Uganda

Mountain Gorillas | Uganda

Evocatively labelled the 'Pearl of Africa' by Winston Churchill all those years ago, Uganda is lush and mountainous. The small towns and villages are separated by dense swathes of banana trees, tea plantations and fields of corn. The National Parks remain remote with few visitors and the opportunity to get up close with mountain gorillas and chimpanzees remains second to none.

Your visit to Uganda will no doubt have been inspired by a desire to see the rare and endangered Mountain Gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest . While this is the highlight of any tour to this part of the world from a wildlife point of view, for most of our travellers the country leaves a much more lasting impression: The children waving constantly with big smiles, the welcoming nature of the people and the connections made with communities en route. The beauty of the land, the fact that you can pass three hours of driving without a moment of boredom. These and more combine to ensure an unforgettable trip.

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Additional Information

When to go

Uganda's climate is equatorial and therefore governed by rain seasons. The "short" rains fall in October/November, and the "Long" rains come in March/April/May. Therefore the best time of year to visit is June to September or a particular favourite is between the rain seasons in January/February.

August is usually the hottest time of year, but you must bear in mind that where the Gorillas are located is in tropical rainforest and you can expect some rain here at any time of year.

Where to go

A typical tour of Uganda will start and finish in Entebbe, where the International Airport is located. For action. you can travel west to the Kibale Forest to track chimpanzees in the wild, visit the Queen Elizabeth National Park for a safari to see lions and elephants, and wind your way up to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to track mountain gorillas. For adrenaline in a stunning location, take a couple of days at Jinja - the source of the River Nile, where you can go white-water rafting, bungee jumping and quad-biking. After all this activity, why not spend a few days at Lake Bunyonyi, where the water is clear as gin and the living is very easy…

Where to stay

Uganda has a wide range of accommodation options from basic bush camps through to luxury lodges. We have our favourites though: Ndali Lodge for its superb location and homely feel; Mweya Lodge for its stunning location; the new Mihingo Lodge - probably the best in Uganda; and where else to finish your trip than the peace and tranquillity of The Haven - a superb example of a luxury eco-lodge.

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Page last updated on 12 Jan 2009