Some Facts about Uganda.

. Size: 242,000 sq km and 20% of its surface is covered in water.
. Population: 28.3 million
. People: 56 nationalities (tribes)
. Languages: English is the official language.
. Main Towns: Kampala (Capital City), Entebbe, Jinja, Mbarara, Gulu and Fort Portal.

Uganda is one of the most beautiful countries on earth. One could liken it to the biblical “Garden of Eden” with its lush green vegetation, breathtaking landscapes and amazing array of plant and animal species.
 
The country is located in the Eastern part of Africa, and it lies right along the equator which accounts for its sunny climate all year round. It also lies between the two arms of the Great East African Rift Valley with the Lakes Albert and Edward extending for 150km and 80km respectively along the Albertine Rift Valley. It is within this Albertine Rift Valley that the great Biodiversity for which Uganda is well known can be found. Uganda is only 242,000 square Kilometers in size (about the size of Great Britain) but the variety in climatic zones, vegetation and animal species within this small country is what makes it truly unique.
Also 20% of the country’s land mass is covered by water. Lake Victoria, which is the second largest fresh water lake in the world, is found here. For those interested in Sport fishing, L. Victoria is famous for it’s Nile Perch Fish which can grow up to 80kgs in size.
 
 Meanwhile, to the West of the country the legendary Rwenzori Mountains can be found. In A.D. 150 the geographer Claudius Ptolemy dubbed the Rwenzoris “The Mountains of the Moon” and to this day this name is used to refer to them. The snow capped mountain peak is the third highest in Africa and can prove to be quite a challenge to even the most seasoned mountain climber.
However, today Uganda is perhaps best known for its Mountain Gorillas. There are about 630 Mountain Gorillas left in the world today and 390 of them are found in the South West of Uganda. For the adventurers who have come face to face with these gentle giants, they have said that the experience is truly awe inspiring. Gorillas, however, are not the only primates that can be found in Uganda. In fact, 70% of the World’s primates species can be found here. Chimpanzee trekking is a popular activity with the tourists who visit the country.

For the adventurers looking to experience the Classic Safari, there are a number of parks to choose from. Uganda has 10 National Parks, 12 Wildlife reserves and 14 wildlife sanctuaries. The most famous parks are Queen Elizabeth National Park in the west of the country and Murchison Falls National Park in the North West. During Game drives and boat launches tourists can see the Big 4 Game like the elephants, hippos, lions …etc.