Uganda - the Pearl of Africa - is a land blessed with natures’ diversity and a safari adventurer’s delight. Visitors come here to track Mountain Gorillas, these gentle giants who share 95% of their genes with humans. But Uganda also boasts diverse African game, a rich mosaic of tribes and cultures, tropical rainforests, bustling cities and friendly people. 

Uganda is situated in the heart of Africa, right where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle, to create a melting pot of amazing attractions. Here you will find Africa’s Big 5 and the Great Apes, incredible scenery – lakes, mountains, rivers and valleys – as well as a culture and customs dating back centuries.

Landlocked in East Africa, Uganda shares its borders with Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, and Tanzania and Rwanda to the south. Home to several national parks and protected nature areas, Uganda has many natural resources and offers unique beauty and biodiversity. These combined with a well – established tourism infrastructure like roads, properly managed national parks as well accommodation facilities make Uganda arguably one of the most diverse destinations in Africa today.

Uganda  boasts a wealth of primates, over 1000 bird species, including 27 endemics and wildlife such as Uganda Kob, Giant Forest Hog, Forest and Cape Buffalo, as well as a healthy population of lion, leopard, elephant, and some of the largest Nile crocodiles you will ever see!

However, Uganda’s star attraction is the endangered mountain gorilla. And the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to about half the wild mountain gorilla population left in the world. With just over 1000 surviving individuals, they are the biggest of living primates, and among the most peaceable.

Republic of Uganda

• Area: 236,580 sq km²

• Capital: Kampala

• Currency: Ugandan Shilling

• People: a population of 40 million is divided into many tribes, including Baganda, Ankole, Basoga , Iteso, Bakiga, Langi, Rwanda, Bagisu, Acholi, Lugbara, Batoro, Bunyoro, Alur, Bagwere, Bakonjo, Jopodhola, Karamojong and Rundi.

• Official language: English

• Time: GMT + 3

Climate

Uganda is tropical, but the heat is tempered by its altitude. The rains tend to fall between March and May, and between November and December, with April being the wettest month. The periods between December and February, and June and August are dryer. The northeast part of Uganda is semi-arid, with only two distinct winter and summer seasons, rather than four seasons.

Rwanda - Land of 1000 Hills - is best known as home of the Mountain Gorillas and has lately become one of the most progressive countries in Africa. With a difficult past and an incredible reincarnation, Rwanda is one the cleanest, safest and potentially best organized tourism destinations in the region.

Rwanda’s proverbial ‘thousand hills’ are scattered throughout this small nation – fertile, green and so beautifully terraced, and her people are some of the world’s most charming and hospitable. But ultimately not much can compare to a face-to-face encounter with a Silverback Gorilla in the rainforest of Volcanoes National Park – a life changing experience!

Rwanda is a small, land locked country in East Africa, and shares its borders with Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, and Burundi to the south. It boasts five volcanoes, 23 lakes as well as several rivers. A large part of the country has an elevation of between 1,500 and 2,500 meters.

In prehistoric times as much as one third of Rwanda was covered with mountain rainforest. Today the only large tract of forest left in Rwanda is Nyungwe in the southwestern part of the country, covering almost 1000 km².  Some forested areas are also found in the Parc National de Volcans in the northeast, however most of the natural vegetation here is bamboo forest and open moorland.

Large parts of the country’s highlands are dominated by terraced agriculture that gives the Rwandan countryside its beautiful and pleasant character. The eastern part of Rwanda has entirely different vegetation -typical African bush, a mix of savannah and grassland dominated by acacia trees, as well as large tracts of marshlands and swamps.

The Republic of Rwanda

• Area: 26,340 km²

• Capital: Kigali – population approximately 1 million

• Population: 11½ million

• Currency: Rwanda Franc

• People: Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%

• Official languages: English & Kinyarwanda. French & Swahili are widely spoken

• Time: GMT + 2

Climate

The climate is not uniform throughout the country – it is drier in the east than in the west and north. Sometimes the volcanoes can even be capped in snow.

There are two rainy seasons. The long rains from mid-February to beginning of June and the short rains from mid-September to mid-December. It can rain quite heavily in the mountains during these periods.

Kigali and Parc National des Volcans can become rather chilly.

The areas around Lake Kivu are generally rather sunny and pleasant all year round. 

Rwanda can be visited any time of the year – even during the rainy seasons – as the scenery then is greener and the skies are clearer.

The wet season is the best time to trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest as they wander further  into the forest during dry seasons and consequently are harder to spot.

For a gorilla trek you need to be fairly fit, equipped for the humid, muddy conditions of a rainforest hike, and in good health – gorillas are susceptible to human illnesses but don’t have our immunities.

Mountain gorillas can be seen year-round, therefore the best time for trekking is ultimately up to you. The dry seasons, from mid-December to February and from June to September, are considered the most comfortable times for trekking and the trails are in better condition.

However, there are some advantages of trekking in the wet seasons (March to May and October to December). During these months, gorillas tend to stick to the lower slopes as food is plentiful and temperatures are milder, therefore trekking times can be much shorter.

Safari FAQ’s

• General Safari FAQs

• Describe a Day on Safari

• About Sustainability

• Debunking Safari Myths

• What is a Luxury Safari

• Choosing a Safari Style

• Multi-generational Safaris

• About Giving Back