Uganda: Why You Need to Visit the Pearl of Africa in 2023

It may not be as famous as Rwanda, Kenya or Tanzania but Uganda is undoubtedly one of Africa’s most stirring destinations. Roads are lined with mango, jackfruit and banana trees, rolling hills are home to working tea and coffee plantations, and lakes and rivers are flanked by thickets of tall elephant grass. This is Africa’s emerald Eden, where greenery is juxtaposed with red fertile soil and dense jungles are a wild sanctuary for endangered mountain gorillas – their survival dependent on our attention.

Winston Churchill coined the nickname “The Pearl of Africa” in 1908, to convey the beauty, variety, and natural wealth of the land. Since then, Uganda has grown into one of Africa’s most coveted travel sojourns. It is one of only three countries in the world where it is possible to join the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat without fences, and is home to the highest number of them. With an experienced tracker, there is only bated breath between you and the wisdom reflected in the eyes of one of the world’s most majestic creatures.

While most visitors are focused on encountering the gorillas on a safari in Uganda – with maybe a little extra time to join humanity’s cousins, the chimpanzees – there is a hurried rush to continue to Kenya or Tanzania, in pursuit of the Great Migration. Many potential memories are left behind, in the shadows of Uganda’s forests, under the glare of the savannah sun, in the humid neon of a Kampala nightclub.

During the global pandemic, Uganda suffered a devastating loss of tourism revenue, taking them back to 2005. Fortunately, Ugandans are generally a resolute and determined people and they are re-building with great enthusiasm. The Ugandan Tourism Board has launched a campaign to re-brand and re-position themselves as more than just a gorilla trekking destination. They have released a promotional video that includes wildlife as a part of the tapestry of experience, but making it clear that it’s not the only focus – it’s also about the inspiration of the African people and their lofty ambitions: https://youtube.com/embed/SJrIPSPuASU

What Can You Experience in Uganda?

1. Trek to Find the Endangered Mountain Gorillas: Uganda Gorilla Safaris

Making it to the top of every Uganda travel list, Uganda gorilla safaris are a chance to encounter one the rarest animals in the world. Uganda and its neighbour Rwanda are tasked with the gargantuan responsibility of conserving populations of these critically endangered species. They are funded in no small part through the trekking fees charged for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

With the distinctive crunch sound of the undergrowth beneath your boots, you’ll trek in great anticipation until you hear the whispered words, “They are here”. You will then come face-to-face with a family of gorillas and find yourself bewildered by the similarities of man and ape, humbled and in awe of nature’s creativity. The best time to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking is during the country’s two dry seasons: between December and February and between June and August. Thanks to the efforts of these treks, gorilla populations are increasing.