New York Times 52 Places to Go -Uganda Ranked as one of the 52 Places to Go by The New York Times Travel desk.
According to the New York Times, a well-known American newspaper that millions of tourists trust, Uganda is on the list of 52 Places to Go in 2020. Uganda is establishing itself as a must-see location once again.
Uganda was ranked third (3) among African nations and thirty-first out of the fifty-two places to go in 2020 by the New York Times.
Kenya, Lesotho, Egypt, and Ethiopia were the four (4) other African nations that made the list. Highlighted in the published paper is the following:
“A birder’s paradise and primate capital becomes more accessible.”
Uganda is characterized as follows by VIVIAN SONG of the New York Times travel desk:
Uganda, a landlocked country in east-central Africa, has long lagged behind Kenya, Tanzania, and other nations that are more well-liked by safari tourists. However, Uganda Airlines, the nation’s flag airline, was revived this summer, making the “Pearl of Africa,” with its own diverse fauna, more accessible. With 15 species (four of which are endangered) and the well-known mountain gorilla refuge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda is one of the primate capitals of the world.
About half of the world’s mountain gorillas reside in southern Uganda, which is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park’s gorilla-trekking safaris only allow eight people to interact with each gorilla troop each day, and the money made from their trekking permits is used to fund conservation initiatives and keep the animals safe from poachers.
With 350 kinds of woodland birds, the thick forest mountain park, which has an elevation range of 3,810 to 8,880 feet, is a birder’s heaven. It also has a picturesque waterfall route surrounded by wild orchids and old ferns.
The selection process for the 52 Places to Go in 2020
From among the hundreds of locations worldwide, the New York Times travel department selects 52 places for travelers to visit each year.
Various tactics are used for this, but according to Amy Virshup of the New York Times for the 2020 list,
“If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?”
At the inaugural announcement for the 2020 edition of the annual 52 Places to Go list, the Times Travel desk staff was asked this question at the beginning of September 2019. Months of discussion, investigation, and as many synonyms for “argument” as you can imagine preceded the publishing date.
Time’s international and domestic journalists, who were frequent contributors, recommended locations that were intriguing and novel.
It is further said that a location must provide a response to the question, “Why now?” in addition to being stunning, remarkable, and culturally important. Why this year, this location?
Uganda undoubtedly responded to all of this with its beauty, which is how it was included in the list of 52 places to visit in 2020. Thanks to Uganda Airlines’ resuscitation, the destination seems to be more accessible.
Uganda is on the list because it restricts the number of licenses for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest and makes sure that the money raised goes toward animal protection. View the whole list of 2020 destinations here.
A thorough explanation of the New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2020 statement about Uganda
Do you know much about the number of primates and bird species that Uganda is endowed with, and what it means to be called the primate capital and birder’s paradise? The Mwesigwa Adventure Safaris staff explains what this means to you here:
Primate capital: With 15 different kinds of primates living there, Uganda is known as one of the world’s primate capitals.
Although monkeys are endangered across Africa, thousands of them still live in Uganda, mostly in Kibale Forest National Park, making it the primate capital of the world.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, there are 13 primates in Kibale Forest alone, including the newly found dwarf galago.
Chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys, olive baboons, and golden monkeys are among the primates found in Uganda. Potto and bush infants are examples of nocturnal primates.
According to the most recent findings of the Bwindi Forest mountain gorilla census, 51% of the world’s mountain gorilla population still lives in Uganda.
Birder’s Paradise: With about 50% of Africa’s bird species and 11% of the world’s, Uganda is a birder’s paradise, as ardent birders can attest.
With about 1,083 known bird species in Uganda, including the most recent addition, the Pectoral Sandpiper, which was seen at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), Birding Uganda is a popular option for many ardent birders on Africa birding excursions.
Ugandan birding trips provide chances to see birds in a variety of environments, including as forests, wetlands, savannah parks, and bodies of water.
Uganda is home to a variety of bird species, including the 24 endemics of the Albertine Rift and the mostly Central African birds found in Semliki National Park.
The New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2020 list has highlighted these as must-see and do activities that will really be fulfilling.
But this is not all that Uganda has to offer; a traveler on safari in Uganda may select from a wide variety of other sights and activities, including
Activities in Uganda
Safaris for Ugandan Wildlife
Ugandan wildlife safaris provide an immersive experience that allows one to connect with the natural world. Because there are so many unique wildlife safari experiences in Uganda, the “pearl of Africa,” a journey there is definitely worth the effort. The great majority of wildlife safari trips are conducted in Uganda’s national parks and reserves.
East Africa’s Uganda is home to several breathtaking scenery, including the source of the longest river in the world. Any animal or plant species found in an undomesticated environment is referred to as “wildlife.” Seeing wild creatures in their native environments is an experience offered by our Uganda Wildlife Safaris.
Wildlife Safaris in Uganda: Golden Monkey Trekking
You may just add a golden monkey trekking excursion to your gorilla tour. Visitors may interact closely with habituated gorilla populations in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
The Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis), one of Uganda’s twenty primate species, may be found at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Only Mgahinga, a section of the massive Virunga Mountains, is home to the golden monkey.
One kind of ape indigenous to the Old World is the golden monkey. The illness is endemic in four national parks in the Virunga volcanic highlands of Central Africa: Mgahinga in southwest Uganda, Volcanoes in northwest Rwanda, and Virunga and Kahuzi-Biéga in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is restricted to the highland woods that are abundant in bamboo.
Rafting in White Water
For visitors on the white water rafting safari in Uganda, white water rafting in Jinja is an experience of a lifetime. Rafting the Nile River in white water (Jinja) is a pricey activity in Uganda. With Grade 3 full day rafts, Grade 2 family floats, and Grade 5 extreme rafting, Jinja Source of the Nile River provides top-notch rafting adventures. Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime white water rafting experience by rafting the Nile.
The best grade 5 white water rafting in the world, along with other adventure sports, can be found on the Nile River in Jinja. The source of the powerful Nile River is located in Jinja, Eastern Uganda, and it is the longest river in the world. White water rafting near the Nile River’s source in Jinja is the ultimate adventure activity for any safari tourist visiting Uganda. The Nile River’s rafts float northward with rapids as their white water volumes burst through enormous cliffs.
Climbing mountains
In Uganda, hiking and mountain climbing are known as “walking safaris.” The Best Mountain Trekking Trails in Uganda are provided by Mountain Climbing. Incorporate the Mgahinga Volcano, Mountain Elgon, Bwindi Forest, and Rwenzori Mountains.
Depending on your level of trekking ability, Uganda offers a variety of hiking spots for all types of safari travelers. Mountain Climbing Safaris are an excellent method to see the many plant species, butterflies, and vegetation found at various elevations.
Visit Uganda’s cultural landmarks with Uganda Cultural Tours and Safaris. Experience Uganda’s diverse population via music, dance, theater, and more with Cultural Safaris trips. Find out more about Ugandan customs and safaris, cultural facts, and characteristics.
Uganda offers a wide variety of cultural tours, with distinct customs in every area of the nation. The greatest approach to learn about the customs of the people who live in Uganda is to take a cultural tour. Ugandan cultural tours provide visitors a taste of the country’s diverse population via dance, music, theater, and much more.