This April, WIT Nancy is embarking on an incredible trip to Uganda with Africa Wild Explorations.
She’ll venture into the national park, meet up with park rangers, and glimpse the majestic gorillas of the mountains. She’s flying from Portland to Amsterdam on the nonstop flight, then flying KLM from Amsterdam to Entebbe Airport.
Entebbe is 30 miles south of Kampala on the shores of Lake Victoria. She’ll meet her hosts from Africa Wild Explorations, after a night in Entebbe, she’ll head to Kibale Forest National Park.
Over the next few weeks, here on the blog we’ll be taking a close look at Uganda and follow the footsteps of Nancy on her incredible journey!
Top Things to Know about Uganda
It’s a Land of Many Waters
Uganda is a land of many waters, and most famously, it’s home to the source of the Nile. There is Lake Bunyonyi, the second deepest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria, one of the African Great Lakes, and Murchison Falls, the world’s most powerful waterfall. Ssese Islands, a paradise of white sand beaches and tropical vegetation.
Tourists Flock to see Mountain Gorillas
Uganda is the world’s premier primate destination, with baboons, chimpanzees, rare colobus, Bush babies, and Pottos. It’s THE place to go to see some wild mountain gorillas, with almost 54% of the world’s entire population of Mountain Gorillas calling Uganda home.
A Safari Lover’s Paradise
Thanks to ten national parks, the country also offers rewarding game drives, including rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, elephant herds, giraffes, as well as more than a thousand bird species.
Some other fun facts about Uganda:
- Pan-fried grasshoppers is a local delicacy served to guests
- The equator runs through Uganda, and the line is marked at 72 km post along the Kampala-Masaka Road and another equator mark is located in Kasese District within the Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Uganda is the size of the State of Oregon, but with a population that’s almost 10 times larger
- Uganda’s Rwenzori mountains are so high that they are snow-capped year-round, with Mt. Stanley towering at 5,109m (16,762 feet).
- In 2012, Lonely Planet selected Uganda as the Best Tourist Location. Since then, popularity hasn’t waned, averaging a million tourists each year. It’s also among the Top 16 Holiday Destinations for 2016 by CNN.
- Muwenda Mutebi II of Buganda rules over the Kingdom of Buganda, a subnational kingdom within Uganda. Founded in the 14th century, it has existed on and off as one of the more powerful political states in East Africa.
- There are over 40 languages spoken within its borders—and while English is the official tongue, Luganda is the most common in use. There is even a Ugandan English dialect known as Uglish, using many unique expressions and idioms.
- A “rolex” isn’t a watch, it’s a snack—a chapati bread rolled around a two-egg omelette with onion, tomatoes and cabbage. It’s a popular street food for late nights!
- Uganda spiced tea is a popular drink, blended with ginger, milk, sugar, and loose black tea leaves.
