Uganda lies on the equator, east of Tanzania and Kenya and west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is smaller than the United Kingdom but boasts a spectacular array of landscapes – from snow-capped mountains and savannah to lush swampland and impenetrable forests.
Its remote, unspoilt parks teem with wildlife such as the famed East Africa big game species of lion, elephant and buffalo as well as primates and over a thousand species of birds.
Uganda, and its neighbour Rwanda, share the unique responsibility of conserving a population of critically endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, funded in no small part through the trekking fees levied on visiting guests.
Arriving at Entebbe airport in the capital Kampala visitors can embark on a full safari itinerary encompassing the best of the diverse parks, or simply a short excursion to the southeast for gorilla trekking.
An ancient rain forest, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest extends over a series of steep ridges in the Virunga Volcanoes mountain range. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site due to its ecological uniqueness and natural beauty, roughly half of the world’s total gorilla population live in this park.
The rugged isolated wilderness of the Kidepo Valley National Park ranks as one of Africa’s most prized, less explored destinations. Here, over 77 mammals and around 475 bird species find shelter amidst a pristine savannah lansdcape, broken by the Kidepo and Narus Rivers. Visitors are treated to exceptional wildlife sightings on thrilling game drives. Animals, some of which cannot be found elsewhere in Uganda (think greater and lesser kudu, eland and cheetah); include lion, leopard, elephant and an assortment of plains game. Kidepo is a birdwatchers paradise-specifically for those interested in Africa’s birds of prey.
Named after the dramatic Murchison Falls, which were christened by Sir Samuel Baker; Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park is the country’s largest protected wildlife sanctuary. A wonderful tapestry of natural landscapes awaits visitors to the park. Here, the mighty Nile River bisects flourishing savannahs, flanked by lush riverine woodlands, before bursting through a chasm in the Rift Valley escarpment to form the raging Murchison Falls. Wildlife enthusiasts can expect to see great pods of hippo and immense rafts of crocodile in-and-around the Nile as well as an array of exceptional water birds. Other fascinating wildlife include the rare Rothschild giraffe, lion, various antelope species, buffalo, leopard and spotted hyena.
Boasting one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any reserve in the world, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to almost a hundred animal species as well as more than 600 types of birds. The park is 1978km2 in size, and is famous for its primate species, it’s unusual tree-climbing lions, and the large concentration of hippos.
Roman Baláž, personal advisor, photographer and animal rescue. Call +420 734 863 169 or write to e-mail.
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