Top 7 Must Visit Destinations In Uganda

Dubbed the “Pearl of Africa”, Uganda is a landlocked country situated in the east of African continent. It covers total land area of 197,000sq. Kilometers and 43,935 sq. kilometers of water. It is bordered by Kenya in the east, Democratic Republic of Congo in the west, Tanzania in the south and Rwanda in the southern west. Uganda is a beautiful paradise made up friendly and warm people, shimmering lakes and rivers, and famous for its breathtaking wildlife. Uganda is blessed with unique features such as jagged mountains, rolling plateau, abundant wildlife, vegetation, national parks, African cuisine and rich culture.

Kasubi tombs
These are famous burial site for the four kings of Buganda. It is located in the outskirts of Kampala and also a UNESCO world heritage site. The site was recently by unknown fire in 2010 though efforts by the government to restore the historical and cultural tombs are soon yielding results to enable visitors access the site once again. The tombs are a unique cultural paradise to the people of Uganda and more specifically to the Bugamba kingdom.

Visit to Kampala
This is the capital city of Uganda, welcomes to a paradise of friendly and welcoming people. This is one of the most calm and peaceful city in the region, regardless of its traffic during rush hours. Visitors get opportunities to view the towering buildings in the city and a handful of sky scrapers will portray how Uganda is growing into a modern and vibrant destination. The must visit places include Rubaga and Namirambe cathedrals, Namugongo martyrs shrine, impressive Bahai temple and Parliament building, Uganda national museum, craft markets, and numerous historical monuments scattered all over the city. The local markets of Nakasero and Owino markets are right spots for visitors to test on organically grown food stuffs and fruits.

Lake Mburo national park
This is one of the nearest wildlife parks to Uganda’s capital city, Kampala and it is famous for vast savannah grasslands and a treasure for acacia vegetation, magnificent lake, wetlands and rolling hills.

The lake is an ideal place for viewing the aquatic life like Hippos, crocodiles and a spot for boat cruise experience and sport fishing adventure. Lake Mburo national park is notably Uganda‘s smallest savannah park one of the best places to sight the large Eland Antelopes and zebras, a home to Rothschild giraffes, leopards, hippos, Buffaloes and a few lions which are rarely seen during day time but the roars can occasionally be heard across the plains.

With a total surface area of 68,800 km2, Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake by area and the world’s second largest fresh water lake by surface area, after Lake Superior in North America. A visit to Lake Victoria will expose you to the sole source of the world’s longest river – River Nile at Jinja where the monument of the American explorer, Speke who discovered the source of river Nile still stands to mark the starting point where the Nile starts its maiden journey to Mediterranean Sea.

Murchison falls national park
Located in north-western Uganda, this is another experience to behold. This park is known for the amazing wildlife and stunning views of resident wildlife including the big 4 mammals like elephants, lions, leopards and buffaloes. Murchison falls national park used to be home to endangered southern white rhinos in 1980s but were later extinct due to illegal hunting by poachers but now restored in the adjacent Ziwa Rhino sanctuary which can also be visited enroute from Kampala. Murchison Falls Park is bisected by the spectacular Victoria Nile which first races down 80km of white-water rapids before plunging 40m over the hanging rift valley wall at Murchison Falls, the proud highlight of the park.

The water falls drains the river’s remaining energy, turning it into a wide, calm stream that flows gently across the rift valley floor for 55km to Lake Albert. This stretch presents one of Uganda’s most spectacular wildlife views, including elephants, buffaloes, water bucks, Kobs and the permanent residents, Hippos and Nile crocodiles.

Rwenzori Mountains
These are located in the south western corner on the boarder with D.R. Congo, the jagged Rwenzori ranges is an adventure world of its own. Labelled the mountains of the moon, the towering Rwenzori raises to height of 5,109m above sea level and presents some of the rarest adventure encounters in Africa and beyond.

The remote Rwenzori Mountains presents impressive treks through stunning landscapes and varied montane vegetation and the views of Africa’s third-highest summit, which is one of the less explored peaks. Margherita Peak which is notably Africa’s third highest peak offers its real beauty in the climb up through the valleys, forests and gentle slopes. The trees are populated with numerous bird species and primates and as you walk up the trails there are endless chances of viewing chimp nests amidst tall trees.

Bwindi impenetrable national park
This is situated in south western Uganda and it is one of the top 10 travelers’ paradise in Uganda. The park has got both birds and mammals; presently it has more than 120 different mammal species and around 350 species of birds. The park boasts more than half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas and other primates including chimpanzees, baboons, and several species of monkeys. Also common to this park are impressive nature walks to discover the resident Batwa pygmies who have lived in this forest for centuries.

Kidepo valley national park
This is Africa’s finest wilderness park that boasts of a rich biodiversity and stunning scenery. From Apoka, in the heart of this wilderness park, an undulating savanna landscape that stretches in all directions, disappearing into the horizon marked by distant mountain ranges.

Kidepo national park experiences a semi-arid climate with just one rainy season throughout a year (April-September). The southern part of the park, the Narus river valley receives about 890mm of rain per year and the northern part in Kidepo valley receives just 635mm of rain per year.

Kidepo national park is home to Uganda’s notable wildlife including the Big 4, and the rarest cheetah, ostrich, spotted hyena and a variety of birdlife. Other animals include large herds of Buffaloes, elephants, antelopes and Giraffes, intertwined with marvelous culture of the Karamojong people which is one of the unspoilt culture in the world.