Uganda’s tourism industry has been through tough times since her independence. However, peace has been restored in the country and the tourism industry is thriving with more and more visitors opting for Uganda Safaris. Though landlocked, Uganda is blessed with several national parks, mountains, lakes, rivers, which contain various species of birds, animals and plants. Uganda has the largest number of the endangered Mountain Gorillas in the world making her among the best travel destinations. The population of Chimpanzees in Uganda is the largest in East Africa and visitors can easily view the big five (leopards, hippopotamus, lions, buffaloes, elephants) – Uganda is the best place to spot tree climbing lions while on a wildlife Uganda Safaris.

Tourist activities on Uganda Safaris:

• Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park
• Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest national park, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest and Kyambura forest
• Kampala city tours -cultural and religious tours to the Ndere centre, Uganda museum, Kasubi tombs and the Uganda Martyrs shrine Namugongo
• Nature walks and landscape viewing.
• Game viewing in the savannah national parks of Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park, Kidepo Valley national park and Pian Upe national reserve for the Big 4 – Elephants, Leopard, Lion and Buffalo.
• Sports Fishing on Lake Victoria, River Nile
• Birding in Uganda
• Water experiences on River Nile – white water rafting, boat cruisers, tubing, kayaking, bungee jumping, swimming on various crater lakes, rivers and beaches.
• Climbing Mountain on Mount Elgon and Mount Rwenzori. Other mountains include; Mount Muhavura and Mount Sabinyo
• Quad biking, Mountain biking, horseback riding
• Cultural and heritage sites

Places to visit while on a Uganda tour

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison falls national park is located in Northwestern Uganda between the districts of Masindi in the west and Pakwach in the north. This park is the largest conservation area in Uganda covering over 3,800 km². The park was named after one of its top attractions – The Murchison falls. The Murchison falls was formed at a point where the River Nile passes through a narrow gorge before going down about 42 meters in a mighty roar. Because of past insecurity in the country and unrestricted poaching, the park is not as it used to be. The park has however recovered because of more recent conservation efforts.

The waterfall may be a top attraction but the park is teeming with wildlife. The park has the largest population of the now endangered Rothschild Giraffes in East Africa – numbering over 1000. Visitors on a Uganda Wildlife tour should expect a memorable cruise up and down the river Nile to see elephants, lions, giraffes, Nile crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes, antelopes and birds feeding along the river banks. The Budongo forest in the park is famous for chimpanzee trekking and can be joined with a game viewing Uganda Safaris package.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest park covering an area of about 2,056 square kilometers and is located near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the most visited park in Uganda and famous for the tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector and the Uganda Kob. Visitors on a Uganda wildlife safari love the park for the beautiful green scenery and collection of plant, animal and bird species. The park has over 500 bird species among which include the King fisher, flamingos, eagles and storks. The endangered Shoebill Stork is also found in the park. The park contains different species of trees, craters, savanna grasslands, swamps, lakes and other volcanic features.

A Queen Elizabeth national park safari provides the best chance to spot the big five while on a wildlife tour in Uganda. The park has buffaloes, hippos, baboons, elephants and various species of antelope. One can spot Nile crocodiles in Lake Edward and Lake George, birding and game viewing at the Kazinga channel  or track chimpanzee at the Kyambura gorge or Kalinzu forest.

Kidepo Valley National Park

The spectacular Kidepo valley national park is located in the remote north eastern corner of Uganda and covers about 1,440 km2. The park receives fewer visitors on a Uganda tour because of its remote location but is second to none for variety and sheer abundance of flora and fauna. This hidden gem is in many ways a great reflection of how Africa used to be before greater human interference. This park has been described by CNN Travel as among the top three parks in Africa. Kidepo national park in Uganda is a collection of stunning mountains and un-spoiled Savannah. On a safari in Uganda, one can view wild dogs, lions, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, oryx, buffalo and hippopotamus. The park is also home to bush babies, elephants, ostriches, baboons and about 220 bird species. One can also spot the Kananorok hot springs at the northern part of the park. The animals share space with nomadic pastoralists like the Karamajong and the Ik people living high up the Morungole Mountain. Visitors on a Uganda wildlife tour should expect a special treat during their visit to Kidepo national park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park:

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park is found in the south-western corner of Uganda and neighbors the Dr Congo’s Virunga National Park. Because of its landscape and biological diversity, Bwindi is considered a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO and has often been referred to as the Switzerland of Africa. The breathtaking green and beautiful Bwindi forest contains half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The rest can only be found in Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain gorilla tracking is considered among the top three activities worth considering while visiting Africa and on a Uganda safari. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest to see the endangered mountain gorillas is a once in a lifetime experience and cannot be compared to anything else. Apart from Gorilla tours, Bwindi forest is home to Colobus monkeys and is a birders paradise. Some of the bird species include bee-eaters, chap-ins flycatchers, black billed turaco and African green broadbills. The best time for birding while on a Uganda tour is during the wet season, when all resident and migratory birds gather to feast on the abundant forest fruits and insects,Uganda Safaris.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga is located in the southwestern part of Uganda and famous for gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park involves visiting  the one habituated mountain gorilla family found in the park. In Uganda, Golden monkeys can only be found in Mgahinga. One would need to cross over to Rwanda to view more golden monkey groups. The park is not all about monkeys and gorillas. Jackals, woodland elephants, buffalo, leopard and a few antelope species roam the park. Visitors on a Uganda safari to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda can also hike one of the three Volcanoes (Mount Sabinyo, Mount. Muhavura and Mount Gahinga) found in the park or go for the Batwa trail and cave exploration.

Kibale Forest National Park

The park is found near the Rwenzori Mountains and shares a border with Queen Elizabeth national park. The forest is famous for chimpanzee tracking – The best place to track Chimpanzee in East Africa. Chimpanzees can be found in other parts of Uganda and Africa but the sheer numbers (1500) in Kibale forest guarantees you a close interaction with them while on a Uganda safari. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park can be combined with nature walks and a visit to the Bigodi swamp.  Other than chimps, the park contains 13 other monkey species like the red colobus, L’Hoest’s and grey-cheeked mangabeys. Giant forest hogs, antelopes and over 100 butterfly species are found in the park. Kibale national park has sections covered by swamps and grasslands and is a good location for birding – Over 290 species.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo is Uganda’s smallest but most accessible park from Kampala. Lake Mburo is the main water body among 12 others found in the park. In Uganda, the Zebras and the Impala can easily be seen in Lake Mburo national park. The park is a birders paradise with over 300 species that congregate at the lake and its swampy shores. The massive woodland benefits from the absence of elephants in the park. The parks Savannah grass teems with antelopes, buffaloes, leopards, jackals and hyenas. The dry season provides the best time to spot animals while on a safari as they gather to drink water at the lake Mburo. You might be interested in our 3 Days Lake Mburo national park Uganda Safaris package.

Mount Elgon National Park

The park is found in Mbale district in the Eastern part of the country and lies on the border between Uganda and Kenya. Mount Elgon is the key attraction in the park. The mountain is an extinct volcano with a caldera spanning about 42km2.  The Wagagai summit is a favorite among hikers as are hot-springs and other features that make Mount Elgon national park so captivating.  The mountain slopes are littered with natural forests, bushes, waterfalls, caves, gorges and canyons. The park is also filled with different bird species and primates (Colobus Monkeys, blue monkeys and vevert monkeys among others). A safari in Uganda should include a visit to this park, Uganda Safaris.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

This is a Rhino reserve along the way to the Murchison falls national Park. This sanctuary started as a object under the Rhino Fund to protect the country’s rhinos and eventually restock the larger parks. Rhinos had succumbed to poaching for their valuable horns in many of Uganda’s parks making the rhinos extinct in Uganda until the Rhino Fund. The sanctuary helps protect rhinos from poachers and human interference hence giving them a safe place to reproduce. The park has over 60 rangers and guards and visitors can see the Rhinos up-close and interact with conservationists to gain knowledge about the project and Rhinos. We offer rhino tracking as a stop-over while en-route to Murchison Falls national park. Apart from Rhinos, he sanctuary is a great place for relaxing, nature walks and canoeing while spotting about 240 species of birds.

Other Tourism destinations

Lake Bunyoyi

With its 29 islands, Lake Bunyonyi is widely regarded as the most beautiful lake in Uganda. The lake is located near the border with Rwanda and close to the towns of Kabale and Kisoro. Although the lake is one of the deepest in Africa. It is the sheer scenic beauty that sets it apart from others and makes it attractive to both visitors on a Uganda tour and locals. It offers great romantic spots to relax and watch the day pass by as you plan your next activity while visiting Uganda on a safari. One can also go watch the traditional dances of the Batwa Pygmies or hop from one island to another spotting the different island villages, schools and settlements by boat. The lake is close to Bwindi Impenetrable forest and visitors enjoy stopping by on their way to track mountain gorillas.

The source of the Nile

A trip safari in Uganda should be completed with a visit to the source of the Nile in Jinja involving water experiences like water rafting. River Nile is one of the three longest lakes in the world and passes through several countries as after leaving Uganda among which includes Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt. Jinja is a small, quiet, relatively well planned former industrial town with beautiful scenery. You can visit the Bujagali falls or go boat riding along the river Nile as you spot several large crocodiles. The river Nile also provides spots for camping, fishing, rafting, kayaking and the now popular bungee jumping.

Ssese Islands

The scenic Ssese Islands are an archipelago of 84 islands found in Lake Victoria.  Locals and visitors on a Uganda Wildlife tour love to take their vacation in the islands quiet sandy beaches. The journey to the islands from Entebbe takes 3 hours by ferry or 45 from Bukakata. The route through Entebbe by ferry will take you through the beautiful Lake Victoria and fishing villages. The largest island is Bugala in Kalangala town. Other islands worth visiting while on  a safari in Uganda include Bulago and Bukasa which all have excellent white sand beaches. Fishing and tourism are the main economic activities in the islands. Visitors on Ssese islands safari will have opportunities to spot several bird species, monkeys, crocodile, hippos and a few antelope species, Uganda Safaris.

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre

The Uganda Wildlife Education center also known as the Uganda Zoo, is located in Entebbe and is set-up by the Uganda government for education and wildlife conservation purposes. The Uganda zoo was recently revamped and has grown considerably in recent years. The population and variety of animals, birds and reptiles has increased. Those visiting Uganda for short workshops and conferences can find the center a perfect place to get a taste of what Uganda has to offer in terms of both flora and fauna.

The Rwenzori Mountains

Uganda is blessed with several mountains but the Rwenzori mountains stands out. They are located at the border between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Tourists love hiking to the top of the snow-capped Margherita peak. The mountain slopes are covered with dense forests that are inhabited by primates, forest hogs and several bird and butterfly species. While visiting Uganda on a safari, a stop by these beautiful mountains will reward nature lovers with amazing scenery.

Sipi Falls

The Sipi falls are some of the most stunning waterfalls in Uganda. Located at the foot of Mount Elgon, the Sipi falls are one of the most visited waterfalls in Uganda. There are three levels with the top level attracting more travelers.