UGANDA SAFARI VACATIONS

Situated in the heart of Africa and astride the Equator, Uganda is a lush and fertile country with spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife. Known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda's beauty is only surpassed by its most famous attraction - Bwindi, home of the elusive Mountain Gorilla. Half of the total population of the world's gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains.

Amongst Uganda's attractions are the magnificent Murchison Falls where the 50 metre wide Nile River is forced through a narrow cleft in the rocks, plunging hundreds of feet into a narrow gorge and Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world. Murchison Falls National Park is the largest of Uganda's National Parks. A pleasant area of rolling grassland and wooded savanna, the park extends from Karuma Falls in the east to Lake Albert in the west. The main attraction for tourists here is the launch trip on the Nile River where one has the opportunity to see riverine species such as the crocodiles and hippopotamus, together with a variety of game animals and an impressive arrray of bird species.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the treasures of Uganda and a mecca for bird-watchers. The Ruwenzoris, or the Mountains of the Moon, as the Greek astrologer Ptolemy first named them, have a legendary beauty, and are perhaps the most beautiful mountain range in the whole of Africa.

Uganda enjoys ideal weather conditions ranging from the warmth of the lowlands to the coolness of the highlands. Mean temperatures are between 21° and 31°Celsius all year round. The wet seasons are from March to May and then again October to November.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

UNESCO has declared The Queen Elizabeth National Park a Biosphere Reserve for Humanity. The Queen Elizabeth National Park is absolutely outstanding for the incredible diversity of eco-systems which range from savannah to tropical forest and meadowland to crater lakes. The park's 2,000 square kilometres also boast a terrific variety of game.

This is one of the best places in the world for bird-watching. Over 500 bird species are found here. There are no less that eleven species of kingfisher, a magnificent selection of raptors, and pink clouds of flamingo on several of the crater lakes. The animal world is also very varied and includes elephant and hippo, buffalo and Ugandan kob, bushbuck, waterbuck, many antelope and the fast disappearing chimpanzees. In the Queen Elizabeth National Park the lions climb trees, particularly in the Ishasha region, just as they do in the Lake Manyara region of Tanzania.

One of the best, and most relaxing, ways to see game is to take a launch trip along the Kazinga Channel, between Lakes George and Edward. The Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda's great treasures.