Uganda is calling all adventure-lovers

Uganda is quite simply one of the best travel destinations in the world! Whether you're wowed by landscape, wildlife or culture, or you simply seek adventure, Uganda is almost certainly the perfect destination for you.

But don't just take our word for it. Winston Churchill – Britain's famously eloquent statesman – was one of Uganda's first tourists. When he explored the country back in 1907, he described it as the Pearl of Africa. He was impressed, as so many others have been, by the country's breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and diverse wildlife.

Today, it’s just as magnificent. Despite this, it still receives relatively few visitors compared to its neighbours, Kenya and Tanzania. The fact that Uganda is relatively unexplored is yet another one of the things to make it so appealing.

One of our groups at the Equator in Uganda: one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern!

Uganda is a diverse and beautiful place, hence its nickname the Pearl of Africa. It has magnificently high mountains (some of the highest in Africa), spectacular waterfalls, gorgeous forests, vast lakes (like Lake Victoria), expansive plains, and mighty rivers (including the Nile!). It also has a rich and varied wildlife population, including the Big Five, mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.

Map of Uganda showing some of the best tourist spots

One of Uganda's main highlights is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is where you can find half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Encountering these endangered animals in their natural habitat is truly a very special experience.

Here are just a few of the exciting things one can do in Uganda:

A well-fed lioness lolling in a candelabra tree in Queen Elizabeth National Park

For a longer list and more detail about each option, please read Top 20 things to do in Uganda. You might also like to watch the video below.

An African elephant in Murchison Falls National Park

Uganda's diverse landscapes are one of the main reasons why this country is such an exciting holiday destination. In the southwest of the country you will find Lake Victoria. The lake is the main reservoir that feeds the mighty Nile River. Two other Great Lakes, Lake Edward and Lake Albert, also define the borders of the country.

Geographically speaking, Uganda is mostly one large plateau, ringed by a rim of rugged mountains. These include the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains. From the mountain peaks to the lake shores, the landscapes are incredibly diverse. They boast tropical rainforests, savannah and lush areas of farmland growing crops such as coffee, tea and cotton.

Murchison Falls is a must-see when in Uganda!

Uganda is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. It also ranks second amongst all African countries. This natural richness is a real asset to the country and helps drive the tourist industry. Opportunities to take safaris and trek to see some of the animals that live here are among the most compelling reasons to visit the country. But what exactly should you expect to see?

Ugandan kobs

Uganda has the Big Five, which is something only a few African nations can claim. The Big Five are African lions, African bush elephants, black rhinos, African leopards and Cape buffaloes. It also has those famous other African animals everyone hankers to see, like giraffes, wildebeests, kudus, springboks, hippos, crocodile, cheetahs, ostriches, hyenas and zebras.

It's almost like they know the fun formation they're in!

And then there are the primates ....

In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you are able to see the stars of the show in Uganda – the mountain gorillas! Almost half of the world's remaining population of these beautiful creatures are to be found here. Read our article on 20 things to know about mountain gorilla trekking to learn other cool facts, find out about the hike to reach the gorillas, and know how to prepare.

Chimpanzees are the major drawcard of Kibale National Park. Of course the forests are also home to many other creatures too, including other primates.

You can only find mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC

– Beni Loertscher

Antelope are such graceful creatures and you usually see them in large groups, which is very exciting

Foremost amongst all of the country's attractions, gorilla trekking is something special. Mountain gorillas are an endangered species. Trekking to see these gentle giants and getting to see them up close truly is a privilege. This really is one of two places in the entire world where you can see them.

Hiking through the rainforest is, even without the gorillas, a humbling and exciting experience. This is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet and a worthy habitat for the majestic mountain gorillas. Sadly, only around 720 mountain gorillas are left in the wilderness today, which is what makes it all the more remarkable when you finally find the gorilla troop on your trek. If you're lucky enough to visit Uganda, don't miss out on this remarkable opportunity.

The Follow Alice gang en route to find their troop of mountain gorillas

Learn more about our gorilla trekking tours.

Most of the 41 million people in Uganda live in the southern and western regions of the country. The people are known to be honest, polite and genuinely pleased to help visitors.

While the cities are modern and aspects of contemporary life feature heavily in the more populous areas, traditional ceremonies and rituals are still very much part of the local culture. Distinctive dances are still practised in different communities.

Ugandans tend to be friendly and welcoming to visitors, as epitomised by our Ugandan local leader Dan!

Food is also central to the culture here. Most people will produce their own food, except for a minority who live in urban centres. If you peek inside someone's kitchen, you'll probably find them preparing fish from the lake or making a stew from meat or chicken. They'll serve it later with rice or matoke, a mash made from cooked plantain.

Other popular dishes include millet bread, cassava, sweet potatoes, chicken, beef and freshwater fish. The national drink is waragi, a banana gin.

Not only will you have an amazing time in Uganda, you'll pick up lots of useful skills too!

The official language of Uganda is English, but there actually 41 living languages spoken there. Swahili and Luganda are widely spoken, but English is used for all formal communications. In total there are 42 languages spoken in the country, 40 of which fall into the Bantu, Nilotic and and Central Sudanic language groups. Many Ugandans speak more than one language, and cross-language dialects are also commonplace.

The national currency is the Ugandan shilling. Like its neighbour Tanzania, Uganda used to be part of the British Empire. This is why its currency is the shilling.

You can spot some gorillas on the 50,000 shilling note (which has a value of approximately €12). You can also see the Independence Monument on the note, as well as the outline of the country.

The mountain gorilla on the 50,000 Ugandan shilling note

Like almost all other nations, Uganda has seen its share of conflict in the past. Now, however, it's considered to be one of the safest and most stable countries in Africa. Kampala is one of the safest capitals on the continent.

While Uganda has the same dangers that you might expect in many other countries, usually you'll be perfectly safe as long as you remain vigilant and take sensible precautions. Almost all visits to the country are considered to be trouble-free. There is therefore no reason to avoid Uganda on safety grounds.

For more up-to-date travel advice, speak to us or visit the gov.uk website.

Uganda grows plenty of yummy tropical fruit and veg

Uganda’s climate is almost always very nice. This is one of six African countries that lies on the Equator. The country's dry seasons are from December to February and June to August. These two periods are the best time to travel to Uganda.

The rainy seasons are March to May and October to November. Fortunately, the temperatures here don't often climb above the high twenties celsius, and remain pretty much constant throughout the year. The hottest months are January and February, when the average daytime temperature range is between 24° and 33° C (75° to 91° F).

Read more about the best time to visit Uganda

The capital city of Kampala

You should prepare for your visit to Uganda by reading up on all the exciting things to see and do there. You should learn a little about the country, its culture and its people in order to get the most you can from your visit.

There are also a number of practical matters that you should attend to when preparing for your trip:

Some of the striking vegetation of the Rwenzori Mountains

Our round trip of Uganda takes you through the best of the country without being stationary at any one place too long. You’ll stay at some beautiful lodges, each with its own charm, and many with a swimming pool.

Be prepared to embrace a wealth of new experiences. There'll be new landscapes every day, and an incredible variety of wildlife that call this gem of a country home.

– Rosalind Eleazar

Dan Kabogoza (centre) is our Uganda local leader, and he's always smiling!

Leading the tour will be Dan, our local hero and English-speaking guide. Dan was born and raised in Buganda in central Uganda. He's been a guide and driver for over four years and is great company. Wherever you travel, you’re in safe hands with him.

– Pete Frank

Follow Alice on a Uganda itinerary that covers an exciting breadth of sights and experiences!

A view of the islands of stunning Lake Bunyonyi