Uganda is a very beautiful country usually referred to as the pearl of Africa has many times received accolades and praises from travelers and international tourism and travel organizations all thanks to the unique natural tourist attractions the country has. Uganda is Africa in one and all travelers having tours and safaris in the country will never regret their decisions. Uganda has a diverse ecosystem featuring different vegetation types that favor a variety of wildlife that can be best explored while on a safari in one of the major national parks and game reserves in the country. There are many reasons why Uganda Is a unique tourist destination and they include the following.
The Wild Animals
Uganda has a variety of wild animals of different sizes that are usually seen by tourists on game drives. They include the big five mammals (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes), giraffes, rhinos, Nile crocodiles, waterbucks, impalas, bush bucks, oribis, warthogs, giant forest hogs, primates like mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, monkeys, baboons, a number of snakes to mention but a few. Different wild animals have different environments they live in for example mountain gorillas and chimpanzees live in the forested areas while major herbivores like antelopes, elephants, giraffes live in the savanna ecosystems plus the major predators (lions and leopards). To view these animals, a visit to a national park can never be a bad idea however those interested in mountain gorillas can visit Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla national parks.
The Unique Relief Features
They range from mountains, valleys, cliffs, escarpments and many others. The major mountains include mount Rwenzori that has glaciers, mount Elgon that has the largest caldera (located in the east), mount Mgahinga, mount Mufumbira, mount Sabyinyo located in the south western and mount Moroto located in the northeastern part of the country.
All of the mentioned mountains can be hiked by interested tourists and the good news is that most of them are located in national park premises therefore a person hiking them is likely to encounter a number of wildlife species for example the three horned chameleon around the mount Rwenzori area. Mountain climbing is however a little hectic and should be done by some one who is physically fit to avoid getting health problems.
Uganda is also crossed by the great rift valley in the western part of the country and it has remarkable faulting and volcanic features including a number of crater lakes, hot springs, escarpments, volcanic mountains and many others. There are also a number of valleys most of which are occupied by lakes, rivers and swamps. Most lakes and swamps attract a number of birds and are therefore good birding destinations.
Cultures And Customs
Uganda has diverse groups of people in the different regions of the country each group/tribe with its own cultural norms and practices. The most known tribe in the east is the Bagishu who are made famous by their annual traditional circumcision ceremony (Imbalu) where boys are massively circumcised as a way of transforming them to real men. Northern Uganda has Nilotic tribes who are best known for their unique traditional dances (Larakaraka) that they usually perform on special occasions entertaining guests. Other major tribes in Uganda include the Baganda in the central and the Banyakitara in western Uganda. Each tribe has a special cuisine it identifies itself with as well as other customs and beliefs.
Many tourists today visit Uganda to discover more about the local culture and always have the best experiences because Ugandan’s are very hospitable and very easy to stay with.
The Climate
Uganda has very a favorable climate mainly comprised of two seasons (the dry and wet season). The country lays along the equator and therefore experience a humid climatic condition in the immediate areas. Generally speaking, the climate of Uganda is very friendly to people from different parts of the world. Many tourists who visit the country do not want to leave and many are seen sun bathing enjoying the Ugandan sun.
To enjoy all the above-mentioned, just organize for a tour or safari to Uganda and have lifetime experience.