Top 10 best places to visit in Uganda
Have you been to Uganda before? today we have come with the top 10 best places to visit in Uganda. Of course you can’t dare to miss visiting these places when you come to the country.
Uganda is an East African country which is landlocked with a population of 45.85 million (2021) by World Bank. currently known as the the world’s fruit basket, Uganda is a home to various fruits of which some are just special to this country only. The country does not only favour growth of its own typical fruits but also facilitates all fruits that one may try to plant in the country. So, this promotes its tourism rate as tourists will be coming not only to see the amazing destinations but also try a variety of edibles they’ve never had.
The country is known as the mother to the highest mountain gorillas, the source of the nile which is the longest river in world and the only river that flows towards the north on the continent of Africa, lake victoria which is the largest freshwater lake in Africa, Murchison Falls which are the strongest falls in the world, and the largest number of primates in the world.
In this article we are going to look at the top 10 best places to visit when you’re in the country. We are going to be seeing various places which are known for a lot of different reasons including; culture, inhabitants, wildlife and many more.
1. Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth being the most visited place in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the western part of the country between the districts of rukungiri, Kasese, Kamwenge and Rubirizi.The park is approximately 400 kilometres (250 mi) by road south-west of Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is most famous for its big cats among which we see the tree climbing lions which are recorded to be seen in larger numbers compared to the rest of the world. this game park is also a home to the other 4 of the big fives which include; elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes. the reason as to why these famous tree climbing lions do that is because of the presence of the small insects which bother them when they bite their skins, they usually climb trees as a good spot for monitoring their prey, the also climb trees to run away from the scorching sun and also to to find the a cool resting place with a cool wind that usually hits these tree leaves.
Around the boundaries of Queen Elizabeth National Park are the tribes of Banyankole, Bakiga and akonjo. The first two tribes speak a bit similar language and they often have a lot of words in common. while at the park, you’ll have an opportunity to interact with the surrounding tribes and perhaps learn something from them for example a folk song or traditional dance. This will add more fun to your trip and the experience will be unforgettable.
2. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
As the name states, Bwindi is a National park known for its impenetrable paths due its big and extensive bamboo together with other hardwood and its thick ground cover of vines, ferns other plants which makes it inaccessible. This park is located in south-western Uganda in the Kanungu District. The Bwindi forest is on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, the western branch of the East African Rift Valley covering an area of 331 km². It is also a home to 400 hundred gorillas which makes it possible for the famous gorilla trekking as gorillas will be available at any time you would wish to see them.
Bwindi is also a home to other animals and birds e.g civet, buffaloes, golden cats, numerous bats, giant forest hogs, clawless otter, elephants, duikers (yellow-backed and black-fronted) etc. While at the perk you’ll be given a guide who will help you access the forest as they know the ways they can use to access the impenetrable areas or zones.
Around this game park, you’ll find the Batwa who are also known as the pygmies.
3. Murchison Falls National Park
Being the home to the strongest fall in the whole world, Murchison Falls is located in the Northwestern part of Uganda spreading inland from the shores of Lake Albert, around the Victoria Nile, up to the Karuma Falls. Together with the adjacent 748 square kilometres (289 sq mi) Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and the 720 square kilometres (280 sq mi) Karuma Wildlife Reserve, the park forms the Murchison Falls Conservation Area.
Murchison Falls National Park is also home to the big five and other wildlife including birds, hippopotamuses, and Budongo forest which is the largest mahogany forest in East Africa. murchison falls national park is famous for various activities including game drives, sport fishing, boat cruise, hot air balloon, hiking to the top of the falls, nature walks e.t.c.
Much as water is a great host for some people, while at murchison falls national park, you are advised not to set your foot in the water as this is a home to many animals that live in water which can be very dangerous for human life such as crocodiles. also for your safety, this fall is too strong to aide swimming as the waters may drive you to death.
Around the game park , we find the Banyoro who are also similar to the Baganda because they all come from the Bantu ethnic group, Acholi and Alur. so, you’ll have an opportunity to experience different cultures from different ethnic groups.
4. Kibale National park.
Kibale National Park is 766 square kilometres (296 sq mi) in size and ranges between 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) and 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) in elevation located in Kabarole District in western Uganda.
The park is recorded to be the best place to track chimpanzees in the world having 1500 of the country’s 4950 chimpanzees which will make them available for whenever thee tourists will e available to track them. This park is not only home to chimpanzees but also some other primates such as; the vervet monkeys, red-tailed baboons, blue monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabeys, colobus monkeys e.t.c. We shall find the tribes of Bakiga and Batooro surrounding kibale national park.
The two major tribes found around Kibale National Park are Batooro and Bakiga.
5. River Nile
River Nile is one the most famous rivers in the world. This river is known as the longest river in africa and probably the longest in the world. the river is one of the best places to visit in uganda having its base in lake victoria which is also famous for being the biggest freshwater lake in africa. river nile flows through 11 nations i.e;
- Uganda
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Rwanda
- Burundi
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Republic of Sudan
- The Democratic Congo
- Republic of the South Sudan.
And it’s the major river on the continent that flows towards the north having a basin or mouth where it pours its water in the Mediterranean Sea. River Nile covers a length of 6,650 km and a discharge of 2,830 m³/s. the Nile forces its way through a gap in the rocks, only 7 m (23 ft) wide, and tumbles 43 m (141 ft), before flowing westward into Lake Albert at the top of Murchison Falls.
At the Nile, one expects to participate in activities such as; white water rafting, quad biking, bungee jumping, swimming much as its not supported due to the presence of the predators such as alligators and crocodiles, kayaking e.t.c.
6. Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is known as the largest freshwater lake in Africa. This is the source of the great Nile River which is the longest river known in both Africa and the world and its only outflow. lake Victoria is shared by three East African countries namely Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. In Uganda, the lake is located towards the eastern part of the country in Jinja but it is also shared by other districts. Lake Victoria has been famous for its huge number of tourists who always come and visit it to see where the Nile originates from. So, this has contributed a lot to making it one of the top 10 best places to visit in Uganda.
Lake Victoria is also a great source for the Nile Perch fish, massive number of Tilapia and many other kinds of fish one should taste where in the area. Around Lake Victoria we find, Baganda and Basoga in Uganda, kuria, hangaza, sukuma, kara,zinza, kerewe, the luo, haya, ruli, subi, zanaaki, nyambo in Tanzania and the samia,suba and luo in Kenya
7. Mountain Rwenzori
Mountain Rwenzori is is are ranges with the highest peak being 5,109 metres called Margherita located in the equatorial part of Africa bordered by uganda and Congo and its the only place where everyone will find snow in the whole country. The mountain covers a length of 120 km (75 mi) and it is permanently snow capped. This snow that is on top of the mountain led it to be named Mountains of the Moon. It is also considered as one of the top 10 places to visit in Uganda as it is beautiful for the sight of mankind.
Around Mountain Rwenzori we’ll find the tribe called Bakonzo who are believed to be the natives of Mountain Rwenzori National Park and are also believed to have originated from Congo. So, while in the regions of the mountain, onne expects to have a visit around the community in order to interact with the people around and also learn a bit of their way of life.
It’s not only people who habituate Mountain Rwenzori but also a number of wildlife include bird, animals, and various plants also find this place very comfortable and worth living in.
Around Mountain Rwenzori we find the Bamba, Babwiisi and Vanoma.
8. Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park is located between in Bwamba County, a remote part of the Bundibugyo District in the Western Region of Uganda. Semuliki is not only a home for animals, plants and birds, but also the place where we find various hot springs with its dominant springs being sempaya hot springs which is the hottest in the region bordered by Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. When coming to the springs, a number of tourists has been witnessed carrying several kinds of food most especially eggs with them and have been seen constantly dipping them into the hot water and the eggs are boiled in approximately 5 minutes.
Sempaya also known as semuliki hot springs because they are found in the national park have both male and female springs. The male hot springs are called Biteete and they’re 12m wide while the female hot springs are known as Nyansimbi which gush water at an approximate height of 2m. People that reside in the area will be seen in a particular place where the springs are not so hot bathing because they believe the springs have got special remedies that can help them cure various diseases.
Also around semuliki national park, we have the Batwa tribe which is made up of pygmies.
9. Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National park is located in Nyabushozi County, Kiruhura District near Mbarara in Uganda and it covers an area of 260 km². the park is famous in the country for the presence of zebras which are rarely/not seen in other game parks. activities done in this game park include quad biking, nature walks, hiking e.t.c. when at the park, one expects to have an interaction with not only your guides but also the people that reside in the area. this is very important to both the community and the game park itself as it will be made known to the outside world and the people will see development in the area.
Around Lake Mburo National Park, we’ll find the Banyankole Bahima.
10. Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is a crater lake located in the Southwestern part of Uganda between kabale and kisoro districts. The lake is regarded to as the second deepest crater lake in africa. Lake Bunyonyi is popular for its green and lush terraced hills that are punctuated with of over 200 bird species including the egret, cardinal woodpecker, african kingfisher, herons, weavers, grey crowned crane, e.t.c. We also find different animals which include; debrasa monkey, kobs, impalas, water bucks, zebras e.t.c.
Lake Bunyonyi is a home to 29 islands with five being major including; Bwama, Njuyeera, Akampene, Bacuranuka, Bushara. on these Islands, activities to be done include; mountain biking, boat ride, local market, birding, nature walk, community walk, e.t.c. Around Lake Bunyonyi, there are tribes of Batwa and Bakiga.
- Mountain Muhavura
Mountain Muhavura is an active volcano found on Virunga/Birunga which is also known as mountain Mufumbiro or Mufumbiro mountains which is at the border between uganda and rwanda. The mountain has an elevation of 4,127 m and a height beyond 13,500 ft high with a lake on its crater.
This mountain is also known for being a habitat for the numerous gorillas which are always found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and Rwanda. The mountain supports gorilla life due to its presence of food for these mountain animals. Around this mountain, we find the Bakiga and Bafumbira.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Top 10 tourist attractions in uganda?
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Mountain Rwenzori
- River Nile
- Lake Victoria
- Kibale National Park
- Lake Bunyonyi
- Semuliki National Park
- Lake Mburo National Park
2. Name ten national parks in uganda
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Semuliki National Park
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Kidepo National Park
- Kibale National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Mgahinga National Park
- Mountain Elgon National Park
- Mountain Rwenzori National Park