Uganda
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Uganda
By African standards, Uganda is a postage stamp-size country, roughly the size of Great Britain, sandwiched between Kenya, Rwanda, Congo, Sudan and Tanzania.
Most of the country is 1,000m above sea level and there are three mountainous areas – the Rwenzoris, Mount Elgon and the Virunga volcanoes.
In Western Uganda lies the magnificent Queen Elizabeth National Park (QE), with the ice-covered peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop. It is rich in wildlife, including the tree lions at Ishasha, and is a haven for bird-watchers. Chimpanzees can be seen in the steeply forested sides of the Kyambura Gorge, near Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the Kibale Forest. Further south, in the chain of eight blue Virunga volcanoes strung out on the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, at the heart of Africa, lives the mountain gorilla. The combination of volcanoes, volcanic lakes and steeply terraced hillsides make this a dramatic area. The remaining mountain gorillas live further north in the Bwindi forest.
Quick Facts
Capital
Kampala
Population
41.5 million
Area
241,038 sq km (93,065 sq miles)
Major Languages
English, Swahili
Major religion
Christianity, Islam, indigenous beliefs
Monetary Unit
Ugandan Shilling
Flight time from London
12 hours
Time Difference
GMT + 3
When to go
January, February, March
The best time to go Gorilla Trekking is late December to early March, as the weather at this time of year is generally (although rain falls in Uganda throughout the year).
April, May, June
There are two rainy seasons. The long rainy season takes place from March until the beginning of June. Someone may avoid trekking in the “official” rainy season only to find that it pours throughout their visit during another period.
July, August, September
July to August are also considered a good time to travel as they are some of the driest months. Certainly travelling straight after the rains (July) will ensure less dust for the long vehicle transfers between locations.
October, November, December
This is the rainy season but, like anywhere, weather is never predictable. The short rainy season takes place from October until mid-December.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- High Season
- Mid Season
- Shoulder Season
Highlights
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park (QE), in the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley, is centered around Lake Edward and Lake George.
Serene and teeming with animals Queen Elizabeth boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world, with almost 100 mammal species and an incredible 606 bird species. To support such biodiversity the vegetation is hugely varied from open savannah to rainforest, from dense papyrus swamps and crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward. The launch trip along the Kazinga Channel is especially good for viewing hippo, buffalo, elephant and a vast array of birds.
The beautiful steeply forested Kyambura Gorge nearby is home not only to chimpanzees but also the red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus and many bird species.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is thought to be one of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa and one of the oldest dating back to over 25,000 years ago.
On the eastern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, the rainforest is attractively swathed over steep ridges and valleys rising up to an altitude of 2,600m. The forest used to stretch down to the Virunga Mountains on the Rwandan border but this huge tract of forest was broken up about 500 years ago when agricultural people moved into the area.
Wildlife of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
More than half the world’s population of mountain gorilla reside within Bwindi and these are the main focus of visitors. However, there are also healthy populations of chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, red-tailed monkey and colobus as well as 5 species of duiker and bushbuck. A small population of forest elephants also live within the forest and although the animals themselves are rarely seen, the tell-tale signs of their presence are often encountered.
Bwindi is also home to around 350 bird species of which 23 are endemic to the Albertine Rift and at least 14 are found nowhere else in Uganda.
Kibale Forest
This 760km² area of rainforest, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, supports a rich variety of fauna, 250 species of animal and over 300 birds.
Kibale Forest has thirteen species of primates – among the highest number recorded in an African forest – including the chimpanzee, the vervet monkey and the red colobus. Tracking the noisy chimpanzee families racing through this verdant forest is a thrilling experience. Together with Bigodi Wetland nearby, many forest and swamp birds can be seen of which the Prigogine’s ground thrush, the only bird that is endemic to Uganda, can be found.
Murchison Falls National Park
The national park has returned to being Uganda’s finest game viewing area. Its 3840km2 are split by the river, with the game-rich northern side accounting for a third of the land, but 80% of the animals. Healthy populations of Ugandan kob, elephant, giraffe, lion and other plains game make it a great safari destination, which can now be enjoyed by boat, vehicle and even hot-air balloon.
The 45m waterfalls are impressive to see from both top and bottom, with the latter coming at the end of a really enjoyable boat safari along the game and bird filled banks of the River Nile.
One of Africa’s largest Shoebill populations is resident in the swamplands which can be reached by vehicle, or better still by riverboat.
Activities include game-drives, birding (especially shoebills), boat trips on the Nile, hikes to the top of the falls and fishing.
We’d recommend at least two if not three nights. Guests can use scheduled flights from Entebbe to Murchison which eliminates a 5+ hour road journey, although this can be broken up with a visit to the ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park (QE), in the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley, is centered around Lake Edward and Lake George.
Serene and teeming with animals Queen Elizabeth boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park or reserve in the world, with almost 100 mammal species and an incredible 606 bird species. To support such biodiversity the vegetation is hugely varied from open savannah to rainforest, from dense papyrus swamps and crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward. The launch trip along the Kazinga Channel is especially good for viewing hippo, buffalo, elephant and a vast array of birds.
The beautiful steeply forested Kyambura Gorge nearby is home not only to chimpanzees but also the red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus and many bird species.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is thought to be one of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa and one of the oldest dating back to over 25,000 years ago.
On the eastern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, the rainforest is attractively swathed over steep ridges and valleys rising up to an altitude of 2,600m. The forest used to stretch down to the Virunga Mountains on the Rwandan border but this huge tract of forest was broken up about 500 years ago when agricultural people moved into the area.
Wildlife of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
More than half the world’s population of mountain gorilla reside within Bwindi and these are the main focus of visitors. However, there are also healthy populations of chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, red-tailed monkey and colobus as well as 5 species of duiker and bushbuck. A small population of forest elephants also live within the forest and although the animals themselves are rarely seen, the tell-tale signs of their presence are often encountered.
Bwindi is also home to around 350 bird species of which 23 are endemic to the Albertine Rift and at least 14 are found nowhere else in Uganda.
Kibale Forest
This 760km² area of rainforest, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, supports a rich variety of fauna, 250 species of animal and over 300 birds.
Kibale Forest has thirteen species of primates – among the highest number recorded in an African forest – including the chimpanzee, the vervet monkey and the red colobus. Tracking the noisy chimpanzee families racing through this verdant forest is a thrilling experience. Together with Bigodi Wetland nearby, many forest and swamp birds can be seen of which the Prigogine’s ground thrush, the only bird that is endemic to Uganda, can be found.
Murchison Falls National Park
The national park has returned to being Uganda’s finest game viewing area. Its 3840km2 are split by the river, with the game-rich northern side accounting for a third of the land, but 80% of the animals. Healthy populations of Ugandan kob, elephant, giraffe, lion and other plains game make it a great safari destination, which can now be enjoyed by boat, vehicle and even hot-air balloon.
The 45m waterfalls are impressive to see from both top and bottom, with the latter coming at the end of a really enjoyable boat safari along the game and bird filled banks of the River Nile.
One of Africa’s largest Shoebill populations is resident in the swamplands which can be reached by vehicle, or better still by riverboat.
Activities include game-drives, birding (especially shoebills), boat trips on the Nile, hikes to the top of the falls and fishing.
We’d recommend at least two if not three nights. Guests can use scheduled flights from Entebbe to Murchison which eliminates a 5+ hour road journey, although this can be broken up with a visit to the ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Where to stay
These are just a selection of the properties we can personally recommend. Please get in touch to hear more about our full portfolio.
Bwindi Lodge
Bwindi Lodge in Uganda offers a truly unique Ugandan jungle safari experience. It overlooks the primeval Bwindi forest, home to gorillas, monkeys, chimpanzees and birds. The lodge has recently been completely refurbished and now offers unequalled comfort and style.
Clouds Mountain Lodge
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is situated in Nkuringo, bordering the south western corner of the Bwindi National Park. It is at 2100m with a sweeping panoramic view of the magnificent Virunga Volcanoes and the Great Rift Valley.
In the Footsteps of Tusk – Uganda
Once described as “The Pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill, Uganda is a country of exquisite contrasts. Dense forests, hazy savannahs, hippo filled lakes, meandering rivers and thundering waterfalls. Home to some of the highest concentration of primates on earth, this itinerary takes you to some of Uganda’s lesser known “pearls”, after spending time with our two closest relatives – chimpanzees and gorillas.
Kibale Lodge
Kibale National Park is a sanctuary for a third of Uganda’s chimpanzee population and Kibale Lodge is perfectly positioned to explore it’s riches. Only 30-minutes from the park gates, close enough for easy access yet set away, on a pristine area of land, commanding sensational views of the Rwenzori Mountains in the west and the […]
Kyambura Gorge Lodge
This eclectic contemporary safari lodge has been converted from an old coffee store to create a breathtakingly beautiful space. Kyambura Gorge Lodge is located on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park with sweeping views of the rolling savanna, the distant mountains of the moon, and the sunken Kyambura Gorge.
Mahongany Springs Lodge
Mahogany Springs is situated in one of the most intimate, secluded, beautiful and most importantly natural settings in the world and only around 2 minutes away from the Gorilla tracking starting point.
Mount Gahinga Lodge
Mount Gahinga Lodge nestles in the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes on the border of Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. Because of its varied habitats, in addition to tracking the endangered golden monkeys the area is also famous for birding, with about 180 bird species.
Nile Safari Lodge
located on the banks of the River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park, in northern Uganda. With excellent views over the worlds longest river, the lodge offers a prime location to take in the magnitude of the River Nile, the nearby Murchison Falls and discover the wildlife within the National Park.
Semliki Safari Lodge
Step off the “well trodden path”, into Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Evoking the spirit of the old explorers, Semliki Safari Lodge is a luxury lodge with a reputation for providing guests with a Ugandan, home from home, experience in keeping with it’s surrounding wilderness.
Get in touch with us now to start planning your journey
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