Why Uganda should be on your must-see safari destinations. 2012 saw Uganda celebrate tourism. Indeed, the year 2012 can best be described as the year of success for the Uganda safaris or Uganda tourism industry, as various accolades kept coming its way. Towards the end of the year, we crowned the year up with one of the accolades that placed Uganda as one of the top countries to visit this year, as highlighted by Lonely Planet’s travel online magazine.
Uganda, being one of Lonely Planet’s top must-see countries for 2013, is truly a highlight of the African landscape. With its dense misty impenetrable forests, snow-peaked/caped mountains, glassy lakes, as well as craters and sprawling savannah grassland, no wonder Winston Churchill dubbed Uganda the ‘pearl of Africa’. While Uganda’s endangered mountain gorillas, whose numbers also rose to 400 in Bwindi impenetrable national park, are the allure for various visitors that come on a Uganda gorilla trekking safari, a short Uganda safari to the mighty Murchison Falls, or any of the many Uganda safaris. There are uncountable attractions for tourists, which not only include wildlife but unique cultural attractions plus the lovely, loving Ugandan people.
Having survived the shadows of a deep, dark past under Idi Amin and the Lord’s Resistance Army, Uganda is no longer a country to be feared and is regarded as one of Africa’s safest destinations. Whether one wants a wildlife safari, trekking volcanoes, whitewater rafting or just kicking back on the beach, a Uganda safari to any of the several Uganda safari places has the best Africa has to offer. Here are four unmissable Uganda safari experiences and where you can find them:
This is one of the most essential Uganda safari/Uganda tour experiences, as tracking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest prepares you for the first glimpse at the shy black gorillas amidst the dense foliage. The adrenaline kicks in when you’re up close to the imposing figure of a Silverback and it’s all very imposing nature, alongside its curious babies peeking through leaves as they twist, turn and somersault for your entertainment. Like many tourists that have trekked these gorillas have said, This is not only a lifetime Uganda safari but the ultimate world safari.
During a Uganda gorilla trekking safari, please do remember that a portion of the gorilla permit fees goes back to the park and gorilla conservation initiatives, helping to ensure their survival as they are endangered species.
While Uganda’s national parks lack the recognition of big-name neighbors like Serengeti and Kruger Park, Uganda’s national parks boast of all the animals, minus the crowds. Murchison Falls National is Uganda’s largest park where you can follow up your morning wildlife drive with a boat cruise on the Nile to the base of the falls, making this the perfect way to spy on elephants, buffalo, crocodiles and loads of hippos as they go about their day activities in the park while you relax with a cool beer on the boat.
Head to Queen Elizabeth for a better chance to spot the elusive leopards or even its trademark tree-climbing lions. Just countable tourists make it to the far north to Kidepo Valley’s national park, but those who do so are truly rewarded with not only the best selection of wildlife and some of the most spectacular scenery of Uganda. And if you are interested in visiting the Big Five, add Ziwa Sanctuary to your itinerary to get up close to the white rhino, which you track on foot.
Truly, Uganda is a must-visit place this year, and its not only about the wild life experience you’re yet to experience but make it a point to visit the source of the Nile once on your Uganda safari because it is the magnet for white-water rafting adventure lovers where you can plunge down Grade-5 rapids or otherwise kayak or try the white-knuckle jet boat ride as witnessed by all travelers who have visited this spot on their Uganda safaris.
For those seeking an alternative form of aquatic thrill, they can engage in bungee jumping near Bujagali Falls. Trekkers can test their endurance tackling the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rwenzori Mountains, which are famously described as the ‘mountains of the moon’ with stunning views of the equatorial mist as your reward at the top. For more treks to make your safari to Uganda more exciting, try Mount Elgon National Park or the dramatic Virunga volcanoes found at the borders of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda, where they converge like some tourists on several Uganda safaris have done.
When your desire for a Uganda safari subsides and your body craves relaxation after the exhausting bus rides, Uganda offers several stunning locations for rejuvenation. Magical Lake Bunyonyi has magnificent views where the mist hangs low over terraced hillsides and dugout canoes glide through the still waters, allowing you to relax in a calm environment.
Ssese Islands, which are found in the oceanic-sized Lake Victoria, is where you’ll find some of the finest white sand beaches and burning sunsets—the kind of place you’ll want to seek out a hammock and bring a good book. Then there is stunning Siipi Falls in eastern Uganda, which is earning a reputation from its uninhibited views of the crashing falls.
To crown up your Safari to Uganda/Uganda safari, make it a point to go for the coffee tours, where you’ll be shown the end-to-end process at a local coffee plantation, culminating with a delicious steaming cuppa while watching the sun set over banana plantations.
Uganda safari/Uganda safaris news
– news by prime Uganda safaris & Tours
Cate
Samuel
Situated in the heart of East Africa, Uganda is a land of staggering contrasts. From the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains to the vast, wildlife-rich plains of the Great Rift Valley, the biodiversity here is unmatched.
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