It is with great pleasure and honor that the Uganda Tourist Board welcomes you to explore Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.
What is today Uganda is a wonderful land that was first inhabited in the Stone Age, when primitive man walked the earth. The land has been criss-crossed by adventurers for many centuries… some stayed, others passed on.
Today, Uganda welcomes visitors from all over the world, who, stirred by their imagination, come to explore this enchanting country. The shimmering lakes, lofty mountains, mysterious forests, and game parks teeming with birds and increasing herds of all kinds of wildlife, provide a galaxy of attractions and activities.
A single visit is not enough to savour all the wonders on offer. In Uganda, it is said that there is magic in the mountains and an air of expectation in the game parks. Getting to Uganda is easy. Entebbe International Airport, just a few kilometres from the Capital, Kampala, is served by international carriers from Europe and other parts of Africa, including Nairobi, providing daily connections to Africa’s biggest gateway.
Uganda is ideal for a voyage of discovery into this enthralling continent. Whatever your interest, be it archeological or cultural matters, wildlife safaris, birdwatcing, mountain gorilla treks, mountain climbing, white water rafting, scuba diving…, Uganda has something special for you. The country has a captivating combination of nature’s wonders, traditional customs and modern attractions. Transcending all these, however, is the warm welcome straight from the people’s hearts.
The people of Uganda are among the most hospitable in Africa. The nation is the product of the unification of ancient kingdoms, and many independent chieftains. Its remarkable heritage lives on in the hearts of the people, and their traditional costumes, languages and practices. Although nearly 30 different languages are spoken, English is official. Kiswahili is also widely spoken.
Uganda’s equatorial climate is tempered by cool breezes from the mountains. Its lush vegetation is the result of bountiful rainfall in two rainy seasons which fall between March and May, and October and November.
To most visitors, the attraction of Africa is the chance to experience, at first hand, the sights and sounds often only glimpsed on television screens. Great herds of game roam free as nature intended alongside the brilliantly coloured birds of the tropical forests, lakes and mountains. Butterflies flit from flower to flower as great swathes of bougainvillaea vie with exotic orchids or the magical lotus flower to assail the senses. Speke, the first European to gaze at the source of the Nile stood here. Visitors also have the rare privilege of trekking into the jungle to watch a family of gorillas in one of their last natural habitats.
This is Uganda… “The Pearl of Africa”.
Tour operators around the world are now providing packages featuring Uganda and its outstanding attractions. Innovative travel agents and independent travellers are discovering how easy it is to create that special safari. The Uganda Tourist Board hopes this Online Guide will help you to discover the allure of Uganda, as it describes much of what we have to offer, and sets out detailed information on most of our tourist attractions. So take time off and reap a lifetime of memories by coming to Uganda.
The board provides detailed information for the visitor. For advice on routes, transport, accommodation, local attractions, etc. call at our Entebbe or Kampala offices, or write to: