Uganda is an East African country with a rich history, a wealth of animals, and undulating terrain. With ten national parks, the nation is home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, including the UNESCO-listed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You won’t run out of things to do in Uganda when you combine it with natural wonders like Lake Victoria and the Rwenzori Mountains, energetic towns like Kampala and Jinja, and historic cultures like the Acholi, Lango, and Ganda.
Queen Elizabeth National Park Tours
This expansive safari park, one of Uganda’s most well-known nature reserves, is a great way to take in the varied animals and sceneries of the Rift Valley. The park has savannah grasslands, lakes teeming with hippo, and deep forests surrounded by volcanic peaks. In addition, it is the only location outside of Tanzania where you may see chimpanzees, over 600 different species of birds, and the endangered tree-climbing lion.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Despite its most well-known association with Egypt, the fabled Nile River originates in southern Uganda. The world’s longest river eventually empties into the Mediterranean Sea after passing through nine African nations. Visitors can observe the beginning of the Nile from Jinja, a small Ugandan city on the northern banks of Lake Victoria.
Lake Mburo National Park Tours
At roughly 31 miles (50 kilometers), Lake Mburo may be the smallest national park in Uganda, but it is also the closest safari reserve to Entebbe and Kampala. For tourists looking to get away from the large metropolis, this makes it a great choice for a day trip. In addition to being a sanctuary for birdwatchers, the protected region is home to numerous alluring mammal species, including as giraffes, leopards, zebras, and hippos.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of just three locations in southern Uganda’s verdant highlands, is home to critically endangered mountain gorillas. In addition to housing half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, the protected forest reserve is home to more than 150 different tree species, 120 animal species, and several hundred bird species.
Lake Victoria Tours
Lake Victoria is the largest tropical lake in the world, but it is best known for being the source of the Nile River. Much of the African Great Lake is still off-the-beaten-path, which makes it the perfect escape from Uganda’s busy towns despite its varied species, picturesque shoreline, and significant contribution to local industry.
Kabaka’s Palace (Lubiri)
Kabaka’s Palace (Lubiri), the Buganda king’s traditional official residence, was constructed in 1885. After a military takeover in 1966, political detainees were housed in the palace’s underground storage tunnels. Despite the restoration of the palace’s historic façade, the gardens nonetheless bear eerie echoes of the Idi Amin tyranny.
Murchison Falls National Park
The Rabonga and Budongo forests, expansive savannah grasslands, and the thundering waterfalls that give the safari park its name may all be found in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s oldest and largest natural reserve. Come for the opportunity to see four of the Big Five: buffalo, lions, leopards, and elephants. The neighboring Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is another place to see elusive white rhinos.
Uganda Museum
The Uganda Museum is one of the oldest museums in East Africa, having opened its doors in 1908. From the prehistoric era to the present, the region’s rich history is summarized in its five galleries. Its Idi Amin display, its collection of folk instruments, and the outdoor village showcasing traditional buildings from all throughout the nation are highlights.
Kasubi Tombs
The UNESCO-listed Kasubi Tombs are significant to Ugandan culture and religion as the final resting place of four Buganda kings. The site, which stretches across Kasubi Hill, is centered on the main Muzibu Azaala Mpanga structure, which is composed of organic materials.
Lake Bunyonyi
In a nation with many magnificent bodies of water, Lake Bunyonyi, which is situated in the lush Kabale area of Uganda close to the Rwandan border, is renowned for its beauty. A few dozen islands dot the volcanic lake, which is encircled by verdant slopes. Additionally, the region is home to a diversity of fauna, especially avian species (Bunyonyi meaning “small birds”).
Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine (Namugongo)
Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo honors the 32 Ugandan Christians, known as the Martyrs of Uganda, who were executed in 1886 at the behest of Mwanga II, the Buganda kingdom’s then-kabaka, or king. Only a year after Pope Paul VI declared the deceased saints, construction on the Roman Catholic basilica and shrine began in 1965. Today, it attracts thousands of tourists, both Christian and non-Christian.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Six of Africa’s ten highest peaks are found in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains. However, Rwenzori hardly sees 1,000 hikers annually, compared to Kilimanjaro’s 50,000+. Greetings from Africa’s secret summit house. After eight years, I find myself in the isolated Rwenzori Mountains National Park, slowly following Beryl’s lead. I’m not here to push for the summit because Margherita is very technical and not for anyone without crampons, but I do want to get to Mutinda Lookout, a slab of granite that rises 3,975 meters (13,041 feet) above the valley.