'The scenery is different, the vegetation is different, the
climate is different, and, most of all, the people are different from anything
elsewhere.... in the whole range of Africa': Winston Churchill.
Uganda is a beautiful country with an impressive people.
This is one of my favourite countries in all of Africa. The people of
Uganda have survived the troubles of 1967-86 period and emerged standing upright and
wearing a smile. In that short period, the country suffered under the caprice of two
despicable despots. One was the indisputably insane Idi Amin and the other, the arguably
insane Milton Obote.This is now history; a testament to the dignity and endurance of this
people.
The transformation of the country in the period since normalcy
returned is nothing short of astounding. And it shows in the faces of the people you meet.
That the graceful beauties of Uganda have not received the recognition they deserve in
international beauty pageants is for me incontrovertible proof that most of these events
are really fixed.
Winston Churchill was so besotted by the country that he gave it
the name that has endured: the 'Pearl of Africa'. His observations about Uganda remain
true today.
Travellers to Uganda are drawn by its stunning landscape: green
rolling hills, snow-capped mountains, rainforests, majestic rivers and massive lakes.
There are also a number of outstanding national parks for your safari encounter with the
wildlife for which Africa is renowned.
The country's edge as a worthwhile destination is further enhanced by
its endowments for white water rafting and sport fishing. Tour operators have on offer a
variety of Uganda
safari and tour packages.
It is in Uganda that you find the highest number of primate
species anywhere in the world. Opportunities for tracking rare mountain gorillas and
chimpanzees are unrivalled elsewhere.
The primate conservation efforts the country has followed are bearing
fruit. A survey carried out by the Wildlife Conservation
Society and the Jane Goodall Institute, in
collaboration with the Uganda government, revealed that there were 4,950 chimpanzees in
the country in 2003. Previously, scientists guess for this number was between 3,000 and
4,000, but nobody knew for sure.
The chimp is our closet living relative, sharing 98% of our genes and
much of our behaviour. Uganda is the best country in the world to view chimpanzees in
their natural habitat.
The best place to see the rare mountain gorilla is at the 331sq km Bwindi National Park. This park was formerly
known as the Impenetrable Forest with good reason. The trees are thick and the forest
thicker with dense undergrowth, creepers, bamboo and parasitic plants such as mistletoe
and orchids.
This environment is the habitat for mountain gorillas, chimpanzee, and
8 other species of primate. Not less than half the world's population of an estimated 600
mountain gorillas have sanctuary here, making Bwindi the base for an important scientific
conservation program.
Gorilla tracking is limited to small groups and the licenses are
issued to ensure minimum disruption to the routine of the animals. Tracking gorillas is an
arduous task and you should be prepared for up to 8 hours of hiking. Good physical
condition is a must.
You are advised to make arrangements 4-12 months prior to the date of
your visit.
Bwindi is essentially a rain forest and it is necessary to bring along
a raincoat, walking boots and gloves.
In addition to its star gorillas, Bwindi is host to bush pig, giant
forest hog and over 300 species of birds; including rare forest birds. Others who have
found a home in this ecosystem include many types of bats and rodents, 14 species of
snakes, 27 species of frogs and toads, 6 chameleon types, 14 lizards, skinks and geckos
and 200 species of butterfly.
Bwindi is to the west of the country and is 560km from Kampala.
Though not as famous for safari as neighbouring Kenya and
Tanzania, Uganda still has some pretty good game sanctuaries.
The 3,840sq km Murchison
Falls National Park is the largest and most spectacular of them.
Aside from game, it is renowned for its scenic beauty. Rolling
savannah, tall grasslands and thick bush woodlands make up the park. But you are advised
not to miss out the magnificent waterfalls after which the park is named.
The waterfall is formed where the Nile tapers from 50 metres to rush
through a 7-metre gorge, falling 45 metres in a breath-taking leap. This phenomenon is
said to be the most powerful natural flow of water anywhere on Earth.
If you are patient, you can catch some really huge Nile Perch at the
foot of the falls. Other game fish found in the Nile include Barbel, electric Catfish and
Tiger fish.
The game you come across in the park includes elephant, hartebeest,
leopard, lion, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, crocodiles and many species of antelopes.
Upstream of the Murchison Falls are the Karuma Falls, where the Nile
cascades over 23 kilometres of rapids. Here you have some of the most exciting white water
in Africa.
Murchison Falls is located 330 km from Kampala.
The Queen Elizabeth National
Park is another outstanding treasure. It is a UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve for
Humanity.
The recognition arises from the tropical forest, green meadows,
savannah and swamps that constitute the park.
In terms of wildlife, you find elephant, buffalo, hippos, baboons,
chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds. The park occupies 2,000sq km and is situated
440km from Kampala.
At the northern end of the Queen Elizabeth, you find Kibale.
This park has a unique forest habitat and has an excellent diversity
of animal and plant life. It is at Kibale that you find the highest number of primate
species in Uganda and one of the highest primate densities and diversities in the world.
Travelling from Kampala to the Queen Elizabeth, or Bwindi, most
visitors break at Lake Mburo National Park.The
park is 230km west of Kampala, along the Mbarara road and is the most accessible in the
country.
It is a very attractive park of rolling hills, open grassy valleys,
interspersed with thickets, woodlands and rich wetlands. In addition to viewing game
including zebra, cape buffalo and eland, you can relax by taking a boat trip on Lake
Mburo.
The fairly flat terrain of the country is interrupted to the west
by the Rwenzori Mountains and to the east by Mount Elgon.
Rwenzori, otherwise known as 'Mountains of the Moon' has the third
highest peak in Africa, after Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The Rwenzori is part of the national park of
the same name and contains six snow-capped peaks.
You can hike the trails of this mountain without any special climbing
equipment unless you want to go for the peaks.
The mist covered mountain range stretches for about 100km.<
Mount Elgon sits by the
Kenyan border and is the shell of an ancient volcano.
The main attractions here are the waterfalls, caves that were once
used by indigenous people, hot springs, the mountainous vegetation, the various peaks, the
Suam Gorge and the caldera itself.
After millions of years of erosion, the oval shaped caldera now
measures roughly 7 by 8 kilometres; one of the largest in the world.
The traveller with a sense of history will want to visit the Source of the
Nile at Jinja.
Jinja is 60km to
the north-east of Kampala and is easily accessible by road. This is where the White Nile
begins, as it exits Lake Victoria on its 5,600km journey to the Mediterranean.
The source of the Nile was a thousand year old mystery that was
decisively settled by the explorer John
Hanning Speke, in 1862.
If you are keen about culture, go for the The Kabaka's Trail.
This is a unique journey through a part of Uganda's rich heritage that
has been shaped by the region's kings over the years. The Kabaka is the ceremonial king of
the Baganda and his lineage goes way back to the 14th century.
The Trail combines a series of cultural sites, all within easy reach
of Kampala. You can easily combine the Kabaka Trail with your Search of the Nile excursion
to Jinja. The Trail offers much more than sightseeing and you will learn about the hidden
and forgotten history of Uganda. You will also experience an authentic tribal culture;
with traditional dance, music, craft making, spiritual healing and storytelling.
There are international standard hotels in Uganda,
especially in the main towns of Entebbe, Jinja and Kampala. The quality is variable in the
smaller towns and rated accommodation is scarce.
All of the major national parks offer accommodation in game lodges and
tented camps.
If you want to drive around Uganda, you need to show an
international drivers license to hire a vehicle.
Rental
cars in Uganda are available in Entebbe and Kampala.
Roads radiate from Kampala and are of varying quality.
In the north of the country, the security situation is still doubtful
and so are the roads. Its is a good idea if you are on self-drive to get local advice
about the condition the roads you intend to use.
Uganda enjoys a tropical climate tempered by altitude.
The hottest period of the year is from December to February, when the
temperature rises to 29 degrees Celsius. For the rest of the year, temperatures range
between 21ºC to 25ºC.
The country experiences two rainy seasons: April to May and October to
November; with April being the wettest month.
The best times to visit Uganda are December-March and
June-September.
Light informal clothing is generally adequate. But you need warmer
wraps and sweaters for the evenings and early mornings. You are also advised to carry some
rainwear, just in case.
Unfortunately, I have to advise you to skip Kidepo Valley, a well-resourced park in the
north, as it is not considered safe.
Map of Uganda's National
Parks:
Locate where the national parks are around Uganda.
By Andrew Muigai.
Uganda Related Links
Uganda Travel
Notes:
Find out more about Uganda at Travel Notes.
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