Uganda - Useful information for your trip

Uganda is still an unknown land for mass tourism and one of the few places on Earth where the mountain gorillas still live. These ancient ancestors of mankind, together with the sociable chimps. are endangered species and the main attractions for intrepid viistors coming all the way here from all over the world. This wild country is the perfect destination for anyone who loves nature at its best or for those looking for unusual safaris.

Its capital city is Kampala, it has no direct access to the sea, but the southern part includes a portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Its land is rich in lakes, rivers, savannahs and equatorial rainforests. Most of the country, traversed south by the Equator, is located on a plateau and is subject to a semi-arid climate in the northern part, while the rest of the land is affected by frequent rainfalls. Temperatures and sunshine are good all year round. The wet season lasts from February to April and from August to October. On the other hand, the dry season goes from November to February and from June to August.

The equatorial rainforest covers only a small portion of the country along the slopes of Ruwenzori mountains.The so called secondary forest grows where trees have been cut down, an impenetrable habitat made up of ferns, bamboos and lianas. Less rainy areas are characterized by gallery forest, hosting hippopotamuses, crocodiles and several insects carrying malaria, sleeping sickness and yellow fever. Protected areas are numerous and make Uganda one of the main tourist destinations in eastern Africa.

As for the economic system, agriculture remains the leading sector, taking up around 80% of the labor force, primarily specializing in wholesale coffee production. A key role is also played by corn, sorghum and potato cultivations. Livestock is equally important, while industry is mainly light and specialized in food, textile and cement production. The secondary sector exclusively concentrates in the areas of Tororo, Jinja and Kampala.

Places to visit in Uganda are Bwindi impenetrable National park, Unesco World heritage because of its excellent biodiversity, Queen Elizabeth National park, set around Kazinga canal, and Murchison falls National park, divided in two by Victoria Nile which forms the waterfalls that give name to the park, and finally Kibale National park, containing an extremely diverse environment, ranging from rainforest to pariries and swamps.