Uganda – Lonely Planet -Best Country to Visit-2012 – What about in 2018. Since 2012 Uganda has been picked by countless of publications as one of the Best All-Around Safari Destinations in Africa. It is the Pearl of Africa according to Winston Churchill – it is Africa – Condensed into a small country according to Lonely Planet – it is the most Bio-Diverse – in 2017 CNN is filming the Wonders of Uganda. It has put two of Uganda’s Parks as Best Parks in Africa – the one of a kind – Africa as it used to be – Kidepo Valley Park and the Ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a park that Lonely Planet put on its most unusual Honeymoon Destinations.
2012- the year that Lonely Planet picked Uganda as the Best Country to visit is long gone. However, Uganda is still here – attracting Tourists from around the world – Plan now to visit the Best Country to visit in 2019 – Uganda the Pearl of Africa.
Uganda is one of only three countries in the world where you can see the highly endangered mountain gorilla in the wild (only an estimated 1,004 remain). The two gorilla trekking spots in Uganda are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. As names go, there's hardly a more evocative African destination than the Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi. This swath of steep mountains covered in thick, steamy jungle is just as magnificent as it sounds. Imagine Sharing time with mountain gorillas in the wilds of Africa’s rainforests is utterly magical: nothing prepares you for their sheer beauty and brawn, those soulful brown eyes, their astonishingly human-like expressions or their extraordinarily gentle demeanour.
The 331-sq-km World Heritage–listed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Africa’s most ancient habitats, even surviving the last Ice Age as most of the continent's other forests disappeared.
The combination of its broad altitude span (1160m to 2607m) and its antiquity has produced an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, resulting in some 120 mammal species and over 350 bird species calling Bwindi home. The stars of the show, however, are the approximately 400 mountain gorillas living here. This is one of the best places in the world to see mountain gorillas up close. Having a look at these critically endangered creatures up close is an unforgettable experience – don't miss it. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the home to approximately half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas estimated at 1004, the world's most endangered ape. A close encounter with these amazing animals is not soon forgotten. Every pained breath, every drop of sweat, every scratch from thorns, and ever muddy stumble is the price you pay to spend an hour in quiet contemplation alongside those beautiful creatures. Gorilla trekking is tantamount to a religious experience. To book a Gorilla tracking safari, kindly visit Visit Pearl Of Africa Vacations
Far and away the most popular thing to do in Uganda, is the chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibaale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest Habituated Chimpanzee family, & Kyambura Gorge habituated Chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
A comparatively affordable $120 USD per person, the chimpanzee trekking experience starts at around 7am and sees you hiking through the cool forest air in pursuit of the chimpanzees who call the park home.
Chimps in Kibaale National Park are wild but slightly habituated. They aren’t going to stick around for you to snap photos of, but they’re also not so afraid of you that they’ll immediately flee at the snapping of a branch.
Where in Rwanda you’re forced to literally run after the chimpanzees, here you’re able to approach at a more sedate pace. It’s a relatively easy hike that sees you moving with the family as it hoots, hollers, swings, and drums its way through the treetops overhead.
Actual trekking groups are quite small – no more than 4-8 people per group – but you’ll doubtless cross paths with other groups as your guides share notes.
When it comes to wildlife, there's more to Uganda than just mountain gorillas. Its 10 national parks and several game reserves are also home to the big 5, the like of elephants, Lions, Buffalos, Giraffees, Rhinoceros, hippos, zebras, lions, leopards and over a 1000 species of birds. Uganda's National Parks boasts of a high level of biodiversity and a wide variety of landscapes including savannah, bushland, wetlands and lush green tropical rain forests. Unique to Ugandas National Parks, the remote Ishasha sector, in the far south of the Queen Elizabeth National park, is also home to tree climbing lions! By variety of game life existing in Uganda, perhaps every Ugandan village could be a national park. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) manages 10 National Parks and 12 Wildlife reserves, that include Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Forest National Park, Kidepo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park,Mt. Elgon National Park and Mt. Rwenzori National Park.
Lonely Planet, has described some of Uganda’s National Parks as best animal adventures for families e.g. Queen Elizabeth National Park. Tree-climbing lions? Tick! Healthy numbers of hippos and elephants? Tick! Over 600 different bird species? You’ve got it… This is the place to come for guaranteed sightings of a huge range of African wildlife, a real-life geography lesson in the difference between savannah, wetlands and forest and the chance to do all this without having to share it with too many of your fellow humans.You can also take a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, giving your family a unique perspective on the many mammals, birds and reptiles coming to drink here.
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to roughly half the 1,004 mountain gorillas remaining in the wild. Expect thick jungle, a lot of sweat, and then the miracle of going eye to eye with the very deep gaze of a watchful silverback.
In August 2018, CNN travel edition recommended Kidepo valley national park in North East of Uganda to travelers seeking to visit Africa for a memorable safari experience.
CNN’s travel edition in one of its latest articles https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/africa-safari-national-parks wrote that Kidepo could be the most beautiful park on the African continent.
It named Kidepo national park among the 8 national parks in Africa that make the best safari destinations. According to CNN Travel, Kidepo Valley National Park boasts at least 86 mammal species and “might be the most beautiful park in all Africa”.
“With the sweeping plains of Kidepo and Narus Valleys overshadowed by the brooding mountainscape of Mount Morungole (the sacred peak of the mysterious Ik people,) this park has huge appeal just for scenery alone” read CNN’s review of Kidepo valley national park, in part.
The article also outlines other remarkable attractions that the travelers will behold, among them incredible animal sightings such as lions, buffaloes and elephants.
“The voracious Kidepo lions prey on roving herds of more than 4,000 buffalo (the total population in the park is said to be about 13,000) and you will often see herds of elephants moving majestically along the valleys,” CNN wrote.
Despite the 12-hour road trip that leads to the isolated park in Karamoja subregion, CNN assures safari enthusiasts that the experience once in Kidepo is worthwhile. The review goes ahead to describe Kidepo as “one of Africa’s genuine hidden gems”.
CNN also recommends other destinations in Uganda, among them Murchison Falls National Park as well as gorilla tracking in Bwindi.
Kidepo valley national park, situated along the border of Uganda with Southern Sudan covers 1,442 square kilometers and offers scenery unparalleled in any other national park within East Africa.
The park does not only offers spectacular savannah landscapes that end in rocky horizon, but while there, visitors will chance at animals like the hunting dog, bat-eared fox, cheetah, striped hyena, caracal and the aard wolf. Foreign Visitors to Ugandan National Park has increased by 43% since 2014.
Uganda boasts of 1,047 bird species making up 50% of the bird species on the African and 11% globally. Masaba observed that the fact that thousands of birders flock to Western Europe to search for birds when UK has less bird species than Uganda is a testimony that our own potential is not tapped. The birds are dotted in a wide range of habitats from forest, swamps and wetlands, savanna, to the waters and air.
The Pearl of Africa, as she is often labeled, is one destination every ardent birdwatcher needs to visit to update their checklist.
The Pearl of Africa, as she is often labeled, is one destination every ardent birdwatcher needs to visit to update their checklist.
There is nothing quite rewarding as the thrill of seeing new bird species, or spotting some that you least expect to find in this part of the world, from the elusive prehistoric dinosaur lookalike, the Shoebill; blue swallow, short-winged nightjar, green breasted pitta; to the largest bird on earth, the common ostrich.
Some of the eye-catching bird species that can be found in Uganda include the Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Karamoja Apalis, Grey-crowned Crane, which is also the national bird and is on the Uganda flag.
You can also look forward to seeing the Abdim’s Stork, Night Herons, Ituri Batis, Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, Martial Eagle, Giant kingfishers, Ostriches, Black-billed Turaco, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Regal Sunbird, African Quail-Finch, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Pink-backed Pelican, Flamingoes, Archer’s Robin Chart, Green Breasted Pitta, Yellow-spotted Barbet,White-spotted Flufftail, Long-eared Owl, Nubian Woodpecker, the African finfoot, African Fish Eagle, Nahan’s Francolin, Brown twinspot, Dwarf Kingfishers; the list does on and on and on.
We wish we had enough space to share all of Uganda’s beautiful birds.
Some of the famous bird watching sports in Uganda include, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Semuliki National Park and Wildlife Reserve, Mt. Elgon National Park, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Matheniko and Bokora Wildlife Reserves, Kidepo Valley National Park, Budongo and Mabira forests, Lutembe and Mabamba Ramsar sites; among others.
This is where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge and cascades down to become a placid river whose banks are thronged with hippos and crocodiles, waterbucks and buffaloes. The vegetation is characterised by savannah, riverine forest and woodland. Wildlife includes lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and many bird species.
The Murchison Falls, also referred to as the Kabarega Falls, is the toughest, roughest and most powerful waterfall found on the course of the great Nile. It actually breaks the stunning Victoria Nile, that flows across Uganda’s northern region from the vast Lake Victoria to the deep Lake Kyoga and continuing to the northern tip of Lake Albert within the western arm of the great East African Rift. right on the peak of the Murchison Falls, the waters of the Nile force their way through a small slit within the rocks, which is just 7 meters or 23 feet wide, and topples to 43 meters or 141 feet below with a thunderous roar forming a residual water stray that forms a beautiful rainbow; the view is very breathtaking! From here it then continues its westward into the stunning Lake Albert.
The Lake Victoria outlet sends about 300 cubic meters per second or 11,000 ft³/s of water to these falls and all this volumes squeezed through this gorge that is actually less than 10 meters or 30 feet wide. These waterfalls are located within the Murchison National park which was actually named after these eye- catching waterfalls. The park is located in the northern region of the Albertine Rift Valley.
Over the years, Uganda has been described as the friendliest country globally following repeated surveys conducted among expatriates globally, according to the BBC.
The Global community network (Inter-Nations) conducted their annual Expat Insider survey of more than 14,000 expats from 191 countries, asking residents to rate a number of aspects about life abroad, including how easy it was to settle in, a country’s friendliness and ease of making friends.
As expatriates settle down, finding new friends can ease the often overwhelming task of adjusting to a new life abroad. While there are differences in local culture and language, some places can definitely feel more welcoming than others.
“This East African country received the highest marks for friendliness,” according to BBC’ s report.
While quoting the InterNations report, BBC stated, “57% of expats in Uganda gave ‘general friendliness’ the best possible rating (the global average was 26%). Not only that, not a single respondent ranked this factor negatively.” “Welcoming all nationalities is an intrinsic part of the culture, and residents are quick to offer smiles to newcomers,” according to Charlotte Beauvoisin who was quoted by BCC.
Charlotte Beauvoisin, a British expat who writes about living in the capital Kampala at Diary of a Muzungu.
InterNations Ambassador Nadya Mileva, originally from Bulgaria and now living in Kampala, agrees, saying that the people are ‘amazingly friendly’.“The country has a lot to offer, from breathtaking landscapes to high-end restaurants and bars to year-round summer,” she added. Many expats live in Kampala, where English is widely spoken
DIVERSE CULTURE: Uganda is made up of a number of ethnic groups from the central and south, east, west, and north, each with its own language, distinctive customs and norms. There are over 50 languages spoken in Uganda. It’s this cultural diversity that offers curious travelers an authentic and enjoyable experience. Culture comes with its distinct dressing code, cultural dances, and food across the country.
KAZINGA CHANNEL: A 20 mile long natural channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George, Kazinga Channel is a unique feature of Queen Elizabeth that offers something you won’t find in other parks.
Taking a boat out onto the channel offers you the chance to spot hippos and crocodiles up close, and there’s ample opportunity to also spot buffalo, elephants, antelopes, and big cats as they come to the shores to get a drink.
But its for bird-watching that Kazinga excels, and even the most disinterested birder is going to come away with a newfound appreciation of just how beautiful Africa’s bird species can be.
Don’t believe me? Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the largest variety of birds in all of East Africa’s protected areas.
MURCHISON FALLS BOAT CRUISE: The 2.30hrs Upstream Boat Cruise on the Victoria Nile to the bottom of the Murchison Water Falls (The Most powerful waterfall in the world), is the most exhilarating and memorable, a tourist can have anywhere in the world. This encounter was also done in 1959 by the Queen Mother of England who was inaugurating the new launch. The stretch of River Nile is calm with a river flowing in its mature stages fronted by Borassus palms, mahogany tree species, and acacia wood species. During the boat cruise, you will be able to spot a lot of wild game e.g. elephants, crocs, hippo's, buffalo, lots of birds etc. It is a thrilling and breath taking activity, the view of the falls from the river is fantastic, but a climb to the top should be done as well. It is a peaceful way to make the most of the beauties the Murchison Falls National Park has to offer
The counts of Hippos and Nile crocodiles thrive in the river waters while the wild game including elephants, waterbucks, buffaloes, kobs and rarely giraffe tend to gather on the banks in search of drinking water. The bird species such as rare and vulnerable shoebill stork, saddle-billed stork, goliath heron, African fish eagle, African Jacana, pied and malachite kingfishers, African skimmer and place-piac among other species also combine to enable you to generate ultimate safari memories.
This Launch Trip also offers a visitor a chance to site many bird species, especially around the Nyamusika cliffs and water bird species on river Nile like the dwarf kingfisher, Chapin flycatcher, goliath heron, egrets, Abyssinian hornbill, grey heron, and handsome francolin. Many schools of hippos and Nile crocodiles can be seen minding their business in the water. Other animals like cape buffaloes, elephants also come to the banks of the river to drink some water giving an unmatched opportunity to photograph them.
Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo are the only parks in Uganda where sport fishing is permitted. Fishing along the Nile River presents ideal opportunities of catching the huge Nile perch fish along the rocky surfaces and the banks of the Nile fronting the bottom of the Murchison falls.
Sport fishing in Murchison falls National Park is quite rewarding for the avid angler. There are great opportunities to land a large Nile Perch "mputa" or Cat-fish "semutundu". Other fish include Tiger fish, Electric cat-fish, Tilapia, "Ngara" (Genus Alestes). The record largest Nile Perch was 113 Kgs landed at at the water gauge opposite the crocodile pool, and the largest cat-fish was 45 Kgs landed near the Nyamusika Cliffs. For more details and to book, please visit Our Sports Fishing Page
Uganda’s scenic wonders are legendary and exceptional. From the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon to Lake Bunyonyi, our mountains, forests, islands and plains will feast your eye and lift your spirit. Uganda punches well above its weight in the breath-taking scenery department. To the west is the glacier-capped Rwenzori mountain range, romantically labelled the 'Mountains of the Moon'. To the south is Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world and main reservoir of the Nile. Speaking of the world's longest river, it flows the length of Uganda from the aforementioned Lake Victoria in the south to the rolling grasslands of the north and across the border into South Sudan. Aside from those three heavyweights, Uganda is also home to dense forest, verdant wetlands and open plains, all of which are incredibly lush and support a diverse eco-system of flora and fauna.
WHITE WATER RAFTING: Jinja, East Africa's Adventure Capital is home to some of the world's finest grade 5 white water rafting and other adventure activities. Whether you are a first-timer, family or high adventure enthusiast, you’ll find your perfect white water adventure here in Uganda.
SOURCE OF THE NILE: Uganda is the source of the mighty River Nile Why visit Jinja source of the Nile. Jinja source of the Nile is a point where River Nile starts its long journey of 6,650Km (4,130 Miles) to Mediterranean sea. By visit the source of the Nile, you would have seen the source of the longest river on planet earth and also the largest fresh water lake in Africa, Lake Victoria. River Nile is an "international" river as its drainage basin covers eleven countries, namely, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Republic of the Sudan and Egypt. In particular, the Nile is the primary water source of Egypt and Sudan. While at the Source of River Nile, you can engage in a number of memorable activities e.g. Jet Boating, Swimming, Kayaking, Camping, Bungee Jumping, Horse Back Riding, Squad Biking and many more
The Tourism Awards – Accolades – Recognition Uganda, The Pearl of Africa has received are more Reasons for Visiting the Pearl of Africa. Uganda, the Pearl of Africa – the country in the heart of Africa that is Authentic Africa has received more than its share of Accolades and distinguished Travel Tourist Awards and Recognitions over the past few years. Not all are listed here, and we would run out of room.
Uganda – Tourism Awards are all reasons to visit Uganda with the most Mountain Gorillas, the best country to see Chimpanzees in East Africa, Wildlife in Abundance. The Best Country for birding in all of Africa with over 1060 species, the tallest Mountain Range in Africa – the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon. Countless extinct Volcanoes in the East and dormant ones in the Southwest. Hidden Tropical Islands in Lake Victoria – Scenic Wonders all around including the Western Rift, Adventure Sports such as Mountain Climbing, Hiking, Biking, Horseback Riding Safaris, White Water Rafting, Kayaking and more.
In 2012 Lonely Planet picked Uganda as the World’s Best Country to visit. Uganda- the Pearl of Africa – a country that had been off of the Radar for many African Travelers received another look, and many visitors followed.
Uganda to many had been synonymous with Idi Amin, and his violent reign or Joseph Kony and his feared Lord’s Resistance Army was now seen as a stable, peaceful, wondrous country to visit.
Even, Travel Agents around the world all over sudden began to consider Uganda the Pearl of Africa as a Tourist Destination, and people flocked
The 2012 Lonely Planet Award that named Uganda as the best Country to Visit put Uganda on the Road toward Tourism Recovery, away from what we call accidental Tourism to purposed Tourism.
National Geographic places Uganda as one of the Top-Travel Destinations in the World, and this was a big boost since it came one year after the Lonely Planet endorsement
Two years in a row – Uganda receives the endorsement, recognition, and Awards by two distinguished Travel Organization – Lonely Planet in 2012 and National Geographic in 2013.
Uganda – the hidden Pearl in Africa – begins to regain its Luster as a Top African Travel Destination with its Wildlife Plus Primates.
The 2013 Award from National Geographic caused more to consider Uganda as their African Safari Destination. Travel Weekly came out with a feature “Consider Uganda.”
In the 1960s, Uganda was the top travel destination in Africa – then came the Turbulent Times, and Tourism began to a halt.
Since 1986 under the leadership of President Museveni, the Tourism sector is being restored in Uganda. Each Year more visitors are arriving in the Pearl of Africa.
In 2016 CNN Travel picked Uganda as one the World Destinations to visit in 2016. This was in addition to the 2014 article that Uganda was one of the Best re-emerging Tourist Destinations.
CNN – Travel recognized in 2014 that Uganda has re-emerged as a Top Tourist Destination in Africa since it offers more than what most African Tourist Destinations have to offer – Wildlife without the Crowds plus Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees.
In 2014 the African Economist in a Survey reaffirmed what most visitors to Uganda already knew – that Uganda was one of Africa’s friendliest nations.
You can have all the Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Scenic Wonders, Wildlife and great National Park but if there is no friendly – welcoming attitude from the people than a most important element about a Safari Trip is Missing.
Not only is Uganda welcoming and friendly, but it is also one of the safest Countries in all of Africa for tourists and visitors. Uganda is safe, secure, and stable. The safest place to be is on a Safari in the Pearl of Africa, Uganda.
In Uganda, you will always be greeted with a smiling, “you’re most welcome.” For many, it is like coming home.
The esteemed and respected New York Times listed Uganda as one of the 33 locations in the World to visit.
Uganda is receiving more and recognition as one of the best African Countries to visit.
The reason that Uganda is receiving more and more awards, and accolades is that Uganda is unlike any other African Travel Destination and is one of the most bio-diverse countries in all of Africa. Uganda is Primates Plus abundant Wildlife and incredible scenery. They have improved Airline Service to Entebbe, International Airport.
This endorsement by the New York Times Travel Section is only further proof that Winston Churchill was right when he called Uganda the Pearl of Africa. It was just that then and is so now. Uganda – African condensed into one small country. Uganda is simply Africa without the crowds.
Uganda, with more carriers choosing Uganda as one of their flight destinations.
More potential Africa Travelers are becoming aware of all that Uganda has to do and see while on safari in Uganda.
For Uganda travel and tourism awards, kindly visit this page
