Are you looking for amazing and best places to visit in Uganda on your African safaris and tours? Well, the country was described by Winston Churchill as a pearl of Africa!  This is because of its exceptional beautiful landscape and diverse flora and fauna life. Uganda’s climate supports the country’s ecosystem perfectly as a result of her location near the equator. Uganda’s culture is huge with over 30 tribes who are friendly and welcoming. Uganda’s tourism industry has been through difficult times since her independence. The rebellion which happened in northern Uganda and led by Joseph Kony leading to a decline in a number of activities visiting some parts of Uganda on a safari. There is peace in the country now and the tourism industry is now growing at a faster rate as more visitors are coming in the country. The country is landlocked but blessed with many national parks, lakes, mountains, rivers which have several animals, plants and birds. Uganda has the largest number of mountain gorillas in the world and these are found in Mgahinga Gorilla Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which makes the country be among the best travel destinations. The population of chimpanzees in Uganda is the largest among all east African countries. And visitors can see all the big five animals in Uganda that is the lion, elephant, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos. Uganda is also a best place to see tree climbing lions while on a safari.

Activities while on a Ugandan safari include gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, Kampala city tour, nature walks, spot fishing, game viewing, fishing, bird watching, mountain hiking, bungee jumping on the Nile, cultural and heritage tours. And these activities are done in the following national parks.

Places to visit while on a Ugandan tour.

Murchison falls national park:

The park is found in north Uganda in bulisa, kiryandongo and masindi districts. Murchison falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park covering an area of 3893 sq.km and among the best places to visit in Uganda for wildlife encounter. The park is named after one of its top attractions Murchison falls located inside the park. Murchison falls are made at a point where the Nile River passes through a narrow gorge before going down about 42 meters. The park is now recovering because of prohibited poaching and conservation efforts. The water fall is the top attraction in the park but the park is also blessed with a large number of wildlife. The park is a place with the biggest population of Rothschild giraffes in east Africa about 1000 of them. Visitors who visit Murchison falls national park should expect to cruise up and down river Nile, see elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos, crocodiles and birds all feeding along the river banks. Inside the park you find Budongo forest which is known for chimpanzee trekking.  The park is also known for white water rafting at karuma falls.

Queen Elizabeth national park:

Queen Elizabeth national park covers an area of 1978 sq. km is located in Uganda near borders with Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s one of the most visited parks in Uganda and it’s famous for tree climbing lions in ishasha. Visitors on a wildlife safari will love the park for its beautiful scenery, a collection of plants, animals and bird species. The park has birds among which include king fisher, flamingoes, storks and eagles as well as the endangered shoebill stork. The park has different species of trees, savannah grassland, swamps, crates and lakes.

A trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park gives you a best chance to see four of the big five animals while on the tour in Uganda. The park has animals such as buffaloes, hippos, baboons, elephants, antelopes, Nile crocodiles in Lake Edward, Lake George and Kazinga channel. There is bird watching, boat cruise as you do game viewing at Kazinga channel, chimpanzee trekking in maramagambo and tree climbing lions in Ishasha.

Kidepo valley national park:

This park is located in the remote areas of northern Uganda in karamoja district at the corner of Uganda with Kenya. The park has an area of 1442 sq.km and receives a few visitors because of its remote location and it’s blessed with a lot of flora and fauna. On a safari to kidepo valley national park, visitors expect to see wild dogs, lions, leopards, cheetah, Oryx, giraffes, hippos, buffaloes, bush babies, elephants, baboons, ostrich and about 220 bird species. The park has kananorok hot springs located at the northern part of the park. The animals live in the same areas with nomadic pastoralists such as karamajong and Ike people living in mountain morungole.

Bwindi impenetrable national park:

The park is located in south western Uganda on neighbors with Democratic republic of Congo and Virunga national park. Bwindi is referred to as the Switzerland of Africa and has been considered as the world heritage site by UNESCO. The beautiful forest of the park contains half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas hence being the among the best places to visit in Uganda and the entire Africa. The rest of gorillas are found in Rwanda and DR Congo. Mountain gorilla trekking is among the 3 tourism activities in Uganda and mountain gorilla trekking Bwindi to see mountain gorillas is the best experience. Bwindi is a home to other primates, wildlife animals and a birders paradise. The bird species in Bwindi impenetrable national park include bee eaters, black billed turaco, chap-ins flycatcher and African green broadbills.

Mgahinga gorilla national park:

You cant mention Uganda and forget Mgahinga as one of the best places to visit in Uganda for primate experiences and encounter. This Park is found in the south western part of Uganda and is well known for gorilla trekking.  Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga involves visiting any of the habituated gorilla families found in the park. The park is also a home for golden monkeys and one would love to cross and go to Rwanda to see more golden monkey groups. The park is also a home to jackals, woodland, buffaloes, elephants, leopards and antelopes. Visitors who visit Mgahinga national park can go for hiking on mountain Sabyinyo, Muhavura, and Gahinga all found in the park, the can also go for Batwa trail or cave exploration.

Kibale forest national park:

This Park is found near mountain Rwenzori ranges and it shares a border with Queen Elizabeth national park. The park is the best place for chimpanzee trekking and habituation in east Africa.  Chimpanzee trekking can be part in other parks in Uganda but there is a high number of chimpanzees in Kibale of about 15000. Chimpanzee trekking activity in Kibale national park can be combined with a visit to Bigodi swamp and a nature walk. Part from chimpanzees, Kibale national park is a home of 13 primates such as red colobus monkeys, l’hoest’s monkeys, grey checked mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys among others. The park is also a home of about 290 bird species.

Lake Mburo national park: 

This is the smallest national park in Uganda and easily accessed park from Kampala. The park has 12 water bodies but the main one is Lake Mburo. The park hs the largest number of zebras in Uganda and it is a birders parasite having over 300 bird species that live at the lake and its swampy shores. The park is a home of elephants, antelopes, buffalos, hippos, crocodiles, jackals and hyenas. The best time to visit the park is in dry season as you will see animals on the lake shores gather to drink water.

Mountain Elgon national park:

This is found in Mbale in the eastern part of the country on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Mountain Elgon is the main attraction in the park being an extinct volcano with a caldera spanning about 42 sq. km. Wagagai summit is the most favorite among hikers as it has hot springs and other features making mountain Elgon national park sop captivating. The slopes of the mountain have natural forests, water falls, bushes, caves and gorges. The park is a home of a number of species of birds and primates such as blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, and colobuses.

Ziwa rhino sanctuary:

This is along the way to Murchison falls national park and kidepo valley national park. The main aim off Ziwa rhino sanctuary is to protect the country’s rhinos and eventually re introduce them to larger parks. The rhinos were poached for their horns and hence giving them a safer place to reproduce. The park has enough rangers’ and guides and visitors can go see rhinos and interact with conservationists to know more about rhinos. Most tour companies do a stop ever at the sanctuary when organizing tours to Murchison falls national park. Apart from rhinos, the sanctuary has spot monkeys, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles and about 240 bird species.

Other tourism destinations / places to visit in Uganda

Lake Bunyonyi:

This is one of the amazing places to visit in Uganda with over 28 islands and it’s regarded as the deepest lake in Uganda. The park is found near towns of Kabale and Kisoro near the border with Rwanda. The sheer scenic vies of the lake makes it to be one of the beautiful lakes in Uganda attracting visitors both local and international. Lake  Bunyonyi is a beautiful place for honeymooners and relaxation. The place is a home of Batwa pygmies and is close to Bwindi impenetrable national park so visitors can stop by on their way from tracking endangered mountain gorillas.

The source of the Nile:

Visit to source of the Nile in Jinja involves white water rafting. River Nile is the longest river in the world passing through different countries with its source in Jinja in Uganda. Other Countries River Nile passes through include south Sudan, Sudan Egypt, Ethiopia and DR Congo. When you visit source of the Nile, you get to visit Jinja city, Bujagali falls or do boat riding along River Nile as you see crocodiles.

Ssese islands:

These are 48 islands found on Lake Victoria. Visitors and local people in Uganda can plan for a vacation on these islands with sandy beaches. From Entebbe the journey takes you about 3 hours using a ferry. Using a ferry will make you explore Lake Victoria and fishing villages. The largest island on Lake Victoria is called bugala in kalangala town. Other highlands you can enjoy visiting are Bulago Island and Bukasa Island which have excellent white sand beaches. The main activities on these islands are fishing and tourism. Visitors on these islands will have a chance to see many bird species, crocodiles, monkeys and a few numbers of antelopes.

Uganda wildlife education center:

Formerly known as Entebbe zoo, the center is found in Entebbe district and it was set up by the Ugandan government to protect animals, education and wildlife conservation purposes. The parks animals have increased in past years.

The Rwenzori Mountains:

Rwenzori is the highest mountain in Uganda although the country is blessed with a number of mountains. The park is located on the border of Uganda and DR Congo, visitors like hiking to the top of the snowcapped Margherita peak. The slopes of the mountain are covered with dense forests with primates, forest hogs, birds and butterfly species.

Sipi falls:

The falls are located at the foot of mountain Elgon with stunning water falls on the foot of mountain Elgon. Sipi falls is one of the most visited destination in Eastern Uganda.