AFRICAS GREEN HEART.

Before the Nile begins its long journey north toward Egypt, it gathers strength in Uganda's lakes, wetlands, and forests. From the vast waters of Lake Victoria to papyrus-fringed marshes alive with birds, these waterways shape the landscapes that make Uganda one of Africa's richest wildlife destinations.

Yet it is Uganda's forests that hold some of its most unforgettable encounters. Deep within the mist-covered mountains, gorillas move through a world of tangled vines and ancient trees. Spending time with a gorilla family here is an experience of remarkable intimacy, but Uganda's simian story extends far beyond the mountains. In Kibale Forest, chimpanzees swing through the canopy alongside more than a dozen species of monkeys, making this one of Africa's great strongholds for primates.

Uganda is equally rewarding for bird enthusiasts. Wetlands, forests, and highland habitats support more than 1,000 species, from the unmistakably odd-looking shoebill to brilliantly colored turacos, and endemic species found only within the Albertine Rift.

Beyond these forests, the landscape opens into broad savannas. A boat safari along the Kazinga Channel brings you alongside ponderous pods of hippos and herds of elephants cooling themselves in the shallows. Elsewhere in Queen Elizabeth National Park, lions lounge improbably among the broad branches of giant fig trees, a remarkable behavior seen in only a handful of places in Africa.

Rolling hills planted with tea and coffee link these wilderness areas, making the drive between parks as rewarding as the destinations themselves. In Uganda, wildlife is never far away, but neither is the beauty of the country through which you travel.