Our Top Uganda Tips: The Pearl of Africa

Winston Churchill called Uganda "the Pearl of Africa," and the name still fits. This compact East African country packs in savanna, dense forest, crater lakes, the headwaters of the Nile and the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, along with some of the continent's most moving wildlife encounters.

Bwindi and the mountain gorillas

Uganda's headline experience is trekking to its endangered mountain gorillas, and the country protects roughly half of the world's remaining population. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the main destination: small, permit-controlled groups hike into the forest to spend a closely managed hour with a habituated gorilla family. It is demanding, humbling and unforgettable.

Beyond the gorillas

• Entebbe — the gateway, with the botanical garden, the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary on Lake Victoria, and craft markets.
• Kibale Forest — the best place in Africa for chimpanzee tracking.
• Queen Elizabeth National Park — savanna game and the tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector.
• The Nile at Jinja — the river's source, with rafting and quieter boat trips.

How to plan it

Gorilla and chimp permits are limited and should be secured well ahead. Uganda pairs naturally with Rwanda or a Kenyan safari, and treks demand a reasonable level of fitness, sturdy boots and a willingness to get muddy. A few days is enough for the gorillas; a week lets you add chimps and savanna game.