Uganda

Uganda, known as the Pearl of Africa, is perhaps East Africa’’s best kept secret. Whether you are a first time safari goers or a seasonal African traveler, Uganda is an amazing place to enjoy a safari. It is quite unlike any other African country, with spectacular mountain scenery along with rain forests, rivers and lakes and areas of open plains, which provide homes for an extraordinary diversity of life.

Go on a Uganda safari and discover its unique blend of Savannah and forest creatures, its rare wealth of mountain and lake habitats is simply dazzling. One of the highlights has to be gorilla trekking – foot safaris to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga in their natural habitat. Mountain gorillas can only be seen at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest at Mgahinga or in the Parc National des Volcans in neighboring Rwanda which is easily accessible from Uganda.

On a safari in Uganda, you can also see chimpanzees, go bird watching for the 27 Rift Valley endemics or the shoebill stork, see elephants, lions and hippos and other great African wildlife in a range of wildlife areas such as the Kibale forest and the Queen Elizabeth (Ruwenzori) National Park. The local communities also really make a trip here very special, sharing their cultural traditions and welcoming us to their country.

Uganda Highlights

Uganda is a beautiful and diverse country rich in hidden secrets and historical atmosphere. For those willing to familiarize themselves with this enchanting country there could be a variety of Uganda safari options that will enable you discover much about the Pearl of Africa.

Firstly, one can chose and book Uganda safari package from any of the travel agents and safari compnaies. Most Uganda travel packages do not most usually include a flight. A safari package include hotel accommodation, drives in a 4X4 car or all other activities that make a safari a fully inclusive vacation. There could be various cultural programs included in the Uganda travel packages possibly gorilla tracking, game viewing and nature trekking. Usually it is the Uganda travel agent who would advise on such programs. There is a rich choice of Uganda travel agent services providers: there could be online travel agents, corporate travel agents, travel agents for special interest groups and many more.

Once one has chosen the most appropriate provider of tourist services in Uganda. It is important to make the trip to Uganda cost effective by organizing your trip with a local tour operator.

• Spectacular mountain scenery and other environments such as forests, rivers and lakes.
• Treks to see the endangered Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi or Mgahinga.
• Excellent wildlife including chimpanzees and other primates.
• Superb bird watching, including the rare Shoebill Stork.

Places to Go

Uganda, the “Pearl of Africa”, is a country with spectacular natural scenery and a rich mosaic of tribes and cultures. It has ten national parks displaying the best of East Africa. It is where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle. Their Rift Valley landscapes and tropical forests make dramatic backdrops to an extensive variety of flora and fauna.

Uganda National Parks

• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Kidepo Valley National Park
• Kibale National Park
• Lake Mburo National park
• Murchison Falls National Park
• Mount Elgon National Park Uganda
• Queen Elizabeth National Park

Language
English is the official language, with Luganda and Swahili also widely spoken.
Visas
Visas are required for UK citizens which can be purchased on arrival at the airport. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months.
Health
No compulsory vaccinations but several are recommended and you should take malaria prophylactics.
Best times to go
Due to a mainly equatorial climate, temperatures do not change hugely during the year with an average of between 24-28 C. Main rains are March – May and October – November. Birding is best November – March.
Getting there
You can get to Uganda via Air or Road.