Uganda Tourist Attractions

Historical, Natural and Cultural Attractions in East Africa

Much of Africa's (East Africa's), cultural activity centers on the family and the ethnic group. Art, Music, and oral literature serve to reinforce existing religious and social patterns. Many artificial attractions are products of historical and Cultural. . East Africa has a varsity numerous engineer attractions that is cultural and historical like. Historical buildings which include castles, palaces churches wailed medieval towns such as casino, early industrial site

The government has fostered national dance and music groups, Museums, and to a lesser degree, artists and writers

In Uganda Some of the Historical attractions Include :

Kampala

Kampala, the modern capital, is the center of most economic activity. It is steadily being rebuilt after systematic looting and destruction during the changes of government. The city infrastructure has been restored and new office towers, hotels, stadiums and shopping malls are appearing almost monthly. Entebbe, the former administrative capital, is still very picturesque, though rundown and neglected. The century old botanical gardens are being restored to their former splendor.

The Ssese Islands:

Consisting of 84 islands in the northwestern section of Lake Victoria, the Ssese Islands have, for a long time, only been visited by local people and campers because of lack of tourist facilities. Now three campsites have been opened which can be booked through local tour operators. Nevertheless, many of the islands are uninhabited except for a few fishermen so their forests and swamps are ideal habitats for birds. The wildlife on the islands includes hippos, crocodile, waterbuck, sitatunga antelope, chimpanzees and monkeys. The islands can be reached by a nine-hour steamer trip from Port Bell or a 45-minute ferry trip from Bukakata.

Ngamba Island

Established in 1998, and managed by CSWCT (Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust), Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary provides a safe heaven for 33 confiscated orphaned chimps.

Situated 23km offshore from Entebbe, in Lake Victoria Uganda, beautiful Ngamba Island is almost 100 acres in size and boasts over 50 different types of vegetation that chimps utilize: the chimps are free to roam at their will, exploring their environment and foraging for food.

Visits offer a unique opportunity for close viewing of chimpanzee in their natural forested environment. Pre-arranged supplementary feeding times bring the chimpanzees to within metres of the raised walkway specially designed for easy viewing. Excellent photographic opportunities are available as well as just enjoying being near to one of our closest animal relatives with much behavior similar to ours!

Uganda Museums

Art Gallery

Caves (Bat Cave In S. Western Uganda, Zika forest )

Drainage

Six major drainage networks exist in Africa. with the exception of Chad basin, all have cutlets to the sea and all are cut by steep cataracts or rapids that impede navigation.

The Nile River

The Nile River, with a length of 6671 km (4145 mi), drains northeastern Africa and is the longest river in the world. Formed form the Blue Nile, which originates at lake T' ana in Ethiopia, and the White Nile, Which originates at Lake Victoria in East Africa, the Nile flows west and north before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The congo River , Some 4670 km long, drain much of central Africa. It originates in Zambia and flows north, west and south to empty into atlantic Ocean.

The Nile flows from Lake Victoria at what was Rippon Falls and into Lake Kyoga. Still the Victoria Nile, it cuts a raucous passage west across Karuma Falls and through the narrow pillars of Murchison Falls towards Lake Albert. Finally the Albert Nile meanders along a slow, wide corridor into Southern Sudan. This is the longest river in Africa and it offers many activities like, white water rafting, fishing at Murchison falls National Park, boat cruises and is hope for the Nile crocodile and a large population of hippos

Diversity Of Flora & Fauna / The Beautiful Scenery

Vegetation

Ugandan Vegetation can be classified according to rainfall and climate. The Tropical Rain Forest zone, (Bwindi Impenetrable forest in south -Western Uganda, Mabira Rain Forest / Swamp Forest - Central Parts) Where the average annual rain is more than 1270 mm (more than 50 in), has a dense surface covering of Shrubs, ferns and mosses, above which tower evergreens, and numerous species of tropical hardwood trees.

A mountain Forest zone, (Rwenzori Mountain, Mt Elgon) with average annual rainfall only slightly less in the forests, is found in the high mountains of East Africa, Cameroon, Angola, and parts of Ethiopia. Here a ground covering of Shrubs gives way to oil palms, hardwood trees, and primitive confers. A savanna woodland zone, with annual rainfall of 890 to 1400mm, covers vast areas with a layers of grass and fire resistant shrubs, above which are found deciduous and leguminous fire- resistant trees.

A savanna grassland zone, with annual rainfall of about 500 to 890 mm, is covered by low grasses and shrubs and scattered, small deciduous trees. the thorn bush zone, with an annual rainfall of about 300 to 510mm

Animals

Africa has two distinct zones of animal life: the North and North - western zone, including the sahara; and the Ethiopia zone, including all of sub - Sahara Africa.

East Africa is famous for its great variety of distinctive animals and Birds, woodland and grassland areas are inhabited by numerous species of antelope, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, the African elephant, rhinoceros,and the baboon, Gorilla, and various monkeys. carnivores, or meat - eating animals, including the lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal, and monkeys, flying squirrels, bats and lemurs. Most birds life belongs, and to Eurasian groups.

The Shoe bill is an endangered species. Water birds, notably pelicans, goliath herons, flamingos, storks, and egrets, congregate in great numbers, the ibis is common in the Nile region, and the ostrich is eastern and North - Eastern part (EAst Africa)

Reptiles are mainly of Eurasian origin and include lizards, crocodiles, and tortoises. a variety of venomous snakes, including the mamba, are encountered throughout the East African zone. Among the constricting snakes pythons, Freshwater fish abound, with more than 1000 species known.

The Region has a variety of destructive insects, Notably mosquitoes, driver ants, termites, locusts, and tsetse flies. The last named transmit sleeping sickness to humans (In animals, the disease is called Nagana)..

Other Attractions Include

Wildlife Education Center:

(Uganda Wildlife Educational Center (UWEC)

The Uganda Wildlife Education Center in Entebbe was created by the Government of Uganda with the help of the Wildlife Conservation Center in New York. The Center has grown considerably in recent years and hosts a variety of wildlife. UWEC is not a zoo as the center environment has been designed to be as close as possible to the wild. At the center, visitors are able to observe many of the indigenous species to be found in Uganda and also to receive comprehensive information on the species, their natural habitats and the complex ecologies of Uganda.

Beautiful Scenery

The East African Rift Valley

The Western Rift Valley

Flat plains and Plateaus

Crater Lakes

Volcanic Mountains ( Kilimanjaro, Mt Elgon)