Uganda
From the moment you land at Entebbe’s modern and efficient
international airport, with its breathtaking equatorial location
on the forested shore of island-strewn Lake Victoria, it is clear
that Uganda is no ordinary safari destination. Dominated by an
expansive golf course leading down to the lakeshore, and a
century-old botanical garden alive with the chatter of acrobatic
monkeys and colourful tropical birds, Entebbe itself is the least
obviously urban of all comparably sized African towns. Then,
just 40km distant, sprawled across seven hills, there is the
capital Kampala. The bright modern feel of this bustling,
cosmopolitan city reflects the ongoing economic growth and
political stability that has characterised Uganda since 1986,
and is complemented by the sloping spaciousness and runaway
greenery of its garden setting.
Ecologically
Uganda is where the East African savannah meets the West African
jungle. Where else but in this impossibly lush country can one
observe lions prowling the open plains in the morning and track
chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth the same
afternoon, then the next day navigate tropical channels teeming
with hippo and crocs before setting off into the misty mountains
to stare deep into the eyes of a mountain gorilla? Certainly, Uganda
is the only safari destination whose range of forest primates is as
impressive as its selection of plains antelope. And this verdant
biodiversity is further attested to by Uganda’s status as by far the
smallest of the four African countries whose bird checklist tops the
1,000 mark!
Yet there is more to the country than wildlife
far more! There is the mighty Nile, punctuated by the spectacular
Murchison Falls, and the setting for some of the world’s most
thrilling commercial white-water rafting. There are the snow-capped
peaks of the Rwenzori, which provide a tantalising challenge to
dedicated mountaineers, as well as the Virunga Volcanoes and
Mount Elgon, both of which offer highly rewarding hiking
opportunities through scintillating highland scenery. More sedately,
the myriad islands of Lake Victoria and Bunyonyi are idyllic venues,
as are the myriad forest-fringed crater lakes that stud the rift valley
floor and escarpment around Fort Portal. Whether you’re a first time
safari-goer or a seasoned African traveller, Uganda – with its unique
blend of savannah and forest creatures, its rare wealth of montane
and lake habitats – is simply dazzling.
Africa’s Friendliest Country
Uganda’s reputation as ‘Africa’s Friendliest Country’ stems partly
from the tradition of hospitality common to its culturally diverse
populace, and partly from the remarkably low level of crime and
hassle directed at tourists. But this amiable quality extends beyond
the easygoing people. Uganda’s eco-friendliness is attested to by
the creation of six new national parks under the present
administration, as well as a recent mushrooming of community-
based eco-tourism projects at the grassroots level, while the mood
of social enlightenment is characterised by the progressive and
much lauded policies towards curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS and
promoting women’s rights. The climate, too, is highly agreeable,
reflecting the combination of an equatorial location and medium to
high altitudes, while amenities such as hotels and game lodges now
rank with the very best Africa has to offer.