Uganda is located on the eastern side of the African continent and is a member of the East African community along other countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. It is also known as the pearl of Africa, a title that is justified by the fact that the country is abundantly gifted in terms of nature. The Equator Cuts through the Middle of the Country, so Temperatures are pretty consistent year round. Uganda is a prime destination whose flourishing beauty deserves to be seen rather than being explained. Endowed with plenty of beautiful scenery such as the thick forests, mountains, Lakes, Rivers, waterfalls, wildlife and rolling hills, the country is indeed a perfect get away spot for all time travelers. Lots of beautiful features that are interesting to look forward to on your Uganda adventure Safari makes it reason for one to travel to Visit.
COVID – 19 SOP’s are highly maintained in all places, Hotels, lodges and by all staff members, with temperature checks done, hand washing stations, Social distancing and wearing masks, definitely one will feel safe while traveling to Uganda. Below are the reasons why you should make Uganda your next travel destination.
Friendly People and Very rich cultural diversity
Uganda is one of the countries with the richest and most amazing cultures made up of a number of ethnic groups from regions of the central, western, eastern, southern, and northern parts of the country, each with its own language, distinctive customs and norms with 54 different indigenous tribes with their own cultural norms though some of them do share beliefs, there are always a few things that differentiate one from another. Each of these cultures have a strong history attached to it which explains why things are the way they are.
For the adventurous people or the anthropologists, Uganda is a must visit if you want to learn and explore more about people’s cultures. Every traveler knows that connecting with the local people will guarantee a great travel experience as they will teach and give you a broader insight into their culture and way of living.
Despite the fact that the country has got a multitude of tribes, each of them is welcoming. These people are always ready and willing to take you through the different cultural aspects as well as interact with you about all matters concerning their traditions. The character of people is so friendly and this explains why they smile, wave and at times clap when they see people with a different color who are referred to as “Bazungu” meaning the white not in disrespectful manner but rather in a more pleasant format. The nature of Ugandans has therefore seen many tourists come to Uganda for cultural encounters with different cultural communities such as the Batwa (pygmies) found in south western Uganda known as the first settlers in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the Ik and Karamojong in the North Eastern part of the country, Bagishu in eastern Uganda and many other groups. These people are always ready to entertain visitors by performing their traditional songs, dances, teaching them how to weave baskets, child naming ceremonies, Farming and many more aspects in their cultures. The hospitality of Ugandans is very incredible, the local are always willing to help, they are very curious people but also very respectful which means you will never feel out of place amongst them. It is very easy to get in touch with the local and also becoming friends because of the next reasons.
Every traveler knows that connecting with the local people will guarantee a very great travel experience as they will teach you, give you a broader insight into their culture and way of living. This warm aspect about Ugandans can make any kind of visitor feel at home while in Uganda.
Rich Cuisine
Uganda is the only country in the world with food that is as rich as its culture. Each tribe has its own staple food. A proper Ugandan meal is a celebration in itself, and some meals are prepared as early as the day before, to be served at lunch the following day. Many tourists are often eager to taste the “Matooke”, a staple food for the Baganda but also eaten across the different tribes, the malewaya eaten by the Bagishu, Millet and Sorghum eaten across the Western and North regions of the Country. Most visitors refer to it as plantain. Then there is the street food, the most notable being the Rolex. Most people will think of the expensive timepiece tellers that adorn your wrists but in Uganda, it’s a popular street food that can be eaten at any time of the day. It’s an omelet that is rolled with a chapatti and some fresh tomatoes. It tastes much better if the tomatoes are raw.
Nature (flora and fauna)
Uganda’s Green nature of landscape covered by lush green and spectacular water bodies earned it the term “pearl of Africa” with large Forests and different plantations of banana, tea, coffee and the most spectacular natural scenes explain it all.
Uganda is blessed with a vast array of wildlife that you may not even be able to find in other parts of the World. The country has 10 national parks and in each of them you will find different animal species which include thousands of primates like chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge queen Elizabeth National Park, Ngamba Island, Budongo and Kalinzu Forests. With all other primates and monkey species including baboons, red tailed monkeys, black and white colubus monkeys, golden monkeys, L’Hoests monkeys and many more. Although Uganda is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant) it also boasts unique wildlife such as tree-climbing lions in parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park and the famous Nile crocodile, Hippos, Rhinos, Giraffes, Antelopes and half the population of the world’s mountain gorillas found in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Forest National Park among so many other animals.
Uganda is a must on any birder’s bucket list, with more than 1000 bird species including some of the very rarest, such as the shoebill, the great blue turaco, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, and many more. Bird watching begins from the urban areas and becomes more fun when you get to conservation areas in the National parks. Uganda’s wetlands and Savannah are great habitats for some of the world’s most spectacular birds and wildlife. In regards to the flora, the different parts of the country have different vegetation covers which favor the survival of the fauna that call this precious Eco system home. There are rain forested areas, the pure Savannah grassland, montane regions especially around plateaus or mountains. It is not only amazing to enjoy the spectacular view of forests like Mabira, Bwindi impenetrable, Kibale, Budongo, Maramagambo, Kalinzu, Kyambura gorge but they also act as natural habitats to the plenty of animals, birds, butterflies and mammals. Explore Uganda’s Gift of Mother Nature during your next Safari to experience its abundance of bestowed to her like; the snow-capped Rwenzori mountains in the West, named one of the best hikes in the world by the National Geographic; Mountain Elgon in the East, with the largest volcanic caldera in the world; and Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria; the mighty River Nile, the second-longest river in the world, whose largest source is in Lake Victoria, Lake Bunyonyi in the South west. Any of these will give you a mind blowing experience.
Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking in the jungles of Uganda’s rain forest.
Uganda is home to one of the largest populations of chimpanzees and there are multiple places to see them. Kibale National Park is one of the best places for chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda can also be done in Budongo forest which is found in Murchison falls national park, Kyambura gorge found in Queen Elizabeth national park and at the Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria.
Uganda is home to a large population of Mountain Gorillas (one of only three countries where you can see them in Africa) and this is the highlight of a trip for your Ultimate Uganda Safari. These gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Uganda is lucky to be the home of the famous endangered mountain gorillas, and it has the highest population of mountain gorillas in the world. They can’t be found anywhere else on earth but in the Virunga Massif that is shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These gentle giants can be found in two of Uganda’s national parks: Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Awesome trails for active Adventure
Uganda is not only blessed with magnificent wildlife but Uganda also has a number of paths leading you to spot plenty of eye catching features. Whether you enjoy active adventure like Hiking, Biking, Zip-line, Water Rafting Uganda has it all. Imagine taking a walk to the highest peak of Mountain Elgon known as Wagagai while viewing the different plantations or a Hike to the snow-capped peak of Mountain Rwenzori National Park known as Margarita in western Uganda or even a Hike to the top of Murchison Falls, Hike up the Sipi Falls. During these trails, you will get a chance to spot different bird species, wildlife, birds, butterflies, primates, lakes, rivers and plant life. Nature walks carried out during the night will give you a chance to spot nocturnal animals such as the Civet cat and night jar. You will indeed have fun passing through the various trails exposing you to different features of this country.
Water Bodies; Lakes and Rivers for the best Water Safaris and Adventure
Uganda boasts of numerous Lakes, waterfalls, channels; the water element is prevalent in the Ugandan landscape which even features the source of the mighty Nile. Apart from allowing the lush vegetation to survive, this precious element adds to the beauty of the scenery and spices up your visit to the Pearl of Africa. Uganda has the largest fresh water Lake in Africa (Lake Victoria) which is the source of the longest River in Africa (River Nile). The Nile is the longest river in the world covering about 6,600 kilometers and passing through nine countries. Its source is in Jinja Town which is the adrenaline capital of East Africa and a bucket list destination for those seeking adrenaline kicks of water sports through white-water rafting and kayaking on arguably the best rapids in Africa. If water isn’t your thing, you can get your dose of adrenaline by bungee jumping, Tubing the Nile. There is also quad biking and horse riding through the villages along the Nile villages.
In the west of the country lies the famous Murchison falls from where you can see the force of nature as water squeezes itself through a narrow gorge for the most Powerful Waterfalls. The unique Kazinga channel that enjoins Lakes George and Edward explains it all. These water bodies are major habitats to a good number of bird species and animals like elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos that can be view up close on a Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel as well as on the Murchison Falls. Lake Bunyonyi is the second-deepest in Africa. Its waters are cool throughout, and it is a popular swimming destination among tourists. You can also enjoy a range of water sports including canoeing, fishing Zip-line. The lake is also surrounded by serene greenery characterized by lush plants, and you will love the community walks around the Lake.
The climate and weather
Uganda is one of the countries with the best climate and weather in the whole world. With the wet and the dry seasons with average temperatures being at 21.5c and 71F. The country boosts of two dry seasons between June – September and December – February which are the best time to visit for safaris. There are months like March, April and May, then September, October and November which are wet and the rest of the year is a dry season so this means it’s cold and warm rather than cold and hot as it is in some other parts of the world. You can always choose when to travel depending on what you want to do for example those intending to go primates trekking in the forests, the best season is the dry season while others business people, volunteers or any other can enjoy the weather any time of the year. you can easily track chimpanzees and go gorilla trekking as well as smoothly drive along trails in the National Parks and Reserves in search of game.
Infrastructure and safety
Uganda has taken an effort in developing the Road Networks to enable accessibility to various Tour destinations, even though it is a developing country. A good number of accommodation choices have also been put in place to help visitors relax in Hotels and Lodges of their Choices and Budget ranging from Luxury, Mid-range, Budget to camping Facilities. Note that one of the major factors influencing people’s choice of Travel to a country is its safety and security and Uganda being a Safe Travel destination makes it your number one travel destination. The country is also one of the safest places you can visit in Africa.
Affordability
In recent times and age everything seems to cost an arm and leg, most travelers seek a high and luxurious style of travel at a low budget making Uganda the best destination in the East African region for its affordability. The cost of living in Uganda is lower than that of its neighbors, which gives travelers more purchasing power to indulge in all that Uganda has to offer.
Shopping
In this case we are not talking about visiting the big shopping malls to find what you can easily find in your home country. We are looking at beautiful craft work which includes woven materials like the baskets, mats, hats, wallets, among others. There African shoes/ sandals made out of hides from different animals, drums are also made from these hides and there a number of places where you can find such products. Craft work also include cloth making more so those made through tie and dying and you will be amazed by how beautiful such cloths look.
With that in mind, you even be in position to buy some African print wear, artistic jewelry and craft that may excite during your travel and stay.
While you plan for your next travel Destination, Choose Uganda, for a perfect and wonderful holiday. There is nothing better than having your time in the wilderness enjoying the beauty of nature with a perfect environment for relaxing and enjoying a holiday. If you are a nature lover, you will enjoy sightseeing and plenty of activities, visiting historical sites such as the museums, religious centers and Entertainment groups more the traditional dancers will help you end the day well, around the city, there different dance troupes and while upcountry, the local community members entertain guests through their folk songs more so in the evening hours.
