The equator is a long invisible line at the bulge of the earth that divides it into 2 parts, that is, northern and southern hemispheres. Uganda is one of the handful of countries in the world where one can get close to the equator.

The popular spots in Uganda where one can experience the equator are in Entebbe and along Kampala-Masaka highway in Kayabwe town, Mpigi district. What’s remarkable about the equator is that areas around it get to enjoy warm weather all year around. Key to remember is the jaw-dropping marvel at the equator which is the ability for bodies at the spot to become 3% lighter due to decrease in gravitational force. But OfCourse nothing beats the thrill of literally being at the center of the earth.

Uganda is home to the largest fresh water lake in Africa that spans across Uganda’s neighbors – Kenya and Tanzania. With a surface area of 68,800 square meters, the grand lake is only second in size to Lake Superior in the United States/Canada. The lake was first discovered by the Explorer John Speke in 1858 who also gave it its regal sounding name after the then Queen of England. The Local name of this lake in Uganda is Nalubaale.

The lake is a great pride to the Ugandan people. Among its very usefulness, is being a major source of electricity, for its waters are used to operate Nalubaale dam and Kira Hydro-Power station in Jinja district. It is a haven for fishermen with variety of fish species available all year round but mostly popular for the tilapia and Nile Perch.

The Nile is the longest River in the world flowing from the largest fresh water lake in Africa, Lake Victoria, for over 4000 miles all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. The River also flows through South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt.

While in Uganda a visit at the source of the Nile is a must not only for the breath-taking sceneries but also the number of activities offered for groups and individual tourists.

When in Jinja one can get to view the exact spot where the Nile starts from bearing witness to the marvelous scene as the water flows from the outlet at Lake Victoria into the river. Other fun activities one can partake in are, kayaking, white water rafting, quad biking, jet boating among others.

Mountain Gorillas derive this name from their preferred habitat, the dense mountain forests in Uganda and around the Virunga mountains. Mountain gorillas are an endangered species whose population had been reported to have increased to about 1060 in 2018. Uganda alone is home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population because of the international conservation efforts.

Registered numbers at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest currently stand at approximately 500 mountain gorillas.

A safari to Uganda is a trip to bring you closer to where more than half of the world’s Mountain Gorillas live. These can mostly be found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the Mgahinga National Park, which is part of the Virunga region that Uganda shares with Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Gorilla trekking is a life changing activity that will test your zeal, discipline and patience.

Whilst on this grand quest, trekkers ought to move by foot in small silent groups of at most 8 people. They will navigate uphill and downhill through thick dark forests full of roots and vines. With an elevation of 6,600ft, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest will put your physical fitness to a test.

Known to be humans’ closest relative because of our 98% shared DNA, the chimpanzee is a great sight to behold. In Uganda you have an over 90% chance of seeing the great chimp in Kibaale Forest National Park but they can also be sighted in other parks such as Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.

The chimpanzee is a highly social ape, living in communities inhabited by several dozen animals. The communities are well organized with a leader who is an alpha male enjoying a religious following, that is, until the group turns against him and another male takes over. They carry out a number of social activities which include, “fishing” for termites, hunting prey especially small monkeys and enjoying “feasts” of ripened fruits in trees.

Primatologist Jane Goodall, discovered in 1990 that chimpanzees have the ability to use tools resulting into them being declared as one of the world’s most intelligent creatures because of portraying the most human-like behavior of all chimps.