In the heart of East Africa, landlocked between Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda is unique in that it lies at the crossroads of two exceptionally rich worlds: the equatorial forest of Central Africa and the savannah of East Africa. It is certainly the beauty of these landscapes, with a profusion of wild animals and a flora as luxuriant as it is varied, that led Winston Churchill, more than a century ago, to say that Uganda was in his eyes "the pearl of Africa", a statement that any aspiring traveler around Lake Mutanda or in the Murchison Falls National Park will soon confirm. The Uganda travel guide will take you to the four corners of this splendid territory, from the vertiginous peaks of Virunga and Rwenzori to the rapid rivers of the Nile that you can raft down, from the island of chimpanzees to the vibrant Kampala, the Ugandan capital and its feverish party nights! We cannot mention Uganda without mentioning the silver-tailed mountain gorillas, which we will have the opportunity to meet in their natural environment, not without emotion, in the heart of the impenetrable forest of Bwindi, not far from Rwanda. The other advantage of a stay in this country is that it is a destination still little known by the French-speaking tourism, ensuring the adventure, while being a very safe country, and even very welcoming! Webale kuja mu Uganda ("welcome to Uganda").

What to see, what to do Uganda?

When to go Uganda ?

When to go to Uganda? Generally speaking, the best time to go to Uganda, even if it is more pleasant to travel in the dry season (easier trekking, better visibility of the wildlife, less mosquitoes, more practicable tracks...), is the wet season. The months of the dry season correspond to the period of the school vacations in Europe, the tourists are more numerous and the prices are higher. Birdwatchers and photographers in search of great lights looking to know when to go to Uganda will generally prefer the rainy seasons, i.e. from March to May and from September to November. Temperatures are also very pleasant throughout the year.

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Practical information for travel Uganda

Il y a 1 001 séjours possibles en Ouganda ! Vos goûts, vos attentes, la durée et les dates de votre voyage ainsi que l'état de votre bourse seront déterminants dans la préparation de votre itinéraire. Outre les deux suggestions ci-dessous, une multitude de séjours thématiques est envisageable. Ainsi, il est possible de se focaliser sur les primates (gorilles, chimpanzés, singes dorés...), de se polariser sur les sensations fortes (rafting sur le Nil, voire nuitée sous tente au milieu de la brousse et de ses fauves...), de se concentrer sur l'avifaune (l'Ouganda est un véritable paradis ornithologique), de se ruer sur les montagnes (trekking dans les massifs du Rwenzori, des Virunga ou de l'Elgon) ou de se fondre dans la population pour découvrir l'Ugandan way of life... Espérons que les pages de ce guide vous aideront à élaborer ou trouver le séjour vous seyant le plus. Quoi qu'il en soit, nous vous souhaitons un excellent voyage !

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How to go Uganda

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How to go alone

The price of a return flight to Uganda (Entebbe airport) from Europe, knowing that there is no direct flight from France, varies between 900 € and 1 100 € (first prices) in high season and between 400 € and 800 € (first prices) in low season. To get good rates, it is essential to get there (very) early. By showing the same sense of anticipation for your accommodation, you will also make substantial savings.

How to go on a tour

East Africa is a well known area for tourism providers, because of the numerous safaris that can be organized there. So much so that there is no shortage of all-inclusive offers in the catalogs of tour operators and specialist agencies. You will certainly be able to find the formula that suits you best for your stay in Uganda: honeymoon in a luxurious eco-lodge in the middle of the jungle, family stay, guided tours in the national parks..

How to get around

Domestic flights are not well developed. The most economical way to visit Uganda is by large buses that provide regular connections between the major cities at very reasonable rates. The road network in Uganda is of uneven quality: the tarred roads linking the main cities of the country are generally good, notwithstanding some potholed segments, but many tracks are impassable during the rainy season.

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Discover Uganda

Getting ready to go to Uganda? Great idea. Is your bag packed? Perfect! Now it's time to discover the many facets of this exciting country! In the following pages, you should find answers to all the questions you may have: What are the national culinary specialities? What sports do the locals love? What are the most important cultural events? What are the main climatic characteristics of the various regions of the country? Which contemporary artists should be discovered? What are the economic challenges facing the Ugandan state at the beginning of the 21st century? What are the key dates in the history of the "Pearl of Africa"? What are the emblematic animals of this part of the continent? What are the religions practiced by the natives? And so on ! We wish you a good reading.

Pictures and images Uganda

Pêcheurs sur le Kazinga channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park. Pecold - Shutterstock.com
Balade sur le Sipi Trail. Arjen de Ruiter - Shutterstock.com
Rhinocéros dans le sanctuaire de Ziwa. Radek Borovka - Shutterstock.com
Le site d'art rupestre de Nyero. Sam DCruz - Shutterstock.com

The 12 keywords Uganda

1. Boda-boda

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This term, which comes from the English border to border, was born in the 1960s to refer to bicycles that made it possible to cross the Ugandan-Kenyan border without a visa. Even though mopeds have now replaced bicycles, boda-bodas are still a picturesque, economical and practical means of transport for playing with traffic...

2. Coffee

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With its temperate climate and high altitude land, Uganda has ideal conditions for coffee growing. Coffee beans are the country's main cash crop. Robusta coffee is mainly grown in the Central Region, while Arabica grows in the coffee fields on the slopes of the Elgon and Rwenzori rivers.

3. Crane

The country is teeming with establishments whose names include the word "skull"... But then, what does this skull mean? Well, it is simply the English name of the national bird, the crowned crane, a beautiful and tall wader that appears as an emblem on the standard and that you will certainly have the opportunity to observe near some water points.

4. Game drive

A game drive, also known as a safari, is a 4x4 excursion in the national parks. Game refers to the game in these reserves, but Ugandans appreciate the play on words on the random side of the game taken in the sense of "game". The principle of game drives is therefore to cross as many tracks as possible in order to observe the wildlife.

5. Gorillas

They're the biggest stars in the country! Of the approximately one thousand mountain gorillas on the planet, half are in Uganda. The authorities are doing their utmost to preserve these great apes and at the same time attract foreign tourists and their currency. At US$700 per permit, the financial windfall is significant...

6. Idi Amin Dada

General Idi Amin Dada is Uganda's most infamous figure. A megalomaniacal and bloodthirsty character, he controlled the country from 1971 to 1979, leaving behind him several hundred thousand dead and an exhausted economy. Died in 2003, he came back to the forefront with the film The Last King of Scotland (2006).

7. Matatu

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Synonymous with collective taxis throughout East Africa, matatus are minibuses that provide urban and interurban transport. Very economical, matatu trips are also an excellent way to meet the local population. Striked out with slogans, these vans offer a real urban spectacle!

8. Matooke

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This term refers to both green bananas (similar to plantains), which are suitable for cooking, and the thick purée that is prepared with them. Matooke is truly the staple of the Ugandan diet. In Luganda, tooke means banana (plural: matooke) and, by extension, the word has become synonymous with food. To your forks!

9. Muzungu

Plural, bazungu. Refers generically to Westerners and whites in general. The tourist is often referred to in this way. Even if it is not pejorative, the term can sometimes be annoying, especially when used in conjunction with the phrase give me my money, an avatar of tourism development. But contrary to many countries, this remains a good thing.

10. Nil

The Nile begins its descent towards the Mediterranean from Jinja! This assertion, made in the 19th century by the British explorer Speke, is of course considered true by Ugandan tourism professionals... but much less so by geographers who believe that the river's sources are in Rwanda and/or Burundi...

11. Posho

A basic element of traditional cooking, posho is a paste made from corn flour mixed and thickened in boiling water. Posho is used like bread and is eaten with the fingers. It is made into a dumpling with which the vegetables are collected. Very consistent, even filling, the posho will satisfy even the biggest appetites!

12. Waragi

This term comes from the English word war gin, used by British expatriates in the 1950s and 1960s. It refers to any beverage distilled in an artisanal way and made from manioc, bananas, millet or cane sugar, depending on the region. The bottles of Uganda Waragi are marketed by East African Breweries.

You are from here, if...

You are a football fan. Watching the games, which are broadcast or re-broadcast over and over again in many bars, restaurants and hotels, is indeed the national sport! The English Premier League teams are the most followed and supported. Arsenal seems to be the most popular club by a landslide..

You eat your posho as it should be eaten, i.e. with your fingers... You taste a meat skewer(muchomo) in a pork joint and drinkobushera in the company of locals.

You take public transport, i.e. minibuses, coaches and trucks... Not forgetting the boda-bodas on whose saddles the women willingly sit in amazon and the men on horseback...

You haggle over the price of your ride(special hire, boda... ) and the price of your shopping (at the market)...

You cross a kampalese street by threading your way through the incessant flow of vehicles and out of the (rare) crossings...

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