6 Top Tourist Destinations in Uganda: Uganda is the place to go if you want to go mountain gorilla trekking. The only other nation where these gentle giants may be seen on a journey is Rwanda, yet Ugandan permits are a fraction of the amount charged over the border. Aside from gorilla trekking, there are other activities in Uganda.
The country is home to many primates, and Kibale National Park provides fantastic chimp trekking and habituation experiences. Kidepo, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls National Parks are ideal for savannah game drives, with abundance of lion, buffalo, and elephant, as well as a variety of antelope species. The land is extremely picturesque, and it has a lot to offer visitors who are interested in natural history and prefer active vacations.
6 Top Tourist Destinations in Uganda.
- Explore Kampala City.
Busy Kampala, Uganda’s commercial, political, and logistical powerhouse, is also one of East Africa’s most laid-back and welcoming towns, with a small, high-rise center surrounded by wide suburbs.
Entebbe, Uganda’s only international airport is 35 kilometers distant from Lake Victoria. This little town serves as the country’s principal entry and departure point, and many travelers stay here or in Kampala before or after their Uganda safari.
- Encounter Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Don’t be frightened off by the menacing name: Bwindi is, in reality, accessible and regarded as one of the greatest spots in Uganda for a memorable gorilla trekking adventure. Naturalist guides and trackers will lead you into Bwindi, and the result is well worth the effort – this gorgeous forest is a genuinely amazing experience. Spend an hour with a gorilla family, observing these gentle giants in their natural rainforest habitat before returning to your cosy jungle lodge. A gorilla walk is damp, steamy, muddy, and difficult, yet the experience is unforgettable, 6 Top Tourist Destinations in Uganda.
- Murchison Falls National Park.
With the Nile River neatly dividing Uganda’s largest park, you’d anticipate a diverse assortment of wildlife at Murchison Falls, and you’d be correct. It’s the place to go in Uganda if you want to see elephants, buffalo, lions, and hippos. Murchison Falls’ woodlands are home to chimps and colobus monkeys, in addition to almost 500 bird species. The highlight, though, is a boat ride to the stunning falls itself, where the raging Nile is squeezed down a 7-metre gap in the Great Rift Valley Escarpment.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is readily combined with Bwindi Forest, is Uganda’s most popular and accessible savannah reserve, and is home to elephant, buffalo, leopard, various antelope species, and the legendary tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha Plains. Take a boat tour on the Kazinga Channel to see hippo and crocodiles, and don’t forget your binoculars: Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the world’s top bird viewing sites, with over 600 documented bird species.
- Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale Forest, which is quickly becoming one of Uganda’s must-see destinations, provides tourists with an accessible and instructive glimpse into life in a tropical rainforest. Large animals are less visible, but the clouds of colorful butterflies and exquisite woodland birds more than compensate, with Kibale being most known for its monkeys. Explore the gorgeous forest on guided chimp treks and discover how many of the other 12 monkey species you can see.
Lake Mburo is located halfway between Uganda’s capital and entrance point, Kampala, and the gorilla trekking forests in the south-west, making it an ideal overnight stopover for those traveling between the two sites. Despite the absence of heavyweights such as elephants, the diverse combination of marsh and forest habitats supports a diverse diversity of animals and birds, and Mburo’s quiet mood and soothing sights give welcome relaxation after a long drive.
When is the best time to visit Uganda?
Uganda is accessible at any time of year. Mountain gorilla trekking is on most travelers’ bucket lists, and permits are accessible all year.
Uganda is a tropical nation that receives a lot of rain. The wettest months are March through May, which may make travel difficult. During the Wet Season, several lodges close and certain routes become extremely muddy and difficult to navigate.
The dry season months of June to August and December to February provide the best travel conditions, and are also ideal for Ugandan gorilla trekking. The dry season months are particularly ideal for general wildlife watching in savannah reserves since animals congregate around rivers and waterholes, and the grass is shorter, making spotting simpler.
Why you should visit Uganda?
Uganda is well renowned for its mountain gorilla tourism, and most visitors will include gorilla trekking in their schedule. A Uganda gorilla trip may be added to an East African safari in Kenya or Tanzania, but Uganda has much more to offer, so consider visiting some of the savannah areas and tracking chimps as well.
Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park include chimp trekking in Kyambura Gorge and a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel. The fauna is extensive, with tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha region of the park being one of the highlights. Murchison Falls National Park has amazing visual splendour as well as superb animal watching. You may take a Nile River boat tour to the famed Murchison Falls or to the delta. The latter is especially lucrative for birders, with sightings of the ancient shoebill being prevalent in this region, 6 Top Tourist Destinations in Uganda
Kidepo Valley National Park is more isolated. This park provides a real wilderness experience and is home to several animals that are not seen anywhere else in the nation, such as the beautiful cheetah. Kibale National Park is ideal for primate enthusiasts since it provides the most dependable chimp trekking in the country, and a special habituation program is provided for guests who wish to spend the entire day with their closest relatives.
In Conclusion: Mountain gorilla tracking is Uganda’s main draw. Seeing these gentle giants was one of my favourite wildlife experiences. Because Congo is unstable, Rwanda is the only other country where this is available. Aside from gorillas, Uganda’s woodlands are a great area to witness a variety of primates, including the captivating chimps. Many people visit Uganda for a short gorilla encounter following their safari in Kenya or Tanzania, but Uganda is a worthy savanna safari destination in its own right. Lions, elephants, buffalo, and other savannah species may be seen at both Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls national parks. The recently built Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is an excellent location for viewing white rhino on foot.
The recently built Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is an excellent location for viewing white rhino on foot. The wildlife watching may not be as good as in Kenya or Tanzania, but the breathtaking environment makes up for it. The boat ride down the Nile to the foot of Murchison Falls, where the water makes its way through a tight crack in the Rift Valley escarpment, is one of my favourite parts.
Tourist numbers are smaller, and the sector does not appear to be as developed as in neighboring nations, but if you can put up with a few snags, that may be part of the charm. Uganda is a superb birding destination, with over 1,000 bird species – even non-birders will appreciate seeing specialties like the prehistoric-looking Shoebill.
