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Area: 236,860 sq. kms
Population: 19 Million
President: Yoweri Museveni
Language: English and Swahili
Capital: Kampala
Independence: 9 October 1962
Currency: Ugandan Shilling
Time: GMT + 3 hours
National bird: Crowned Crane
Recording his visit to Uganda in 1907 in a book titled
'My African Journey', Winston Churchill wrote "For magnificence,
for variety of form and colour, for profusion of brilliant
life - plant, bird, insect, reptile, beast - for vast
scale. Uganda is truly the pearl of Africa".
By African standards, Uganda is a postage stamp-size
country, at the heart of the continent, sandwiched between
Kenya, Rwanda, Congo, Sudan and Tanzania. It is roughly
the size of Great Britain or 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.
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.
Uganda is one of the most biologically diverse countries
in Africa - a land of water, with endless lakes and
mighty rivers, green valleys, magnificent mountains,
equatorial climate and welcoming people's. Its reputation
as the 'Pearl of Africa' is well deserved. Uganda is
a beautiful country, lush, green and endlessly captivating.
After more than 20 years of inestimable damage, this
magnificent country has struggled back from the brink
and looks set to become an African destination of standing/repute.
More than a decade of peace and stability has rekindled
a feeling of timelessness in Uganda. The towns and villages
do not bustle with activity; rather, there is a continual
ebb and flow of people for whom time has no meaning.
Uganda stands apart from its neighbors in several/many
respects - it offers more bird species (over a thousand)
than anywhere on earth, abundant forests and the only
major tropical rainforest - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- a true storybook jungle with trees festooned with
creepers and parasitic plants, lush vegetation and the
sanctuary for almost half of the worlds remaining mountain
gorillas'. It boasts the richest collection of apes
in Africa, including the gorilla, chimpanzee, black
and white and red colobus monkeys, vervet and red-tailed
monkeys, blue and golden monkey, baboon and L'heost's
monkey. Also on offer is world-class sport fishing and
some of the most resilient and cheerful people you could
ever hope to meet!!
RWANDA
Rwanda is a land of great diversity and beauty. Popularly
known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda has five
volcanoes, twenty-three lakes and numerous rivers. The
landscapes in this green country are truly breathtaking.
Many a visitor to Rwanda has remarked that the physical
beauty of the country is without equal on the African
continent. Spectacular volcanoes and dense tropical
forests dominate the north of the country, while gentle
hills and valleys, calm lakes and turbulent rivers in
both savannah and dense tropical vegetation dominate
the rest of the country. |
SELECT Tours 2008
Gorillas & Chimps (12 days/11 nights)
Murchison Falls NP + Kibale Forest + Bwindi Impenetrable NP + QE NP + Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Travelling by road with a private vehicle and guide this tour includes opportunities to trek for endangered Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi and also for chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, plus interludes of game viewing in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks plus a visit to Ngamba Island Chinpanzee Sanctuary to round off a packed itinerary.
Main
Attractions
Uganda has many well known attractions, most of which
are featured in more detail within our Destinations,
Special Interest, Adventure & Off the Beaten Track
Portfolios'. Browse through the selection below:
Gorilla
& ChimpTrekking
Murchison
Falls NP
Queen
Elizabeth NP
Semliki
Game Rererve
Hiking
/ Climbing - Ruwenzori Mountains
Birding
Safaris
Fishing Safaris
White
water Rafting
Fishing
Uganda has 17% of its surface covered by fresh water
lakes, rivers and swamps. The outstanding water bodies
are Lake Victoria which is the largest in Africa but
second largest in the world, L. Kyoga, L. Albert,
L. Edward, L. George, L. Bunyonyi, the mighty River
Nile and the likes of L. Mutanda, L. Nabugabo, L.
Wamala etc. However, the most fascinating and popular
fish to catch is Nile Perch which weighs as much as
60 -100kgs. Tilapia seldom go below 2 - 4kgs. While
Tiger Fish are ferocious and exciting, offering an
opportunity rare in fresh water angling.
Birding
With over 1,000 birds already recorded, Uganda has
almost half the species known on the African continent
and over 10% of those on record throughout the entire
world! There can be few destinations on earth where
one can expect to find almost 550 avian species in
one park alone - Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National
Park is one. 350 species have been recorded in the
Bwindi Impenetrable forest. These two parks alone
are among the richest protected areas to be found
anywhere on Earth. Accolades for Uganda's birding
delights are rarely understated. Nigel Wheatley, for
instance, in Where to Watch Birds in Africa (1995)
said: "In terms of its size, Uganda is the richest
country for birds in Africa. " And this immense volume
and diversity occurs miraculously in a space which
keen birders can cover in a relatively short visit.
Uganda's equatorial location, combined with the altitude
and the great variety of terrain types provide an
overwhelming array of opportunities for keen birders.
Noted author Philip Briggs writes: "Uganda is arguably
the best country in Africa for birds, with about 1000
species recorded in an area the size of great Britain."
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National Parks
Link to National Parks Portfolio: Uganda
NP
- The Source of the Nile
Much of the nineteenth century was dominated by the search
for the Source of the River Nile. Many of the great explorers
of the age - Baker, Burton, Grant, Livingstone, Stanley, Speke
- traversed the continent to understand the connection between
the different rivers and lakes in Africa's central highlands.
In 1862, Speke deduced that the river on the north shore of
Lake Victoria was the White Nile on its way to Egypt. In reality
the Source includes a number of lakes and rivers in Uganda
and Rwanda as well as the Virungas and Rwenzoris.
Accommodation Options
- Link to Uganda:
Places to Stay
Climate
Temperatures generally range between 21°C and 30°C
in most places. In the mountains and gorilla parks it can
be much colder, especially at night. It is therefore important
to be properly equipped, especially when gorilla tracking.
The rainy season is between March and May and the short rains
are from October to November, but it can rain at any time
of the year. The rainy season can sometimes make travel difficult
but the views are clearer; there is no reason not to travel
in the rainy season.
Health
Issues
The only essential is to take a course of anti-malarial tablets,
and of course to take repellent with you. Yellow Fever and
Hepatitis inoculations are not compulsory
Entry
Requirements
A valid passport is mandatory. Ugandan visas are required
by citizens of the European Union, the USA and Japan; other
nationals should check with the relevant embassy in their
country of residence. Rwandan visas are required by all visitors
except nationals of the USA, Germany and Canada. For details
please contact the embassy in your country of residence.
Communications
International telephone communication is very good from Kampala
and Kigali. From some up-country areas it is more difficult.
The mobile telephone network is rapidly expanding. A European
GSM phone with a roaming agreement works in Uganda. In Rwanda,
SIM cards are available at major hotels. Internet facilities
are also available in Kampala and Kigali.
Electricity
Uganda: 240 volts. 3-pin (square) sockets. Rwanda: 230/240
volts at 50 Hz. 2-pin (round) sockets.
Concerns
Things work more slowly on the African continent than in
Western countries and there can be unexpected delays and difficulties.
It is important to be patient!
Other
Considerations
Accommodation:
Uganda and Rwanda have only re-emerged as tourist destinations
in the last few years. Their lodges and camps may not be as
luxurious as in other more established African countries but
this is more than made up for with friendly and enthusiastic
service and atmosphere. Enjoy it for the way it is today and
do not let the cosmetics detract from your enjoyment.
Clothing and Equipment:
Ugandans and Rwandans appreciate those who maintain a sense
of decorum. Cotton clothing is the most comfortable during
the day; for the evenings a jacket or sweater is essential,
especially in hilly areas. For gorilla tracking warm clothes,
strong walking boots, sturdy trousers, sunglasses, a torch,
fast film, binoculars, sun lotion, a sun hat, rainwear and
gloves are required. Mountaineers and walkers should bring
all necessary equipment such as boots, fleece, gaiters etc.
Comment:
For many years there has been a dearth of suitable (or acceptable)
accommodation in Uganda. The tourist infrastructure was poor
and few African guides had the necessary knowledge or experience
to lead safaris. But in recent times, several good quality
lodges have been built and other venerable establishments
painstakingly restored. Small family-owned businesses are
emerging to provide that special Ugandan safari experience
that so many of us have been waiting for.
Uganda's renaissance. This is slowly changing..in recent
years there has been much work done by the Ministry of Tourism,
through its associated agencies the Uganda Tourism Board and
Ugandan Wildlife Authority, to sow the seeds of a brand new
conservation-based form of sustainable tourism. This innovative
program has benefited greatly from support of the EU, USAID
and the World Bank. Mutually beneficial relationships have
been struck, between communities and protected areas, donors
and government, wildlife and people. Such dialogue is helping
to reconcile economics with ecology, visitor impact with sustainability,
pragmatism with vision.
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