Uganda - The Pearl Of Africa Glows Again
Uganda is a beautiful country with an impressive people. This is
one of my favourite countries in all of Africa. The people of
Uganda have survived the troubles of 1967-86 period and emerged
standing upright and wearing a smile. In that short period, the
country suffered under the caprice of two despicable despots.
One was the indisputably insane Idi Amin and the other, the
arguably insane Milton Obote.
This is now history - a testament to the dignity and endurance
of this people. The transformation of the country in the period
since normalcy returned is nothing short of astounding. And it
shows in the faces of the people you meet. That the graceful
beauties of Uganda have not received the recognition they
deserve in international beauty pageants is for me
incontrovertible proof that most of these events are really
fixed.
Winston Churchill was so besotted by the country that he gave it
the name that has endured: the "Pearl of Africa". His
observations about Uganda remain true today: "The scenery is
different, the vegetation is different, the climate is
different, and, most of all, the people are different from
anything elsewhere ...in the whole range of Africa".
Travelers to Uganda are drawn by its stunning landscape - green
rolling hills, snowcapped mountains, rainforests, majestic
rivers and massive lakes. There are also a number of outstanding
national parks for your safari encounter with the wildlife for
which Africa is renowned. Unfortunately, I have to advise you to
skip Kidepo Valley -a well-resourced park in the north, as it is
not considered safe. The country's edge as a worthwhile
destination is further enhanced by its endowments for white
water rafting and sport fishing. Tour operators have on offer a
variety of Uganda safari and tour packages.
It is in Uganda that you find the highest number of primate
species anywhere in the world. Opportunities for tracking rare mountain gorillas and
chimpanzees are unrivalled elsewhere. The primate conservation
efforts the country has followed are bearing fruit. A survey
carried out by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Jane
Goodall Institute in collaboration with the Uganda government,
revealed that there were 4,950 chimpanzees in the country in
2003. Previously, scientists guess for this number was between
3000 and 4000, but nobody knew for sure. The chimp is our closet
living relative, sharing 98% of our genes and much of our
behaviour. Uganda is the best country in the world to view
chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
The best place to see the rare mountain gorilla is at the 331
sq. km Bwindi National Park. This park was formerly known as the
Impenetrable Forest with good reason. The trees are thick and
the forest thicker with dense undergrowth, creepers, bamboos and
parasitic plants such as mistletoe and orchids. This environment
is the habitat for mountain gorilla's, chimpanzee, and 8 other
species of primate. Not less than half the world's population of
an estimated 600 mountain gorillas have sanctuary here, making
Bwindi the base for an important scientific conservation
program.
Gorilla tracking is limited to small groups and the licenses are
issued to ensure minimum disruption to the routine of the
animals. Tracking gorillas is an arduous task and you should be
prepared for up to 8 hours of hiking. Good physical condition is
a must. You are advised to make arrangements 4-12 months prior
to the date of your visit. Bwindi is essentially a rain forest
and it is necessary to bring along a raincoat, walking boots and
gloves.
In addition to its star gorillas, Bwindi is host to bush pig,
giant forest hog and over 300 species of birds including rare
forest birds. Others who have found a home in this ecosystem
include many types of bats and rodents, 14 species of snakes, 27
species of frogs and toads, 6 chameleon types, 14 lizards,
skinks and geckos and 200 species of butterfly. Bwindi is to the
west of the country and is 560 km from Kampala.
Though not as famous for safari as neighboring Kenya and
Tanzania, Uganda still has some pretty good game sanctuaries.
The 3,840 sq. km Murchison Falls National Park is the largest
and most spectacular of them. Aside from game, it is renowned
for its scenic beauty. Rolling savannah, tall grasslands and
thick bush woodlands make up the park. But you are advised not
to miss out the magnificent waterfalls after which the park is
named. The waterfall is formed where the Nile tapers from 50
metres to rush through a 7-metre gorge, falling 45 metres in a
breath-taking leap. This phenomenon is said to be the most
powerful natural flow of water anywhere on Earth.
If you are patient, you can catch some really huge Nile Perch at
the foot of the falls. What kind of fish can withstand such a
force that exists at the foot of the falls? Charles Norman
describes his fishing day out with a companion who on seeing the
massive fish "...let out a strangled squawk and I found myself
staring at the hog-sized back of a huge fish protruding above
the water at the rock's edge - a 100kg fish with scales the size
of tennis balls. Swimming next to it was a smaller one, a
'midget' of a mere 40kg or so". This adventure is described by
the prodigiously experienced Charles Norman as "...the most
exciting morning's fishing that I have ever known." Other game
fish found in the Nile include Barbel, electric Catfish and
Tiger fish.
The game you come across in the park includes elephant,
hartebeest, leopard, lion, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, crocodiles
and many species of antelopes. Upstream of the Murchison Falls
are the Karuma Falls, where the Nile cascades over 23 kilometres
of rapids. Here you have some of the most exciting white water
in Africa. Murchison Falls is located 330 km from Kampala.
The Queen Elizabeth National Park is another outstanding
treasure. It is a UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve for
Humanity. The recognition arises from the tropical forest, green
meadows, savannah and swamps that constitute the park. In terms
of wildlife, you find elephant, buffalo, hippos, baboons,
chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds. The park occupies
2,000 sq km and is situated 440 km from Kampala. At the northern
end of the Queen Elizabeth, you find Kibale. This park has a
unique forest habitat and has an excellent diversity of animal
and plant life. It is at Kibale that you find the highest number
of primate species in Uganda, and one of the highest primate
densities and diversities in the world.
Traveling from Kampala to the Queen Elizabeth or Bwindi, most
visitors break at Lake Mburo National Park. The park is 230 km
west of Kampala along the Mbarara road and is the most
accessible in the country. It is a very attractive park of
rolling hills, open grassy valleys, interspersed with thickets,
woodlands and rich wetlands. In addition to viewing game
including zebra, cape buffalo and eland, you can relax by taking
a boat trip on Lake Mburo.
The fairly flat terrain of the country is interrupted to the
west by the Rwenzori Mountains and to the east by Mount Elgon.
Rwenzori, otherwise known as "Mountains of the Moon" has the
third highest peak in Africa after Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro.
The Rwenzori is part of the national park of the same name and
contains 6 snow-capped peaks. You can hike the trails of this
mountain without any special climbing equipment unless you want
to go for the peaks. The mist covered mountain range stretches
for about 100 km.
Mount Elgon sits by the Kenyan border and is the shell of an
ancient volcano. The main attractions here are the waterfalls,
caves that were once used by indigenous people, hot springs, the
mountains vegetation, the various peaks, the Suam Gorge and the
caldera itself. After millions of years of erosion, the oval
shaped caldera now measures roughly 7 by 8 kms, one of the
largest in the world.
The traveler with a sense of history will want to visit the
Source of the Nile at Jinja. Jinja is 60 km to the north east of
Kampala and is easily accessible by road. This is where the
White Nile begins, as it exits Lake Victoria on its 5,600 km
journey to the Mediterranean. The source of the Nile was a
thousand year old mystery that was decisively settled by the
explorer John Speke in 1862.
If you are keen about culture, go for the The Kabaka's Trail.
This is a unique journey through a part of Uganda's rich
heritage that has been shaped by the region's kings over the
years. The Kabaka is the ceremonial king of the Baganda and his
lineage goes way back to the 14th century. The Trail combines a
series of cultural sites, all within easy reach of Kampala. You
can easily combine the Kabaka Trail with your Search of the Nile
excursion to Jinja. The Trail offers much more than sightseeing
and you will learn about the hidden and forgotten history of
Uganda. You will also experience an authentic tribal culture -
with traditional dance, music, craft making, spiritual healing
and storytelling.
There are international standard hotels in Uganda, especially in the
main towns of Entebbe, Jinja and Kampala. The quality is
variable in the smaller towns and rated accommodation is scarce.
All of the major national parks offer accommodation in game
lodges and tented camps.
If you want to drive around Uganda, you need to show an
international drivers license to hire a vehicle. Rental cars in Uganda are available
in Entebbe and Kampala. Roads radiate from Kampala and are of
varying quality. In the north of the country the security
situation is still doubtful and so are the roads. Its is a good
idea if you are on self drive to get local advise about the
condition the roads you intend to use.
Uganda enjoys a tropical climate tempered by altitude. The
hottest period of the year is from December to February when
temperature rise to 29 degrees Celsius. For the rest of the
year, temperatures range between 21 to 25