Uganda is a landlocked nation in east-Africa commonly known as the Pearl of Africa. It has a very rich landscape, wildlife and culture in the world and provides some of the most individual and memorable experiences to the tourists. Whether in the misty mountains of Bwindi or the expansive savannahs of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda offers a diversified set of activities that will attract lovers of adventure, wildlife as well as people who want to experience the rich culture of the people.
In case you are intending to pay a visit to Uganda then you will need the top 10 best things to do in Uganda so that your stay will be full of action, beautiful nature and great experiences. This guide will show you all the best activities that can be listed on your travel list be it you are a nature enthusiast, thrill-seeker or a cultural traveler.
1. Gorilla Trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Speaking of the top 10 best things to do in Uganda, it can be probably stated that gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is being one of the most requested ones. Uganda boasts of having the highest count of three countries in the globe where mountain gorillas can be viewed in their natural habitat, with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest hosting about half of the remaining number of these endangered species in the world.
The walk to visit these great animals is a memorable experience. Visitors hike their way through very rich forest under the guidance of skilled tour guides and trackers who assist them in tracking the gorillas. After you have located a family, you will have an hour to observe how the family will relate to one another as well as the surrounding. It is a very close-up experience, in most cases very emotional, and a unique experience of seeing the gorillas in their natural environment.
Bwindi, other than the gorillas, is a UNESCO World Heritage park and boasts of a wide range of other wildlife species such as forest elephants, monkeys and also a wide variety of bird species, thus making Bwindi a good place to visit especially by the lovers of wildlife.
2. Wildlife Safari Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Another tourist destination that one cannot afford to leave without is Queen Elizabeth National Park which has diverse wildlife to offer the visitor. It is the most popular and accessible park in Uganda, having a beautiful scenery comprising of savannah grasslands to wetlands. There are numerous animals that live in the park, among them the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros) and chimpanzees, hippos, crocodiles, and various birds.
This list of the top 10 best things to do in Uganda contains: game drive, boat safari on the Kazinga Channel (where one can get closer to hippos and elephants), and chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Gorge. The Queen Elizabeth National Park is the paradise of birdwatchers as it consists of more than 600 bird species, as well as endangered shoe-billed stork.
3. White Water Rafting on Nile River.
Uganda is an adventure sports country and one of the most exciting things to do in adventure sports is the white-water rafting in the Nile River. Nile is the longest river in the world that passes through Uganda and it offers one of the most thrilling and demanding rafting in the world.
The most important center of base of the rafting tours is the Jinja the adventure capital of Uganda. The river has a row of adrenaline-inducing rapids of classes 3 to 5 that give both the experienced rafters and the novice a ride of their lifetime. Other than rafting, there are other adventure activities that visitors are involved in in Jinja, which include bungee jumping, kayaking, and quad biking.
4. Tour of the Murchison Falls National Park.
The national park of Murchison falls is one of the most iconic and scenic parks in Uganda, which is marked by the spectacular Murchison falls where the river Nile is forcibly passing through a small canyon with the result of a strong waterfall. The park is a wildlife, adventure and scenic beauty park that makes it one of the places that people must visit in Uganda.
In Murchison falls national park, a game drive will enable you to see elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes as well different species of antelopes. Among the best things to do when visiting the park is taking a boat cruise around the Nile to the base of the Murchison falls where you can have a close look at the falls and also see the huge numbers of the hippos, crocodiles and birds.
Also, Murchison Falls National Park hosts a great number of the primates, such as chimps and baboons, which makes this park a great place to visit among wildlife enthusiasts and people who prefer adventures.
5. Discover the Rwenzori Mountains.
The Rwenzori Mountains, also referred to as the Mountains of the Moon, need to feature at the top of any list of people seeking to have an incredible hiking and trekking experience. This mountain range is situated on the boundary of the Ugly and Ukraine Republic of Congo and it has been characterized by its special biodiversity and spectacular views. The Rwenzori Mountain has the presence of glaciers, waterfalls, and tropical forests, which create a quite well-known and unique landscape.
Hiking the Rwenzori Mountains remains a difficult but interesting activity and we as a visitor may walk through the foothills, thick woods and alpine meads, until the snow caps are in the view. It suits experienced hikers, who prefer to test their boundaries and see one of the most beautiful and mountainous ranges in Africa.
6. Boat Tour in Lake Mburo National Park.
Lake Mburo National Park is a smaller park in Uganda, yet it has an excellent variety of activities, particularly where a visitor wants to experience the wildlife viewing and a leisurely boat safari experience at the same time. Lake Mburo is situated approximately 4 hours south west of Kampala and has some of the most beautiful sceneries with the inclusion of grassy plains, rolling hills, and wetlands.
A boat safari on the Lake Mburo is one of the best things to do in Uganda at Lake Mburo. The boat ride is a good chance to see wildlife including watching hippos, crocodiles, and other bird species including the rare African fish eagle. Also, Lake Mburo is the only one park in Uganda where tourists can walk through, guided by the professional rangers, to see the animals closely e.g. zebra, antelope and buffalo.
7. Kibale Forest National Park The Chimpanzee Trekking.
The chimpanzees have one of the largest populations in Africa, which is Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda. It is the most ideal destination to trek chimpanzees and it is also a memorable experience to observe these intelligent mammals in their natural environment. Kibale is sometimes referred to as the Primate Capital of the World since a number of other species of primates are also found, such as baboons, colobus monkeys and red tailed monkeys.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale is a guided tour in the shabby forest whereby visitors get an opportunity to see chimpanzee foraging, grooming and playing. It is not only educational, but exciting since you are able to have a close glimpse of these fascinating creatures and how they behave in their natural environment.
8. Visit the Source of the Nile
The Source of the Nile is a famous site; it is in Jinja, southeastern Uganda, and the Nile River starts its long trip towards the north. The tourists may visit the Source of the Nile as an activity and can be informed about the time and place of the river in terms of history and its meaning.
You have an opportunity to ride a boat to the very source or have a walk around the neighborhood. The River Nile has become part of the Uganda heritage and a vital aspect of the livelihoods of the individuals inhabiting the banks. The Source of Nile is a very nice place to see both nature and culture of the region.
9. Pay a visit to Batwa Pygmies in Bwindi.
The Batwa people make one of the most unique and culturally important tribes in Uganda and visiting them is a very eye-opening experience. The Batwa were hunter-gatherers who lived in the forests surrounding Bwindi, often referred to as the Pygmies, as they were traditionally hunter-gatherers, living in the forest, prior to their being evicted due to the establishment of the area as a national park.
Today, the Batwa people have adopted tourism as one of the ways of preserving their heritage and culture. Tourists will be able to know their ancient lifestyles, how they would hunt and gather, and how they would relate to the woods. This trip is one of the cultural experiences and assists in helping the batwa people with responsible tourism.
10. Tour the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC).
The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), based in Entebbe, is a great attraction site to all animal lovers who wish to understand more about the wildlife in Uganda as well as what is being done to protect it. UWEC plays the role of a refuge to injured and orphaned animals and houses most of the species such as lions, giraffes, chimpanzees, and elephants.
Besides having an educational center, UWEC has numerous activities, such as animal feeding sessions, behind-the-scene tours, and bird watching. It is also an excellent opportunity to learn about the wildlife conservation in existence and witness animals on a close encounter in Uganda.
Conclusion
Uganda has a superb variety of choices to those planning a trip to get their adrenaline pumping, see animals, and discover their culture. Whether it is gorilla trekking in Bwindi or the Rwenzori Mountains, the 10 best things to do in Uganda cover a wide scope of activities which any kind of a traveler will be happy to engage in. Uganda also offers a thousand and one options on what to do on safari, rafting or learning about the rich cultural heritage that Uganda has to offer.
Whatever activities you select, whatever happens during your visit to Uganda will surely be full of memorable moments, spectacular scenerous and the sort of wholesome such that would also leave you with the feeling that the country is indeed worthy of its name, the Pearl of Africa.
