Why visit Uganda? #VisitUganda
When I tell people in Europe that I live in Uganda, they may have heard of the country, but they are not really sure why. Why live in or visit Uganda?
“Is that guy still there?” People ask me vaguely.
Sometimes they’re referring to Joseph Kony… [kicked out of Uganda in 2006, now in the DRC, his forces much reduced]
Unbelievably, sometimes they’re referring to Idi Amin… [exiled in 1979, died 2003].
There’s a lot more to Uganda than the self-proclaimed “His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular” – and his officially-stated claim of being the uncrowned King of Scotland
Dear World, wouldn’t it be great if … one day those same people were asking after ‘that girl’ prize-winning Ugandan journalist Nancy Kacungira?
Ugandan journalist Nancy Kacungira wins first BBC World Komla Dumor Award
“What about that war – is that still going on?”
Eh banange… [translation: OMG / what?!]
Several questions later, I finally get to the bottom of it, they are referring to Rwanda’s genocide of 1994 [22 years ago, different country].
I think it’s safe to say then that outside East Africa, people don’t really know much about 21st century Uganda!
So, if general knowledge about the country is so low, how do tourists end up in the Pearl of Africa? (So named by Winston Churchill).
A lot of people arrive here like me, as volunteers or missionaries. To be honest, until I came here, you could write what I knew about Uganda on the back of a postage stamp. I admit it, I was just like anyone else, I knew very little about this fabulous country – and I was somebody who took an active interest in the African continent.
“You will love Uganda. Just go!”
I Love UG. I Love Uganda!
I did very little research before I came to Uganda. I just let the wave of positive feeling carry me to the Equator: “you will love Uganda. Just go!” My volunteer predecessor told me.
I came to Uganda as a VSO volunteer with the Uganda Conservation Foundation, ostensibly for two years. Uganda felt like home the moment the plane door opened at Entebbe International Airport. I have never looked back.
A very serious muzungu taking notes on my first field trip with UCF and Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger, Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area
I didn’t come for the nearly-always-sunny weather, but it’s a great reason to stay! You take it for granted that you can just wear a T-shirt for almost 365 days of the year.
Most tourists come to Uganda to see the critically endangered mountain gorillas.
Every trek to see the mountain gorillas is unique – you never know exactly what antics they will be up to! PHOTO Julia Lloyd
While they are here, visitors will usually go on safari too. They may go chimp tracking, or take a boat ride on the River Nile.
Many people will visit more than one national park.
The more adventurous will go grade 5 white water rafting (in Africa, only Zimbabwe can match Uganda’s white water).
Huge Nile Perch caught by Paul Goldring of Wild Frontiers Uganda (pictured). Paul runs fishing trips on Lake Victoria and at Murchison Falls
The adventurous may fish Lake Victoria or Murchison Falls and attempt to land a 150 kg Nile Perch, or watch (join in?) an African dance display. Volunteering and church projects are popular reasons why people come to Uganda too.
“I’ve never really noticed birds before,” visitors to Uganda tell me.
Well, in the UK, that’s not so surprising: we don’t have African Grey Parrots, with their bright red underwings, whistling above our heads as they fly towards Lake Victoria morning. In the UK, we are not woken up by the cackle of Hadada Ibis who probe the lawn for worms with their huge curved beaks. We don’t have to DUCK when a Marabou Stork with a two metre wingspan swoops low above us as we cross Kampala Road…
Uganda’s striking national emblem: the Grey Crowned Crane or Crested Crane. PHOTO Kaj Ostergaard
Birdwatching – or the modern ‘birding’ – is not just for oldies or ‘twitchers.’
What does the future hold for tourism in Uganda?
Uganda has incredible tourism potential.
The roads are improving and new lodges and activities are opening up everywhere. The most developed tourism is in the national parks, where it’s all about wildlife and birds.
Still my favourite elephant photo. Maramagambo Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park. PHOTO Charlotte Beauvoisin
Beyond that, Uganda has some of the world’s best hiking: Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori Mountains is a challenging seven to ten day hike. The huge caldera of Mount Elgon, that straddles the Kenya border, is another wonderful climb of four or five days.
You can even have a snowball fight on the Equator! Trekking the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda. PHOTO Paul Goldring
In south-west Uganda, you can hike to the top of the Virunga volcanoes and swim in crystal clear lakes. You can walk through the jungle of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, before or after the obligatory trip to see the mountain gorillas. You are unlikely to bump into many other tourists on these treks.
Definitely one of my favourite day adventures in Uganda: hiking through the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest from Buhoma to Nkuringo #gorillahike Bwindi
Uganda is a particularly appealing country for outdoors types. We Brits love a physical challenge – we also love to sip a sundowner or three in the evenings and enjoy some delicious food! You can do all of that in the Pearl.
No-one comes to Uganda and has ‘an average time.’
Uganda has something for everyone.
Ugandan welcomes are always unforgettable. The fact everyone speaks English makes travelling in Uganda so much easier too.
Polite greetings and dazzling smiles always make visitors feel very welcome in Uganda
I believe Uganda’s time has yet to come. In the last few years, Uganda has won dozens of tourism and travel awards, from Lonely Planet No. 1 Destination to Visit, to National Geographic, CNN, the African Bird Club and more. The thing is about Uganda: the country just grabs you – and people like me revisit and tell their friends and family to visit too.
And people like me stay …
A version of this article first appeared in ‘Discover Uganda 2016’ the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) magazine.
i cannot think of a better way to summarize the beauty Uganda is. Though even us as Ugandans, we are yet to fully appreciate the pearl of Africa. I always tell my friends, if you really want to appreciate the beauty in this country, just get out of Kampala and travel across the rest of Uganda.
Hi Douglas, thanks for your positive feedback – I do find Uganda endlessly inspiring! There are more domestic tourism initiatives now, I’m so Uganda #Ondaba being one of them.
White people have a very patronising tone when they discuss Africa. It’s really irritating.
Just write about your own country and culture ‘Muzungu’.
And as ever the typical ‘Ugandans are so friendly’ stereotypes. Ha.
Obviously in your case Ugandans are NOT friendly. Well done, for being so negative, even about your own people.
I have 1500 comments on this blog, and yours is only the 3rd negative one – congs!
I appreciate the views of the writer about Africa and wish all people had the same spirit
Thanks – although my views relate specifically to Uganda. I think one problem is that people outside Africa can’t tell differences between one country and another. The continent has 54 sovereign states
Thanks for appreciating the good things coz others only see the negatives, and thanks loving nature. Am a Ugandan girl who whish to meet a muzungu guy who loves nature like me of which how to get one here in Uganda. Thanks for loving Uganda
Hello Becky, thanks for the appreciation 🙂
Ah yes, nature, my favourite!
In my experience, you are more likely to meet a muzungu guy that likes nature than a Ugandan guy that likes nature. Perhaps it’s because we’ve never had elephants running through our garden so don’t understand how challenging wildlife can be!
If you’re looking for a muzungu guy who likes nature, you probably want somebody who works in tourism. (That said, why do you want a muzungu guy anyway? Guys are guys after all…) Many of the things that people believe about us bazungu are untrue anyway: we are not necessarily any better off / more reliable / more faithful et cetera. A lot of us don’t believe in God, many of us will expect you to pay your half of the household (or drinks) bills, and more. Mixed relationships are a lot harder than you might think.
Webale mzungu for appreciating the beauty of Uganda…..dispelling some myths about Bazungu as well. Uganda is a country where you won’t sleep hungry…. even if you dont have a single coin.
kale mukwano – you’re very welcome! 🙂
That is very true. We call it Geographical ignorance!! Its not only to Uganda but the rest of Africa. Western media concentrates more on negative news in Africa!!
To be fair, the news is generally negative, wherever you go and whichever country you live in, so it’s not just Western media who we should criticise. As a writer and accredited journalist myself, I would look beyond blaming the media too: it is human nature to like the shocking, the deadly and disaster. See how popular crimes books are! Newspapers put shocking headlines on the front cover as they know it sells newspapers. In a sense, they are only giving us what we want!
Uganda is a very beautiful country indeed!! I wish I could bring the whole world to visit Uganda and all the beauties across the corners.
I have a dream to one day have a Muzungu friend who will be a friend indeed………….yes who could this Muzungu be??
Hi Joseph, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Indeed Uganda is beautiful beyond words.
We have a lot of fun on the Diary of a Muzungu Facebook page by the way.