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Destination Uganda

Article - August 4, 2014
Snow on the equator, the largest freshwater lake in Africa, and the longest river in the world. Organic, pesticide-free produce and 30 different types of banana. This is Uganda for tourists, where lush vegetation, wild game, and friendly locals come together to make Uganda an inviting home-away-from-home for travelers in search of everything from cultural interaction to wild game to extraordinary beauty.
SESSE ISLANDS, WHITE SAND BEACHES ON LAKE VICTORIA
Even during British colonialist times, Uganda’s unique character and incomparable beauty were recognized. Sir Winston Churchill coined the phrase “The Pearl of Africa” when he described the country in his book, and the country has embraced this moniker.

Fifty-two years after gaining independence, Uganda is seeking to share its natural gifts on a global scale by attracting tourists to the travel experience the country offers. With its strategic location, the country is easily accessible from other continents. Once tourists touch down, Uganda can be a gateway to other East African Community tourist destinations. Strategic location is just one of many qualities that make a trip to Uganda an attractive vacation experience.

Uganda is known for its focus on peace, and its citizens are known as the happiest in the world. Fifty-two ethnic groups coexist amid kingdoms that were established up to 400 years ago, and Uganda consciously works to conserve their lifestyles, traditions, and cuisines. Friendly Batwa pygmies have come out of the forest and allow tourists to peek into their lives, sharing wisdom that they have learned from ancestors who used to live in the forest.

“The East Africa single tourism visa is a strong signal of the East African commitment to marketing East Africa as a single destination”

Maria Mutagamba,
Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiques
Spanish-speaking tourists might also find a pleasantly surprising connection with a sub-group of the Karamajong people in Uganda. Though these agro-pastoral herders hail from the northeast of the African country, there is a sub-group whose language is understandable for Spanish speakers.

To support each region’s different ethnic groups, beliefs and cultures, the Board of the Uganda Wildlife Authority gives 20% of income generated from national parks to local communities. Additionally, some groups are given access to medical grants, allowing them to treat themselves. Because of this allotment, both communities and national parks have grown in the country, allowing for schools, heritage centers, and access to nearby markets.

Still, Uganda’s diversity is only part of its tourist appeal. In addition to its friendly locals, Uganda is one of two countries in the world through which the equator passes. This actually gives the country a huge advantage climate-wise, because the country is on the equator, but at a high altitude, meaning year-round comfortable weather and mountains with snow at their peaks, like the famed Mount Kilimanjaro.

Snow is at the top, but water is on the ground, and plenty of it. Uganda is the source of the Nile River, the longest river in the world. Additionally, the country is home to the only Great Lake Region in the world outside of the U.S., Lake Victoria.

Uganda’s high altitudes and numerous mountains have also created several waterfalls. At one spot, the Nile passes through four meters of rock, creating the Murchison Falls. Adventure tourists can include kayaking or white-water rafting in their travel itineraries, then they can balance the adrenaline rush (or soothe aching limbs) in one of Uganda’s natural hot springs.

To take in some of the republic’s famed flora and fauna, tourists can also choose from 10 national parks to visit. In a country that is one-third water, biodiversity thrives, and it is home to more than 1,000 species of birds, several of which are unique only to Uganda. This makes the country home to the highest concentration of birds on the African continent, and a famed bird-watching destination globally.

Additionally, Uganda has the Big 50 – the largest concentration of the endangered mountain gorillas on the planet. The country is one of only three in the world where these gorillas reside. It is also home to 13 other types of primates, including the chimpanzee. Visitors can view these animals in their habitats, or on the uniquely Ugandan boat safari, where they can observe wild game without the risk of disturbance that a noisy car creates.

Uganda views tourism as an economic game-changer, and considering that tourism is the world’s largest employer, it’s easy to see why. In addition, the tourist sector can influence all other sectors. Tourism development can lead to not only employment, but also development in Uganda’s rural areas, where most of the tourism sites are located. Even now, the country has a strong service sector that brings in foreign exchange.

In Uganda, East African Savannah meets West African jungle to create an experience that is unlike any other. In this country, tourists can shape whatever experience they are looking for, from culturally-expanding interaction with smiling locals to gorilla tracking, bungee jumping and relaxing in hot springs while eating organic produce. Or they can do all of the above.

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