special seat up front way above the bull bar. Just between the two of these two men, they will make sure that your wildlife encounter is an exciting one, very safe and informative. travle guide

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A drive in the early hours of the morning can easily take up to three hours, but all depending on what you come across during that trip. By then you will surely have taken in so much that it is time to return to your bush lodge and to a lavish and energetic breakfast.
You then get ready from mid afternoon it starts all over again, with an afternoon drive that usually ends just about sundown. Please note that many game parks and lodges recommend game drives at night, because this gives the chance to watch the king lion, the fierce leopard and the hyena do what they do best for their survival and that is hunting for prey. This is an incredible experience to have.
After the jungle experience, you then have to return to the camp, take a great hot shower, have an ice cold drink at the camp fire and enjoy an outdoor Africa barbeque night and a bush dinner in the camp site. This, you may call a black night, stars all blazing, nocturnal wildlife sounds with the roaring of lion unmistakably discernible and this is an absolute entire bliss that creates an incredible experience.
The most popular destinations for an absolutely thrilling African Safari experience are Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda in East Africa, and of course South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia in the Southern part of Africa.
A true African Safari may be taken in very many ways, from the low budget backpacking, then a self driving and then accommodation in an organized lodge or tent. On the other hand, you may prefer a fly-in safari and a stay in a very luxury private lodge where you will be treated like a true princess.
Africa Safaris are surely numerous, for example honeymoon safaris, the canoeing safaris, the elephant back safaris, mountaineering safaris and general adventure safaris.
The choice of your journey into Africa will surely continue to be one of life’s greatest adventures that you will live to remember.
Feel the life in the jungle
Experience the sunrise over the African green bush land with the shadows of the ever thorny acacia trees against the blue lightening sky, it is a rather fantastic scenery, the superior rim of the sun glance over the clear skyline in the distance. At this time it is all there; that fantastic sight that gives a whole clear picture and makes you feel that you are not just looking at it, but rather you are fully in it. This is undeniably, the sunrise experience over the African bush land that you will surely never fail to remember.    The majority of the animals take it easy during the heat of the day and are not very active until the day cools down again in the afternoon time. If then you wish, you may track their pattern and spend the entire middle section of the day relaxing by the pool side, alternatively you may decide to use this time to meet and visit  the native people within a local village. This will also make you feel the African people and their culture.
Unhurriedly the gigantic body strolls by the vehicle and a big mass with curls of hair around its muscular neck stretches down its back as it walks like it owns the place, moving each massive paw slowly, calculatingly, decisively. All of a sudden the tracker whispers alerting everyone as he points ahead and a bit to the sides. And then you’ll see him, appearing from behind a bush, His Majesty, the king of animals,…a massive male lion. At this time everybody is just holding their breath, and the ranger will keep the engine idling and quietly shifting into gear, just in case. Yes, it surely walks like a king demonstrating truly the king of animals. Just one last look shows a slow swing of its tail before it then turns and disappears into the jungle. Take a flight to Africa…

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You probably have always wondered what language is the word “safari”! This is a word that comes from the East African Swahili language and it simply means “voyage”, “travel” or “journey”. This word however has got an Arab origin as is most of the other Kiswahilli words.  From the earlier times around the 14th and 15th centuries when the Arab traders, ivory hunters and slave traders would travel extensively in the eastern and central parts of Africa, an expedition could sometimes be up to around 4200 people strong. In those days such an expedition was refered to as a “Safariya” and this was a major undertaking.
Then came the Europeans in the heart of Africa for similar reasons; search of trade goods and colonisation. Am sure you’ve all heard of the Scottish traveller and missionary Dr. David Livingstone who, later in the 1800’s, explored the African interior for more than 30 years, unlocking its mysteries and and the natural  secrets. Then later came Sir Henry Morton Stanley, who was a journalist and writer. He was sent by their home newspaper called The herald in the year 1869 purposely to look for Dr. Livingstone who was missing and was assumed to have been  lost. Sir Henry Stanley is said to have found Dr.Livingstone in a small village of Ujiji, just on the side of Lake Tanganyika in the year 1871.
This gives a brief history of safaris and how the word developed and became to be used. A Safari to Tanzania….

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The banking industry was brought by the colonial powers to East Africa and has since carried a British system of banking. British companies providing banking services like De La Rue still have a significant imprint in the industry in East Africa. Currently, the region has got many banking institutions both foreign and local. The History begins from 1919 when the East African currency board was created and is followed by the independence era when individual countries sought autonomy in monetary issues and comes to the present when the states are pressing for the regional monetary integration. To many, the region seems to be going back to where it started from but to others, it’s a pursuit of larger advantages that come with the monetary unification of nations.

Travel to Tanzania….

About Uganda…

Real estate business…

With the ever increasing challenges in the economy stemming from the global economic crises, the banking industry is always devising other means of survival. Also, the advent of technological innovations has also taken banking in East Africa to yet another level. Things like mobile money, electronic banking, mobile phone banking have redefined the banking industry and the players are ever seeking new strategies of dealing with all these changes in order to stay afloat. The East Africa region covers the covers the countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

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First Data, a major US-based electronic payment processing Services Company is to acquire a South African Company CashAxcess, which offers a range of ATM products and services to the South African and the entire African corporate and retail market, from local investment groups Mvelaphanda and Venfin for an undisclosed sum. CashAxcess, which has been in operation since 2005, provides outsourced ATM services to leading banks in the entire region, including Absa, Capitec and Mercantile.
It also provides ATM delivery and installation, signage, wireless GPRS communication, cash management and replenishment services, ATM monitoring, equipment insurance, sales and marketing and training services, and has 200 ATMs currently deployed across the country.
According to the director of First Data; Mr. Estevao Tokata, ATM outsourcing is a growth area within the South African and the entire payments market, as banks look to drive more cost efficiencies through their operations.
It was noted that banks are concentrating on building and providing core banking services to their customers while working with specialist partners such as First Data to enhance the breadth of payment solutions offered to customers. First Data operates a global ATM business, with networks in the United States, Asia Pacific and across Europe, and also offers ATM outsourcing and deployment solutions for banks and retailers in more than 17 countries around the globe.
It has been operating in South Africa since 1993, providing a full range of payment services to leading banks and retailers. The president of First Data in the emerging markets was quoted as: “We are delighted to welcome the CashAxcess team into the First Data family.” He added on that the combination of their considerable ATM expertise and knowledge of the local business environment, coupled with First Data’s scale and global experience, will ensure the delivery of an enhanced service to clients in South Africa and the entire of Africa. 

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Telecom group Zain to appraise its African operations.

 The Zain group is in the process of reviewing its operations in 16 countries on the African continent. Kenya’s Daily Nation reported that the strategic review follows an expression of interest from several parties to acquire Zain’s African assets. For the first half of 2009 the group saw a 24.1% increase in revenue and Zain’s customer base grew by 37% to 69.5mn customers but the performance of its Africa operations on its own was not enough to convince French Vivendi to continue acquisition talks at a price of USD 10bn. In other telecom news, the first undersea fibre optic cable to reach Africa and run by the Kenyan Seacom group was recently launched. The project, though ran about one month behind its initial deadline, is hoped to cause a lowering of prices for internet access and data transfer because of competition. Seacom has already connected Johannesburg in South Africa, and Kampala in Uganda as well asNairobi in Kenya with the coastal landing stations and is working on connections to Kigaliin Rwanda and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.Meanwhile, Kenya’s Safaricom announced that the company has started offering broadband internet to its customers following the advent of the first fibre-optic cable. News agency Reuters reported that the CEO said some 14 million subscribers have the potential to access fast internet in a region where telecommunications are hampered by lack of infrastructure.Known as SEACOM, the undersea cable links east Africa to South Africa, India, Middle East and Europe, and was launched last week by its owners, a Mauritius-based private equity group. A second cable, The East African Marine Systems (TEAMS), which is fronted by the Kenyan government, is in testing stages and will act as a backup for Safaricom’s customers.

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Loans Made Easy for Small Traders
A partnership between Fina Bank and the Centre for International Development at Harvard University`s Entrepreneurial Financial Lab has seen a new flavor in the banking industry in East Africa.

Clients of Fina Bank; one of the banks in East Africa will not need collateral anymore to get loans. A new technology that will enable all this is being experimented and once done, the bank will be using psychometric technologies that involve the evaluation based on the entrepreneurial potential or future earning potential of applicants for small business finance. This will replace the screening of new borrowers based on their current wealth, known as collateral-based lending or the social reputation known as microcredit.
The move that has been praised as a breakthrough in profitable lending to small and medium enterprises in Africa will be piloted in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Once it is proved to be successful, it will be very essential in boosting small and medium enterprises in the region financially.

Rwanda to Assess Banks Liquidity Levels
The government of Rwanda through the Central Bank is set to assess the liquidity volumes in local banks; a move that will help to determine whether it should proceed with introducing long-term capital as a stimulus package to accelerate credit to the private sector. The lessening liquidity in local commercial banks has seen a rather tight clutch on private sector’s accessibility to long-term investment capital, a situation that has called for state intervention. The governor of the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) was reported as saying that according to the local banks’ books of accounts, they have comfortable liquidity levels, but they keep warning that it`s for only short term lending. The assessment is set to be conducted throughout the second half of this year.

New Financing Plan for Public Universities in Kenya
Barclays Bank in Kenya is developing yet a new platform in the bonds market that promises to significantly change the way public universities finance their unending needs. The bank is working on an education bonds plan that will be valued on the billions of shillings worth of assets held by the public universities. According to people familiar with the plan, it has got the potential of lowering the cost of education and increasing access to the universities by the prospective students. The aim is to relieve the institutions of their heavy dependence on short term borrowing that has left them with a yawning budget gaps and ramped up the cost of higher education.

Tanzanian: EAC pact with EU to delay
The government of Tanzania has disclosed that the East African Community (EAC) bloc is likely to delay the signing of a new trade deal with the European Union because fresh issues have been introduced in the negotiations. The five bloc members of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi – are among the nearly 80 countries of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group that are in talks on a new pact with the EU. The Tanzania trade minister said that the issues included government procurement, environment and sustainable development among others.

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You can’t figure out a cluster of islands amidst the Indian Ocean, dazzling landscapes, beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. All this can be wholly explained as “Experiencing comfort and tranquillity at its very best”. This is what it means to be part of the Seychelles Honeymoon!
In case you are getting married soon or you have just gotten married, this is the place you must spend your honey moon for a splendid experience. It’s just for you, the newly married couples looking to indulge in a truly superb honeymoon destination. Please note that the Seychelles is considered one of the ten most beautiful places in the world, answers the call.
For every type of travellers, there is a great deal of over 100 islands that make up the Seychelles archipelago, and there is something special for just about every type of traveller. If you want your honeymoon to be more than just stretch out on white sand beaches and swimming in spotless waters, then a Seychelles honeymoon has it all and will surely exceed all your wildest expectations.

Special points to consider
The Sainte Anne Marine National Park is a ‘must’ visit during your Seychelles honeymoon, as it features an incredible level of beauty and is one of the most serene destinations you will ever experience.
You can’ afford to miss the deep sea diving, scuba diving and many other water based activities that are ideal in the Seychelles. With exceedingly warm, pure waters, the Ocean surrounding the islands is very perfect for any water adventures! Mild temperatures all year round signify that this destination is ideal regardless of the time of the year you wish to wed. Remember that many of the islands are sanctuaries with rare and wonderful plants and birds, giving you extra pleasure. You will definitely watch wonderful plants, fauna and birding sights that you just won’t be able to find in any other corner of the world.

So now that you know about some of the many interesting features of this unique area of the world, you can rest easy knowing that no matter which of the Seychelles islands you choose for your Seychelles honeymoon, you are assured of a warm welcome and one of the most amazing experiences in your life.

Here are some of the islands to consider for your own Seychelles honeymoon: 
Mahe is the largest island with a quiet and a rather relaxed nature and is considered the economic and political centre of the Seychelles. It is blessed with a natural appeal and beauty and it has got huge mountains, thriving tropical vegetation and numerous idyllic beaches spread all around the island.
Praslin has incredibly verdant vegetation; it’s because of this that it fits almost everyone’s image of the perfect tropical island. Everyone going for honeymoon will absolutely want to start their marriage surrounded by tropical paradise, the epitome of nature’s beauty! Take pleasure in the miraculous landscape, astounding coral life, awfully shaped rocks and quite a number of the world’s rarest birds. This island is perfectly suited for visiting many of the neighbouring islands.
La Digue present that chance to step back in time, you experience transport by mainly by oxcart or bicycle. Here all honeymooners truly appreciate the wide deserted beaches ideal for long walks, lazy swimming, snorkelling as well as fishing. Discover an exceptional tranquil and kindliness that cannot be compared with any other elsewhere.
Bird Island is best known, as the name suggests, because of the one and a half million grimy terns that nest, breed and hatch their eggs on this luxuriant island. In case you are a fun of big game fishing, this is your ideal place for that hobby. Just in case birding or fishing is not your thing, then this is amazing for any type of honeymooners because it is such a private island completely surrounded by a sparkling white sand beach. You surely must be here if you have’t!

If these island descriptions have caught your interest, be sure to get in touch with a safari expert for the experienced and friendly professionals to help you experience a Seychelles honeymoon in one of the most beautiful places in the world. See you there!

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