Attractions In Uganda
Uganda, referred as the “Pearl of Africa” is a country full of National Parks, water bodies, natural and man-made landmarks, diversity of cultures and other highlights. The East African country has more to offer to travellers than just the verdant Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Murchison falls National Park and Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria. During your Uganda safaris, here are the top tourist attractions in Uganda that will make your trip memorable and worthwhile.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This UNESCO World Heritage Site found in south-western Uganda is one of the top attractions in Uganda. It is popular for sheltering about 450 mountain gorillas-the highest concentration on Earth making it a stronghold for gorilla trekking tours in the country. Additionally, the Park takes pride in its awe-inspiring mountain views, breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife species that include over 120 mammal species.
Watching the endangered mountain gorillas is top tourist activity in this Park but visitors are also likely to relish rewarding tourist activities like Batwa cultural experiences, mountain biking, guided forest walks, and birding
Murchison falls National Park
This National Park is not just a tourist attraction in Uganda but a Paradise on Earth, named after the jaw-dropping and thundering Murchison falls that was formed from the strong bursts of Nile River waters through a narrow gorge before falling in cascading rapids.
Murchison falls National Park is famed for being the largest Park in the country stretching for about 3840 square kilometers with savannah grasslands, woodland, swamps and thickets. The unmissable animals here are African bush elephants, Jackson’s hartebeests, lions, Cape buffaloes, warthogs, spotted hyenas, leopards, Rothschild giraffes, Topis, Olive baboons, Uganda Kobs, bushbucks, Defassa waterbucks, vervet monkeys, duikers, Oribis, to mention but a few.
The riveting adventures that await visitors to Murchison falls National Park are walking safaris, hot air balloon tours, exhilarating boat cruises, game drives, birding tours, chimpanzee treks, village and community visits as well as hike to the top of the falls
Jinja City, the source of the Nile and Adventure Capital of East Africa
If you are interested in awakening your adrenaline side, then you would consider visiting Jinja City, in Eastern Uganda. This is interestingly one of the most outstanding Colonial Towns and is strategically located near the source of the Nile River. Adventure activities offered in Jinja City are horseback rides, quad biking tours, fishing tours, whitewater rafting, jet skiing, bungee jumping, kayaking, horseback rides, sunrise and sunset cruises, mountain biking/cycling, to mention but a few.
Kampala City
Popular for being the most immense and Capital City of Uganda, Kampala is another unmissable tourist attraction in Uganda. It is a renowned historical and cultural tourist site, often important as the starting point for most Uganda safaris.
Leaving Uganda without uncovering the hidden beauty of Kampala that includes the thatched relics of Kasubi Tombs, the Uganda Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo, the outstanding minarets at Gadhafi National Mosque, Uganda National Museum, several art and craft markets, Ndere Cultural Center, different City Markets, King’s Palace at Mengo, Kabaka’s Lake, Idi Amin’s Torture Chambers, to mention but a few.
Ssese Islands, on Lake Victoria
Think of relaxation, think of Ssese Islands. This is an archipelago made up of about 84 Islands of varying sizes dotted on the pristine north-western side of Lake Victoria. The large Islands are inhabited while the small ones are mostly inhabited. Besides the relaxation opportunities, a number of extraordinary flora and fauna species in form of chimpanzees, Crocodiles, hippos, Otters and fish species such Nile Perch and Tilapia can be spotted.
A visit to Ssese Islands isn’t complete without riveting adventures like fishing tours, horseback rides, boat rides, chimpanzee trekking, wind surfing, guided nature walks, village/community visits, to mention but a few.
Kibale Forest National Park
Guided walks through the dense and lush rainforests as well as swamplands of Kibale Forest National Park provide visitors with primate experiences that are second to none. It is here that chances of seeing our closest cousins (the Chimpanzees) that are higher than any other place in the country.
Additionally, this Primate Capital of the World is haven to 13 species of primates that include olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoests monkeys, Pottos, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and patas monkeys among others. However, that’s not all this Park offers because visitors can also come across giant forest hogs, forest elephants, sitatunga, duikers and forest buffaloes in addition to over 350 bird species.
Entebbe Town
This is the main gateway into Uganda and for any visitor, it is simply home to the Airport but to us, it is an important tourist attraction in Uganda. It is here that you will find the country’s most pristine white sand beaches, Reptiles Village, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Uganda Wildlife Education Center, Entebbe Craft Village and many others.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is another attraction in Uganda, set in the western part of the country and offering a small slice of everything Uganda offers in terms of wilderness experiences. Thanks to its diverse ecosystem-thickets, wetlands, savannah, Lakes, woodland and dense rainforest, a plethora of animal and bird species are sheltered here.
Talking of animals, you can’t miss the African bush elephants, Topis, Uganda Kobs, leopards, Defassa waterbucks, lions including the exceptional tree climbing lions, Cape buffaloes, Hippos, Olive baboons, Mongoose, spotted hyenas, chimpanzees, bushbucks, vervet monkeys, common warthogs, duikers, giant forest hogs, to mention but a few.
Experiences like hot air balloon tours, Hippo counts, Boat Cruises, lion tracking, game drives, birding tours, chimpanzee trekking and walking safaris are offered in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Lake Mburo National Park
The spectacular Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest Savannah Park in Uganda covering an area of 142 square miles. It is characterized by extensive savannah plains dotted with Rock kopjes and different Acacia tree. There are also wide range of ecosystems that offer shelter to Roan antelopes, Reedbucks, Klipspringers, duikers, Cape buffaloes, Topis, spotted hyenas, giant elands, Burchell’s zebras, impalas, vervet monkeys, Defassa waterbucks, Oribis, Olive baboons, leopards, to mention but a few. The lush Rubanga Forest is set in the south-west side of this Park offering a wide range of forest bird species and primates.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Situated in Central Uganda (Nakitoma Town Council, Nakasongola district), Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is another remarkable tourist attraction in Uganda. This unmissable tourist site boasts of the highest and only population of Southern white Rhinos in their natural habitat. Presently, there are about 33 individuals here thus making Rhino tracking the main reason why travellers visit it. Besides these large mammals, travellers who visit this tourist site also see Uganda Kobs, Hippos shoebill storks, Defassa waterbucks, Topis, warthogs and many others. Other unmissable adventures here are shoebill tracking, canoe rides, walking safaris and birding tours.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
What is a Uganda safari without a visit to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the south-western side of the country? It is undeniably the smallest Park in the country but you won’t believe that it offers part of the World’s mountain gorilla population, golden monkeys, forest elephants and over 180 bird species that include the Albertine Rift endemics. It is surprisingly the only place in the country where travellers can see mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, trek three of the eight Virunga Volcanoes (Gahinga, Sabyinyo and Muhabura), visit the Batwa pygmies and so much more.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The iconic Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a renowned mountaineering destination where views of jaw-dropping snow-capped peaks, beautiful glacial Lakes, Valleys, plethora of animals and wide array of bird species are relished. Visitors who make trips to this wonderful Park get a chance to see the rare three-horned chameleons, sitatunga, Red forest duikers, forest elephants, black and white colobus monkeys, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, L’Hoest monkeys, to mention but a few. Did you know that this Park is also an Important Birding Area in Uganda? Yes, it has about 200 bird species, some of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley while others are endemic to the Rwenzori Mountains range.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Popularly known for its seclusion, the remarkable Kidepo Valley National Park is hidden within the remotest north-western corner of the country. It stretches for about 144,200 hectares and requires 7-9 hours of driving from Kampala City to get there.
This is the perfect place for travellers looking to experience the raw wilderness f Uganda with some of the country’s rarest animals that include Sable antelopes, spotted and stripped hyenas, ostriches, jackals, Oryx, serval cats, cheetahs, African wild dogs, wildebeests and many others.
Mount Elgon National Park
Located in the Eastern border of Uganda with Kenya is beautiful Mount Elgon National Park, home to the World’s largest Caldera known for some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes, animals and birds. If you are a lover of adrenaline, then this is the perfect place to be during your Uganda safari.
Other unmissable tourist attractions in Uganda are Lakes Mutanda and Bunyonyi, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Fort Portal Tourism City, Katonga Wildlife Reserve, Mount Morungole and Sipi falls, Nyero Rock Paintings, Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve, Semliki National Park to mention but a few.