| Uganda is a land of breathtaking contrast. Right | | | | and the masked and the black-capped apalises. |
| from the border with Kenya in the east to that | | | | The Budongo Forest is one of the places where a |
| with the giant Democratic Republic of Congo | | | | thriving community eco-tourism takes place. |
| (DRC) in the west, the landscape and vegetation | | | | Mountain biking |
| can be described as a kaleidoscope of tantalizing | | | | Several areas are a haven for mountain bikers. |
| beauty. Winston Churchill, one of the United | | | | These include Rukungiri, and Kabale districts in the |
| Kingdom's great historical figures, summed Uganda | | | | west, Mbale and Kapchorwa districts in the east, |
| in four words: 'The Pearl of Africa'. | | | | local mountain bike trails are mapped out to assist |
| Though it is often easy to look over the | | | | tourists, but they have to bring their own bikes. |
| country's shoulder to its not too glamorous past, | | | | Sport fishing and white water rafting |
| one thing that Uganda's hospitality industry has | | | | Uganda offers a great opportunity for sports |
| learnt from its troubled history is flexibility. | | | | anglers. The ferocious tiger fish is common in |
| Holidaying in Uganda can be a memorable affair | | | | Lake Albert, in the west Nile region, while catfish |
| for all categories of regional tourists, be they | | | | and tilapia abound in the all waters of Uganda. |
| budget, economy or high spending tourists. | | | | However, the most popular fish is the Nile perch |
| Deciding on a holiday destination | | | | with a record catch of over 100 kilogrammes. |
| A first time traveler to Uganda is most certainly | | | | The fish species is abundant in Lake Victoria and |
| spoilt for choice, particularly if the tourist is from | | | | River Nile. Through efforts of tour and travel |
| Kenya. Uganda can be accessed through air | | | | firms, white water rafting has become a popular |
| (Entebbe International Airport), road via Malaba or | | | | sport, with more than 500 tourists participating |
| Busia border entry points or even through Lake | | | | every month. |
| Victoria although it's mostly regular business | | | | Camp safari |
| people who prefer this route. Entry and exit | | | | It is prudent to choose a camp safari if you |
| formalities for East African nationals have been | | | | decide to visit some of Uganda's exotic special |
| simplified. The decision on holidaying in Uganda is | | | | interest tourism areas. This will enable you to fully |
| usually motivated by a number of factors | | | | enjoy the flora and fauna of the country. |
| prominent among them flexibility of budget, | | | | Uganda's waters teem with fish while over 200 |
| refreshing experience and the warmth of the | | | | bird species thrive in national parks and protected |
| people. | | | | areas. Uganda's 'Pearl of Africa' tag is best |
| Uganda excels in all the listed factors. The | | | | appreciated by visiting some of the country's |
| hospitality industry has evolved rapidly over the | | | | tourist sites. |
| last decade, catering for all classes of visitors | | | | Inns of Uganda |
| while offering nothing short of value for money. | | | | For the discerning tourist, a trip to Inns of |
| The Uganda experience is truly refreshing, be it in | | | | Uganda would be ideal to discover the Pearl of |
| bird-watching, nature walks or cultural tourism. | | | | Africa's best-kept open secret. Inns of Uganda, |
| The communities are welcoming, with both urban | | | | with two camps - Nile Safari Camp and Jacana |
| and rural folks radiating warmth, although just as | | | | Safari Lodge - offer the ideal setting. The two |
| in any society there are bound to be some green | | | | camps are accessible by road but guests can fly |
| flies in the visitor's ointment. | | | | to Pakuba where Inns of Uganda staff will be on |
| Special Interest Tourism | | | | hand to receive them. Visitors can view birds as |
| Uganda has a well-established special interest | | | | the y move towards the Nile Safari Camp along |
| tourism structure that has attracted tourists from | | | | the banks of river Nile in north-western Uganda. |
| not only Western Europe but also Africa and Asia. | | | | Nile Safari Camp boasts 12 rooms and a |
| The special interest tourism areas are nature | | | | swimming pool with impressive, professionally |
| walks, gorilla trekking, bird-watching, mountain | | | | done interior design. The elaborate and |
| biking, sport fishing and white water rafting. | | | | environment -friendly design ensures that a |
| Eco-tourism has come of age internationally, for | | | | holiday package here adds value and quality to |
| guests who prefer nature 'as it was' without the | | | | the lives of people who visit the camps. |
| distortions of social economic transformation. | | | | At Jacana Safari Lodge, in the vast Queen |
| Uganda offers new nature trails in virtually all | | | | Elizabeth National Park, guests can have a lifetime |
| protected areas. Tourists can walk with guides to | | | | experience of low-impact water activity on |
| view at close range some of the many | | | | boating trips in which they view birds, |
| endangered species for which the country is | | | | chimpanzees, monitor lizards and hippos. This |
| famous. These include the mountain gorillas, | | | | camp shows the visitor the essence of visiting |
| chimpanzees, the red and white colobus and blue | | | | Uganda. The cuisine at the camps blends perfectly |
| tailed monkeys. The country is filled with birds, | | | | with the excellent and pleasant nature of the |
| butterflies and rare plants that one can sample | | | | staff. |
| during nature walks. | | | | Jacana is built with materials derived from the |
| Bird-watching | | | | immediate environment in line with Inns of |
| The Uganda Wildlife Authority has put in place | | | | Uganda's ecotourism campaign. The lodge has 15 |
| new bird sanctuaries at strategic sites, including | | | | chalets, swimming pool, sauna, sundowner and |
| Lake George and Edward. A new survey on | | | | dinner pontoon. The surroundings fit well with the |
| Uganda wildlife indicates that there are at least | | | | structures adopted by the two camps. For |
| 335 species of birds and more than 144 species | | | | instance, the lodge literally grows out of the |
| of butterflies at Kabale Forest National Park. | | | | forest with a tree house-like appearance. The |
| Among the rare birds are the red-winged | | | | scenery and congeniality of the camps' staff |
| francolin, red-chested fluiftail, white-napped pigeon, | | | | together with Inns of Uganda's ability to blend the |
| African pitta, joyful greenbul, grey-winged robin, | | | | natural environment with the design of the camps |
| Abyssinian ground thrush, grey-crested flycatcher | | | | offer guests a memorable safari. |