Most of the hotels in Murchison falls national Park for example Para safari lodge and Pakuba Safari lodge plus those in Pakwach among others have been fully booked. This will automatically raise the government revenue earnings.
Officials in the tourism sector said that accommodations in and around the viewing area are fully booked in advance mainly by the foreign visitors who are eagerly waiting to witness the historical Solar eclipse event.
They added that the situation is not only unique to accommodations in Murchison falls and those in Pakwach region, but also hotels in other destinations are likely to experience the same as days go on since most of the tourists will wish to visit other attractions within the country before or after the viewing the eclipse.
Begumisa Wilber the manager of Africa Adventure Safaris said that the situation has come as a result of the local and foreign tourists flooding in the northern region of Uganda with an interest of getting a glimpse of the Solar Eclipse.
“Over 3000 local tourists have booked in advance and will be transferring to Pakwach and the surrounding areas which are said to have the best view to watch the eclipse. To my surprise, Pakuba and Para safari lodge are fully booked to an extent that we cannot make reservations of all our clients at one hotel” Begumisa said. He added that his company has made over 100 bookings for foreign visitors just on a single event of the hybrid solar eclipse.
“Apart from witnessing the eclipse, our clients are to tour Uganda for over 13 days visiting destinations such as Bwindi impenetrable, Queen Elizabeth national parks among others” he said.
Stella Rugunda, a staff at Stebar Safaris said that her Tour Company will be organizing eclipse safaris to about 80 foreign tourists which are from different countries such as Japan, USA, Australia, France among others who are expected to arrive 1st while others on 2nd of November.
Those arriving on 1st are expected to spend a night in Kampala and then transfer to the northern region the following day while those arriving on 2nd November will directly transfer to the north upon their arrival in order to catch up with the once in a lifetime event on Sunday 3rd November.
There are expected to spend more 10 days touring other scenic places in the pearl of Africa-Uganda hence generating more revenue to the country.
Rugunda said that this event is of an advantage to the local tourism industry. “They will also go for gorilla trekking in Bwindi plus visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park among other destinations” She added.
A group of 40 astronomers from Germany, tourists and “eclipse hunters” have already booked their tours to Uganda to witness the eclipse. At Owiny Primary school, Pakwach in Nebbi district has been selected as the best viewing place of Eclipse along other towns in the area such as Soroti, Gulu, Masindi, Arua among others. Of all solar eclipses, about 28% are total, 32% are annular, 5% hybrids and 35% are partial.
Solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets between the sun and the earth thus creating a spectacular temporary shadow on the earth’s surface. The alignment created can lead into a total, annular, partial or hybrid solar eclipse.