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Uganda
The gorillas of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are the main draw for most visitors to Uganda but the country has several other wildlife regions of note including: Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Ruwenzori National Parks.
Murchison Falls National Park
Located in the Northwestern corner of the country, Murchison Falls National Park offers a variety of eco-systems in a small area: riverine forest, open grasslands and marshland. The banks of the Victoria Nile River (which bisects the park) are home to a large number of animal species but game concentrations are thin due to years of poaching from which the region is slowly recovering. Highlights of a visit to the park are the spectacular falls themselves and launch trips on the river.
Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park, between Lake Albert and Lake Edward, in the Southwestern part of Uganda is home to one of the world's largest primate populations. Visitors to the area can take forest walks and swamp walks in search of chimpanzees and colobus monkeys. Ruwenzori National Park on the Rwanda border is mountainous and dramatically beautiful with snowcapped peaks towering over rain-soaked lower slopes. These "Mountains of the Moon" offer many opportunities for hiking.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park connects Lakes Edward and George and encompasses the land on either side of the Kazinga Channel. This relatively small piece of land is an important stop on the migratory path for a great variety of birds. A launch trip on the channel is an excellent way to see a lot of river life. Walking excursions to look for chimpanzees are available in the Chambura Gorge area.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the southernmost corner of Uganda, bordering Rwanda and Congo, is home to one of the last remaining mountain gorilla populations. A very limited number of gorilla trekking permits are available each day and visitors must be in good physical condition to make the strenuous climb.
Accommodation in Uganda
In general the accommodation standard in Uganda is not yet equal to that of its neighbors, Kenya and Tanzania, but the luxury tented camps owned and managed by Mantana Safaris are of a high quality and there are some good lodges in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks.
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