The Pearl of Africa

  
      In the centre of it all is a place that I have heard of, a place like no other. It is not an oasis — pure and untainted, for it has been struck by the human hand, been smeared with pools of crimson red. But despite all that, despite the bloodshed and the loss, there is a rare beauty that thrives within its walls. A unique rhythm pulses through its earthly veins like an uncontrollable cascade of ghostly echoes. In the depths of the forest these echoes take the form of hooves scrimmaging over the terrain, or the swaying of prehensile hands through trees, like children playing on a jungle-gym. The sounds of people greeting and laughing one another can be heard humming through the villages and cities. Can you imagine a place like this? A place where captivation is not a goal but is an essence that can be felt there? Like the oyster that holds a hidden treasure, Africa too encases its precious pearl: Uganda.
    While I often make note of the struggles and hardship that exist in Uganda, I cannot disregard the splendours that exist on its 236 square kilometre surface. Although this plot of land is small in scale, it contains some of the most wondrous animal species, mountains, rivers, lakes, and people that subsist on Earth.

The Land and Climate
    Situated between the African countries of the Congo, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, Uganda is in the middle of it all. Not only does it border with one of the largest lakes in the world —Lake Victoria, but the Nile river, the longest river on earth, also runs through it. These large bodies of water provide Uganda with its lush, green landscape, and allow for over 500 species of mammal to thrive there. The climate in Uganda is quite hot, with an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius during the day, and 15 degrees Celsius at night. The rainy season takes place during the months of March until May, with an average rainfall of 175mm per month. June to September are the drier months, so it will be interesting to experience this shift when I am there.

The Mountains and Wildlife
    Mt. Stanley in the Rwenzori Mountains, linked on the western edge of Uganda with the Congo, is the tallest mountain in Africa. Despite the tremendous heat within the country, The Rwenzori Mountains are capped with ice and glaciers which adds a nice contrast to the beautiful landscape. While we think of the obvious: elephants, lions, rhinos, zebras, and giraffes circulating the land, I was pleasantly shocked to discover that Uganda is the home of half the worlds remaining Mountain gorilla population (the total being roughly 900 gorillas). In Uganda, this population lives in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. For some of you bird lovers out there, Uganda also hosts over 1000 bird species, and is one the most renowned bird-watching destinations in the world.

The People
    With an approximate population of  33 million people, Uganda is quite crowded. However, this allows for a large variety of ethic tribal groups to subside there —the largest being Baganda, which consists of 17% of the population. The official languages of Uganda are English and Swahili; however, in Mbuya where I will be staying, the predominantly spoken language is Luganda. The prevalent religion in Uganda is Christianity, with 85% of the population believing in this faith.

    I cannot wait to see all that this gem of a country has to offer!   

For more information:
    Fitzpatrick, Mary, Tim Bewer, and Matthew Firestone. East Africa. 8th ed., Lonely Planet, 2009. Print.
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963.htm
    http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Uganda-ETHNIC-GROUPS.html