Uganda — The Pearl of Africa

Winston Churchill's nickname for Uganda has stuck for a reason. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to roughly half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas, tracked on foot through dense, ancient rainforest in a trek that's physically demanding and unforgettable in equal measure. Uganda's gorilla permits are also generally more accessible in price than Rwanda's, making it a popular entry point for first-time gorilla trekkers.

Queen Elizabeth National Park adds tree-climbing lions in its Ishasha sector — one of only a handful of places in Africa where lions regularly climb into fig and acacia trees — along with boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel, where hippo, buffalo and elephant gather along the water's edge in some of the highest concentrations on the continent. Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest, centers on the point where the entire Nile River is forced through a gap in the rock just a few meters wide before thundering into the pool below.

Our 3 Days Magnifique Murchison Falls National Park trip is a focused way to experience this park's dramatic Nile scenery and game viewing in a short window.