Explore The Southwestern Highlands Of Uganda

Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, is a beautiful country. It may be landlocked by neighboring Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC and South Sudan and therefore devoid of a scenic coast and white sandy beaches, but what Uganda does offer in its greenery, its lakes and mountains and its highlands, is absolutely priceless and precious.

Lake Bunyonyi Region

“The kingdom of Uganda is a fairy-tale. You climb up … and at the end there is a wonderful new world. The scenery is different, the vegetation is different, the climate is different, and, most of all, the people are different from anything elsewhere to be seen in the whole range of Africa … I say: ‘Concentrate on Uganda’. For magnificence, for variety of form and colour, for profusion of brilliant life – bird, insect, reptile, beast – for vast scale — Uganda is truly the pearl of Africa.” Winston Churchill. (monitor.co.ug)

Lake Mutanda

The main tourist attraction in Uganda is its gorillas. If you want to see mountain gorillas you should probably go to Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable Nation Park and Mgahinda National Park in southwestern Uganda are home to endangered gorillas. Southwestern Uganda is region rich in beauty, culture and potential.

Uganda Southwestern Map

It is not surprising that tourist destinations in developing countries should still lack economic stability. Miha Logar, who in 1999 fell in love at first sight with Uganda, saw the need for the promotion of southwestern Uganda as well as the need to raise the living standards for its people and encourage a sustainable economy for the region. He founded the Gorilla Highlands initiative as an effort in Pro-poor tourism for southwestern Uganda.

Steep Slopes of Southwest Uganda

Fisherman at Lake Murehe

Valley of No Living

Grass Thatched House

Thanks to the Gorilla Highlands, travel for tourists to the southwestern region is a lot easier. The initiative strategically plotted ways and means to navigate the country, from organizing canoe safaris, hiking trails, and accommodation with the locals, to creating interactive ebooks, video maps and pocket guides. For a guided trip through the region, the initiative offers the Gorilla Highlands Trails.

Island Map of Southwest Uganda

There are many spectacular views to be had, of mountains, volcanoes, lakes and of course, gorillas. You may travel the 5-day Kabale-Buhoma trek, which connects tourism centers of Uganda-Kabale, Kisoro and Buhoma. The much shorter 5-hour Bunyonyi trek includes a visit to a healer, a craftsman and school. The Lake Bunyonyi canoe safari is both hiking and paddling. It involves a visit to the leper colony of Bwama Island, volcano views, flaura and fauna at Bushara Island and sleeping on the island of pelicans. Night accommodation is offered at camping grounds or for an extra cost at tourist lodges.

Virunga Volcanoes

Down to Habukomi Island

Lake Mutanda

Drive to meet Batwa Pigmies

Lake Murehe

A full guide to southwestern Ugandan can be found at Gorilla Highlands. For more information on the initiative and stunning pictures of the region, visit their social media.