Visit Uganda for a combination of natural wonders, rich cultural heritage, and unique experiences for tourists. Winston Churchill named the country the Pearl of Africa for the fact that the country is a medley of attractions from wildlife to cultures. Uganda’s tourist attractions offer more than wildlife. Learn about the cultural richness in cities like Kampala, with vibrant markets, historical sites, and the warm hospitality of the locals. Uganda tourist attractions are truly accommodating for all kinds of travelers. Solo travelers, families, groups, students and anyone from any part of the world can book a safari to Uganda.
Unmissable Unique Uganda tourist attractions are the reasons as to why tourists from all over the world choose to tour Uganda. Uganda Major Tourist Attractions are the reasons as to why Tourists choose undertake Tourist Attractions. Places to Visit in Uganda can be found in any part of the country depending on what the tourists’ interests are.
Uganda could be considered a rather unknown destination for most travellers seeking beautiful places to experience in Africa, given its small size and landlocked position. Here are some of the top attractions that make Uganda a must-visit destination:
1. Wildlife Safaris
Safaris are hands down the most popular tourist attraction in Uganda - probably even all of Africa. I mean, who goes to Africa and doesn’t go on a safari?! Seeing these animals in their natural habitat is breathtaking and almost brought me to tears. It was just an incredibly powerful experience for me.
Wildlife in Uganda includes about 345 mammal species with the “Big Five” (Buffaloes, Rhinos, Lions, Leopards and Elephants) which are sought during African safari game drives. The mammal species in Uganda, include those from East Africa and West Africa, which makes it a great wildlife viewing country. For tourists who just want to have a holiday, wildlife viewing in the different parks are the best Uganda tourist attractions. Some of the wildlife in Uganda include but are not limited to the Lions leopards, African Buffaloes, White Rhinos, Elephants, Zebras, Dik Dik, Elands, waterbucks, Oribis, Topis, African Bush Elephants, Rothschild Giraffes, Ugandan Kob, Sitatungas, Red and Blue Duikers, Bushbucks, Warthogs, Bush Pigs, Giant Forest Hogs, Common Warthogs, Baboons and many more Uganda wildlife safaris are undoubtedly rewarding with wildlife viewing during game drives.
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With the Nile River neatly bisecting Uganda’s largest park, you’d expect a wide range of animals at Murchison Falls and you’d be right. It’s where to go in Uganda for classic big game species such as elephant, buffalo, lion and hippo. In addition to a bird count of nearly 500, Murchison Falls also boasts chimpanzees and colobus monkeys in its forests.
2. Primate Tracking
Uganda is the world’s primate capital, home to 15 primate species. Uganda is indeed the primate capital of the world because as across Africa primates are under threat, thousands of them survive in Uganda. Kibale Forest National Park alone has a total of 13 primates including the recently discovered Dwarf Galago. The highest population of chimpanzees habituated for chimpanzee tracking also live in the park.
Rapidly becoming one of the must-visit places in Uganda, Kibale Forest offers visitors an accessible and enlightening insight into life in a tropical rainforest. Large mammals aren’t so easily seen but the clouds of dazzling butterflies and gorgeous forest birds more than make up for it, with Kibale in fact being most famous for its primates.
Other primates in Uganda include Chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys, Olive baboons, and golden monkeys.
Golden monkeys are only in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where they co-exist with the silverback gorillas and therefore the slogan “where gold meets silver”. Golden monkeys live in groups of up to 30 individuals and very amazing to track and see. With their uniqueness and limitation in range, they are one of the best Uganda tourist attractions for primate tracking.
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3. Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Mountain Gorillas are lately becoming the main Uganda tourist attraction for those who visit the country. With the latest results of the mountain gorilla census from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda still stands as home to 51% of the world’s total mountain gorilla population.
Gorilla trekking has popularly been described by travelers as a unique safari activity and a must do. Mountain Gorillas in Uganda live in their natural habitats of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both parks are good Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda destinations. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has the highest gorilla families of all the four gorilla parks in the world. 19 gorilla families are fully habituated for gorilla trekking as well as one gorilla family available for gorilla habituation. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has 1 habituated gorilla family known as Nyakagezi gorilla family.
Of the top Uganda destinations, the mountainous, forested Bwindi National Park is right up there as one of the best places to visit in Uganda for gorilla treks. Don’t be put off by its intimidating name: Bwindi is, in fact, penetrable and considered one of the best places in Uganda for an unforgettable gorilla trekking experience. You’ll be led into Bwindi by naturalist guides and trackers and the reward is worth the effort - this majestic forest is a truly magical experience. Spend an hour with a gorilla family, observing these gentle giants in their pristine rainforest habitat before slipping away and back to your comfortable jungle lodge.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is also pretty expensive but I definitely recommend it as one of the top tourist attractions in Uganda that you won’t want to miss. A limited number of tourist permits are granted each day, not only protect the endangered animals, but also increase tourist attraction to the area. Permits sell for as much as $600 per permit, and even with the large number of permit applications, only 8 people per day are allowed an exclusive interaction with these animals.
Gorilla Trekking In Uganda - A Once In a Lifetime Adventure !
4. Bird Watching
Birds are one of the popular Uganda tourist attractions for avid travelers. There are over 1,080 confirmed bird species in Uganda. Birds in Uganda include forest, savannah, water and several bird species. The Fox’s weaver is endemic to the country. One of the bird species endemic to Africa is the “prehistoric” Shoebill Stork and Uganda is host to this bird. It’s a sought after species on birding safaris that can be seen at Mabamba wetland and Murchison Falls National Park.
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Some of the bird species in Uganda include the Ostriches, Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Grey Crowned Crane. Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Eared Grebe, Four banded sandgrouse, Kori Bustard, Denham’s Bustard, Black bellied bustard, Eastern Plantain Eater, Purple Crested Turaco, Senegal Coucal, Dideric Cuckoo, and many more. The best birding destinations in Uganda are Queen Elizabeth National Park, Semuliki National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Bwindi forest, Mabamba swamp, mabira forest as well as all through the country.
5. Cultural Experiences
Uganda is culturally diverse with over 50 different tribes living within her boundaries. Each of these tribes are different from the other. Some of the most visited cultures are the Batwa pygmies, the Ik and Karamojong, Baganda and Bagishu.
The Batwa pygmies are a small tribe that formerly lived in the forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga with Mountain Gorillas. Due to eviction, they no longer live inside the forest itself, but their home is still in this south-western part of Uganda close to the forest. The Batwa are slowly becoming fewer and fewer, with only around 3,000 still living. Although you can participate in a community tour of the Batwa as part of a gorilla trekking package, you can also set up a tour for free with the Batwa Development Group. Even though the tour is free, donations are welcome.
A place that is very important to the Ugandan people is the shrine that commemorates the martyrs at Namugongo. Every year, on June 3rd, an incredible pilgrimage happens to Namugongo. People come from all over to take part in this celebration.
6. Adventure Activities on the Nile River
The Nile River at Jinja is home to the world’s finest grade 5 white water rafting as well as other adventure activities. The Nile River is the world’s longest river and Jinja in Eastern Uganda is home to the source of the mighty Nile River. For any adventure traveler on Uganda safaris, white water rafting is the best Uganda tourist attraction at the source of the Nile River in Jinja is the best adventure sport. The rafts on the Nile River explodes its volumes of white water through huge walls and drift through flowing with rapids northwards.
If you are feeling more adventurous, a popular tourist attraction is white water rafting down the Nile! Many tour companies will combine this trip with Kidepo National Park and/or Murchison Falls National Park.
7. Other Notable Attractions
- Lake Victoria: Located in East Africa, Lake Victoria is bordered by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake, the world’s second largest fresh water lake, the world’s largest tropical lake, and the world’s ninth largest continental lake. A boat tour offers intimacy with the lake and probably won’t cost more than $80 USD. I took a boat ride from Rippon Falls Island and stood with my toes in the water. I would not recommend swimming in Lake Victoria. Not only are there Nile crocodiles, sharks and hippos that live in, and around, the lake, there is a high risk of contracting bilharzia which will make you very ill.
- Murchison Falls: Murchison Falls is an impressive waterfall created by the Nile River and it plunges down a crevice that is only 7m wide. There is a very sad story that accompanies these falls. When an unmarried girl became pregnant, she would be put on trial before the tribe and if she was found guilty she would be thrown from the top of the falls to her death.
- Rwenzori Mountains: Also known as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’, Rwenzori Mountains are a rocky chain of mountains and hills in Western Uganda. The tops of these mountains are perpetually capped with snow, while the base of the mountains is littered with streams, sprawling vegetation, and local agriculturally-inclined communities. Margherita Peak is the highest summit of Mount Stanley in the Rwenzori Range in East Africa. At an estimated 5,119m, Margherita Peak is always capped with snow, fog, and mist.
- Kidepo Valley National Park: Kidepo Valley National Park is located in northern Uganda bordering South Sudan and Kenya. If you are an avid bird watcher, you won’t want to miss the chance to spot 450 bird species here in Kidepo Valley National Park. Kidepo Valley National Park is also home to two different indigenous communities that inhabit this region.
- Sempaya Hot Springs: Legend tells us that the female hot spring (known by the name of Nyasimbi) is the hot spring in which their female ancestors live beneath and the male hot spring (known by the name of Bintente) is where the male ancestors live. Please be aware that these hot springs are VERY HOT, reaching 100 degrees celsius which is 212 degrees fahrenheit.
- Kampala: A typical African capital with a compact, high-rise centre surrounded by sprawling suburbs, busy Kampala is Uganda’s commercial, political and logistical hub but also one of East Africa’s most laid-back and friendly cities. Uganda’s only international airport is set next to Lake Victoria in Entebbe 35kms away. Gaddafi’s Mosque, also known as ‘Kampala’s largest mosque’, is located in the bustling capital city of Kampala. The mosque was erected by Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi.
- Lake Mburo: Halfway between Uganda’s capital and entry point Kampala and the gorilla trekking forests of the south-west lies Lake Mburo, a perfect overnight stop-over for travellers making their way between the two destinations.
National Parks in Uganda
Combining easily with Bwindi Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular and most accessible savannah reserve and is home to elephant, buffalo, leopard, numerous antelope species and the famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha Plains.
| National Park | Main Attractions |
|---|---|
| Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | Mountain Gorillas, Primates, Bird Watching |
| Murchison Falls National Park | Wildlife Safaris, Waterfalls, Bird Watching |
| Queen Elizabeth National Park | Wildlife Safaris, Tree-Climbing Lions, Bird Watching |
| Kibale Forest National Park | Chimpanzee Tracking, Primates |
| Mgahinga Gorilla National Park | Mountain Gorillas, Golden Monkeys |
| Kidepo Valley National Park | Wildlife Safaris, Bird Watching, Indigenous Cultures |
With so many landmarks around, it can be hard deciding which to visit first. This is particularly true if you are short on time. The idea is to help you save time by reducing the need to decide what to see first. Bwindi National Forest is the most iconic landmark in Uganda.
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