Top 10 Best Tourist Attractions and Places To Visit in Uganda.

The variety of Uganda’s fauna and sceneries is astounding. In terms of ecology, this small African nation represents the meeting point between the western rainforest and the eastern savannah, with a diverse patchwork of wetlands occupying 25% of its territory.

You may spend one day tracking chimpanzees or gorillas in Uganda’s lush tropical jungles, and the next day you could drive into the open grasslands in search of the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino) or go boating on a river teeming with hippopotamuses. To put it briefly, this is a special and enchanted place for lovers of animals. We’ve highlighted some of its most captivating sights below.

1. Bwindi impenetrable national park

The primary draw of this well-known national park is its gorillas. More than 40% of the 1,060 mountain gorillas that are left in the world are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Up to eight visitors each day can follow over 25 family groups here.

In Bwindi, gorilla trekking frequently involves a strenuous and somewhat taxing trek through thick foliage. On other days, it can entail a quick, level 20-minute walk. In any case, meeting these kind giants in person—who have 98% of the same genes as humans—is a once-in-a-lifetime and, for some, transformative event.

2. Queen Elizabeth National Park

When it comes to praising this biodiverse national park, it is hard to know where to begin. The Kazinga Channel, where resident pods of hippo congregate alongside herds of thirsty buffalo and elephant beneath the snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains, is perhaps the most visible location. A highlight of vacations to Queen Elizabeth National Park is taking a boat on this picturesque equatorial canal. Game drives on the neighboring Kasenyi Plains are also popular because there are plenty of well-fed predators drawn to the huge herds of Uganda kob, a kind of antelope.

The jungle-lined crater lakes of Maramagambo Forest, tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha Sector, and daily chimp trekking expeditions in the nearby Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest are some of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s other highlights. Additionally, the birdlife is amazing. The park does, in fact, have a larger list of 610 species than any other protection area in East Africa.

3. Kibale National Park

Isn’t it really showing off? Uganda is not only the easiest area in Africa to track chimpanzees, the closest genetic cousins of humans, but it also offers virtually guaranteed gorilla tracking and a good possibility of seeing the Big Five. Although alternative locations like Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest, and Kalinzu Forest Reserve are less crowded and less expensive, Kibale National Park is the ideal place to do this if you want to be fairly certain of a sighting.

Chimpanzees are just one aspect of Kibale. You may easily spot half a dozen monkey species during your visit, including the Uganda mangabey, which is exclusive to the nation. The red-headed bluebell, double-toothed barbet, and great blue turaco are among the many vibrant forest birds.

4. Murchison Falls National Park

The explosive focal point of Uganda’s greatest national park, Murchison Falls, was dubbed “the most important object on the entire course of the White Nile” by explorer Sir Samuel Baker. This evaluation is confirmed by exhilarating boat cruises to the base of this magnificent waterfall, which also offer excellent animal watching.

Along with elephants, buffalo, and other animals, you should be able to view a lot of hippos, crocs, and waterbirds from the boat. In other places, game drives north of the Nile River frequently feature Rothschild’s giraffe and lion, while boat excursions to the delta where the river empties into Lake Albert frequently provide fantastic opportunities to see shoebills.

5. Ziwa Rhino Ranch

The only location in Uganda where rhinos can be seen today is Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch. Better yet, it is one of the few locations in the world where people may follow these ancient-looking giants on foot, and sightings are virtually certain. Unfortunately, during the chaotic post-independence era, rhinos were taken out of Murchison Falls National Park, where they were once relatively plentiful in the 1960s.

The six white rhinos in Ziwa were bred from six individuals who were moved to Uganda in the early 2000s, primarily from Kenya. Some of these rhinos will be relocated from Ziwa to other Ugandan parks. But until then, Ziwa will continue to be among the top destinations in Uganda for those who wish to see all five of the Big Five.

6. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Some people consider Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to be the second-best location in Uganda to see mountain gorillas. This evaluation is blatantly biased. Permit numbers are extremely limited because there is only one gorilla group that can be visited in Mgahinga. Because it has three large silverbacks and tends to live in more open bamboo forest than its Bwindi cousins, this is also one of the most pleasurable groups to view.

Mgahinga has a number of additional resources. It is the only location in Uganda where one may monitor the stunning golden monkeys that eat bamboo. Additionally, the setting on the wooded slopes of the Virunga volcanoes—three of which are reachable on strenuous day hikes—is simply breathtaking.

7. Kidepo Valley National Park

The most isolated national park in Uganda is located in the extreme northeast and borders South Sudan with mountains. Compared to Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks, it receives comparatively less visitors due to its remote location. However, this has little to do with how good wildlife viewing is.

Thousands of buffalo herds, Rothschild’s giraffes, elephants, plains zebras, patas monkeys, and other antelope are among the wildlife you’re likely to see in Kidepo Valley National Park. The only location in Uganda where lions, leopards, and cheetahs may all be seen is Kidepo. The only natural population of the eye-catching rose-ringed parakeet in East Africa is on a lengthy bird checklist.

8.  Nile River, Jinja

It seems sense that the majority of trip itineraries to Uganda center on wildlife watching. However, Jinja is worth visiting for individuals who like adventure sports or a little urban tourism. This charming village on Lake Victoria looks out over the picturesque exit where the world’s longest river, the Nile, begins its protracted trip north through the Sahara Desert to the Mediterranean Sea.

In addition to a colorful assortment of contemporary cafés, restaurants, and nightclubs, Jinja is dotted with architectural remnants from its time as Uganda’s second-largest city. In addition to kayaking, bungee jumping, and quad biking, the Nile River just upriver of Jinja provides exhilarating white-water rafting on Grade 5 rapids for thrill-seekers.

9. Bunyonyi and Mutanda Lakes

Lakes Bunyonyi and Mutanda are located in the same southwestern highlands that are home to Uganda’s gorillas, and they share many characteristics. Both are made up of river valleys that have been naturally blocked by lava flows from the Virunga Mountains. Scenically, both are surrounded by wooded islands and steep terraced slopes. Additionally, because there are no crocodiles, hippos, or bilharzia—a snail-borne illness that is prevalent at lower elevations—they are both seen to be safe for swimming.

The most noticeable difference between the two lakes is how developed they are as tourist destinations. A popular spot to unwind after a safari, Lake Bunyonyi has a wide variety of accommodations to fit every taste and budget. In contrast, Lake Mutanda feels more isolated and is only served by a few tiny resorts that range in price from mid-range to luxury. Still undecided? On a clear day, the sunset panorama of the Virungas across Lake Mutanda is among the most breathtaking in all of Africa.

10. The Swamp of Mabamba

Situated on the northern bank of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport boasts a striking setting. Even better for newcomers is the fact that Entebbe is just a short drive or boat trip from Mabamba Swamp, a community ecotourism project that is a birdwatcher’s delight.

Mabamba lies at the top of the list of the finest spots to see the shoebill in Uganda, or really, anyplace in Africa. This strange slate-gray bird eats lungfish and, when angry, claps its enormous clog-shaped bill together like castanets. The tall goliath heron, palm-nut vulture, African fish eagle, and lily-trotting African jacana are among the other famous birds that can be spotted on shaky canoe excursions into Mabamba Swamp.