After four days of sleepless night searches, Uganda’s joint security effort successfully rescued the abducted American tourist together with her driver guide. Kimberly Sue and Jean Paul (driver guide) were on 2nd April 2019 evening abducted by unknown gunmen. This was during evening game drive in ishasha sector south of Queen Elizabeth national park along the Edward track between Katoke gate and Wilderness camp in Kanungu district. The other elderly couple (Julius Martin and his wife Barbel) that had traveled with Kimberly was left stuck in the wilderness. The news of their rescue was a relief from stress and fears to Uganda tourism fraternity which had put potential travelers on tension Some travelers had started canceling their safaris to Uganda something that put Uganda tour operators in panic for loss of business. However, Uganda the Pearl of Africa has been and still remains safe for tourism offering travelers with top gorilla safaris and other wildlife experiences at affordable rates. Great thanks go to Uganda tourism police and Uganda People’s Defense Force that worked tirelessly to rescue the traveler and her driver guide.
How did it happen?
From the reports, the duo was kidnapped during an evening game drive in Ishasha sector. The group of four rebel men attacked and stopped the safari vehicle that had Kimberly and her colleagues forcing her out of the car together with Jean-Paul the driver. They were then taken to the unknown place leaving her elderly couple in the jungle but untouched. The next day, kidnappers started using Kimberly’s phone to demand $500,000, which is roughly 1.8 billion shillings as a ransom to release the two parties. However, it’s not clear whether this ransom was paid since the US government rejected giving in to kidnappers demands. The United States has a policy of not paying any money o kidnappers something they believe would encourage more abduction. Some sources say that it’s the wild frontiers the travel Agency that arranged this trip that paid the ransom. The two parties i.e Kimberly and Jean-Paul, the driver guide were dropped at the border of Uganda with the Democratic Republic of Congo with no harm.
Message to the upcoming travelers
Uganda the Pearl of Africa has been and still remains safe for tourism. The government deployed armed tourism police and other defense forces to patrol all national parks and other tourism spots day and night to ensure safety during their stay in Uganda. There are rare cases of tourist kidnap in Uganda, which make the pearl of Africa one of the safe places to visit and stay.
About Queen Elizabeth National Park
Situated in Kasese district, Queen Elizabeth national park is Uganda’s second largest national park after Murchison Falls NP spreading over 1,970 square kilometers. QENP is known for having a high concentration of wild animals and birds hence one of the most visited travel destinations on most Uganda safaris to southwestern Uganda. The most done tourism activities in Queen Elizabeth national park include game viewing, boat cruising at kazinga channel, visit the katwe salt lakes and other crater lakes, bird watching, community tours, fishing and Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge. Among the wild animals to see during your Uganda tour to Queen Elizabeth national park include elephants, lions, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, leopards, Buffalos, hippos, Oribis, giant forest hogs, bush pigs and Uganda kobs among others. Also, the equator crosses the park, which makes it one of the interesting travel destinations in the pearl of Africa.
Where to sleep in queen Elizabeth national park
A variety of accommodation facilities have been established in QENP to provide travelers with comfortable and safe food and sleeping services. The accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park is categorized into, luxury, midrange, and budget depending on traveler’s choice and money. The top lodges in QENP include Mweya safari lodge, jacana lodge, Ishasha wilderness camp, Katara lodge, Kyambura lodge, Savannah resort hotel, Simba lodge, Buffalo safari lodge and park view lodge among others. All these lodges have well trained and kid staff to serve all your needs all day and night.
How to get to Queen Elizabeth national park
QENP can be accessed by road and air depending on the available time and budget. The park is located 381.7 kilometers from Kampala via Masaka Mbarara route taking roughly 6 hours and 38 minutes. If you are combing gorillas with wildlife, Queen Elizabeth national park is close to Buhoma sector north of Bwindi Forest national park home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Travelers can also fly from kajjansi airstrip to Kayonza airfield and the connecting to the park.
Much as Queen Elizabeth National Park shares borders with Democratic Republic of Congo home to various rebel groups that threaten tourists, Uganda’s side is safe for tourism. The Uganda tourism police ensure the safety of travelers and the smooth operation of all tourism activities in Queen Elizabeth national park.
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