Uganda is gifted differently! Placed between the arms of the Great East African Rift Valley, it possesses all the unique geological and geographical wonders created millions ago. The hundreds of crater lakes along its Western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon and the Muhabura/Virunga mountains which house the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world call Uganda home. This Western rift ecosystem boasts 7 national parks and a whole host of beautiful natural sceneries and wonders.

Famously dubbed the “Pearl of Africa” by Britain’s Winston Churchill – Uganda lies at the centre of East Africa’s Great Lakes region sharing Africa’s largest freshwater lake – L. Victoria – with Tanzania and Kenya.

Before you pick up your jaw from the floor, Uganda is also home to the source of the R. Nile – a position that uniquely has archaeologists believing it to be the cradle of humankind.

Be that as it is, the most beautiful thing about Uganda is its people. Uganda is a mixed pot of over 50 tribes speaking all speaking different languages yet so hospitable – as it was voted BBC’s friendliest country in the world.

Known for the presence of the spectacular Murchison Falls, the park is easily Uganda’s largest park at 4000 sq. km. The park offers great white-water rafting opportunities, sport fishing opportunities, game viewing and great cultural interactions. By virtue of its size, the park supports a healthy population of carnivores including lions, hyenas, leopards and a wide-range of herbivores. The park is also an Important Birding Area with potential to view the elusive Shoebill stork, hornbills, geese, bee-eaters and many other species.

Another designated world heritage site, Bwindi impenetrable National Park is home to one the region’s most prized jewels – the endangered mountain gorilla. The park supports a number of gorilla families habituated for tourism. But the park is much more than the mountain gorilla tracking, the mountain and the forest ecosystem around the park offer prime bird watching opportunities in one of the world’s oldest forests. Scenic views of landscape and waterfalls on nature walks and community walks in and around the park are part of the norm in Bwindi.

Truly, the most special park in the region, Queen Elizabeth National Park is unique with presence of the 5 habitat types in the park; the riverine, open and woodland savannah as well as forest habitat all present within the park. The Ishasha sector has become a popular destination with its tree climbing lions that have taken advantage of the fig trees that characterize the landscape of the sector.

With one of the highest primate densities in the world, Kibale forest is a must visit for tourists into primate tracking especially chimpanzees, several monkey species and baboons. Kibale forest is also a prime destination for biders with impressive populations of forest birds including the beautiful Great Blue Turaco, the grey parrot, African pittas and many more.

Mburo is a special park, surrounded by the L. Mburo-Nakivale system, the park is well drained to support a thriving population of herbivores including buffalo, warthogs, impala, giraffe, zebras, waterbucks, eland and many others. With the wetland habitats abundant in the park and the open savannah and acacia woodland, the park is a prime birding area. Located along the Mbarara-Kampala highway, visitors stop over on the way to Western Uganda to visit the Rwenzori-Virunga ecosystem.

Designated as a world heritage site in 1994, the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon are a thing of marvel bearing famous snow caped peaks in the heart of Equatorial Africa. The mountains breed a special ecosystem of flora, fauna and natural beauty. The National Park is home to 18 mammal species, 217 bird species, 9 species of reptiles and 6 species of amphibians. The park offers opportunities to spot these animals in their natural habitat including elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, bushbuck, chimpanzee and leopard. Visitors can also enjoy mountain climbing on the several peaks of the ranges.