Uganda the pearl of Africa as Winston Churchill named is indeed the best destination to visit in 2023 during Uganda safari. Before talking about the remarkable beauty within Uganda, UWA is a body in Uganda that protects and manages the 10 national parks, wildlife reserves and many more tourist attractions. Pearl Of Africa has abundant wildlife, an amazing landscape including Swiss of Africa, spectacular mountain ranges with snow-capped, birding, nature walks, cultural encounters, and many more.
Some of the reasons why visitors should visit Uganda
Mountain gorilla tracking and habituation
Uganda is commonly known for habiting over 54% of mountain gorillas in the south western part of Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park. Visitors will have face-to-face encounter with these primates which will give them a great experience as they are given one hour visit while with Gorillas and those for habituation are given 4 hours to be with Uganda gorillas.
Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in four sectors unlike in Rwanda Volcano national park and Congo Virunga national park. In Bwindi Park, there are 4 sectors like Ruhija sector, Buhoma sector, Nkuringo sector and Rushaga sector and Mgahinga national park has only Nyakagezi gorilla family which is spotted adding up to 20 gorilla families in Uganda.
For visitors to see mountain gorillas in Uganda, they must pay gorilla permit costing $700 per person for gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 per person per day where they are given more hours to be with gorillas.
Availability of flora and fauna
Due to Uganda’s unique and abundant floral and fauna species, it is a preferred travel destination. Uganda ranks among the top most biodiversity-rich countries globally, hosting big five mammals like leopards, lions, elephants, Rhinos, and Buffalos, 54% of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas, 11% of the world’s recorded species birds, 50% of Africa’s bird species, 8% of the global mammal diversity, 39% of mammal’s richness,19% of Africa’s Amphibian species, 14% of Africa’s reptile species, 1249 recorded species of butterflies and unique features of vegetation like woodland, Savannah grassland, tropical thick forest, wetland, montane forest, climate, weather and many more.
Bird Watching
Uganda is a birding paradise for bird lovers boosting over 11% bird species in the whole world. Even though Uganda is a birding haven, it consists of over 1080 bird species which some of the birds are migrating, Savannah birds, forest birds, water birds and woodland birds. Some bird species include short-tailed warblers, African green broad bill, Abyssinian ground horn bill, African dwarf kingfishers, African emerald cuckoos, pelicans, Rwenzori turacos, standard-winged night jars, great blue turracos, guinea fowls, Shelley’s crimson wings, crested cranes, marabou stork, the shoebill, Doherty’s bush shrikes, and many more. Bird lovers are expected to pack binoculars, cameras, comfortable hiking boots, long t-shirts, long trousers, caps, raincoat, and many more.
Golden monkey tracking
Uganda the pearl of Africa is the best destination for golden monkeys which are positioned in south southwestern part of Uganda in Mgahinga National Park. The golden monkey tracking is best done in the dry season in months of January, February, June, July, August, September, and December where they are spotted from one place to another searching for food. Before visitors track the Golden monkeys, rangers brief them about the dos and don’ts of tracking and what they are expected to pack. Visitors are warned to lower their voices while in the forest searching for golden monkeys, ill visitors aren’t allowed to track golden monkeys, children below 12 years of age are not allowed to track, visitors are limited to 8 individuals and expected to pack cameras, wear comfortable hiking boots, raincoat, water and snacks, long trousers, long t-shirts and many more respectively.
Chimpanzee tracking and habituation
Chimpanzee tracking and habituation is one of the activities that have boosted Uganda’s Tourism industry. Chimps are located in Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge & Kalinzu in Queen Elizabeth National Park Budongo forest in Murchison Falls National Park and other places like Semuliki Forest Park, Maramagambo and many more adding about 5050 chimps in Uganda. Kibale National Park inhabits over 1500 chimp individuals where visitors are expected to pack cameras, wear comfortable boots, water &snacks, wear long trousers, long t-shirts, and many more. Visitors of chimp habituation are given more time than visitors tracking because the cost of chimp permits vary $250 per person and $200 per person respectively.
Boat cruise
Although Uganda the pearl of Africa is surrounded by water bodies, it makes the country the best destination for boat cruises. Boat cruises can be done morning hours, afternoon hours and evening hours. Historically it is recorded that Uganda takes big share of Lake Victoria in East Africa, has Lake Edward, Lake George, and many more places where boat cruise is commonly spotted. The activity takes about 2-3 hours sailing on water feeling the spotting the breathtaking sceneries of landscapes around the lake shores, green vegetation, reptiles and aquatic mammals like hippopotamus, crocodiles, snakes, and many more. While on water, visitors not only do boat cruise but also other sports like water biking, bungee jumping on the Nile, fishing sports, and many more.
Cultural encounters
Uganda the pearl of Africa is the best destination for cultural encounters due to many tribes in the country. With the help of guides who know what is best for visitors, will take them through local communities where they will be entertained traditionally, visitors will involve themselves in cooking local meals, will get a chance to taste on local brew, visiting traditional doctors who mix different herbs as medicine, listening to tales from elders and many more.
