Uganda holidays

Uganda is the "Pearl of Africa" — Winston Churchill's description — and one of East Africa's most diverse and affordable safari destinations. The headline is mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (the world's largest gorilla population, with permits at less than half Rwanda's price). Add savanna safari at Queen Elizabeth NP (tree-climbing lions of Ishasha) and Murchison Falls NP (the dramatic Nile-narrowing waterfall), chimp tracking at Kibale Forest, the Rwenzori Mountains (the snow-capped "Mountains of the Moon" with multi-day trekking), and the source of the Nile at Jinja for white-water rafting — and Uganda offers more wildlife variety than almost anywhere else in Africa.

A 10-14 day Uganda trip: Entebbe arrival (1 night) → Lake Mburo NP (1 night, the small acacia-savanna intro park) → Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (2-3 nights for one or two gorilla treks at $800 per permit) → Queen Elizabeth NP (2-3 nights — Kazinga Channel boat for hippo and elephants, Ishasha tree-climbing lions) → Kibale Forest for chimp tracking (1-2 nights) → optional Murchison Falls NP via the Albert Nile (2-3 nights) → return to Entebbe. Travel is by 4x4 with driver-guide; distances are real (Bwindi is 9-10 hours from Entebbe) and the roads are improving but slow.