A round-up of travel news from Brussels Airlines’ long-haul network
Hotel with a view
BUHOMA LODGE, UGANDA
Where is it? Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda (tel. +256 (0)414 321479, www.wildfrontiers.co.ug).
What’s the view? Each lodge enjoys spectacular views of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. If you’re lucky, you might even see a gorilla stroll past.
What to expect Suites are built from pale, polished wood, and come complete with roomy double beds upholstered in light linen, huge windows and their own private veranda. There’s also a bar, a dining room and a lounge with a roaring fire, which comes in quite handy as evenings here can be chilly, given the altitude of the lodge.
What you need to know The emphasis here is on sustainability: building materials are locally sourced, chalets are lit by solar power and meals are made with regional produce.
Why go there? The big draw here is the local population of gorillas, but if you want to go trekking you’ll need to get a permit first. It’s a great base from which to explore the forest, and you can bird-watch and hike to your heart’s content. Buhoma Lodge can also arrange cultural exchange trips to visit the Batwa Pygmy tribe.
What does it cost? From €78 per person, per night.
Kenyan wildlife on the up
Ol Pejeta Conservancy, East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary, is currently welcoming two new additions to the herd. The calves were born within a week of each other, and have bumped the Conservancy’s rhino population up to a healthy 77. Meanwhile, a recent study by the Kenyan Wildlife Service has come back with good news – it’s found that, in the last three years, the elephant population at Tsavo National Park has swelled from 10,397 to 11,696 – a growth rate of 4.1% per year.
Don’t miss… Angaza Afrika
Angaza Afrika, a sumptuous celebration of Africa’s artistic landscape, is due for release in June. Featuring a roll-call of some 60 contemporary artists, drawn from both the African continent and the diaspora, the book showcases the work of Samuel Fosso (Cameroon/Central African Republic), Magdalene Odundo (Kenya/UK), Jak Katarikawe (Uganda), IngridMwangiRobertHutter (Kenya/ Germany), Chéri Samba (Democratic Republic of Congo/ France) and Sane Wadu (Kenya), to name but a few. Place your orders now. www.laurenceking.co.uk
Look out for…
Steve Reid’s Daxaar
This spring sees the international release of Bronx-born drummer Steve Reid’s latest album Daxaar. A collaboration between Reid and African musicians such as Jimi Mbaye, Dembel Diop, Roger Ongolo and Khadim Badji, it was recorded in Dakar, and takes its name from an earlier spelling of the capital. And despite the fact that Steve has lived in Europe for many years, the album’s music is resolutely African, from the opening bars of the kora (West African harp) to the title track, which was inspired by the beach runners he saw on first landing in Senegal.
In the Gambia, it is a common sight to see children selling fruit to tourists in markets and at the roadside
Varieties of big-eyed tree frog are found throughout Africa, with this particular species inhabiting the forests of Cameroon
Bedik tribeswomen in Senegal, perform a ritual dance appealing to the forces of nature to send ample rain and sunshine for their crops
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