UGANDA

The green, hilly and elevated country packs a lot in for its size. Ten national parks protect over half of the world’s mountain gorillas, along with chimpanzees, rare golden monkeys and a classic safari checklist including leopards, lions, elephants and hippos.

It’s home to Africa’s tallest mountain range (the Rwenzoris), the Nile’s source, the world’s longest river and the continent’s largest lake. Still, the country’s most iconic experience is tracking mountain gorillas in their misty habitat. Infrastructure is limited but growing, and there is now a good range of safari accommodation and city-based hotels. Ideal for seasoned safari-goers, bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts.

In this safe and small country with a springlike climate, you will find the best the continent has to offer at a good value and with fewer visitors than in longer-established East African destinations.

Territory

236,040 Sq Km

Local time

GMT +3

Birds

Shoebill, African Jacana, Black-headed Lapwing, Orange Weaver, Red-thoated Alethe, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Fox’s Weaver, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Black Bee-eater + about 1000 other bird species

Population

43 Million

Currency

Ugandan Shilling

Mammals

Mountain Gorilla, African Buffalo, Rhino, Elephant, Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Crocodile, Giraffe, Hippo, Zebra, Gazelle, Impala, Bushback, Eland, Kudu, Chimpanzee, Jackal, Serval Cat, Hyena, Monkeys, etc.

WHERE TO GO

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park, the country’s largest national park is the place to go for classic big game species such as elephant, buffalo, lion, and hippo and with a bird count of 451, Murchison Falls also boasts chimpanzees and colobus monkeys in its forests. Key attractions at Murchison Falls National Park and the wider conservation area include the falls themselves, the Nile from Paraa to the falls, Budongo, Karuma Falls, Rabongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests and the Buligi savannahs.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the oldest and most biologically diverse forests in Africa. More than half the world’s mountain gorilla population reside within Bwindi, so this majestic forest is where to go in Uganda for your gorilla trekking experience. A gorilla trek is wet, humid, muddy and challenging, but the experience is extraordinary.

Kibale National Park

Along with Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park, Kibale National Park is Africa’s most important primate sanctuary. Kibale is a top priority for visitors wanting to trek chimpanzees during the dry seasons, which are generally from November to February, and in June and September. Large mammals aren’t so easily seen, but the clouds of dazzling butterflies and gorgeous forest birds more than make up for it.

Lake Mburo National Park

Beautiful, relaxing, the lake itself is excellent for guided boat trips, fishing and birding. At the same time, the park’s forests offer the excitement of chimpanzee treks. The great mix of wetland and woodland habitats makes for a wide range of mammals and birds. Halfway between Kampala and the gorilla trekking forests of the south-west, Mburo’s tranquil atmosphere provides welcome relief after a demanding journey. The Park is home to over 300 species of birds and around 65 species of mammals. It is one of the best places in Uganda to see leopards in the wild.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Combining easily with Bwindi Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular and most accessible savannah reserve. Marked by ancient volcanic craters, and overlooked by the Mountains of the Moon, its rich, varied terrain supports a wide variety of mammals and about 600 species of bird. The Kazinga Channel is a natural water channel that connects Lake Albert and Lake George within the park. It is home to a large number of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and hippos which can easily be spotted during a boat ride.

HOLIDAY IDEAS

WHEN TO TRAVEL

Uganda is an all-year-round destination with a pleasant climate and temperatures averaging in the mid 20s⁰C. Like other places in Africa, Uganda experiences a wet season and a dry season. The main or long rains arrive between March and May, the short rains late October – November. The best time to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking is during the country’s two dry seasons: January and February and June to September.

Uganda offers both a rainforest and savannah safari experience, best times for travel will depend on location and type. Game viewing in Uganda’s parks is best at the end of the dry seasons – February and March and September/early October – when wildlife is concentrated around water sources. The only exception is the Kidepo Valley, which annually experiences a single wet season. Here, the best time to visit is November through March.

Bird watching is fantastic all year round but is at its peak between November and April when migrant species are present.

The only months we suggest to avoid are April and May when heavy rains can disrupt wildlife viewing.

Dry Season: January – March and June – October

The best months for game viewing are generally the dry seasons, from January to March and June to October. At these times, vegetation is light and there is no surface water created by the rains that disperse the animals. Instead, they congregate around the remaining rivers and waterholes.

Green Season: late October – early December

The ‘short rains’ season relieves the dry mid-year winter. Clouds build up and break in spectacular, but generally short-lived, showers in the early mornings in the South or the late afternoons inland and the highlands.

Wet Season: late March – May

You can expect rain showers. Generally, the main rainy season (the long rains) produces tropical downpours in the afternoons. Still, they are usually short and sharp and certainly don’t last for hours. This time of year is the return of migratory bird species, a big drawcard for all the twitchers out there.