Complete Uganda Guide

Nicknamed the Pearl of Africa by Winston Churchill, Uganda concentrates within a territory the size of Great Britain a rare diversity across the continent. In the southwest, the highland forests of Bwindi harbor nearly half of the remaining mountain gorillas, to be observed in small groups after two to four hours of hiking through wet terrain. In the center, Lake Victoria and the city of Jinja mark the official source of the White Nile, the starting point for white-water rafting descents. In the west, Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Kazinga plains unfold a savanna crossed by elephants, hippopotamuses, and the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha.

The north, long overlooked by tourism, is now opening up around Kidepo Valley, one of the country's wildest parks, and Murchison Falls where the Nile narrows into a seven-meter gorge. Ugandan culture is also experienced in the Bakiga villages of the Kabale hills, in the markets of Fort Portal, or around a plate of matoke, the mashed plantain served everywhere.

Our English-speaking team based in Kampala recommends combining at least two ecosystems per trip: forest and savanna, or volcanoes and crater lakes. Plan for 10 to 14 days for a first coherent circuit, longer if you add Kidepo or the Rwenzori.