Introduction:
Click here for Uganda Map
Uganda is renowned for its physical beauty. Strung like a necklace around its borders are some of the continent's greatest geographical landmarks. A full circuit would take you from the shores of Victoria, queen of African lakes, to the Virunga and Rwenzori mountains, the Western Rift Valley lakes Edward and Albert, the Nile, and Mount Elgon. The country encompasses golden savannas, semi-desert thirst lands, equatorial rain forests, and farmlands said to be so fertile that a seed dropped on the ground will sprout and bear fruit without benefit of care. Often described as the "Pearl of Africa", this lush tropical land is the true birthplace of the Nile, where the great river spills out of Lake Victoria and starts its long journey to the Mediterranean Sea. Uganda's National Parks are counted among the best in Africa. Uganda is celebrated as much for fine scenery as for its abundant wildlife.
History
Until the 19th century, there was very little penetration of Uganda from outside and, despite the fertility of the land and its capacity to grow surplus crops, there were virtually no trading links with the coast. During the reign of Kabaka Mwanga in the mid-19th century, contacts were finally made with Arab traders from the coast and European explorers.
Unlike Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda never experienced a large influx of European settlers and the expropriation of land which went with it. Instead, the tribes people were encouraged to grow cash crops for export through their own cooperative organizations. As a result, nationalist organizations were much later arriving on the scene than in neighboring countries and when they did, it was on a tribal basis. By the mid- 1950's however, a Lango schoolteacher, Milton Obote, managed to put together a loose coalition which led Uganda to independence in 1962 on the promise that the Baganda (the people of the Buganda tribe) would have autonomy. The kabaka (king) was the new nation's president and Milton Obote was the prime minister.
Soon, it became obvious that Obote had no intention of sharing power with the kabaka. Obote moved fast, arresting a number of cabinet ministers and ordering his army chief of staff, Idi Amin, to storm the kabaka's palace. The raid resulted in the flight of the kabaka and his exile in London. Obote made himself president, the Bagandan monarchy was abolished and Idi Amin's star was on the rise.
In January 1971, when Obote went to Singapore to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference, Amin staged a coup. And so began Uganda's first reign of terror, which lasted until 1979, when Amin's army (who at this time wanted only to rid Uganda of Amin), threw down their weapons and fled, enabling the Tanzanian soldiers to push into the heart of Uganda. Kampala fell without a fight and by the end of April, organized resistance had effectively ceased. Amin fled to Libya where he remained until Qadafi expelled him. He Died In Jeddah In 2003]
Uganda's problems continued over the next several years until 1986 when the Ugandan civil war was effectively over, apart from some unrest in the extreme north-west and Karamoja province. The long nightmare was finally over, newspapers reappeared on the streets and a drive was launched to clean up Kampala and get its public utilities repaired and working again.
Geography
Uganda a land-locked country in East Africa, has an area of 147,178 square miles and is bordered by Kenya, Sudan, Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. Straddling the equator, much of her southern border is dominated by Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria, and the Victoria Nile, which flows through much of the country, create one of the best watered areas of Africa. The land varies from semi-desert in the north-east, to the lush and fertile shores of the lake, to the glacier- capped Rwenzori Mountains in the west, and the beautiful, mountainous south-west.
Religion
About two-thirds of the population is Christian, the remaining one-third still practices animism while a small percentage is Muslim.
Peolple
Uganda has a population of over 24 million people made up of a complex and diverse range of tribes. Lake Kyoga forms the northern boundary for the Bantu speaking peoples who dominate much of east, central and southern Africa, and, in Uganda, include the Baganda and a number of other tribes. In the north live the Lango and the Acholi who speak Nilotic languages. To the east are the Teso and Karamojong who are related to the Maasai and who also speak Nilotic languages. Pygmies live in the forests of the south-west.
Major Attractions
Some of Africa’s most celebrated National Parks, Wildlife Reserves and Forests are found here In Uganda are Lake Mburo, Mgahinga, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Budongo Forest, Kibale Forest, The Rwenzori Mountains, Semiliki, Kidepo and Mt Elgon.
Uganda's Unspoilt Parks and Game Reserves
Gorilla Reserve - Virunga Volcanoes
There are two gorilla parks in uganda which are currently being developed for gorilla viewing. The Kigezi gorilla Reserve, [Mgahinga National Park] on the northern rim of the Virunga volcanoes, was once a prime area for gorilla tracking. The only habituated gorilla group crossed to Rwanda last year but is expected to return to its old range in future because of human encroachment, it has been substantially abandoned by the apes in recent years, but some intact habitat still exists there and, with protection, it is possible that gorillas will re-colonize the slopes of Sabinyo and Muhabura volcanoes.
Gorilla Reserve - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
In 1991 three new parks were gazetted to encourage further conservation of some of Uganda's more fragile areas. One of these was the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the south west of Uganda. This park is a hilly countryside with some remnant lowland forest. The richest forest in Uganda in terms of plant species, it is one of the few areas in East Africa where lowland and montane communities merge. There are over 300 species of birds, 200 species of trees/shrubs. Dense ground level cover is comprised of herbs, vines, and shrubs and trees. Here exists more than half (about 350) of the world's population of mountain gorillas. There are four gorilla families for visitation by humans. Three families are accessed from Buhoma in the North of the Park. The fourth is accessed from Kisoro in the south. A Total of 32 permits are available per day it commonly rains, and long pants and long-sleeved shirts are recommended.
Kibale Forest National Park - Chimpanzees
This reserve is inhabited by a wonderfully diverse community of animals, which includes red colobus, red-tailed guenon (white-nosed monkey), gray-cheeked mangabey, blue monkey, L'Hoest's monkey, and black and white colobus. Along with these are olive baboon, bushbaby, the nocturnal potto and chimpanzee. These animals have been the subjects of long-term research projects, so they are now tame and easy to observe. A trail grid has been cut in the forest to facilitate walking. Kibale is located just east of the Rwenzori, near the town of Fort Portal.
Kidepo National Park- Enchanting
840km north east of Kampala (1.5 hour flight or 2 day drive). Tucked into the corner of Uganda's border with Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo is a truly stunning park boasting a real sense of wilderness that enchants visitors. The mountainous terrain of the park is broken by the Narus Valley in the south west and the Kidepo Valley in the north east and is more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. Whilst the park is large (1,442km©—) most of the wildlife is concentrated within the Narus Valley revealing fantastic panoramic views of vast herds of buffalo with elephant, giraffe, waterbuck and zebra grazing alongside. There are also a number of predators present including lion, cheetah, leopard, and spotted hyena.
Lake Mburo National Park - Zebra, Lakes & Rolling Grassland
230km south west of Kampala (3.5 hour drive). With a varying landscape of open plains, acacia grasslands and marshes this park is home to a huge array of flora and fauna. About 68 different species of mammals can be found within its 260km©—. The park also has approx. 313 different species of birds including Uganda's national emblem, the crested crane.
Murchison Falls National Park - The Nile, Uganda's Largest Park
As the River Nile meanders its way nearly 300 kilometers north from Jinja it reaches a tiny gorge, just seven meters wide, where the massive volume of water cascades 45 meters down to the rocks below. This is the famous Murchison Falls, the focal point of the national park.
Murchison Falls occupies more than 1500 square miles of grassy savanna on the banks of the Victoria Nile. There, the fast moving young river is funneled through a 20 foot fissure in the African bedrock, to plunge 150 vertical feet in the celebrated Murchison Falls. After its awesome drop, the river continues to its junction with Lake Albert, from which it immediately exits northward and is re-christened the Albert Nile.
Murchison Falls National Park was once one of Africa's premier wildlife paradises. Its plains were well stocked with elephant, white rhino, Uganda kob, oribi, Rothschild's giraffe, and Jackson's hartebeest. But the glory of the park was the animal life on the Nile itself. Boats carried visitors on a 7-mile journey to the foot of the falls, passing hundreds of hippos and monster crocodiles on route.
Today elephants are rare and rhinos are gone, but the aquatic animals and small game are recouping their numbers. The Nile boats still operate and the ride is as thrilling as ever.
Queen Elizabeth National Park - Incredible Biodiversity
Situated in the west of Uganda, the Queen Elizabeth Park became a wildlife reserve out of a natural emigration from the area at the turn of the twentieth century. Rinderpest, a tick-borne disease, and the tsetse fly drove out humans and cattle, but the game remained. It was gazetted in 1952 when Queen Elizabeth II visited the area.
Queen Elizabeth National Park lies to the south of the Rwenzori mountain range that soars upward within a dozen miles of its northern boundary. The park is spread along the eastern shore of the Rift Valley's Lake Edward covering 2500 [1980 SQ KMS] square kilometers. Due to the incredible number of heavy-weight animals, elephants, hippos, and buffalo that lived there, it once had the distinction of carrying the largest wildlife biomass in the world.
The park's northern section is particularly scenic. When the weather permits, there are tremendous views of the Rwenzori peaks from its plains, which are decorated with giant candelabra euphoria trees. In the northeast section of the park is Chambura Gorge, where they are habituating chimpanzees for visitors. In addition, Chambura has lions, leopards, African finfoot and black bee eaters. In the Kikorondo area, plains give way to the sensuous cones of extinct volcanoes, some of which are filled with beautiful crater lakes. The most spectacular game viewing takes place by boat on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward with its smaller brother, Lake George. The channel is packed with thousands of hippos and multitudes of fish-eating birds. The southern Ishasha sector of the park, lying in the shadow of the Virunga Mountains of Zaire [CONGO], has huge grasslands that stretch out with grazing topi, kob and buffalo. In the old fig trees you can sometimes see tree-climbing lions.
Semliki Valley Wildlife Reserve - Uganda's First Protected Area
375km west of Kampala (6 hour drive). Previously known as the Toro Game Reserve, Semliki Valley Wildlife Reserve is the oldest protected area in Uganda. Here is where East Africa meets West. It is unique, gifted with geographic barriers that have formed a natural haven for wildlife. Where the savannah is criss-crossed by shining river valleys, and the escarpment, the edge of the Western Rift Valley, plunges into Lake Albert. The habitat diversity (riverine forest, woodland and savannah) within the 558km©— area of the reserve supports a huge array of fauna including lion, leopard, elephant (both savannah and forest species) buffalo, and chimpanzees as well as a staggering number of birds, with over 400 having been recorded.
Semliki National Park - Hot Springs, Forests and Pygmies
370km west of Kampala (6.5 hour drive). Situated within the remote Semliki Valley, site of the Sempaya Hot Springs and named for the river which forms the Congolese border, this 221km©— area of park protects an extension of the Congo's vast Ituri Rainforest. The park is of particular interest to birdwatchers since a high proportion of the 400 bird species recorded here, are thought to occur nowhere else in Uganda (10% are essentially Congolese species).
Rwenzori Mountains
The Rwenzoris, or the Mountains of the Moon, so named by the Hellenic astronomer Ptolemy, have a legendary beauty. They were explored and mapped out by Henry Morton Stanley, Emin Pasha and Prince Luigi Amedeo di Savoia. At the centre of the range are six peaks capped with ice and snow and three glaciers. The mountains - about 75 miles long - were forced up during the creation of the Great Rift Valley. The highest peak of Mount Stanley is Margherita, which rises to 16,762 feet, the third highest in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.
The heavy rain makes the mountain flora luxuriant, growing to absurd proportions, with giant lobelia and groundsel shooting up to 33 feet. The wild flowers - blackberry, cuckoo flower and everlasting flower - are enchanting. Rwenzori touraco, handsome francolin and olive pigeon can be seen. Above the forest zone, watch for the alpine swift and the scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird. A hike through the lower reaches of the central Rwenzori needs about six days; ascent of the peaks is a technical climb and takes a further two days and requires climbers to be physically fit and equipped with ropes, crampons and appropriate mountaineering equipment (see Travel Notes for details). The best time to climb the mountain is from June through to August and from December to February. Climbing is organized by Rwenzori Mountaineering Services and includes 1 guide and 2 porters per person, meals, accommodation and entrance fees. A minimum number of 4 climbers on the peaks is advised - 2 climbers and 2 guides.
Uganda's Features
One of the country's most striking features is the lushness of the country, the sheer greenness of it.
Endless lakes, rivers, waterfalls and wetlands make Uganda a lush tropical haven, and its borders seem naturally geographical.
Lake Victoria dominates the South, her blue waters funnelling into the Nile river which journeys the length of Uganda.
Mountains form the Western borders, the Virunga volcanoes and the legendary and mysterious Rwenzori Mountains, known as the "Mountains of the Moon".
The far North, our desert, stretches towards the Sahara and the East transforms into arid plains.
