Uganda, the country in East Africa goes by the beautiful name “Pearl of Africa” and offers vacationers not only exciting cities but also unique nature and wildlife. Snow-capped mountains, jungles and beautiful savannas make every tourist's heart beat faster. In Uganda, the northern and southern hemispheres meet, in Jinja the Nile promises spectacular photos and in the Bwindi Forest, the last wild mountain gorillas to be discovered. And there are many more reasons to visit the home of the hippo, lion and more. If you want to take another long-haul journey in 2022 and have your sights set on the African continent, Uganda should be on the bucket list as a travel destination.
One of the most popular national parks in Uganda is the Queen Elizabeth National Park in the west of the country. The area stretches between Lake Gorge and Albert, with the Kazinga Canal crossing the national park. From the capital Kampala it takes almost 7 hours by car to reach the popular destination. More than 618 species of birds, chimpanzees, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and other big game await visitors to the park. One of the highlights:the tree lions “Tree Climping Lions”. There are only two populations of these unique lions in the world. The big cats live in the southern sector of Ishasha and enjoy their rest in the shady canopy of fig and acacia trees. Whether it's a two-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Canal or a typical car safari (game drive), the popular national park offers its visitors attractive activities.
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. Half of the world's last living mountain gorillas have their home in the dense forest. During guided tours you can get very close to the unique animals and experience many goosebumps. The different gorilla families or groups live in four different sectors. The Rushaga sector (in the south of the park) is home to most gorilla families and is located between Kabale and Nkuringo. To track gorillas, visitors need a “Gorilla Permit”, which must be obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). If you don't want to miss the adventure with the gorillas, make sure you get your permits, entrance to the park and a guided tour on time.
In 1962, Kidepo Vally National Park was opened in the north of the country on the border with Sudan and Kenya to protect the species-rich savanna. Because the national park is very isolated, the park is still an insider tip and the tourist crowds still stay away. Explorers and adventurers can explore the National Park on foot and visit the Kanangarok Hot Springs or book classic game drives. Many animal species, especially mammals, are unique to Kidepo Valley National Park. There are elephants in the Naurs Valley and lion families are also at home here. Visitors rarely see cheetahs or leopards. Large herds of Cape buffalo, plains zebra or Hartenbeest roam the beautiful savanna landscape. Giraffes also feel at home in the Kidepo Valley. Although the park is located almost 600 km from the capital Kampala, the national park in the north of the country is an insider tip and well worth the effort. For a comfortable journey it is worth booking a small charter flight.
