The 13 Top Popular Tourist Attraction of Uganda
Check out our 13 Top Popular Tourist Attraction of Uganda. Uganda is a land of contrasts and by far the most beautifully endowed country. In half a day you can drive from mist-shrouded volcanic mountains to hot hazy savannah, dappled with wildlife, Serene undulating hills of tea plantations, lush but ordered, give way to tangled jungle and rainforest with the musical accompaniment of chaotic, cacophonous birdlife.
With its dense misty forests, snow-peaked mountains of the moon, glassy lakes and sprawling savannas, it’s no wonder Sir Winston Churchill dubbed this wonderful country the ‘Pearl of Africa’. While mountain gorillas are the allure for many visitors, there’s an astounding variety of attractions for tourists as we are going to see below; –
Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park – Home to The Mesmerizing Mountain Gorillas!
The Impenetrable Bwindi Forest National Park is among our 13 Top Popular Tourist Attraction of Uganda and lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the great Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are obscured by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, which dates back over 25,000 years. The forest is one of the richest ecosystems in Africa, contains almost 400 species of plants. An estimated 360 mountain gorilla individuals – roughly half of the world’s population, 350 species of birds, 120 mammals and a lot more. You cannot visit Uganda and miss out Bwindi. Can you? Check out our 3 days Mountain gorilla trekking adventure that will leave you yawn for me.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park – The Primate capital of the World!
Kibale is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and montane forests. In East Africa, it sustains the last significant expanse of pre-montane forest. The park is home to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate including the chimpanzee, contains over 375 species of birds
Kibale forest is a primate capital of the world with over 1600 individual Chimpanzees and more than 13 species of primates. For any primatologist, Kibale is the best place for you
There are several other places where you can track chimpanzees in the jungle and these include;
- Budongo eco forest in Kaniyo Pabidi located in the southern part of Murchison falls national park
- The Kyambura gorge of Queen Elizabeth national park
- The Kalinzu forest reserve adjust to Queen Elizabeth national park
Savanna Wildlife Safari in Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth National Park sits in the western side of Uganda, which is a 7 hours’ drive southwest of the country’s capital and largest city, Kampala. It’s no doubt that it’s one of the most popular tourist destination in Uganda with different wildlife-filled habitats, such as forests, wetlands, savanna grasslands, and a number of lakes.
The park contains a lot of wildlife, such as the iconic African safari animals such as the Elephants, buffaloes, Lions, leopards, antelopes among others, but is also fortunate to protect a population of our closest relatives, the chimpanzees. Towards the north and across Lake George, the park connects to the Kibale Forest National Park mentioned above.
Being part of African Great Lakes region, there are some fantastic lakes to visit where you can enjoy cruises on the glistening waters to scout for a range of wildlife. There is also a fantastic channel to enjoy between Lake Edward and Lake George to see hippopotamus, Nile crocodiles and birdlife. Book our 4 days safari to Queen Elizabeth and experience the medley of wonders!
Wildlife safaris – Murchison Falls national park
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park. It measures approximately 3,840 square kilometers (1,480 sq mi). The park is hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds and a lot more.
Murchison Falls is a fantastic natural attraction located in the suitably named Murchison Falls National Park, which with a few other protected areas create the Murchison National Park. The park has been visited by the likes of Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, and various royals over the years. The falls was named after a president of the Royal Geographical Society and is the main attraction.
Murchison Falls is a fantastic spectacle with water violently crashing through the narrow, rocky gorge. The falls ejects water from the Victoria Nile River through a 6-meter-wide cascade, which torrents down 30 meters to the Nile River. Because of the spray of water, you can see a constant rainbow over the falls adding to the spectacle of this must-visit Ugandan attraction. Our 3 days Murchison falls adventure is a perfect route in case you have limited time.
The majestic Nile River
There is something magical about the Nile, the longest river in the world and the source of life for many great civilizations throughout the ages. The source of the Nile, referred to hazily in the ancient writings of Ptolemy, stood as one of the great geographical mysteries of the Victorian Age. Closer to home, the Nile downriver from Jinja, Uganda, offers some superb white water rafting and game fishing. Talk to our safari experts to tailor make Nile River exploration
The ziwa rhino sanctuary
The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary located just north of Kampala near the famous Murchison Falls was founded by various wildlife and conservation organizations in an attempt to restore Uganda’s rhinoceros’ population. In total, the sanctuary protects over 20 rhinos and is also a fantastic place to see other wildlife.
Enjoy bird watching, nature walks, relaxing, and of course finding and watching the rhinos. The rangers of the sanctuary will guide you around the reserve to find the wildlife, including the rhinos themselves, crocodiles, hippos, antelopes and much more. Birders often enjoy the reserve and spend time finding some of the 250 different species. You can find some fascinating birds within the sanctuary boundaries, including a number of rare species.
The Golden Monkey trekking
The golden monkeys are a fantastic group of primates to see in the wild and can be encountered on guided treks through the forest. There are a couple of different areas to find the monkeys, but the best place to track the monkeys in Uganda is the Mgahinga National Park at the foot of the Virunga Mountains.
The monkeys enjoy hanging around the stands of bamboo forest within these protected areas and the monkeys are now used to people, which means they’re more easily observed. However, the monkeys move fast so make sure you’re using your fastest lens speed.
The golden monkeys make a fantastic add-on experience to enjoy with the gorillas or the chimpanzees. The trip provides an ideal short stay to experience the Virunga Mountains. This is where you find the monkeys, as there are only a few thousand individuals remaining. On tours to see these fascinating primates, you can visit the habituated groups for an hour at a time.
Rwenzori Mountain Hike – 5, 109m asl
The Rwenzori Mountain also known as “Mountains of the Moon” a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lie in western Uganda along the Uganda-Congo border. The equatorial snow peaks include the third highest point in Africa, while the lower slopes are blanketed in moorland, bamboo and rich, moist montane forest. The national park hosts 70 mammals and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics, as well as some of the world’s rarest vegetation. Explore Rwenzori Mountain National Park
Mount Elgon Hike
At 4,000km² Mt. Elgon has the largest volcanic base in the world. Located on the Uganda-Kenya border it is also the oldest and largest solitary, volcanic mountain in East Africa. Its vast form, 80km in diameter, rises more than 3,000m above the surrounding plains. The mountain’s cool heights offer respite from the hot plains below, with the higher altitudes providing a refuge for flora and fauna. Mount Elgon National Park is home to over 300 species of birds, including the endangered Lammergeyer. Small antelopes, forest monkeys, elephants and buffalos also live on the mountainside. Explore Mount Elgon National Park
Savanah wildlife safaris in Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with South Sudan and Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Gazetted as a national park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species as well as around 475 bird species. Explore Kidepo Valley National Park
Savannah wildlife safaris In Lake Mburo national park
Lake Mburo National Park is a hidden gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks and underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back more than 500 million years. It is home to 350 bird species as well as zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck.
The Kampala City Tour
Kampala is Uganda’s capital city and makes a fascinating stop on your Ugandan adventure. This is a great place to spend a day or two experiencing the country’s most important city. Ugandans in general are very friendly and Kampala offers a more relaxed atmosphere than its neighbor
The city is relatively calm and safe with a stable expat community with many different NGOs running various humanitarian and conservation projects. The city has some modern areas with top of the line restaurants and bars, which is where expats and visitors enjoy spending their time.
You can enjoy many different markets selling a variety of produce, clothing, and crafts. There are also different attractions to see in the city itself, which will keep you entertained over a couple of days. These include temples, cathedrals, markets, galleries, areas of historical significance, and museums.
Despite being an old building in need of a little love, a popular attraction is the old Uganda National Museum. This shows the cultural heritage of the country, including exhibits on Uganda’s cultural and natural history. There are also a few different galleries you can enjoy that display paintings, photography, sculptures, and exhibits from local artists.
Walking safaris and Bird watching in Semlik national park
Semlik National Park sprawls across the floor of the Semliki Valley on the remote, western side of the Rwenzori. The park is dominated by the easternmost extension of the great Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin. This is one of Africa’s most ancient and bio-diverse forests; one of the few to survive the last ice age, 12-18,000 years ago. While Semlik species have been accumulating for over 25,000 years, the park contains evidence of even older processes. Hot springs bubble up from the depths to demonstrate the powerful subterranean forces that have been shaping the rift valley during the last 14 million years
We believe you have explored fully our 13 Top Popular Tourist Attraction of Uganda and this should guide you while creating your bucketlist.
