UGANDA The Pearl of Africa

Uganda is where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle. This incredibly lush country has open plains and rainforest, as well as channels teeming with hippo and mountains shrouded in mist, and is famous for the source of the Nile. Uganda is one of the best places to see the threatened Mountain Gorilla and this biodiversity is further strengthened by Uganda’s status as by far the smallest of the four African countries whose bird checklist tops the 1,000 mark.

Kampala is the capital city of Uganda and is located in the central region on the shores of Lake Victoria. There are many points of interest across the city, including museums and gardens, with a range of accommodation to suit all travellers using the city as a gateway to the numerous national parks.

Lake Victoria is the largest lake on the African continent and the second largest freshwater lake in the world. A visit to the forested island group of Ssese is a must for birdwatching enthusiasts, entomologists or those seeking a tranquil hideaway to relax. Entebbe is the international point of entry to the country and sits on the Lake Victoria peninsula.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to a population of around 330 Mountain Gorillas, half of the world’s population, and is the only forest in Africa to have Chimpanzees and Mountain Gorillas co-existing.

In addition to these incredible creatures, the park supports a total of more than 120 mammal, 346 bird and 202 butterfly species, so it is not surprising that the park is a must for passionate wildlife enthusiasts and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Kibale National Park covers an area of roughly 795sqkm and has one of Uganda’s most unspoilt tropical forests. It’s also one of the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee tracking along with 13 other species of primate.

Shoebill Storks are often sighted in the Semliki Game Reserve. Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo National Parks offer the visitor excellent big game viewing, all of which make Uganda a nature lover’s paradise.

Murchison Falls National Park is situated in the Northern region of the country, at its centre the Victoria Nile rushes along 80 kilometres of rapids before crashing over the 40 meter drop at Murchison Falls. However, the park is ideal for vehicle and boat safaris, viewing elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles and the rare Shoebill around Lake Albert.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most beautiful of the country’s parks making it a popular destination. A huge region stretching from the Rwenzori Mountain range across the Ishasha River attracts visitors in search of chimpanzees, elephants, plains game and a prolific birdlife population of over 600 species.

When To Go

♦ The dry seasons run from June to September and late December through to February, at this time game viewing is in its prime as the grasslands are less dense.

♦ Gorilla trekking is available year-round, however, not recommended during the heaviest rains.

♦ Due to the tropical climate, rains could fall at any time but are most prevalent between March and May and October to November.

♦ Shoebills are a rare bird species and are best observed from a boat trip during the dry season.