ABOUT UGANDA: Uganda referred to as The Pearl of Africa is a landlocked country located in East-Central Africa. Uganda is a small country about the size of Great Britain and has dozens of ethnic groups. From the Indian Ocean, Uganda is located about 800kms away and it lies astride the Equator no wonder it enjoys favorable weather and climatic conditions all year-round.
Uganda is located within the Great African Lake Region and the second largest freshwater Lake- Lake Victoria is right in Uganda. Part of these lake is shared by other East African states- Uganda and Tanzania.
Altitude: Uganda lies at elevation range of 900-1100m with the lowest area located 612m and this is the Lake Albert Nile Basin. 5109m is Uganda’s highest point and that is Margherita peak of Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
Size
Uganda is a compact country spreading to cover over 241551sq.kms. a 3rd of Uganda largely comprises of the beautiful water bodies such as lakes, swamps, rivers. Uganda is on the 79th position as the biggest country in the world and it is surrounded by East-Central states such as Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, D.R. Congo, South Sudan and others.
Kampala is the capital city of Uganda and there are other multiple cities/big towns worth visiting. Kampala is located in Central Region of Uganda, near Lake Victor and has over 22 hills. It is the main administrative center covering 200sq.kms and from Entebbe, it is 40kms. Other newly created cities include Fort Portal, Jinja, Mbarara, Mbale, Entebbe etc and these are strategic located in regions where most Uganda safaris are conducted.
The people & cultures
A total of about 56 tribes all live peacefully in Uganda and more than 40 distinct languages are spoken. For long Uganda has been and still famous as the boiling pot of cultures and interestingly, Ugandans are known as the most hospitable and friendliest people not only to each other but also to visitors.
Uganda is a celebrated cultural safari destination due to its strong cultural heritage. All regions in Uganda have kingdoms with Buganda comprising of the most populous ethnic group. As of 2020, Buganda consisted of more than 16.5% of Uganda’s population. The major kingdoms in Uganda, each comprising of unique cultures, traditions include Bunyoro, Buganda, Toro, Busoga, etc. This makes Uganda a culturally rich country.
Climate
Uganda still features as a favorite travel destination due to its ideal tropical climate. The country enjoys conducive sunshine throughout the year. Each year, Uganda experiences moderate temperatures with average daily temperatures in Kampala ranging from 18 to 28 degrees Celsius in January, 17 to 25 degrees Celsius in July. Uganda experiences typically tropical kind of climate with 2 dry seasons starting from December, January to February and June, July, August. There are also 2 wetter seasons enjoyed in Uganda each year from March to May & September to November.
Religion
Uganda boasts of its diverse religion with everyone having freedom to worship. The country’s diverse religions come with Christianity and Islam ranked the leading. As of 2002, over 85.6% were Christians and 12.1% were Islam. The Northern and West Nile largely comprise of roman Catholics while Iganga district consists of many Muslims.
National Parks in Uganda
A total of 10 National Park in Uganda make it one of the most favorite travel destinations in Africa. Each of these Uganda safari parks has something distinct to share with the world and the Western circuit consists of many parks. The beauty about Uganda National Parks is that tourists enjoy the savanna, forest and montane experiences.
The National Parks in Uganda include Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park ideal locations for viewing mountain gorillas, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Semuliki National Park, Lake Mburo National Park the favorite wildlife viewing parks, Rwenzori Mountains National Park and Mount Elgon National Park for mountaineering experiences.
Wildlife
Uganda is a home to all the big 5 African animals- cape buffaloes, lions (including the tree climbing lions), rhinos, bush elephants, leopards etc. Also, half of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas are confined within Uganda and only in Mgahinga and Bwindi Parks. A total of 1080 bird species also exist in different birding spots in Uganda making it one of the best bird watching destinations in the world.
Currency
Uganda is largely a cash based nation and Uganda shilling (UGX) is its official currency, but other currencies are also acceptable. For easy transaction while on Uganda safari, it is recommended that you have your currency exchanged into local currency. Being one of the premier tourism destinations, USD, Euro etc are also acceptable as it is largely used by tourism and hospitality sectors.
Getting to Uganda
Entebbe International Airport (EBB) still remains Uganda’s major entry point, receiving most flights. Located about 46kms from Kampala capital, Entebbe Airport serves arriving and departing visitors on leisure, business, conference, events, etc. When it comes to getting around Uganda, there are several options- tourists can use public means of transportation but the safest means is private means- hire a car in Uganda.
Visas
Uganda tourist visas play a significant part for visitors with plans to come enjoy Uganda safaris in the country’s beautiful National Parks, Reserves and other tourist sites. You can obtain single visa for single entry at USD50, multiple entry visas at USD100 and alternatively, have the East African tourist visas at USD100 and this lets you visit at least two of the following countries without obtaining another visa- Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.