The Major Hot Springs in Uganda : Uganda is gifted with a variety of physical features that should be on your list. The country is blessed with all kinds of wildlife and beautiful landscape. The things to do in Uganda are some of the most unique things to do in the world. Hot Springs in Uganda form one of the most beautiful attractions in Uganda.
A hot spring is produced by the emergence of geothermal-heated groundwater from the earth’s crust. In a simple term, it is formed when water meet the heated rock. The deep percolation of water into the crust causes it to be heated by the hot rocks. The heated is forced back up under pressure to bubble as a hot spring.
There are about 8 major hot springs in Uganda and they are located in different parts of the country, especially in Western Uganda. Some of these hot springs are traditionally believed by the local communities to be having healing powers. Most local communities around the hot springs believe that it has the divine powers and performs miracles and therefore it is worshipped by local people.
They do believe the gods reside in the hot spring. Scientifically, the water from the hot springs have been found to contain varying amounts of minerals and chemicals which are known to have medicinal values in them. It is estimated that about 800
People visit some of the springs per week to bathe. When bathing in a hot spring, the dense clouds of steam rise above the rippling water to bathe you in beads of moisture. This is equivalent to being in a sauna, albeit fully clothed.
The water temperature of some of the hot springs is capable of boiling an egg in 10 minutes. The water in the springs can warm up to 120 °C (248 °F).
Kitagata Hot Springs
During your Uganda safari, consider to visit the iconic Kitagata Hot Springs. This is a natural hot spring of Uganda that flows in the western region of the country. On your way to Kitagata that comes after Ishaka town, you will be greeted by impressive hills and valleys with a lot of greenery.
Local believes the hot spring has some magical healing water. The spring has 2 sides one is very hot with boiling temperature and the other is just warm. The boiling water is so hot that it can boil an egg. This natural gift of God with healing water is named after Mulago Hospital.
Sempaya Hot Springs
Residing inside the Semiliki national park in western Uganda, the Sempaya hot spring is one of the mesmerizing springs of Uganda. This spring have amazingly high temperature reaching up to 100 degrees Celsius.
The spring can be seen in two parts of the national park which locals believe to be one as male and other as the female. The spring’s area discloses mangabey monkeys, the red-tailed monkey, the black and white colobus monkey.
The female spring is just about 30 minutes from the male spring. The female hot spring is so hot that travelers used to boil bananas and eggs. Nearer to the hot springs you can explore some of the Batwa community villages to explore their lifestyle.
Rwagimba Hot Springs
Rwagimba Hot Springs is one of the dreamiest Uganda hot springs that attracts many tourists. The hot spring is found in River Rwimi. The River is separating Kabarole and Kasese districts.
The hot spring is highly respected by the locals. The sulphur hot spring believed to cure their and their animal’s pain. For seeking freedom from their pain they used to take bath in the hot spring. Hiking to this mesmerizing spring offers a great view as well.
Amoropii Hot Springs
Amoropii Hot Springs is another prime attraction of Uganda hot springs list. It is located just about 2 to 3 kilometres from Panyimur fishing village of Nebbi District. The lake is on the western shores of Lake Albert.
Locale believes the hot spring has some divine power so they worship this spring. They believe the hot spring is home of god Amoropii. Locals daily sacrifice one of their animals to please god Amoropii.
It is believed to get blessings from the Prime Minister Nyipir Onen, before visiting these hot springs. If you don’t get clearance from the prime minister it is believed that you can’t get cured of your pain and misfortune even after taking a bath in the hot spring.
Buranga Hot Springs
One of the most amazing hot springs in Uganda is Burunga Hot Spring. Out of 37 springs flowing in East Africa, Burunga is one of the catchiest. The hot spring located in Ruwenzori Mountains, one of the remote locations of Uganda.
The mountain chain is covered by lowland tropical rainforest that ads more beauty to the spring surrounding. The spring has its own small ecosystems that attract many birds and animal species.
There 3 bodies of spring located 600 to 700m away to each other namely; Nyansimbe spring, Mumbuga springs, and Kagoro springs.
Ihimba Hot Springs
Ihimba hot spring is one of the breathtaking ones in the list of hot springs in Uganda that offers amazing views. Located in Kibale in western Uganda the spring got its name from the Bahima people residing in the area. Like the other hot springs, the hot spring is too believed to be one of magical hot spring having curing power. It is believed if you take bath in the hot spring you will get relief from backache, rheumatism and other pains. The tourists can visit the Bahima people residing in the area to explore their rich history, culture, and beliefs.
Kibiro Hot Springs
The Kibiro Hot Springs can be travel by the road from Hoima town and reach in about 60 minutes. The hot spring is flowing in the Kibiro, a small fishing village residing at the Western Rift valley of Uganda. The location is a bit in a remote location. Due to the accessibility problem people usually don’t tend to visit this hot spring. But we recommend planning a visit during your Safari in Uganda to visit the Kibiro salt gardens.
The hot spring is also believed to have healing power. Most of the locals visit the spring area to take a bath with a wish to get healed from pain.
The Kanangorok Hot springs
Many tourists visiting Kidepo valley national park will tell you about the elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, leopards, jackals, bush bucks, and bush pigs, among other animals but maybe there is something more than that, and that is the Kanangorok hot springs. The Kanangorok hot strings are one of the extra-ordinary places to visit in Kidepo valley national park offering the park outstanding beauty through the streams in the Kidepo valley, dotted with palms and whistling acacia thorns. Kanangorok hot springs is a place where Mother Nature waved her magical wand and created one of the most natural of all wonders, natural hot mineral water.
This hot spring is formed when water is heated in the earth’s bowels and emerges from the earth’s crust. The water is heated deep within the earth and comes out as crystal clear carbonated water famous for its mineral content and legendary healing powers.
The Kanangorok hot springs flow between rocks, over-look expansive grassy plains dotted with big rocky outcrops and flanked by steep-jagged mountains with the summit ridges of Napore range, Taan and Natera hills, part of Nyangea, Morongole and Zuulia forest reserves.
The main highlight of Hot Springs is the benefits that come with the natural hot mineral spring water and the belief in healing powers. Those who immerse themselves in Kidepo’s hot springs testify that it has remarkable healing properties, which enter the body in a way similar to how a transdermal patch releases medicine, natives believe that when you bath in the warm water, it cures some skin diseases thus the hot springs is one of unique gifts of nature that makes Kidepo Valley National Park a must-visit destination for tourists.
However, despite hosting this treasure, there is no road or clear path leading to the hot springs. One has to maneuver through scattered thorny trees along narrow footpaths subdued by overgrown grass and shrubs that scratch and pierce one’s body as they advance. It’s about 100 meters away from the hot springs lie two rocks that look like rivals meeting for a confrontation. At this point, the hot springs are visible. Being shallow, one gets a magnificent view of the clean rocks. Right in the middle of the water lies the spot hot enough to boil food. The hottest spot is about 3 meters in length but it is not clearly visible as it has been covered by rocks and vegetation due to years of neglect.
