Of all the places in the world, Lonely Planet chose Uganda as THE top tourist destination for 2012.
It was mainly the attraction of seeing mountain gorillas in their native forests that caused the choice. CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING VIDEO OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH WILD GORILLAS. But there were the other things as well – the national parks full of wildlife, the good hotels, improved roads, white water rafting on the Nile, climbing to the snowy peaks of the Rwenzori, the safe environment for trekkers and backpackers and the stability of the nation. This is a major milestone for Uganda which was one of the world’s top tourist destinations before independence in 1960, a status that caused Winston Churchill to call Uganda “The Pearl of Africa.”
Most people following Lonely Planet will most likely spend their time in Uganda with professional tour companies or guides who are highly personable and knowledgeable. The net experience will be good since the pros understand what it takes to give a pleasing tourist experience. People met along the way will enhance the experience because of course the Ugandan people are naturally welcoming and pleasant.
But outside of the professional tours, eco-lodges and large urban hotels, I have to say there remains a huge void in hospitality service. In the last three weeks, frequenting restaurants at all levels, I’ve regularly encountered laziness, resentment and downright stupidity among servers. One restaurant owner argued with me that I needed to pay in full with my order because the place was often crowded and they couldn’t control people running away without paying. We were the only people in the place. One waitress showed me to a table and then pulled out a wet rag to wipe it down, flipping it my way. While I waited for my table to dry, she came around and draped a table cloth over it and into my lap. Eventually the coffee came. Once it did, a guy came around swabbing the floor on his hands and knees, all of which contributed to a delightful breakfast experience. Like, they couldn’t have been ready for clientele BEFORE the doors opened?
Everyone agrees there needs to be training of hospitality workers but who is to do it if even restaurant owners don’t understand the concept of service? The owners are often foreign-born Middle-Eastern or Asian who treat their help like cattle and hide behind their cash drawers. I find it ignorant and deplorable and, even with the immense leeway I give people in Uganda because it’s Uganda, how can people operate with such an innate lack of common sense about service? Can’t they treat people as they would like to be treated? A friendly smile, a warm welcome, someone who understands English in this English-speaking country and wishes me a good day… is it too much to ask? Ask me next trip.
PS: The next best locations named were Myanmar (Burma), the Ukraine and Jordan.
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