Uganda defies simple African stereotypes, impossible to fully appreciate without experiencing its remarkable diversity - best reflected in the 40 distinct languages and traditions that the country is home to. There is also a natural richness that seems to tick every box of the natural sights, from glaciers and valleys, to mountains, rivers and forests and feels very much untouched.

Often called the "Pearl of Africa" by Winston Churchill, Uganda justifies this title through landscapes of exceptional fertility and biodiversity. The country's crown jewel experiences revolve around intimate encounters with our closest relatives – mountain gorillas in the misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and chimpanzees in Kibale, where researchers have habituated families for close yet respectful observation.

The source of the Nile begins its epic journey at Jinja, offering world-class white-water rafting through spectacular rapids. Queen Elizabeth National Park combines savanna and forest habitats where lions climb fig trees and hippos crowd the Kazinga Channel. The remote plains of Kidepo Valley shelter spectacular herds of buffalo and elephant against dramatic mountain backdrops. In the west, the Rwenzori Mountains – aptly named "Mountains of the Moon" – feature equatorial glaciers and otherworldly vegetation zones.

Elsewhere the capital, Kampala, is an up-and-coming destination - a city built across seven verdant hills, where colonial relics sit hand-in-hand with the modern life taking precedence. Here, boda-bodas zip past churches that speak to a different time, whilst open-air food stalls reveals layers of complexity that are not only found in the country's culinary delights. From the solemn beauty of the Bahá’í Temple to private access into the royal tombs of Buganda kings, there is much to be seen, let along experienced.