Description
Its most famous residents are the critically endangered mountain gorilla, of which half the world’s surviving population lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Aside from gorillas, chimpanzees, and the Big Five, another of Uganda’s attractions is as the much-sought-after source of the Nile River, as mythical as ever – and a magnet for whitewater rafting and kayaking enthusiasts. This river borns in the second largest lake in the world – Lake Victoria – shared with Kenya and Tanzania.
Another highlight of Uganda is Mount Elgon, situated in the eastern part of the country. The mountain has the largest surface areas of any extinct volcano in the world, and is adorned with fascinating caves, cliffs, gorges and beautiful waterfalls.
The Ruwenzori Mountains offer a memorable experience for both experienced and ordinary hikers. The Ruwenzoris consist of six peaks with permanent snow caps and three glaciers. The tallest, Margherita, is the third highest peak in Africa.
There, one will also find huge stands of mahogany hardwood forest which is home to primates including chimpanzees. There are about 5000 chimps in Uganda that are protected amongst seven research and special conservation areas for them including the Kibale forest. Keen ornithologists will appreciate the more than 1000 species of birds recorded, many being endemics. Avifauna in the western areas is a mixture of more typical East African birds but with Congo, or western avifauna present, it is unique.