Uganda is one of the world’s most biodiverse destinations, with 13 varieties of primates and 330 animals (six of which are unique to the country), as well as over 1000 bird species. Uganda also has a diverse spectrum of landscapes, including Africa’s tallest mountain range and the source of the world’s longest river, the Nile, as well as the continent’s largest lake.
“For magnificence, for variety of form and colour, for profusion of brilliant life—bird, insect, reptile, beast—for vast scale, Uganda is truly ‘the Pearl of Africa’.” Winston Churchill wrote these words about Uganda in 1907, and they still sound excellent and portray precisely what you see on the ground, offering ample motivation to visit Uganda.
While most people associate East African safaris with Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda has one advantage over its neighbours: mountain gorillas. The nation is home to half of the world’s surviving wild mountain gorilla population, and following these majestic primates in their native environment is one of the most unforgettable wildlife experiences on the globe—and a major reason why visitors come to Uganda. This is also one of the few African nations where you can follow chimpanzees in forest reserves—another unforgettable primate encounter.
Uganda also offers the traditional East African safari experience of game drives on open savannah to spot lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and some rare wildlife highlights such as tree-climbing lions, sitatunga antelope, oribi, and rare shoebill storks, one of Africa’s top birds.
Other outdoor activities in Uganda include white-water rafting and kayaking on the Nile River, bungee jumping, equestrian safaris, and trekking among the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains‘ glacier lakes and cloud forests, as well as climbing Africa’s third highest peak, Mount Stanley.
Uganda has had a violent political history, which we have witnessed, but we can now guarantee you that the nation is safe and stable. Over the last few years, there has been a significant investment in tourism infrastructure, and visitor numbers are on the rise. Ugandans are exceedingly kind and welcoming; wherever you go, you’ll be greeted with wide grins from residents who are happy to welcome you to the Pearl of Africa.
Kenya is without a doubt one of Africa’s best Big Five locations. However, it has much more to offer than just safaris. It’s a fascinating jumble of cultural contrasts. It is one of the most developed countries in Africa, with an extraordinarily high level of education, a sizable middle class, world-class tourism facilities, and a burgeoning industrial belt extending from its busy city. Away from the towns, on dry plains populated by pastoralists such as the Maasai, Samburu, and Turkana, it is one of Africa’s most overtly traditional nations.
What makes Uganda a special place to visit 2024?
Only two other nations in the world share Uganda’s unique attraction: mountain gorillas. The nation is home to half of the world’s surviving population of these big apes, and witnessing them in the wild is one of the most exhilarating and unforgettable wildlife encounters on the globe. While Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo also offer gorilla trekking, Uganda is the only nation that provides the gorilla habituation experience, in which you spend half a day with a gorilla troop that is in the process of getting introduced to humans.
But Uganda offers more than simply gorillas—the nation is also a terrific site to go chimp trekking, which is a wildlife sport that can only be done in a few places in Africa. Uganda’s tree-climbing lions, which may be seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park, are another distinctive wildlife attraction. Because lions only climb trees in one area on the planet—Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania—witnessing these enormous animals stretched across branches is a rare sight.
Uganda is one of the greatest nations in Africa for birdwatching because of its incredible diversity of species, which is owing to its location between the East African savanna and the West African rainforest, as well as its range of varied habitats. Along with the many magnificent species to view, birdwatchers flock to Uganda to witness the elusive shoebill stork, which is seldom seen elsewhere and is considered one of the top five birds to see on the continent.
Uganda is home to two distinct natural wonders: the source of Africa’s longest river, the Nile, and the continent’s tallest mountain range, the Rwenzori, or “Moon Mountains.” Both of these locations provide several opportunities for excitement, such as whitewater rafting, kayaking, boating, hiking, and mountaineering.
Why do people keep returning to Uganda?
While viewing mountain gorillas is the major reason many visitors come to Uganda, there is so much more to the nation in terms of wildlife, landscapes, and outdoor experiences that it would be difficult to cram it all into a single trip unless you had a few months to tour.
While many visitors may see chimpanzees in Kibale Forest Reserve and other wildlife in the national parks on their first visit, other attractions such as hiking in the Rwenzori Mountains and Mount Elgon National Park, gorilla tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, birdwatching in Bundongo Forest Reserve, and exploring the beautiful crater lakes region will keep them coming back.
Uganda has some beautiful off-the-beaten-path jewels, such as Kidepo Valley National Park in the country’s distant north, which may be more difficult to access than the more popular parks and reserves, but would undoubtedly pull daring tourists back for return trips.
