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Uganda

✨ The Pearl of Africa

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. Its capital and largest city is Kampala, located near the northern shore of Lake Victoria. The country covers about 241,000 square kilometres and has a generally elevated landscape, with plateaus, mountains, forests and broad areas of savanna.

Much of Uganda lies within the Nile basin. The Nile leaves Lake Victoria through Uganda and flows northward, connecting the country to one of Africa’s major river systems. Its location near the Equator gives it a tropical climate, although altitude and local relief create noticeable differences in temperature and rainfall from one region to another. Uganda is closely linked to Africa’s Great Lakes region.

Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania, is the country’s largest lake and an important source of water, transport and fish. In the west, the Rwenzori Mountains rise along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo; some of their highest peaks remain covered with snow, a remarkable feature so close to the Equator.

Uganda also has many protected areas, including forests and savannas that provide habitats for elephants, chimpanzees, lions and mountain gorillas. Agriculture plays a central role in the economy and provides work for a large share of the population, while coffee is one of the country’s main exports. Uganda gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962 and is now a republic, with Kampala serving as its main political and economic centre.

💡 Did you know?

Do you know the 'Mountains of the Moon'? This is the poetic name given to the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda. For a very long time, explorers searched for these mysterious mountains said to be the source of the Nile. They are almost always hidden in clouds and mist, giving them a magical air. Although they are on the equator, their summits are covered with blue ice glaciers!

Uganda is the ideal place to meet a giant gorilla! In the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you can walk for a long time to find these families of mountain gorillas living quietly in the vegetation. Family leaders are called 'Silverbacks' because of their hair which turns gray with age. They are immense and very strong, but they are also very calm and protective of their babies.

Imagine the Nile River, hundreds of meters wide, suddenly forced to squeeze into a small crack between the rocks only seven meters wide! This is what happens at Murchison Falls. The water descends with such force that it rumbles like a jet engine and creates a magnificent permanent rainbow over the white foam.