The Uganda is also known as the Pearl of Africa, the country of amazing beauty, variety of landscapes and wildlife. With the dark jungles found in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, as well as the expansive savannahs found in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda has numerous spectacular tourist sites that will endear the hearts of the nature lovers, wildlife tourists, and cultural tourists. In case you are visiting this magical East African estate, the following are the best tourist attractions and places to visit in Uganda.
1. Bwindi Impossible National Park- Gorilla Trekking.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is easily one of the greatest tourist attraction sites to visit in Uganda and a UNESCO World Heritage site that is famously known as the home to the mountain gorillas. Bwindi is found in south western Uganda and it is one of the few places in the world where one can explore a gorilla trekking expedition. This is an adventure that cannot be missed by the wild life lovers because a significant portion of the remaining mountain gorilla population in the world lives in Bwindi.
Several gorills families are found in the park and tourists can walk through thick clouds of fogs in the forests to see these unbelievable animals in their natural surroundings. Football playing with a silverback or seeing little gorillas at play is an experience that is not easily forgotten. Bwindi is home to guided nature walks, birdwatching, as well as the chance to explore the rich cultural heritage of the local Batwa people, despite the fact that gorilla trekking is one of the best activities.
2. Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife and Scenic Beauty.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a wonderful wildlife park in western Uganda, which is one of the most diverse and beautiful parks in East Africa. Many ecosystems, such as savannah, wetlands, and forests exist in the park that are the ideal place to numerous species of wildlife. One can observe the five big-five (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and hornbills) and numerous bird species.
The special boat cruise along the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park is among the best experiences in visiting the park since you get to see close ups of hippos, crocodiles and elephants where they congregate in the water. Another reason why the park is famous is the tree-climbing lions which are rare in the Ishasha sector. Queen Elizabeth has guides who offer walking safaris to the visitors who love taking a close look of the diverse world of flora and fauna.
3. Murchison Falls national park- falls and wildlife.
Another tourist attraction to the Ugandan region which is part of the best places to visit and tour includes the Murchison falls national park that will provide the tourist with both exciting tours in the wild as well as spectacular scenery. The park derives its name after the magnificent Murchison Falls where the Nile River runs through a small ravine in the cliffs forming one of the most aggressive falls in the world. The view plus the auditory experience of the falls are quite hypnotizing and unforgettable.
There is also a rich array of wildlife in the park that consists of elephants, giraffes, lions, buffaloes, and others. The park is often explored through game drives, which are a great activity, but a boat ride along the Nile River is also breathtaking, as it allows one to see the falls and wildlife in the areas bordering the river. Murchison Falls also provides people with a good hiking destination and there are a series of trails to be used to approach the top of the falls to have the best view of the surrounding area.
4. Lake Bunyonyi – Cultural, and Scenic Beauty.
When you want to get a more peaceful Uganda destination, then Lake Bunyonyi is the best location to be. Lake Bunyonyi is a breathtaking and peaceful lake that is an extension of rolling hills and fertile vegetation in the southwestern region of the country. The lake boasts of crystal clear waters and it is believed to have some of the deepest waters in Africa making it a good place to boat and swim.
Lake Bunyonyi is also a good starting point to the tour of the surrounding environment which houses some of the native communities. It also offers a chance (through traditional dance performances, visiting the villages and going on guided hikes) to the visitors to get acquainted with the culture of the country and its people. Birdwatching is also a very fine activity in the lake, as there are plenty of bird species that shadow the lake. It is either you prefer to have a break or engage yourself in the local culture, Lake Bunyonyi provides the best combination.
5. Kidepo Valley National Park Remote Wilderness and Wildlife.
When one wants to enjoy the off-the-beaten-path adventure, the Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the most isolated and undeveloped wildlife parks in Uganda. Kidepo is situated in the northeastern part of the country, whose wilderness experience is very rugged and raw to be found anywhere in the country. It has a wide variety of wildlife including all the elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetah, and the wild dog which is endangered.
Among the major attractions of the park, the possibility to see some of the species that are more rare and unique to Uganda, including ostriches, zebras, and the bat-eared fox, should be mentioned. There are also beautiful landscapes in the park with expansive savannah plains, rocky hills, and Narus river giving a fantastic scenery to the game drives in the park. Kidepo is also is spread out making it not overly busy as the rest of the Ugandan parks and as such, visitors get to enjoy a more personalized and serene safari.
6. Rwenzori Mountains National Park – Other Outdoors Adventure.
The other tourist attraction and sightseeing site of the greatest interest in Uganda is the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, which is also referred to as the Mountains of the Moon. The Rwenzori Mountains, a UNESCO world heritage, enjoy some of the most breathtaking, yet demanding hiking tours in Africa with Rwenzori mountain being the border on the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Snow-capped mountains, glaciers and forests have been found in the park, making the park a paradise of adventure lovers, mountaineers. Hiking to the top of the Mount Stanley, the tallest mountain of the range, is not an easy one; however, it is worth it. To avoid the tougher walks there are short trails offering taking one through the lower reaches of the mountains where one can see the distinct biodiversity of the park, which contains the rare types of birds and plants.
7. Jinja- The Ugandan Adventure Capital.
Jinja is regarded as the adventure capital of Uganda and is found on the banks of Lake Victoria; it has numerous outdoor adventure activities available to adrenaline junkies. Jinja is also popularly referred as having the source of the Nile River and tourists can have the fun of rafting through the longest river in the world. Jinja has one of the most exciting white-water rafting experiences in Uganda that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their level of skills since they operate at easier levels to extreme.
Other activities that Jinja proposes are bungee jumping, kayaking, quad biking, and hiking, in addition to rafting. The local culture is also worth visiting in the town, which has a number of local markets, crafts, and historical sites such as the old colonial-era Jinja Railway Station. Jinja has something to offer to everyone, be it to have an adventure that will fasten your heartbeat, or to take a slow walk across the background of the town.
8. Ziwa Rhino sanctuary- conservation and wildlife.
The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a very fulfilling site to visit among animal lovers in Uganda. Ziwa rhino sanctuary which is approximately 170 kilometers north of Kampala is dedicated to preserving the endangered white rhino. Uganda is also home to the sanctuary where you can view the rhinos at close quarters, since they were introduced in the country decades ago where they were completely wiped out.
The sanctuary features guided walking safaris, which gives one a chance to look at these magnificent creatures in nature. Besides rhinos, other wildlife found in the sanctuary include buffaloes, giraffes, and other birds. To contribute to the conservation of wildlife in Uganda, visiting Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is an excellent opportunity to do so and have an exciting experience of learning the wild rhinos in their natural habitat.
9. Entebbe- Botanical Gardens and Wildlife Encounters.
Another tourist site in Uganda visitors should see is Entebbe situated on the shores of Lake Victoria. It is characterized with its lovely ambiance, lovely gardens and wildlife. Entebbe Botanical Gardens are among the key attractions, which can be a very relaxing experience, featuring so many species of plants and trees, as well as bird species. There are a number of monkey species in the gardens, and tourists have time to stroll freely around the lakeside.
Another Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), the zoo and conservation center can also be found in Entebbe and here the visitor can learn more about the wildlife of Uganda and the work winding up to preserve the life of endangered species. Efforts get conservation visitors a boat ride around nearby Ngamba Island which is home to orphaned chimpanzees and visitors can witness chimpanzees in intimate settings and observe conservation efforts.
10. The Equator -A Geographical Wonder.
Finally, the last attraction to visit in Uganda that is also most fascinating and a selected one is the Equator that goes through the country just below the capital, Kampala. The equator is a geographical line which is the meeting point of the Northern and Southern hemisphere and a visitor can verify being on one foot on each hemisphere hence it will be a very special experience.
Among other things, they have the opportunity to share the equator line with them, taking photos to commemorate the equator with the equator markers, shopping and also getting to understand the unusual weather patterns that exist in this line of icon. Uganda has some landmarks of the equator especially around the town of Kayabwe where you can get into some funny experiments to feel the Coriolis effect where water moves differently in a given hemisphere.
Conclusion
Uganda has an exquisite display of diverse and thrilling tourist attractions and sites to explore and it is, therefore, among the most interesting tourism destinations in Africa. Uganda can offer a wide range of activities that would appeal to any traveler, be it exciting wildlife experiences, breathtaking scenery, cultural experience and adventure. Starting with the adventure of hiking through the gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and going to the isolated wilderness of the Kidepo Valley, Uganda will never fail to leave a significant mark. So, if you’re planning your next African adventure, be sure to include these top 10 best tourist attractions and places to visit in Uganda on your itinerary.
