About Uganda
Uganda is situated in East Africa, where it borders two prime safari countries: Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda has an interesting nature and a good wildlife. It is best known for its mountain gorillas, inhabiting the dense mountain forests in two national parks in the south-west. Many of the Ugandan parks are in fact forested, making them good areas for Primates. (Uganda has more monkey species than Kenya and Tanzania, which have fewer forests.)
There are also savanna parks, where classic African wildlife can be found, including giraffes, lions, hippos, zebras, Antelopes and others. Both the bird life and the flora are very rich in species. Mountain Parks also exit, and these are good for tourists that wish to climb (the climbers).
The country
Uganda is situated on the African inland plateau, in a transition zone between the eastern savannas and the south-western rainforests. Northern Uganda borders Sudan and has a much drier landscape, but some wildlife can still be found in these areas. To the east lies 4,300 m/14,108 ft high Mount Elgon, to the west the Rwenzori Mountains, where Mount Stanley reaches 5 109 m/16,762 ft above sea level and is the third highest mountain in Africa. The Rwenzori Mountains are ‘the Mountains of the Moon’, searched for by explorers during the 1800’s in their quest for the source of the Nile River.
The Western Rift, which is the western arm of the East African Great Rift Valley, follows Uganda’s western border (facing Congo), and Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world, is found in the south-east, where it is shared by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. This is the lake that the explorers mentioned were looking for. The Nile River begins at Jinja Town at the northern tip of Lake Victoria, and flows north through Uganda.
The country has a good number of rivers, lakes and wetlands. The landscape ranges from dry scrub, savanna and grassland to lowland forest, mountain forest and alpine moorland.
The Safari Destination Uganda
It is relatively easy for safari-Lovers to visit Uganda. A safari industry with established tour operators and a fair transports infrastructure allow for visits to parks and wildlife areas throughout the country. The most remote parks may be accessed by air instead of spending several days on the road.
There are hotels, lodge and tented camp offering the full range from basic to luxury accommodation. Less expensive accommodation, such as camping and bandas, is also available. The international airport in Entebbe (40 km/25 mi south of the capital Kampala) has connections to Europe (for example London and Brussels), and to many other countries around the world, including those in Africa. Nairobi in Kenya and Dersaalam and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania can easily be reached through Entebbe airport. This grants you the possibility of combining tours in Uganda, with those in Kenya, Tanzania or any other country in East Africa.
We also have combined tours in Uganda. For instance you may combine Gorilla trekking in Uganda with a safari in other National Parks of Uganda.
Uganda was a good safari destination during the 1950’s and 1960’s, but lost its tourism during the 1970’s, when the country suffered dictatorship and internal unrest. The infrastructure degenerated, and the wildlife was depleted.
Since the mid 1980’s, when the country had begun stabilizing, the tourist industry has been rebuilt and the nature and wildlife has recovered. There are now 10 National parks and a number of other nature protected areas, allowing visitors to experience a beautiful nature and a good wildlife. There are good opportunities for traditional safaris, gorilla and chimpanzee tours, bird watching and trekking. Real Great Apes Safaris Ltd which is specializing in tours to East Africa is able to offer packaged tours to Uganda.
Mountain gorillas
The mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) is close to extinction. A small population of less than 1,000 individuals still survives in the mountain forests of south-western Uganda, north-western Rwanda and eastern Congo.
There are two gorilla populations: One in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda, and one shared by Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda), Volcano National Park (Rwanda) and Virunga National Park (Congo), a combined area of some 300 km2/115 sq mi. Each of these populations is estimated to between 300 and 400 gorillas. Their life and future is threatened by deforestation, by hunting for bush meat and macabre souvenirs, and by diseases.
Savanna parks
The savanna type safari parks (where you may see species such as Elephants, Kobs, zebras, giraffes and lions) Uganda has it for you.
The forested parks of Uganda offer many Primates (while Kenya and Tanzania are not very good for Primates). Several areas are also inhabited by chimpanzees, or by mammals that are very rare in the neighboring countries, such as sitatunga and kob.
Bird watching
Uganda has many types of nature, i.e. many different habitats for birds, and the birding opportunities are very good. More than 1,000 species have been recorded in the country.