Uganda, the ‘Pearl of Africa’, contains some of the continent’s most beautiful and diverse scenery and wildlife. Its untouched wilderness is one of the last places to observe mountain gorilla and chimpanzee in their natural habitat. Uganda’s magic is found in sparkling lakes, misty mountains, mysterious forests and game-rich parks. The country straddles the equator and offers visitors a pleasant climate.
Uganda has historically been under the influence of powerful kingdoms, from the Egyptians to the warring tribes of Bunyoro-Kitara and the Buganda, then through British colonization and finally independence in 1962.

The people of Uganda offer travelers a traditional, warm hospitality. Its people have a rich cultural heritage, uniting different ethnicities. The country is relatively ‘undiscovered’ by tourism, as of now, and this benefits those who do visit. Uganda is opening its national parks and making them more accessible. New safari lodges and camps are also opening. English is Uganda’s official language.

KAMPALA

Kampala, the capital of Uganda, named for "the hill of antelopes", is spread over seven hills. It offers modern architecture, tree-lined avenues, cathedrals, mosques and palaces of the Old Kingdom of Buganda. It is a green and attractive city, with views of the countryside and nearby Lake Victoria. Its streets show the traditional charm, flavor and culture of Uganda. The Kasubi Tombs, the traditional royal tombs of the Kabakas of Buganda, are close by.

MURCHISON FALLS

Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest national park. It has some of Africa’s most spectacular scenery. At the Murchison Falls, the Nile River plunges over a 40-meter drop. Before reaching these falls, the Nile cascades over the Karuma Falls, which creates wonderful white water.

On the banks of the Nile is abundant wildlife. Elephant, hartebeest, giraffe, buffalo, antelope, crocodile and hippo all gather by the water. The park contains a diversity of habitats, including forest, swamplands and savanna, which all have great game concentrations. Lion, leopard, civet and hyena are also found in the park.

RWENZORI

The Rwenzori Mountains are on Uganda’s western border. They rise to over 5,100 meters. The center of the range boasts glaciers and snow-capped peaks that offer an extremely challenging climb. These are the famous "Mountains of the Moon", the legendary source of the Nile. The mist-shrouded mountains and rain forests are mysterious and fascinating. The park and foothills are home to elephant, rock hyrax, mongoose, vervet monkey, the Rwenzori Colobus monkey, chimpanzees, and antelopes like the duiker and sitatunga. However, wildlife, even on extended safaris, is rarely seen.

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

The Queen Elizabeth National Park is an amazing treasure of Uganda. It contains a remarkable variety of ecosystems, from tropical rain forests, to plains, savanna and swamps. It was designated a Biosphere Reserve for Humanity under UNESCO. The famous Kigezi tree-climbing lion resides here, along with antelope, buffalo, elephant, hippo, baboons, chimpanzees and the Uganda Kob. Queen Elizabeth also has over 500 species of birdlife. The crater lakes are covered in the pink brilliance of flamingos. Other birds include bee-eaters, kingfishers, raptors, falcons, eagles and the Shoebill stork.

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST AND KABALE

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest consists of true African jungle. The fascinating name seems appropriate because of the forest’s dark and tangled undergrowth. Huge trees are draped with vines and orchids while tropical plants color the floor. This mysterious and amazing forest is a sanctuary to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Gorilla tracking is strictly controlled so the gorilla families are not disturbed. The dense vegetation is also home to Colobus monkeys and chimpanzees, as well as a diverse bird population. Kabale is a small town en route to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It is ideal for an overnight or a lunch stop.

KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Kibale Forest contains 12 species of primates and families of habituated chimpanzees. On a guided forest walk, you may find families of chimpanzees and red colobus monkeys chattering and swinging through the ancient forest trees. The sightings of birds in the forest are no less impressive - there are at least 325 species, many of which are found nowhere else. In addition, there are over 144 species of butterflies.

Kibale, with ancient trees up to 55 meters in height, is a wonderful place to experience the extraordinary diversity of life in a tropical rainforest. You will certainly be more than impressed by the grandeur of the forest and the abundance of exotic life forms in this thriving and ancient environment. Kibale is one of Uganda's enchanting forested parks. The park contains pristine lowland tropical rain forest, montane forest, and mixed tropical deciduous forest. In addition to forest, you will also notice areas of grassland and of swamp.

The forest is rich in wildlife. It is most noted for its primate population. Some of these are red-tailed monkey, diademed monkey, blue monkey, white cheeked mangabey, olive baboon,  chimpanzee and black, white and red colobus. Other mammals include bushbuck, Harvey's red duiker, blue duiker, Uganda kob, genet, bush pig, and African civet. More difficult to spot are buffalo, waterbuck, hippo, warthog, and giant forest hog. A system of trails has been developed within the park, and tour guides are available to guide visitors.

MGAHINGA

Another refuge for Uganda’s mountain gorillas is in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The forested slopes of the Virunga Mountains provide a haven to the gentle animals. Access is limited here as well. The park also contains elephant, leopard, jackal, aardvark, honey badger, porcupine and Colobus monkey.

ITINERARIES IN UGANDA

The ultimate price of tours is based on the number of people participating. The rate declines significantly as cost of organization, vehicle and naturalist driver is shared by more people. We have shown rates for two to four persons in the event you want to keep the tour private or if existing dates of operation are not convenient for you.

Gorilla permits are scarce and cost about $300 per visit. Long range planning is essential to obtain the proper number of permits and plan your trip around those dates.

Dates: Any dates are available for private departures. The rainy season is considered to be March through May and October and November. However, tours at that time are not a problem.

RWENZORI TREKS

Climbing or trekking in the Rwenzori needs to be well planned. A hiking circuit of the region is possible on a 6-8 day trek. However, ‘trails’ are steep, muddy and difficult and are only for experienced trekkers or backpackers. A climb of Mount Stanley and completion of the Rwenzori circuit requires 12-14 days to allow for inclement weather. For a climbing party, we recommend a professionally led expedition to offer the best chance of success in attaining one of the Rwenzori’s highest summits. This is most economically achieved with a group from 4 to 10. A Next Adventure expedition is led by Clive Ward, the most experienced Rwenzori climber and co-author of "Snowcaps on the Equator". The climb is only for experienced mountaineers proficient in snow and ice climbing techniques. Next Adventure knows this area well.