Uganda’s Highlights

Uganda, the pearl of Africa, is a landlocked country that lies across the equator, an imaginary line that divides the earth into two hemispheres, the northern and southern hemispheres. A country gifted with nature is located right in the heart of Africa, with diverse landscapes, natural beauty, wildlife, and unique cultural heritage.

Uganda’s remarkable national parks contain an intriguing variety of habitats ranging from snow-capped mountain peaks and extensive papyrus swamps to thick tropical rain forests and classic open savanna plains. These diverse settings are home to an impressively diverse wildlife, with over 1000 species of birds.

Mammals include various forest and unique primates; these include the chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, and golden monkeys, mainly found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga, and Kibale National Park. However, the African Big Five are found mainly in the savannah parks.

Uganda is home to the source of the mighty Nile River, the longest river in the world, which collects its waters from Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa.

English is the official working language that unites people from different parts of the country. Uganda is bordered by Kenya in the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west, Tanzania in the south, and South Sudan in the north.

The country got her independence in 1962 from Britain and became a member of the Commonwealth.

Uganda is roughly the size of England, with an area of 93,065 km (land-76,101 km, water-16,965 km). It has a tropical climate with average temperatures of 25°C. The country receives two wet and two dry seasons annually.

Agriculture is the backbone of the country, an important part of the country’s economy, employing the majority of the population, with coffee being the major cash crop.

Mountain gorillas are the major tourism attraction in Uganda, where more than half the world’s mountain gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

The country is also a unique destination for the tree-climbing lions, a rarity in Africa. These unique species are located in the wilderness plains of the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The country is endowed with 10 beautiful national parks, 12 game reserves, and 13 sanctuaries. Out of the 10 national parks, two of them are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and these include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Other beautiful national parks to see in Uganda include Mgahinga National Park. Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Semliki National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. All these offer an array of safari experiences.

Uganda has 56 tribes and 9 indigenous communities that were recognized in the constitutional amendment of 2005. Some of these unique tribes include the Karamajong, Batwa, Iteso, Langi, Bagishu, Baganda, Basoga, Banyankore, Bakiga, Batooro, and others.

Some of the country’s important landmarks include the Kasubi Royal Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bahai Temple, Kabaka’s Palace, Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo, Lubaga Cathedral, Gaddafi Mosque, Nakasero Market, Owino Market, Kabaka’s Lake, and Amin’s torture chambers, among others. All these are open to the visitors and they offer unique experiences to tourists. Dear travelers, your adventure awaits! Ganda cultural Expeditions is your number one travel partner.