4th IIPT African Conference, Uganda

champs ouverts in the morning and track chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth the same afternoon, and the next day navigate tropical channels teeming with hippo and crocs before setting off into the misty mountains to stare deep into the eyes of a mountain gorilla?. This verdant biodiversity is further attested to by the more than 1100 bird species that can be viewed in Uganda .

Yet there is more to Uganda than wildlife. There is the mighty Nile, punctuated by the spectacular Murchison Falls , and the setting for some of the world's most thrilling white-water rafting. There are the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori, which provide a tantalizing challenge to dedicated mountaineers, as well as the Virunga Volcanoes and Mount Elgon , both of which offer highly rewarding hiking opportunities through scintillating highland scenery. The myriad islands of Lake Victoria and Bunyonyi are also idyllic venues, as are the myriad forest-fringed crater lakes that stud the rift valley floor and escarpment around Fort Portal . Whether you're a first time safari-goer or a seasoned African traveler, Uganda – with its unique blend of savannah and forest creatures, its rare wealth of montane and lake habitats – is simply dazzling.

Kampala is the capital city of Uganda . With a population of 1,208,544, it is the largest city in Uganda . It is located in the district of Kampala at 1,190 meters above sea level. Time Zone: UTC +3

It was hunting ground for its various antelopes. Its name origin's: Hills of the Impala -a particular species of antelope common across Africa -. Both local language and English got mixed with arrival of British. Ka means “of” therefore the name Kampala .

The city grew as the capital of the Buganda kingdom, from which several buildings survive, including the Kasubi Tombs (built in 1881, where the remains of the Kings of Buganda were buried, the Buganda Parliament, the Buganda Court of Justice and the Naggalabi Buddo Coronation Site. Severely damaged in the Uganda-Tanzania War, the city has since then been rebuilt, with constructions of new buildings including hotels, banks, shopping malls, educational institutions, hospitals and improvement of war torn buildings and infrastructure.

In Kampala you should visit: Kasubi Tombs, Naggalabi Buddo Coronation Site, Uganda Museum , Nommo art gallery, National Theatre, Cathedrals: Rubaga and Namirembe, Parliament of Uganda. Other features of the city include the Ssezibwa Falls , St. Balikuddembe Market (formerly Owino Market) and Nakasero Market. Also to note is that Kampala hosts one of only seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship in the world, it is known as the Mother Temple of Africa and is situated on Kikaya Hill on the outskirts of the city.

Do not miss the fun in Kampala: raft the headwaters of the Nile, bungee jump dipping your head in the headwaters of the Nile, do an ATV safari along the headwaters of the Nile , driving through various small towns.