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The geography of Uganda

Location

Located in East Africa, Uganda is bordered by five countries, Kenya in the east, South Sudan in the north, Tanzania in the south, Rwanda in the southwest and Democratic Republic of Congo in the west. I know you must have heard about this country probably because of its unique tourism fraternities which have put it on the world scene but you might know little about its geography. Some visitors as they plan for a Uganda safari don’t mind about knowing where this beautiful country is located and who its neighbors are. All they do is to board a plane and wait only to reach Entebbe international Airport where most safaris start from without taking the initiative to know the country’s location and coordinates on the world map.

Also known as “the pearl of Africa”, Uganda is the heart of the great lakes region surrounded by a number of Lakes. Actually, if you are in a plane at a high altitude, you view Uganda as a place covered with water and green vegetations. The prominent lakes found in this wonderful country are;-Lake Edward, Lake Victoria, Lake Albert and Lake Kyoga. Though Uganda is landlocked, the presence of these lakes fills the gap a visitor would have missed on a coast due to the presence of natural breathtaking beaches around the lakes where a visitor can go for relaxation.

But you can’t talk about Uganda’s geography and fail to talk about the unique attractions found in the country. Though most people especially trackers know Uganda for harboring the rare mountain gorillas, there are other wonderful attractions which have transformed the country into the best tourism destination in Africa. With about 10 national parks, Uganda is a place where a range of activities can be enjoyed like bird watching, chimpanzee trekking, nature walks, cultural tours, gorilla tracking, hiking, nature walks, game drives and many more. Most of these parks are found in the west and this explains why most tourist-vehicles head to this region. The topology of the country characterized by undulating hills covered with ever-green vegetation is eye-catching and breathtaking.

Uganda’s Climate

Uganda is located along the Equator and this is the reason why a temperate climate is experienced all year around. This climate makes the country’s tourism a success throughout the year despite the presence of some rainy seasons. Though sometimes the climate changes, the wet months are March to May and September to November. However, many visitors prefer visiting the country during the dry seasons because of the easiness to access the national parks. The country mainly experiences two dry seasons (December to February and June to August) and it’s during these months that some activities like gorilla tracking and game viewing are at their peak.

Uganda’s geography statistics

Coordinates:1°00′N 32°00′E

Area: 241,038 km²

Land Boundaries: Kenya 933km,DRC 765,South Sudan 435km,Rwanda 169km,Tanzania 396km

Natural resources: cobalt, copper, limestone, hydropower and gold

Climate: Temperate

Elevation extremes: Lowest point – Lake Albert at 621m low, Highest point – Margherita Peak on Mountain Rwenzori at about 5,110m above sea level.