Uganda Features on the New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2020

Popular American Newspaper, New York Times published its 52 places to visit in 2020 and Uganda made it to the list. Listed as number 30^th of the 52 places to go in 2020, Uganda is said to be the primate capital and birder’s paradise that has become more accessible. On the list, it is stated as by Vivian Song that;

“Landlocked in east-central Africa, Uganda has long been in the shadow of Kenya, Tanzania, and other countries more popular with visitors on safari. But the “Pearl of Africa” with its own rich wildlife, is set to become more accessible, thanks to the resurrection last summer of the country’s national carrier, Uganda Airlines.

Why was Uganda on the New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2020?

Uganda is the world’s primate capital, with 15 species (four of which are endangered). Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, is a renowned mountain gorilla sanctuary.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site, in southwestern Uganda, is home to roughly half the world’s remaining gorillas. The park’s gorilla trekking safari limits contact to eight visitors per gorilla group per day. The proceeds from their trekking permits go toward conservation efforts and protecting the animals from poachers. The dense forest mountain park, which ranges in elevation between 3,810 feet and 8,880 feet, also features a scenic waterfall trail framed by ancient ferns and wild orchids, and is a birder’s paradise, with 350 species of forest birds”.

With thousands of places to visit in the world, you could wonder how the New York Times chose only these 52 spots. Amy Virshup of the New York Times states that a question that read as.

“Where would you go if you could go anywhere?”

Was posed to members of The Times Travel desk back in the beginning of September at the kickoff launch for the 2020 edition of the annual 52 Places to Go list. From that day till the publication, there were four months of research, discussion, debate, and as many synonyms for “argument” as you can imagine. In the end the list of the 2020 edition of 52 Places to Go was published with the hope to inspire, delight and motivate you to explore the world. To view the whole list check out full list of the 52 places to go in 2020 from the New York Times.

Why visit Uganda in 2020? – Uganda on the New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2020

Uganda is a beautiful nation with lots of attractions and activities to involve in. The reasons to visit Uganda are inclusive of;

Attractions

There are lots of Uganda safari attractions or things to see in Uganda. The top attractions in Uganda include wildlife species that include the big five which are Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards, Elephants, and Rhinos. Other attractions include almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Chimpanzees, bird species and several flora are also more of the attractions in Uganda.

Activities

With lots of attractions, there are lots of activities to do in Uganda. Some of the major activities include Uganda gorilla tours, chimpanzee trekking, wildlife tours, bird watching tours, and cultural tours. These activities are done in specific parks that have the attractions and offer memorable views. Unlike activities that are done in the 10 national parks, cultural tours can be done in any parts of the country since the Pearl of Africa is home to over 50 tribes.

Safety

Uganda is safe and stable for tours in Africa as long as you work according to the guidelines and make sure you take good care of personal security. Uganda’s capital-Kampala is one of the safest cities in Africa and tourists who have visited this city before have left with almost no safety problems. Petty theft and things like credit card scamming and over charging can be avoided if any traveler is well prepared and has taken note of all the precautions before getting out in the city.