5 Reasons to visit Kampala

1. Kampala’s energy

Kampala, the capital of the Pearl of Africa, is itself a pearl. This city is a marvellous combination of nature, culture, gastronomy, modernity and sun. Kampala is unique: it is a lively, charming, hospitable city. With beautiful parks, luxurious hotels and restaurants, fantastic museums, enriching cultural experiences and friendly, welcoming people, Kampala is truly delightful. Kampala has an easy-going, relaxing environment where one can simply enjoy the pleasures of life.

2. The culture

Ugandan culture is colourful, joyful, vibrant, musical. Kampala is a cultural hub of the 56 tribes of the Pearl of Africa. With a rich history and fascinating heritage, there is so much to learn in Kampala. You can easily spend hours in its museums without feeling time go by. Amongst its museums, there is Uganda Museum, the oldest museum of East Africa, with a fascinating ethnographical collection. Quality exhibitions and extensive collections make the learning experience in Kampala extremely enriching and invigorating. Ndere troop, with its loud music full of energy, and mesmerising dances, is a must-see show, a way to fully immerse yourself in the fascinating Ugandan culture. Kampala is the place to experience the East African energy, encompassing its history as well as its vibrant culture.

3. The food

The Kampala experience is also a gastronomical one. After a long shopping session, a morning at the oldest museum of East Africa, or a speedboat ride on Lake Victoria, having a lengthy, lazy, relaxing, delicious lunch makes the Kampala experience delicious. The selection of restaurants is of extremely good quality, with many different options, ranging from gourmet Italians to aromatic Indians, elegant Belgians and invigorating Asian Fusions. The freshness of Ugandan ingredients, paired with the talented chefs of Kampala and the classy, aesthetic designs of the restaurants, makes eating in Kampala an experience of its own. I could write pages and pages about Kampala’s gastronomy.

4. The art

Kampala is an artistic city: whether you go to the local Sunday market or the country’s best art galleries, you can always catch great finds. Kololo’s art galleries are small and exclusive, with some of the best up-and-coming African artists in Uganda. The productions are oftentimes contemporary with traditional touches. From modernism to abstract art, the unmissable African touch to the art makes the experience very enriching and enjoyable. Out of the galleries and in the local markets, you can watch small artists at work while admiring their art, chatting with them and learning their own stories, creating friendships while buying good art for fair prices. These artists can be found in the African Crafts Village, an enchanting circle of little huts in a beautiful green garden, each one a shop selling African clothings, beautiful jewellery, handmade baskets, clay mugs, and other beautiful crafts. Amongst these huts, you will find some specialising in African paintings. The options are diverse and it’s always a pleasure to meet the artists while watching them at work, making the artistic experience in Kampala all the more intimate and enchanting.

5. The nature

Kampala is a big city. It’s modern and it’s exciting. But in this lively urban world, one thing makes it special: the background of the luxuriant nature of Kampala. Located on the shores of Lake Victoria, lazy palm trees, exotic birds, green acacia trees and deep blue lakes are part of life in Kampala. Walks around the residential neighbourhood of Kololo are like taking a walk in a botanical garden: tall, grandiose palm trees swish in big green gardens, vibrant flowers add pink, red and purple hues to the evergreen atmosphere. Banana trees are everywhere. They are the bread and butter of this tropical paradise hosting a beautiful, exciting city. The National Botanical Gardens, right next to Lake Victoria and a 30-minute drive from Kampala’s centre, are simply magical. The set of the Tarzan films of the 1940s, this historical garden’s impressive, lush nature is absolutely magical. Kampala’s perfect weather, sunny and warm, along with its peaceful nature, makes it a beautiful city to live in, a rich experience encompassing the best features of East Africa: luxuriant nature, warm people, delectable food, quality art and rich culture.