Uganda is a landlocked country bordered by Kenya in the east, South Sudan in the north, Democratic Republic of the Congo in the west, Rwanda in the southwest and Tanzania in the south. Uganda’s total land area is 241,559 sq. km. About 37,000 sq. km of this area is occupied by open water while the rest is land. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, which it shares with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda is located on the East African plateau, averaging about 1,100 meters (3,609 ft.) above sea level. The plateau generally slopes downwards towards Sudan explaining the northerly tendency of most river flows in the country. Although generally equatorial, the climate is not uniform since the altitude modifies the climate. Uganda’s elevation, soil types and predominantly warm and wet climate impart a huge agricultural potential to the country. They also explain the country’s large variety of forests, grasslands and wildlife reserves. Uganda has a total population of about 35.6 million people. The official language is English and currency used is Uganda Shillings (UGX 1/- equivalent to USD $3600). The president of Uganda is Yoweri Museveni, who came to power in January 1986 after a protracted six-year guerrilla war.

Daniela Pontis is our Africa Product Manager. Here she relives the moment she met a family of gorillas and gives us ten reasons why you should visit Uganda. Uganda is the country where East and West Africa meet, featuring lush forests inhabited by primates and arid savannahs which are home to a wide array of plains game. Lakes, mountains, tea plantations and waterfalls are some of the landmarks that made an impression on Winston Churchill when he travelled here, leading him to refer to it as "The Pearl of Africa". I visited Uganda more than a century after Churchill and I was pleased to see that it has maintained the same beauty and 'wow' factor. As Africa Product Manager, I have travelled extensively through my favourite continent and I will never be tired to repeat that every single country provides a different experience; however there is no doubt Uganda occupies a very special place in my ranking! Unsurprisingly the feedback of those who have had the privilege to visit this country seems to be consistent. There is something magical about it, a fantastic vibe created by a mix of elements that combined have the power to metaphorically blow every traveller away. If the fact that Lonely Planet chose it as the best destination to travel to in 2012 hasn't convinced you to visit, then hopefully my highlights will!
1. People
Every traveller knows how the attitude of local people can influence the experience when visiting a new country. When going somewhere new, we want to learn about other ways of living, we want contact with new cultures, we want to connect with people whose lives are so different but somehow so similar to ours.People in Uganda are friendly, open and curious with a great sense of fun. They were happy to see us travelling in their country and they would wave, smile and call us "Muzungu" (white men) not in a derogatory way, but in a friendly, welcoming and to be fair, amusing way. I remember chatting to a child wearing his impeccable school uniform after a day at school and a long walk back to Bwindi, his village. He told me he was very lucky to live there and proud that people from all around the world visit his home town to see the gorillas. He told me about a few times when he saw the gorillas coming to the village and that they ought to be the most amazing creatures on earth. I was touched and thought it is great to hear that the new generations have understood how important conservation is and how proud they should be to live in such an incredible area.
2. Green
If you think that everything south of the Sahara is arid, yellow and inhospitable, you are definitely trapped in a cliché! All I can remember when thinking back is the green emerald colour that dominates the landscape. The lush and luxurious jungle which characterises the rainforest is replaced by banana, tea and coffee plantations around the villages making the long drives exciting and varied. I was amazed to find out that Bwindi impenetrable forest features more than 1,000 flowering plant species and almost 200 different types of trees, many of which are endemic. It is no wonder that this precious ecosystem is home to an incredible variety of birds, butterflies and mammal species including some of the rarest animals on the planet.
3. Off the beaten track feel
It's becoming increasingly difficult to have the feeling of travelling to a remote area, sometimes even in Africa. The often bumpy, rough roads of Uganda and the less developed infrastructure compared to some of the neighbouring countries, made my experience in Uganda truly edgy and fun. Uganda is an African success story and whilst being adventurous and unspoilt, it is now a very safe country to travel to.
4. Wildlife
Primates are so amazing that we often forget about some of the other incredible wildlife that lives in Uganda. However, I was thrilled to see herds of water buffalo in Queen Elizabeth National Park and watch hippos and elephants playing in the water of the Kazinga Channel. I took hundreds of photos of colourful birds, lazy crocodiles and elegant antelopes. If you are luckier than I was, you could even spot the famous tree climbing lions in Ishasha and if you are outrageously lucky the even more elusive leopard!
5. Action
Primate treks are of course a big highlight but there's more to Uganda than this. Kayaking in Bunyonyi, a gentle trek on the slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains, or a walking safari in Lake Mburo are only some of the options. I loved the gentle trek to the waterfalls in Bwindi; spellbound, I watched hundreds of colourful butterflies on the paths and listened to the multitude of birds singing in the forest as if it was the most beautiful concert I had ever heard.
6. Water
Lakes, waterfalls, channels; the water element is prevalent in the Ugandan landscape which even features the source of the mighty Nile. Apart from allowing the lush vegetation to survive, this precious element adds to the beauty of the scenery, makes the activities on offer varied and exciting and is the habitat for many species that otherwise wouldn't be able to survive.
7. Conservation
Gorillas are endangered creatures and the only way of helping them to survive is to get involved! A gorilla permit is not cheap but the experience is worth every penny. By puchasing one you will be contributing to the survival of these marvellous primates and the conservation of their rainforest home.
8. Responsible Tourism
Uganda needs support and apart from helping the conservation of its wildlife and ecosystems, it's vital we help the local communities to improve their standard of life. Bwindi Hospital is an important hospital in Uganda specialising in HIV treatments and is one of the projects Explore supports.
9. Chimps
Although the gorilla trek has to be the main highlight, when it comes to outstanding moments, I thought the chimp trek was up there with the best of them. Kibale National Park has the biggest population of chimps on earth and is the best place to observe them. I was impressed with our ranger, a lovely and experienced lady who would be able to recognise any odours, sounds and tracks in the forest. The chimp trek is a fantastic experience and is quite different from the gorilla trek as it involves being very vigilant and fast to understand where the chimps are and how to find them. As we finally heard them screaming we were absolutely thrilled when we saw them coming towards us. Only a few metres away, they didn't seem bothered by our presence. As they slowly merged back into the forest after their brief procession, our day was made!
10. Gorillas
Wildlife enthusiasts know that gorillas encounter is the ultimate wildlife experience. I had been waiting for this moment for a very long time. Unlike the chimps, which can be more difficult to spot, you are pretty much guaranteed an encounter with the gorillas. The anticipation and realisation that this was actually finally going to happen, kept me awake almost all night! An early start was on the cards anyway and from my lovely tented camp I had been watching the tall, steep and verdant mountain the day before, waiting for the morning to come so I could climb it. After being assigned to our groups and to our experienced rangers, we started heading up, following the family of gorillas which had been the first to be habituated. As we climbed, I had a conflict between wanting the most beautiful walk of my life to last as long as possible and at the same time having the burning desire to find the gorillas as quickly as possible. We had been warned it could take as little as one hour or the whole day, depending on where the gorillas were. If possible, this increased my adrenaline even more. I could barely contain my excitement. I think the beauty about this trek was that not only were we walking through some of the most incredible habitat I have ever seen but also that we were working hard to climb the mountain in order to get the most amazing reward. I loved every minute of it; the sounds of the nature, the lush rainforest, (appropriately called 'impenetrable'), and the pure air. But after two hours, I was ready for the life changing encounter. And when the rangers quietly announced that yes, we had got there and we were going to find the gorillas in a few minutes, our excitement couldn't have been greater. A beautiful family of gorillas, moving slowly were having their breakfast in front of us. Tearing out and chewing bamboo shoots, scratching their heads, climbing trees, sometimes moving away and sometimes staying still and placid in front of us rewarding us with the most incredible poses. These furry, gentle giants whose black colour contrasts with the lush green vegetation of the forest, were just indescribable. And while observing their features, I realised why they are so close to human beings in the evolutionary scale. Unlike other animals, their faces really looked individual. I realised that the old, tired silverback really looked like an old man and enjoyed watching the youngest addition to the family in the same way I have fun watching a young child playing and being naughty. What an incredible experience; when the rangers announced it was time to leave, I couldn't believe one hour had already gone. I could never get bored with them. They were so entertaining and so beautiful that it felt like a mystical experience that will stay with me for a lifetime. We also offer Tailormade holidays to Uganda – perfect if you want us to plan an itinerary to your exact specifications and budget or travel on your own itinerary in a private group.

The best wildlife viewing months in Uganda are during the Dry seasons from June to August and December to February. Primate walks in the forest are a big part of any safari in Uganda. The habitat of rainforests is, by default, very wet, and one can't avoid rain completely. However, after heavy rain, the skies often open up to bright sunshine. Best Time June to August and December to February (All parks) High Season June to September (It's rarely crowded, but you'll need to book your gorilla permits long in advance) Low Season March, April, May, October, November (Some lodges and camps in high rainfall areas close down; roads and forest trails can be in poor condition) Best Weather June-July and January-February (Little rainfall) Worst Weather March, April and May (Peak of Wet season)

Uganda's health system is composed of health services delivered to the public sector, by private providers, and by traditional and complementary health practitioners. It also includes community-based health care and health promotion activities.

If you choose to apply online for a Uganda e-visa, you must check some other things off the list. It depends on which visa you apply for. For the tourist visa, all the requirements mentioned above are enough. You need to make a copy of the information page, but that is pretty much it. When you apply for a Uganda transit visa, along with the things mentioned above, you also need a letter that states the reason for transit and the country of destination. Lastly, the East Africa Visa requires you to have an itinerary and a return flight ticket. All in all, the Uganda visa requirements are nothing out of the ordinary. All the things on that list are easy to obtain, and it will not take you very long. Moreover, if you decide to apply online using iVisa, the process is even easier than you think. 15 minutes of your time is enough to getyour visa in as little as 72 hours.

In Uganda, there are many different ethnic groups with different cultures. The Bantu speaking people dominate much of East, central & south Africa and in Uganda they are form several tribes e.g Baganda, Bagisu, Basoga, batooro, Banyakole, Bakiga etc. In northern & eastern Uganda, the people who speak Nilotic languages dominate more including the Lango, Acholi, Iteso & Karamajong. A few Pygmies live isolated in the rainforests of western Uganda i.e the Batwa people who live near Bwindi. English, the national language of Uganda is widely spoken followed by Luganda which is known by many people more than Swahili the trade language of East Africa. There are over 30 different languages spoken in Uganda. Traditional dance is part of culture and most ceremonies or special occasions will have these dancers from different tribes. The ‘Kiganda’ dance from the Baganda tribe is the most widely recognized where it involves the performers to move their lower body to a drum beat while keeping the upper part controlled. The ‘Basoga’ tribe have a special dance called the ‘Tamenhaibunga’ which expresses the importance of love and friendship in society. Other tribes like the ‘Ankole’ tribe have other special kinds of dances and can be seen while at cultural centers like Uganda museum or Ndere center in Kampala.

Uganda has a lot of fertile agricultural land which can grow anything thus a great variety food. The most common food grown is Matooke (green banana) which is peeled at the time of preparing and steamed in the banana leaves. It’s either served the way it is or mashed plus source either beef stew, beans, G.nuts etc. Posho which is made from maize is also common and prepared in most schools since it’s cheap. Fruits like the Pineapple, water melon, yellow bananas and mangoes are also common and can be bought from food markets like Owino & Nakasero. The Lake Victoria & other lakes have a lot of fish including the ‘tilapia’ – a tasty fresh water fish that can be deep fried or cooked. Other foods include ‘Chicken Luwombo’ – which is chicken sauce prepared in banana leaves. The ‘Rolex’, a popular street delicacy and snack is also popular in Uganda and was listed among the top African fast foods by CNN.

Uganda is sunny most of the year with temperatures rarely rising above 29 degrees (84 degrees Fahrenheit). The average annual temperature is about 26 degrees Celsius (78° Fahrenheit). The rainy season is from March till May and October till November. Light rain season falls in November and December. Dry seasons are from December to February and June to August. The best time, the best months of the year would be December to late February and from June to September.