Uganda has a lot to offer. Much more than is generally known. From spotting The big five, to exploring great hikes and water activities, there is something for everyone. Moreover, you can also visit the special culture of the Karamojong in the east. Although this list is certainly not complete, I will take you through the highlights of Uganda - the most remarkable sights and activities!
Uganda has stolen our hearts more than once and as far as we are concerned it is a travel destination that belongs on the bucket list of every world traveler. Find out why Uganda is called the pearl of Africa.
A trip through Uganda will be one you will never forget. Spot the tree-climbing lions, meet thousands of elephants, come face to face with Mountain Gorillas in the jungle and get to know the beautiful culture.
The national parks
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park With a size of 370 km2 and no elephants, it is the smallest national park in Uganda. Yet it deserves more recognition as a highlight in Uganda. Personally, I think it is a very beautiful park. In addition, it is also very cool that you can also do walking and cycling safaris, which of course gives a completely different dimension than a safari from a car.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the two places where you can spot gorillas in Uganda. Gorilla spotting is often seen as one of the highlights of Uganda. In Bwindi there are four locations where this is possible and the location outside Bwindi is called Mgahinga. Bwindi is home to approximately half of the entire world's population of mountain gorillas.
In addition to the regular gorilla trekking, there are two ways to see the animals. The first is the traditional trekking, where you spend an hour in the company of gorillas in a group of up to eight tourists. The second option is the 'habituation experience', where you spend no less than four hours with gorillas, possibly in a small group or even alone.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the oldest and one of the most famous parks in Uganda. The park used to be called Kazinga National Park, but the name was changed after Queen Elizabeth's visit in 1954. The river that flows through the national park is still called Kazinga Channel and therefore you can also do a boat safari here in addition to the car safaris.
Also read: Travel information Uganda | Everything you want to know in advance
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is the place in Uganda to spot chimpanzees. There are several locations in Uganda where it is possible, but Kibale has the most chimpanzees and you are guaranteed to see them. In addition, the area is also ideal for bird watching. There are more than 350 species in this area. Just like spotting the gorillas in Bwindi, this is often experienced as a highlight.
The photos in this article were taken by Madelon herself with a Sony Alpha A7 IV system camera. The excellent 33 megapixel image quality and ease of use make this camera very suitable for safari trips, especially in combination with a decent zoom lens such as the Tamron 28-75.
- Full-frame 33 megapixel CMOS sensor
- Super-fast autofocus
- In-body image stabilization
- 3 inch fold-out touchscreen
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is the largest park in Uganda. You can spot a lot of animals here, but you can also take a boat safari. This boat safari is not only aimed at spotting animals, but also at seeing the famous waterfall from the water. Murchison is also known for its extremely powerful waterfall. Flows through the entire park the White Nile from east to west with rapids in various places.
Kidepo National Park
Kidepo National Park is extremely remote, all the way in the north of Uganda near the border with South Sudan and Kenya. Due to its vast nature, Kidepo National Park has a completely different safari experience to offer in Uganda. Since it is so remote, there is also a low number of visitors. Partly because of this, the unique atmosphere of this unspoilt wilderness can be preserved here.
The lakes
Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda and is located in the southwest. It is even the second deepest lake in all of Africa. The lake is best known for its extremely green surroundings and is surrounded by terraced hills. There are many bird species to spot and you can undertake various activities on the water.
Lake Mutanda
Lake Mutanda is a lot less known than Lake Bunyonyi above, but is therefore also a lot more unspoilt. You can also easily do a gorilla trekking in Bwindi from here. There are several activities to do on the lake and you can also swim safely here. Consider a canoe trip or stand up paddling. There are also several volcanoes around the lake that can be climbed.
The places
Entebbe
In Entebbe you don't have to stay too long, but if you have room in the morning, you can do a shoebill tour. During this tour you will look for the rare shoebill stork in Mabamba Wetlands. You can easily book this via the accommodation where you are staying in Entebbe.
Kampala
Kampala, the capital of Uganda, sometimes evokes mixed feelings among travelers. While not necessarily an unmissable destination, it still offers opportunities for a fascinating stay. A walking tour of the city and exploring the various markets are some activities you can do to get a glimpse of local life and culture.
Urine
Urine is the most cultural place you can visit in Uganda. From Moroto you have several opportunities to meet the Karamojong people and learn more about their tribe. This can be done by visiting one village, but you can also take a boda-boda tour there, for example. You can also (partially) climb Mount Moroto from here.
Quote
Quote is the base to view the three waterfalls, or Sipi Falls. You can take a hike through the community here. With this hike you walk with a guide entirely through people's gardens, giving you an insight into life here. All kinds of things grow there and the guide is more than happy to tell you about that. The hike was surprisingly beautiful, apart from the waterfalls. In addition, there are also several cultural activities close to Sipi or you can climb Mount Elgon.
Jinja
Jinja is a large city and is known for the Nile River, which runs from Lake Victoria like a vein towards North Africa. There are several activities to enjoy on and along the Nile, with grade five rafting being the most famous activity. Even if you are not looking for an activity, Jinja is still a nice stop. Most accommodations are located along the Nile and have beautiful views of the Nile to enjoy.
Also read: Uganda | Example itineraries and practical tips
Rukungir
Actually there is Rukungir Not much to do, but recently you can do a really cool activity here. An activity that has nothing to do with animal spotting and is therefore perfectly located between Bwindi (gorilla trekking) and Queen Elizabeth NP (safari). Here you can raft on a river in the middle of the tropical rainforest.
To give you a better idea of how this fantastic activity came about and how a rafting day works, I have written a separate blog about it.
And more…
Rwenzori Mountains
Having Rwenzori Mountains is the most popular place in Uganda for hiking. You can choose from walks between one and eight days. It is not possible to arrange the hike on your own. There will always be a ranger, a guide and several porters accompanying you. The highest peak is at 5.109 meters. The route of the hike is unique because you really walk through the wilderness.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
At Zarcillo Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary 41 rhinos are currently being cared for. In the past, there were no rhinos left in Uganda because they were not protected, but in 2006 they brought six rhinos from surrounding countries. So many years later, they have grown enormously as a family and that means that they may be found in the wild in Uganda again in the future. If that happens, it will be in Murchison Falls National Park, the same place where they once lived.
Uganda has stolen our hearts more than once and as far as we are concerned it is a travel destination that belongs on the bucket list of every world traveler. Find out why Uganda is called the pearl of Africa.
A trip through Uganda will be one you will never forget. Spot the tree-climbing lions, meet thousands of elephants, come face to face with Mountain Gorillas in the jungle and get to know the beautiful culture.
