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Shift Media News 
By PATRICK JARAMOGI
KANUNGU, Uganda [SHIFTMEDIA] This Christmas, (20230 is expected to be spectacular, one away from home, but deep inside Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks.
For three days, starting December 23, scores of Uganda’s leading professional runners, led by Dorcus Inzikuru, winner of the inaugural 2005 3000m women steeple chase title will descend in the cold plated Kihihi sector in Kanungu district.
Inzikuru will be leading a pack of 50 other professional runners in the 50km marathon organized by Wild Run Uganda.
Other races include the 21km, 5km, and 3km run within Kihihi Town council.
Abdul Muhire, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer Wild Run Uganda said this is the 25th time the marathon is organized in the parks. “We have been having WildRuns in Kidepo Valley National Park, Kibaale, Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable, and Murchison Falls National Parks,” said Muhire.
What To Expect
The 50km race will be flagged off from the Buhoma section, main gate of the Bwindi Impenetrable forest park, the home of the prestigious mountain gorillas to the Ishasha sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to the famous tree climbing lions.
Muhire said at least 50 marshals shall be deployed along the race routes to guide the runners.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most popular savanna park in Uganda and the best place to see lions including the Tree Climbing lions making it one of the perfect destinations in Uganda.
It prides in a great diversity of habitats that include: lakes, Savannah grasslands, forests and wetlands that serve as home to the biggest variety of large mammals in the country.
As you run, you will have a lifelong experience of viewing the Tree Climbing Lions in Ishasha, just two populations of these unique lions in the whole world.
The southern Ishasha sector is the only section to track these lions commonly seen up in the fig and acacia trees.
Trophies At Hand
“Apart from cash prizes for the top three finishers of the 50 km race, all runners from the community who finish will walk away with gift hampers for Christmas,” said Wild Run CEO Abdul Muhire.
At the end of a grueling contest, the runners will be entertained by leading popular local artists as they warm up for the Christmas day.
Muhire noted that despite a myriad of challenges that he has faced over the previous years while organizing the annual events, regarding funding, he is impressed by the emergence of funders such as Uganda Tourism Board (UTB).
What To Expect At Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda on the rim of the Rift Valley.
The mist-covered hillsides are sheltered by one of the ancient and very biologically varied rain forests in Uganda.
The rainforest are home to 400 mountain gorillas, and over 400 plant species.
Bwindi is unique because it is habitat to more than half the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas.
The word “Bwindi” means “darkness” and taking a hike this magnificent forest will certainly unveil to you the reason why the forest was named so. You will as well be in position to fast tell why actually the forest is also regarded as Impenetrable. One requires to be realistically physically fit to take part in this mountain gorilla tracking / trekking adventure because it may involve climbing the steep terrain.
