Uganda – We Are The Pearl Of Africa

For a small, landlocked country of which very nearly 25% is lakes and waterways, Uganda surely counts in the places of interest. Mountainous, forested Bwindi impenetrable National Park is the place to go in Uganda for Wild Gorilla trekking safaris yet the country is likewise home to vast savannah reserves, lowland rainforests and captivating lakes which – in blend – make for one of the greatest wildlife encounters in Africa.

Kampala City

A typical African capital with a compact, skyscrapers encompassed by sprawling rural areas, busy Kampala City is Uganda’s business, political and logistical hub and yet one of East Africa’s most laid-back and friendly cities.

Uganda’s only international airport is set alongside Lake Victoria in Entebbe 35kms away. This small town fills in as the country’s main entry and exit point and many guests will spend a night here or in Kampala before or after embarking on their Uganda safari.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: Gorilla Trekking And Rainforest Wildlife

Try not to be put off by its intimidating name: you’ll be driven into Bwindi by well-informed guides and trackers and the reward is worth the effort– this glorious forest is the place to go in Uganda for your Gorilla trekking encounters. Go through an hour with a Gorilla family, watching these gentle giants in their pristine rainforest environment before slipping away and back to your luxury jungle lodge. A gorilla trek is wet, humid, sloppy and intense however the experience is completely exceptional.

Murchison Falls National Park: Game Viewing, River Cruises And Birding

With the Nile River neatly cutting through Uganda’s biggest game park, you would expect a wide range of animals at Murchison Falls National Park and you would be right. It is the prime destination in Uganda for great big game species, for example, elephant, lion, buffalo and hippo and with an amazing bird count of about 500, Murchison Falls National Park additionally boasts of chimpanzees and colobus monkeys in its forests.

The most astonishing thing however is a boat cruise to the spectacular Murchison falls themselves where the thundering Nile is crushed through a 7-meter cleft in the Rift Valley Escarpment.

Queen Elizabeth National Park: Birding, Game Viewing, Chimps And Boat Cruises

Connecting easily with Bwindi Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most mainstream and most accessible savannah reserve and is home to elephant, buffalos, leopard, various antelope species and the renowned tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha Plains.

Here you can also take boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel to see hippos and crocodiles and with a stunning 600 recorded bird species, Queen Elizabeth NP is one of the world’s top bird watching destinations.

Kibale Forest National Park For Primates, Birds And Butterflies

Quickly turning into a prime tourists’ destination in Uganda, Kibale Forest National Park offers guests an enlightening insight into life in a tropical rainforest. Huge numbers mammals aren’t so easily seen here, however the clouds of dazzling butterflies and beautiful forest birds more than make up for it, and besides, Kibale is most well-known for its primates. Embark on guided chimpanzee treks in this majestic forest and see how many of the other 12 primate species you can see.

Lake Mburo National Park: Serene Game Viewing And Birding

Strategically located between Uganda’s capital Kampala and the Gorilla trekking forests of the south-west lies Lake Mburo National Park, a perfect overnight stop-over for tourists making their way between the two destinations.

Although the big game animals such as elephant are not present here, the great mix of wetland and woodland habitats makes for a wide range of mammals and birds and Mburo’s peaceful environment and soothing views provide welcome relief after a tough long journey.

All this is made more exciting by the friendly Ugandan natives, making this small landlocked country the prime destination to any adventurous person out there.