THERE IS MUCH MORE TO UGANDA THAN JUST THE GORILLAS

THERE IS MUCH MORE TO UGANDA THAN JUST THE GORILLAS

For a couple of years now, Uganda has been topping almost all the travelers bucket lists to Africa. Because of its heavenly beauty, the pearl of Africa has never failed to amaze any one, its splendor is one that cannot be best explained with words but with the shock in the eyes on beholding it.

From the vast and ever varying landscape, wildlife so unique including the endangered mountain gorillas, kind and hospitable people, various vegetation types sprawling all over the country, cultures not spotted anywhere else in the world and cities so engaging, all the making up the wonderful country dubbed the pearl of Africa.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes the lion’s share of tourists on Uganda safaris. The greatest number of travelers hit the country just to have a glance and an encounter with the mighty apes of the jungle, and sometimes accompanied with the Batwa experience and then the end of the trip.

Probably most travelers on safaris in Uganda have only explored the gorillas, yet Uganda has a lot more than just these great animals. It would nearly take forever to explore the secrets of nature that the pearl hides and discover them.

However, here is a simple guide on what more Uganda can offer besides the gorilla trekking safaris. Activities and destinations that can thrill you out even before seeing the endangered apes.

Cultural tours. These start immediately on getting of the aircraft, the culture in Uganda is so different. People in Uganda are ones that even welcome strangers with huge smiles. This is one true multicultural country, with more than 50 different cultures, all speaking different languages, unique traditions and norms, non-uniform cultural wear, and totally different cultural performances. Yes, that is how unique Uganda is, displaying a whole lot of various cultures in one country yet still living peacefully. Visiting the different museums in Uganda exposes travelers to several cultures exbitting art that is worth carrying on to the next generation.

Wildlife safaris. It was this special wildlife that made Winston Churchill quite enthused to quote, “For magnificence, for variety of form and color, for profusion of brilliant life — bird, insect, reptile, beast — for vast scale — Uganda is truly “the Pearl of Africa.” Uganda is one of the African countries that harbor some of the world’s most beautiful wildlife. From the endangered mountain gorillas comfortably dwelling in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park, lions including the tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park, the world’s fattest running mammal; the cheetahs in Kidepo valley national park, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, hyenas, zebras, giraffes, topis, bush bucks to warthogs and so many others. With the ten national parks and several wildlife reserves, Uganda surely deserves to be called a wild country.

Birding safaris. Almost a third of the world’s total bird population dwells in Uganda. It is probably the most attractive country in Africa to bird watchers, more than 1008 bird species have been recorded in Uganda. The variety of bird habitats has made Uganda one of the best birding spots in the world. Uganda birding safaris offer unique and authentic experiences that cannot easily be got anywhere else. Spot the rare, prehistoric-looking shoebill stock, malachite, black-ramped buttonquail, Collard Pranticles, papyrus canary, verreauv’s eagle-owl, black bee-eater, squacco heron, African fish eagle, swamp fly-catcher, long-tailed cormorants, Martial Eagle, Black- rumped Buttonquail African Skimmer, White winged terns, White-winged Warbler, shoebill, African skimmer, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, Grey-headed kingfisher, papyrus gonolek, Papyrus Canary, to the thin-tailed Nightjars, you can never fail to spot a bird in Uganda.

Hiking safaris in Uganda. Unlike Rwanda, Uganda is not a land of a thousand hills, but rather the land of the highest hills. Thinking of hiking one of Africa highest hill, consider hiking the Rwenzori mountains of the moon, think of the Elgon Mountain, Sabinyo mountain plus many others all in the pearl of Africa. Besides the big mountains, Uganda also has the simple hills like Kagulu hill and Nyakasura hill for starters. It is surely one destination that mountain climbers should consider on their African safaris.

Still about other safaris in Uganda other than the gorilla safaris, Uganda still offers cycling safaris, short city tours, primate safaris, community tours, events and meetings tours plus many others. Don’t have second thoughts about visiting the pearl of Africa.