Check the weather city by city, starting with Kampala.
Uganda, "the pearl of Africa" according to Churchill, is the land of the Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzees. With over 1,000 bird species (Africa's top country), the source of the White Nile in Jinja, Murchison Falls and the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, it is the ultimate biodiversity destination.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (UNESCO) is the most important sanctuary for mountain gorillas: it is home to more than half of the world's population (around 500 individuals). A permit ($700) grants access to a magical hour with a gorilla family in the rainforest.
Highlights : Mountain gorilla trekking ($700 permit), Batwa community visit (pygmy people), Luxury lodge — night in the jungle.
Queen Elizabeth is Uganda's most visited park: the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha (which sleep in fig trees, an extremely rare phenomenon), the chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge, the Kazinga Channel (one of the finest concentrations of hippos and buffalo in the world) and the flamingos of Lake Edward.
Highlights : Ishasha tree-climbing lions (found only here and in Tanzania), Kazinga Channel boat safari — hippos & buffalo, Kyambura Gorge chimpanzee trek, Lake Edward — flamingos and pelicans.
Murchison Falls is Uganda's largest national park: the Murchison Falls, where the entire White Nile forces through a 7 m wide gap before plunging 43 m below, are among the most spectacular in Africa. The boat safari to the falls reveals Nile crocodiles, hippos and giraffes.
Highlights : Murchison Falls (the Nile through a 7 m gap), Nile boat safari — crocodiles, hippos, birds, Rothschild's giraffe (endangered species), Fishing on the Nile — tilapia and Nile perch.
Jinja is the town where the White Nile springs from Lake Victoria: the most symbolic spot on the Nile, identified by John Hanning Speke in 1862. It is also East Africa's extreme sports capital: class V rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping over the Nile and stand-up paddleboarding.
Highlights : Source of the White Nile — Speke Monument, Class V rafting on the Nile (maximum adrenaline), Bungee jumping over the Nile (44 m), Kayaking & stand-up paddleboarding (sunset).
Uganda is cheaper than Rwanda, but the gorilla permit costs $700 (vs $1,500). Kampala is a lively capital with options for every budget. Outside the parks, prices are very affordable.