How do you contribute to barrier-free tourism? 👩‍🦽

[Margreet]

We provide all our clients with full cultural experiences, whether they have a reduced mobility is not an issue. It does however require to think with our clients, and adapt our programs accordingly. Bike tours get replaced with eTuk Tuk tours, cooking stations get lowered, vineyards have adapted areas etc.

Most important is to have an open and honest communication with the persons involved. We require a lot of detailed information in order to make sure that our providers are able to adapt to the requirements of these groups.

We are requesting our suppliers to provide us with more detailed and precise information, such as measurements, quantities of rooms, locations toilet facilities, and much more.

The goal is to offer clients a full and problem free experience, in which they can enjoy the destinations in an inclusive environment. There is still much to be done, but we take it 1 new experience at a time…

[Anne]

Thank you for sharing @MVE and well done on aiming to provide all clients a full and problem free travel experience! Do you also communicate this on your website for example? To show people with a disability you can provide this?

[Pascal]

Yes we are doing our best to make sure everyone travels to their dream holiday destinations and they engage in all activities of their choice regardless of their limitations and abilities.

We do believe in giving every traveler an opportunity to explore Uganda and Rwanda’s beauty.

Ever since we began providing accessible tour packages, this has really created an awareness to fellow operators that see us around especially doing the most difficult activity of encountering the mountain gorillas in Bwindi with its terrain.

However, we are facing a few challenges like, Lack of customized vehicles, few hotels that are accessible and maybe the manpower to help us in mountain climbing especially in Rwenzori mountain since some travelers wish to have an experience.

For the mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking experiences are well sorted and we do guarantee our guests with the interest that they will meet and smile with these great apes.

Thank you Anne for the great work you are doing.

[Anne]

Thank you for sharing this @Pascalmeg ! So good to hear you’re making this effort to make sure everyone can travel to Uganda and Rwanda and see mountain gorillas.

How do you overcome the challenges such as suitable vehicles and accommodations, and getting travellers up on the mountain?

Can you let us in on the practical side? What does it entail to facilitate all this?

[Pascal]

Dear Anne,

1. Oh yeah about the hotels/lodges

We have a few accessible ones though they are high end but for the budget travelers we urge them to plan with us in advance to give the budget lodges we’re to use during the safari enough time to prepare the rooms for our dear guests.

2. About the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking or habituation experience;

We did engage the park authorities with our concern of giving every traveler an opportunity to explore Uganda without a limit. The authorities responded positively and trained porters in Bwindi and Kibale National Parks. These porters do carry the elderly and the PWDs that are interested in having the ultimate gorilla and chimpanzee trekking experiences.

3. For the mountain climbing;

We are in talks with some domestic aviation companies to find a way of having these travelers on Rwenzori and other mountains in Uganda for that remarkable and adventurous experience to those interested in mountaineering.

4. The Vehicles;

For the fully customized vehicles we’ve to outsource from Kenya, this makes tour packages a little bit expensive but we are customizing the ones here temporarily Incase we’re contacted early enough.

* Basically we are at a point of making Uganda an accessible destination.

Thank you @anne-de-jong

[Anne]

Thank you for your elaborative response and explanation Pascal. So good to see your passion and efforts!

How are you communicating this on your website and what are challenges you’re working on at the moment?

[Pascal]

My pleasure!

I am working on a huge content for my new website that’s under re-development.

The website will have enough details about inclusive travel.

For the challenges, I believe they will be handled with time since they need a serious investment. But for now we’ve alternatives as we wait for the fully customized vehicles and the rest of the infrastructures.

[Anne]

Looking forward to your new website and I’m sure many operators will be inspired by you now that they see what’s possible!