Uganda
The enlightened management of 10 national parks, as well as the introduction of eco-tourism projects, adventure sports and unique gorilla-trekking opportunities, have put ‘Africa’s friendliest country’ firmly on the tourist circuit.
Once described as ‘the pearl of Africa’, Uganda’s reputation as Africa’s friendliest country is attributed to both the people and its eco-friendly environment. This lush and stunning country offers a unique safari experience where you can view lions prowling in their natural habitat, track chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth and see hippos and crocodiles in tropical areas, before getting up close to the piece de resistance: the mountain gorilla.
Kidepo Valley National Park, located in the semi-arid valleys of Karamoja, is a remote but beautiful area which boasts a multitude of bird species including the rare black-breasted barbet and karamoja apallis. Karamoja’s breathtaking landscape consists of volcanic mountains, rolling plains, thick bush lands, rocky outcrops and high altitude montane forest.
Lake Mburo National Park harbours many species of mammals including zebras, impala, buffalo and varied birdlife. The small size of the park makes it ideal for trekking through the Rubanga Forest or taking a boat trip on the lake where pelicans, heron, cormorant and fish eagle gather. The game drives also offer the opportunity to see antelope and warthog.
Home to half of the world’s population of the highly endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is an unsurpassable wildlife experience allowing visitors to get just five metres away from these bewitching creatures. It is also the only forest in Africa where both the gorillas and chimpanzees co-exist together.
Bisected by the Rive Nile, Murchison National Park’s scenery is dominated by savannah eco-systems and dense woodlands. The game-viewing consists of giraffe, buffalo, lion, elephant, Nile crocodile, hippo and oribi. Murchison Falls provides the opportunity to white-water raft, where the world’s longest river will propel you along on an exhilarating ride. Semliki Valley National Park is a short plane trip away. The main attraction here, either at dawn or dusk, is to track the chimpanzees of this region. These surreal nocturnal animals are best viewed on a night drive. Uganda provides an inspirational travel experience that encompasses raw natural beauty, a multitude of terrains and unparalleled access to its extraordinary wildlife.
Uganda is one of the continent’s most beautiful countries, boasting an astonishing variety of scenery, culture and wildlife.
Inspiration & Further Reading
