Guide to visiting Uganda
Uganda is also known as the pearl of Africa and it is part of the East African countries. Some of the different facts about Uganda include the following;
Uganda is a landlocked country which consists of the north, eastern, central and western parts. About 26% of the land is covered by water that is lakes and rivers such as Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake George, Lake Kyoga among others.
The capital city of Uganda is Kampala which is also referred to as the city of seven hills. Kampala is found in the central part of Uganda. The city is about 45 minutes’ drive from the airport of Uganda.
Entebbe international airport is the only international airport of Uganda which is used for both domestic and international flights. Some of the places to visit around Entebbe include the zoo (Uganda Wildlife Education Center), the reptile village, Botanical gardens among others. Other modes of transport which are used to move around Uganda include road transport and also water transport.
The current president of the republic of Uganda is HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Uganda got its independence in 1962 and the independence is celebrated every 9th October. The national bird of Uganda is the grey crowned crane which also appears on the national park of Uganda which has 3 colors which are black, yellow and red.
The source of the longest river in the world is also found in Uganda. Uganda also has the second largest freshwater lake in the world and this is Lake Victoria which is also shared with Kenya and Tanzania.
The official language in Uganda is English and Swahili and Luganda are also widely spoken by people in Uganda. Many other languages are spoken around Uganda and the ethnic groups include the Bantu, the Nilotics and also the Hamites. The population of Uganda is of about 45 million people and there are over 56 tribes in Uganda. And the people of Uganda are also friendly and hospitable.
Religion in Uganda includes 80% of the population being Christians and also about 14% of the population as Muslim. Some of the places of worship around Uganda which can be toured include the Old Kampala mosque (Gadhafi mosque), Namirembe cathedral, Rubaga cathedral, Uganda martyrs shrine, Bahai temple among others.
Uganda has 10 national parks which can be visited during tours around the country and they include Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale forest national park, Kidepo valley national park, Mgahinga national park, Lake Mburo national park, Semuliki national park, Mount Rwenzori national park, Mount Elgon national park.
The Great Rift Valley is also found in Uganda and the country also has beautiful scenery and is also made up of forests, mountains, hills and valleys. Mountains in Uganda include Mount Rwenzori which is also the highest mountain in Uganda and also Mount Elgon. Forests around Uganda include Mabira forest, Budongo forest among others.
Wildlife species which can be seen during safaris around Uganda include elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, zebras, cheetahs, waterbucks, impalas, hartebeests, elands, dik dik, hippos, giraffes and many others. The best time to see these wildlife species is during the dry season from June to October. However all through the year, wildlife species can be seen in the safari destinations around Uganda. Uganda has about 8% of the world’s mammal species. There are also various bird species and butterfly species which can be seen around Uganda.
When it comes to soil, Uganda has very fertile soil and agriculture is practiced in different parts of the country. Uganda is also said to be the second largest banana producing country in the world. The type of coffee grown in Uganda is Robusta coffee which is grown in the central, western and eastern parts of the country.
The nature of the topography in Uganda is as follows; some parts of the country are mountainous especially around the southern and western parts of the country while other parts of the country are flat.
Uganda was also ranked as one of the top tourist destinations by CNN and also the Lonely planet magazine in 2012 and 2016. Some of the destinations to visit during tours around Uganda include national parks, wildlife reserves, the islands, Lakes, Rivers, Forests, waterfalls, towns as well as archaeological sites like the Nyero rock paintings.
Another fact about Uganda is that Uganda was the 8th leading alcohol consuming country in the world according to a study made in 2013. The people in Uganda are also known for their love for parties which are organized throughout the year. The night life in Uganda is also exciting especially in the city.
Activities which are carried out around Uganda include gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park, Chimpanzee trekking, game drives, guided nature walks, hot air balloon safaris, hiking, cycling, boat rides, quad biking, white water rafting, zip lining, city tours, cultural tours, horse riding among others.
Uganda experiences two seasons which include the dry season and the rainy season. The rainy season is experienced around March to May and also around November. The dry season is experienced around December to February and also around June to October.
The currency which is used in Uganda is the Uganda shillings which is in notes and coins including the 50,000 shillings note, 20000 shillings note, 10000 shillings note, 5000 shillings note, 2000 shillings note, 1000 shillings note and the coins include the 1000 shillings coin, 500 shillings coin and also the 200 shillings coin. Foreign currencies like US dollars can also be used for transactions around Uganda and there are also banks and forex bureaus around the country where currencies can be changed to the local currency during a tour.
When it comes to food in Uganda, there are a lot of foods to try out and each culture has a unique staple food. The popular foods include Matooke which is for the Baganda and also roles which is a snack. During cultural tours, you can engage in preparation of the local food with guidance of the local community visited.
