Referred to as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is an amazing safari destination in East Africa. Uganda is a country gifted by nature, found in East Africa, bordered by Kenya in the East, Congo in the west, Tanzania in the south and Southern Sudan in the North.
The country is gifted by nature with over 10 National Parks and many game reserves. Uganda Safaris are really adventurous with a number of tour activities such as gorilla safaris, chimpanzee tracking, boat cruising, wild game viewing drives, bird watching safaris, cultural trips, mountain climbing safaris, nature walks and tree climbing lion spotting among others.
Uganda is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa. This is where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle! We hope the information below will help you plan your safari in Uganda, a fascinating country, blessed with outstanding natural features.
Why Go on Safari in Uganda
This special and up-to-date travel advisory – complete with maps, information on parks and resorts, hotels and safaris, everything you would ever want or need to know about Uganda as a tourist destination – offers you an opportunity to explore the country the young Winston Churchill, later a British Prime Minister, aptly described as “the Pearl of Africa” in his book My African Journey published in 1908.
Though two decades of civil strife (in the 70s and the 80s) destroyed some of Uganda’s tourist establishments and almost depleted the country’s wildlife, the situation has since President Yoweri Museveni and the National Resistance Movement came to power in 1986 turned for the better. The Uganda of the 90s, like the proverbial Phoenix, has risen from the ashes to regain its former glory.
The “Cradle of the Nile”, as the country was called long ago, has restored its (tourist) facilities and established many new ones. Wildlife numbers in Uganda national parks are rapidly increasing as poaching has been curbed and strict conservation measures enforced. And the resurgent tourism sector (that received over 850,000 visitors last year) is committed to the development of a sustainable package, conscious of the perilously fragile environment.
The concept, “small is beautiful”, is most pronounced in Uganda, with so much diversity packed in the relatively small geographical area. Whatever your interest, be it cultural or archeological matters, wildlife safaris, bird watching, mountain gorilla treks, mountain climbing, white water rafting, sailing , fishing, Mountain gorilla tracking, Uganda has something special for you.
Above all, the people of Uganda, hospitable and warm as ever, are eager to share their country’s captivating magic with the rest of the world, and make friends.
Safaris
Featured in this section are also different safaris in Uganda. From day trips, short safaris to specialty safaris in Uganda, there are a lot of options to choose from.
Gorilla Trekking Safaris
Today Uganda Gorilla Safaris are very popular worldwide due to safety and political stability of the country. Many travelers visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla trekking.
Classic Uganda Safaris
During your safari in Uganda, you will experience the true African wilderness by visiting the unspoilt tourism destinations.
Rwenzori Mountaineering Safari
The Rwenzori Mountains, also n as Mountains of the moon are found in Western Uganda, and climbing to the highest peak (Magherita) takes 9 days.
Featured Safari
Book a 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to almost half of the world’s remaining population of the mountain gorillas left in the whole world. This adventure trip can depart from Kigali or Kampala.
Top Places to Visit on Uganda Safaris
Uganda is a naturally blessed country and a home to various tourist attractions like several wildlife and bird species, national parks, Forests Mountains, lakes and rivers, among others which are uniformly distributed throughout the country. This explains why larger numbers of tourists flock the country each year. Many of these tourist attractions and destinations are found in the countryside of Uganda, in the isolation and remote areas of the country with less human crowds( places where you can only feel your heartbeats, wildlife cries and the hamming of birds) filling visitors with the atmosphere of the real African wilderness / jungle.
Among the popular Uganda tourist Sites include
- Murchison Falls National Park,
- Kibale Forest (home of Chimpanzees & other primates),
- Semiliki National park,
- Queen Elizabeth wildlife park,
- Bwindi impenetrable forest gorilla park,
- Mgahinga National Park,
- Lake Mburo National Park,
- Zziwa Rhino sanctuary –
- Chimpanzee sanctuary on Ngamba Island
Uganda also has the true source of River Nile, world’s longest River, also with Africa’s biggest fresh water lake, Lake Victoria.
The Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary
This is the only home to the Uganda’s white Rhinos. It’s a distant and exclusive place to visit, found 7 kilometers off Nakasongola highway. It’s a home to over 15 white Rhinos and many other wildlife and bird species. Visitors to the Zziwa white Rhino Sanctuary can enjoy activities like white rhino watching, wildlife viewing on animals like waterbucks, antelopes and birding the rare shoebill stork on a canoe ride along the swamp.
Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park
The world known Bwindi national park is the Uganda home to mountain gorillas; hosting half of the total number (over 400) of remaining mountain gorillas in the world. Bwindi Impenetrable rain forest is located in the south western part of the country. This large mountain national park can be entered through four major entry points that is; Buhoma region and Ruhija in the north and Nkuringo and Rushaga in the south with each with specific sector hosting several gorilla families that can be visited on foot. Bwindi offers the best trekking experiences for tourists who get a chance of visiting any of the 24 habituated mountain gorilla families within the forest. Alongside mountain gorilla tracking, tourists can enjoy several other tourist activities within the forest such as birding, wildlife safaris, forest nature walks, and paying a visit to the Batwa people among others.
Semuliki National Park
Among the various tourist attractions of Uganda, is the Semuliki valley national park , found in the west , near the Uganda – DRC border. It’s a known place for great wildlife safaris and birding expeditions, viewing animals like; water bucks, kobs, warthogs and many others on game drives and hippos and crocodiles on boat cruises along river semuliki.. Many of the wildlife and bird species at this park move to and fro Congo, CentralAfrica and Uganda. The Semuliki offers great natural views to its visitors such as theSempaya hot spring, forest nature walks and fishing among others.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Another interesting, remotely located tourist center is the Kidepo Valley National park. Located in the northeastern part of the country in Kaabong district. The KVNP, is an exclusive place to visit as it’s a home to several wildlife species such as the; cape buffaloes, lions, zebras, giraffes and a number of birds. All these can be best enjoyed over game drives and boat cruises through the Narus Valley (the only oasis here) , offering tourists a great experience in the wild. The Kidepo valley national park also hosts the unique tribe of the Karamojongs- a Ugandan local community whose people have stuck to the traditional cultural values and norms as well as practices. An encounter with the Karamojongs is very remarkable as visitors discover more about their way of life. Kidepo valley national park is 720 kilometers away from Kampala and can be reached by both road and air transport means.
Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is yet another exclusive but remotely located tourism destination in the country. This Uganda’s deepest lake is found in the south western part of the country, blessed with several islands which are usually reached by boat trips. It offers extraordinary experiences to visitors as it’s the best birding site in the country with several bird species, great scenic views, boat rides and cruises as you take in the nature of Uganda. This exclusive lake can be reached by both air and road transport; where road transport is between 6 and 8 hours’ drive while air transport to Kayonza / Kisoro airstrip and then a drive there is about an hour.
The tourist destinations in Uganda can never be exhausted n just simple writing, for those with an exploration hobby, just hit the Entebbe International airport and you will never regret your action!
Quick Facts About Uganda
Uganda covers an area of about 241,038 sq. km.; of which about 44,000 sq. km. is covered by fresh water bodies made up of swamps, forest reserves and game parks. Uganda is roughly the same size as Great Britain or Ghana. It is bordered by Kenya to the east, Sudan to the north, D.R.C. to the west and by Tanzania and Rwanda to the south.
Most of the country is a plateau, standing at an average of 1,200 M above sea level. The highest point is on Mt. Rwenzori, at 5,590 M with a permanent snow cover and Mt. Elgon at 4,300 M. The lowest on the other hand is 659 M at Albert Nile.
River Nile is the world’s longest river (6,700 km.) and it commences its journey from Lake Victoria (in Jinja-Uganda) which in turn is the world’s second largest fresh water body of 36,000 sq. miles.
The country lies at the overlap between Tropical East African Savannah, and West African rain forest zone. Nearly 1/5 of the country is made up of swamps and open water bodies, including the lakes Victoria, George, Edward, Albert, Kyoga , the Nile River and other smaller lakes.
The Equator crosses through Uganda. This fact greatly influences the climatic conditions of the country.
The south is thickly forested while the north is largely savannah, with some semi-desert areas in the north-east.
Temperature
Average annual temperature is 26 degrees C. in South Western, and 35 degrees C. in the north and North East.
Rainfall
Average annual rainfall is 1,000 mm in most parts of the country and 2000 mm in the islands of Lake Victoria. Most of Uganda is green all year round.
Languages
English is the official language, but Swahili is also widely used, especially among the business community, police and the army. There are a number of indigenous languages, which can be grouped into three: the Bantu, the nilotics, and the nilo-hermits.
Religion
The majority of Ugandans are Christians. Available statistics show that Christians form 66% of the population, people with their own indigenous beliefs form about 18%, and there is a Muslim community of about 16% of the population.
Capital City
Uganda’s capital city is Kampala. It is a modern city built on seven hills and befitting a country with one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. Over the past few years it has expanded to cover ten hills, and continues to grow both in size and charm. Entebbe International Airport serves the country.
Food
There is a very wide variety of food and eating-places all over the country. At the city you will find all sorts of restaurants that meet both local and international interests. There are Italian, Indian, Thai, Greek, European, and Chinese restaurants. The markets provide a variety of fresh foodstuffs.
Wildlife
Uganda’s location along the Equator, combined with the altitude and the great variety of terrain types, provide an overwhelming array of opportunities to keen birders and wild game viewers.
Uganda is one of the few countries in the world where you can find the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat as well as the rare shoebill. The country is also home to other numerous species of birds and mammals.
Tour Operators
Many tour operators offer several Uganda Safaris taking you for the best what Uganda can offer. From gorilla trekking trips to wildlife safaris, Uganda has much to offer to an African Traveler!
