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Uganda is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa. Top tourist destinations in Uganda lead you to various beautiful attractions during your stay in the country. With its dense misty forests, snow-peaked mountains, glassy lakes, and sprawling savannas, it’s no wonder 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.
A land that’s painted in 1,001 shades of green with fantastic natural scenery.
Here are the Top tourist destinations in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forests National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests. It dates back over 25,000 years. The forest is one of the richest ecosystems in Africa and contains almost 400 species of plants. An estimated 320 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, 350 species of birds, 120 mammals, and a lot more.
The bwindi impenetrable national park is known mostly for gorilla trekking. It has four gorilla trekking sectors which include Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Mgahinga which were recently added. Rushaga has 5 gorilla families and is actually the only sector that is permitted for Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi National Park.
Explore Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Rwenzori Mountain National Park
The Rwenzori Mountain also known as “Mountains of the Moon” a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 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.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park spans the equator line; monuments on either side of the road mark the exact spot where it crosses latitude 00.
The park was founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park and renamed two years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II of England.
The park is home to over 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species.
The Katwe explosion craters mark the park’s highest point at 1,350m above sea level, while the lowest point is at 910m, at Lake Edward.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. The park’s diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes, and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for a classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees, and over 600 species of birds.
The craters
Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalo, and elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kob.
As well as its outstanding wildlife attractions, Queen Elizabeth National Park has a fascinating cultural history. There are many opportunities for visitors to meet the local communities and enjoy storytelling, dance, music, and more. The gazetting of the park has ensured the conservation of its ecosystems, which in turn benefits the surrounding communities.
Most of Queen Elizabeth comprises open grassland and savannah which tends to be moist and woody in the west than the eastern part, Thorny Acacia dominates this savannah habitat with a high concentration of candelabra shrub a cactus that grows along the kazinga channel and on the kasenyi plains. These plains have plenty of tree climbing lions.
Queen Elizabeth supports at least 95 species of mammals, it boasts 20 carnivores like the Lion, Leopards, side stripped jackal, and spotted hyena among others.
Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park is truly a Medley of Wonders!
Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls became one of Uganda’s first national parks in 1952.
At Murchison Falls, the Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with a thunderous roar into the “Devil’s Cauldron”, creating a trademark rainbow
The northern section of the park contains savanna and Borassus palms, acacia trees, and riverine woodland. The south is dominated by woodland and forest patches
The 1951 film “The African Queen” starring Humphrey Bogart was filmed on Lake Albert and the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savanna. First gazetted as a game reserve in 1926, it is Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area.
The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes, and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles, and aquatic birds are permanent residents.
The animals at the park
Murchison Falls is notably blessed with over 144 mammals,556 bird species,51 reptiles, and 51 Amphibians. With a great number of African elephants, Murchison falls is impressive all year round. The aerial survey noted over 900 individuals and 1,330 and is at an increase. Historically Giraffes exclusively inhabit the northern sector of the park. Buffalo populations have spiked to over 10,000 while Uganda kobs have leaped to more than 35,000.
The bird checklist with the shoebill is the most common along the river stretch approaching the Albert delta and many bird species occupy the park. The white-crested turaco, and red-winged grey warbler, are all associated with woodland on the southern bank.
Notable visitors to the park include Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway, and several British royals.
Kibale Forest National Park
It is a national park in South Uganda protecting moist evergreen rainforests. It is 766 km^2 in size and is located between 1100 and 1600 meters in elevation. Despite encompassing primarily moist evergreen forest, it contains a diverse array of landscapes. 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, containing over 375 species of birds.
Explore Kibale National Park
The source of the Nile
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 alluded 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.
Mt. Elgon National Park
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
Semliki National Park
Semuliki 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 Semuliki’s 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.
Explore Semliki National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park
The park is one of Top tourist destinations in Uganda and contains two rivers – Kidepo and Narus – which disappear in the dry season, leaving just pools for the wildlife.
The local communities around the park include pastoral Karamojong people, similar to the Maasai of Kenya, and the IK, a hunter-gatherer tribe whose survival is threatened.
Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with south Sudan in the north west and only 5km from the eastern border of 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.
Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Apoka, in the heart of the park, a savannah landscape extends far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges.
Birds species in Kidepo
The bird checklist of over 476 species with the common Ostrich, secretary bird,northern carmine bee eater, little green bee eater, Abyssinian scimitar bill and many more colorful and visible species.
Explore Kidepo Valley National Park
Lake Mburo National Park
Wetland habitats comprise 20% of the park’s surface
The parks’ precarious past has seen wildlife virtually eliminated several times. Firstly, in various attempts to rid the region of tsetse flies. Then to make way for ranches, and finally as a result of subsistence poaching.
20% of the park’s entrance fee is used to fund local community projects such as building clinics and schools.
Lake Mburo National Park is a compact 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’s a home to 350 bird species as well as zebras, impalas, elands, buffalos, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck.
Other lakes
Together with 13 other lakes in the area, Lake Mburo forms part of a 50km-long wetland system linked by a swamp. Five of these lakes lie within the park’s borders. Once covered by open savanna, this supports the healthy population of Buffalos, Wathhog ,bushpig and hippopotamus. Lake Mburo National Park now contains much woodland as there are no elephants to tame the vegetation. In the western part of the park, the savanna is interspersed with rocky ridges and forested gorges. While patches of papyrus swamp and narrow bands of lush riparian woodland line many lakes.
Lake Mburo is notably blessed with over 315 bird species and probably the best place to view acacia-associated birds. Rwonyo is a good zone to see the mosque swallow, blackbellied bustard,bare-faced-go away bird and Ruppell’s starling. A handful of birds is recorded essentially the southern ground hornbill and black throated barbet.
Lake Victoria
This is Africa’s largest lake and a Top tourist destination in Uganda shared by three countries – Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania. The Lake was named after Queen Victoria by a British Explorer, John Speke, in 1858.
Lake Victoria receives its water mainly from thousands of small streams like the Kagera River and Rainfall. There are a number of Islands located on Lake Victoria and the most common ones are the Ssese Islands.
The Ssese Islands are an archipelago of eighty-four (84) islands in the northwestern part of Lake Victoria in Uganda. The Ssese Islands – listed among the world’s best secret Islands by Lonely Planet. They are a well-known destination for Ugandans for their beauty, affordability, and ease of access.
And on top of those amazing sunrises, sunsets, and Holiday weather all year long. Also found in Lake Victoria is Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Lake Bunyonyi
Top tourist destinations in Uganda include Lake Bunyonyi.
Many tourists and travelers who undertake a Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. They can also come to Uganda after their Rwanda Gorilla safari experience. Here, they rest and relax at the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi.They get to enjoy one of the best sceneries in the whole world. They involve themselves in various cultural and community activities like canoeing. Lake Bunyonyi is located in southwestern Uganda between two districts of Kisoro and Kabale close to the border with Rwanda.
It’s also the second deepest lake in Africa. Activities at Bunyonyi include canoeing, boat riding, local tour, swimming. There is also hiking the highlands around the lake, pygmy village tours, and birding.
Kampala city
Kampala is Uganda’s capital and the largest city with a population of around 1.5 million people. It is located in the south-central part close to the shores of Lake Victoria.
Kampala City TourKampala was named the 13th fastest-growing city on the planet, with an annual population growth rate of 4.03%. Many Museums and monuments are located within the city like the Kasubi tombs, Mengo Palace. Also Bahai temple, Uganda Martyrs shrine, and many more.
The Namugongo shrine located just 15km east of Kampala. It is one of the most popular ones and every year on the 3rd of June. People flock in 10s and 1000s to honor and pray to God through the intercession of the 22 Martyrs.
Other places like the Rubaga Cathedral and Kasubi tombs are also commonly visit. Also, a City Tour can go ahead by a Pamoja Tours and Travel Consultant to see all these places.
In conclusion, book your safari with Pamoja Tours and Travel now. Check out some of the top rated safari itineraries:
3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking and Cultural Safari Kibale Forest National Park
Also, check out our vehicles we use during the safari:
We give 5% of our profits from safaris to vulnerable communities.
Also, we have Pamoja Health Initiative where you can book a trip with us and be able to become an advocate or volunteer in sensitizing communities about Maternl Health, Sexual and mental health awareness.
Read more about Pamoja Health Initiative : https://www.pamojahealthinitiative.org/#
