Uganda Safaris

Uganda Attractions and Destinations

Uganda is as diverse as it is beautiful, with friendly people, cosmopolitan cities, political stability and a progressive eco-tourism community with grassroots projects to enhance the local lifestyle and curb the spread of disease, as well as protect wildlife habitats.

Uganda is where east African savannah meets west African jungle ~ exquisite landscapes ranging from lush green hillsides to dark forests abound with birds and primates, dormant volcanoes, large lakes and rivers and open grass plains populated by lion, leopard, elephant and antelope. Uganda is one of the few places in the world where you can have up close encounters with the majestic mountain gorilla.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Gorilla Trekking Safaris

Although best known for the mountain gorilla trekking safaris, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park also provides refuge to elephant, antelope, monkeys and chimpanzee. Increasingly endangered, there are only about 700 individual mountain gorillas surviving in Uganda in five habituated gorilla troops, four of which are found in Bwindi. Therefore, visitor numbers are limited to only 30 guests per day. Trekking through the moist, dense forests of Bwindi can be an exhausting challenge and is recommended for the physically fit. However, and up close encounter with a large silverback can be as humbling as it is exhilarating.

The Uganda portion of the Virunga Volcanoes, which form a border with Rwanda and the Congo, are hosted by the protection of Mgahinga National Park. Nine freestanding active and extinct volcanoes are an imposing sight to behold and offer refuge to the peaceful, giant mountain gorillas. The park also hosts habituated groups of rare golden monkey.

Uganda's largest protected area, Murchison Falls National Park is most famous for it's scenic beauty, plunging waterfalls and high concentration of game. The seemingly never ending Nile River divides the park in half, attracting large numbers of game including: elephant, Rothschild giraffe, hippo, lion, leopard, buffalo, Nile crocodile, patas monkeys, and over 450 species of birds.

Kibale Forest National Park is a wonderful place to experience the true diversity of wildlife and flora found in a tropical rainforest. Although the park contains the largest population of forest elephants found in Uganda, they are rarely sighted. A Primatologist's paradise, the park is particularly noted for its high populations of habituated chimpanzee and 11 different other primate species; including the red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, L'Hoest's monkey, black, white and red colobus and white cheeked mangabey. Some other animals found in the park are; bushbuck, red and blue duiker, Uganda kob, Scaly-tailed flying squirrel, tree pangloin, buffalo, waterbuck and hippo as well as a large number of birds.

Known as the "Mountains of the Moon" for it's mist and sno-capped peaks, the Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda are perfect for world class hiking adventures in large evergreen & bamboo forests. The higher moorland zone is known for its surreal cover of giant heathers, lobelias and groundsels. The Rwenzori mountain range has six peaks of permanent snow and glaciers that make for dramatic scenery and amazing photographic opportunities.

Mt. Margherita, Africa's third highest peak, reaching a height of 5,109M is an excellent destination for keen hikers and climbers, although the higher slopes are demanding and require some mountaineering skills. The best time of the year for hiking is during the dry seasons from mid December to end of March and from June to mid August. The park itself provides habitat to elephant, genet, Vervet Monkey, Rwenzori Colobus, Chimpanzee and Duiker.

Recommendations for Visiting Uganda by Cindi LaRaia Uganda is a beautiful lush mountain country! The people are delightful and the Gorillas and chimpanzees are the number one attraction! This is a country you can visit as one destination; there are game reserves along with the gorillas and chimps, also you can easily combine with Rwanda for a multi country Gorilla trek experience of a lifetime! It is roughly the size of the State of Oregon in the USA. Uganda's most alluring features are its forests, lakes and mountains. Most of the country is 1,000 m above sea level and there are three mountainous areas - the Rwenzoris, Mount Elgon and the Virunga volcanoes. Wildlife has steadily increased and many species of game can be seen now. Game viewing is free of the mass tourism in some countries. Primates, especially the mountain gorilla and chimpanzees, are a special attraction together with over a thousand species of birds. Uganda has the MOST species if birds in Africa this is a great draw for birders. Most of Uganda is well-watered and fertile. Although it lies on the Equator, the climate is tempered by its altitude. The Nile starts its long journey to the Mediterranean from Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, and traverses Murchison Falls National Park. The population is about nineteen million, largely Christian, but with sizeable Muslim and Animist communities -- Cindi LaRaia