Uganda is popularly known as the Pearl of Africa, she is a small country situated in East Africa. Regardless of her size, Uganda is a beautiful country blessed with a wide range of enchanting tourist attractions and activities worthy to explore on an African safari. It is paramount to note that due to the increased number of tourists coming to Uganda, there has been an impressive growth in the tourism industry and apparently she is ranked among the top safari destinations in Africa you need to explore.
Tourism in Uganda began way back when Uganda gave a warm welcome to the early explorers and missionaries from Europe. All these came to the country with different motives although they ended up appreciating the eye catching beauty of the Pearl of Africa due the fact that they came across many exciting things that impressed them on their trips including the mesmerizing environmental attributes, natural wonders plus the authentic rich cultures.
Uganda experience a condusive climate and weather that favors her tourism throughout the year, she features a tropical climate is occurs in two seasons per year namely; the dry and wet season. The dry season has been found the best time to go Uganda safaris and it is experienced in the months of December, January, and February – June, July, August and wet season happens in the months of march, April, may, mid October to November. January and February are known as the hottest month of the year with an average temperature of about 33 degrees Celsius, northern Uganda is the hottest region compared to other areas of the Country.
Tourist attractions and activities in Uganda
As earlier mentioned, there is a diversity of extremely interesting tourist attractions and activities that many tourists love to experience on a Uganda safari. These range from the stunning wildlife, the amazing mountains, iconic water bodies plus the cultural and historical sites. On the other hand Uganda’s safari highlights are based on the charming safari parks that host numerous things to do on your road trip, it is important to note that according to safari experts like us, Uganda road trips can be tailored with other thrilling activities outside the national parks to suit your safari interests and enjoy lifetime memories in the Pearl of Africa, Below in this article we are more than delighted to present you a guide on the best tourism attractions and activities in Uganda found in the amazing safari parks and outside the parks to enjoy when you visit Uganda;
Murchison falls national park
The park is the largest and oldest safari park in Uganda established in 1952, it is famous host to the most beautiful waterfalls in the Pearl of Africa – Murchison falls, many tourists love visiting this park due to a lot of interesting attractions and activities found here. There are about 76 mammals and over 451 bird species including the notable shoebill stork. Some of the fascinating activities to enjoy while on a safari in Murchison falls national park include; game drives that takes you to experience the park’s stunning wildlife and landscapes, Boat cruise to the top of the falls, chimpanzee trekking, sport fishing among others.
Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park
Bwindi forest is a wonderful safari destination in Uganda that is famous home to the Rare and endangered mountain gorilla species, the park harbors almost half of the remaining gorilla species in the world over 500 individuals recorded here and these have been habituated into 19 gorilla families ready for gorilla tourism. Besides gorilla trekking experience, other activities to enjoy when you take a tour in Bwindi forest include; community guided walk, birding and forest walks. Bwindi forest was gazzetted in 1964 and by 1991; it was named a national park with a major aim to protect the life of the endangered Mountain Gorillas. The small park occupies an area of about 331 square kilometers featuring about 120 mammals, over 348 bird species, 220 butterfly species, 27 frog species and over 1000 flowering plants.
Kibale forest national park
This tropical forest was gazzetted between 1932 and declared a national park in 1993, it is famously referred to as the “Primate Capital of East Africa”, Kibale forest national park is home to about 13 primates including the notable chimpanzees species, there are about 70 mammals, over 375 birdlife and about 351 tree species. The forest has over 1450 chimpanzee individual thus it is ranked as the best chimpanzee trekking destination in Uganda and they have been habituated for tourism to all tourists throughout the year. Other primates in the park include black and white monkeys, olive baboons, bush baby, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys and red tailed monkeys among others. Mammals in the forest include; forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, golden cats, Duikers and many others. Activities to enjoy in the park include; bird watching, chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi swamp walk, cultural encounter among others.
Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth is among the oldest national parks and second largest following the beautiful Murchison falls park, it was established in 1992 as kazinga national park but after the queen’s visit, it was renamed Queen Elizabeth national park. It is important to note that, this is the only place in Uganda where you can encounter the tree climbing lions surviving in the Ishasha sector of the park. Queen Elizabeth national park is famous for hosting impressive populations of wildlife species that give you outstanding memories on a Uganda Safaris, there are about 95 mammals recorded here, about 10 primate species, over 600 bird species including the endemic and migrant birds. The park covers an area of about 1978 square kilometers hosting a rich ecosystem; a game drive in park takes you to see 1000s of buffaloes, elephants and other impressive number of wildlife. Activities to enjoy on a tour in Queen Elizabeth national park include; game drives, boat cruise on kazinga channel, chimpanzee trekking, birding, lion tracking, guided nature walks among others.
Rwenzori Mountain national park
This is another fabulous safari destination and it is popular for offering the mountain hiking experience in Uganda; the parks is home Rwenzori mountain range or call it – the “mountains of the moon” which features its highest peak at an elevation of approximately 5109 meter above sea level. If you are a nature love, grab a chance to experience the Mount Stanley trails that takes you to catch glimpse of the snow caped peak of the magical Rwenzori Mountains. Mountain Rwenzori park was established in 1991 covering an area of about 1000s square kilometers, it features charming waterfalls, glaciers, snowfields and lake which given the park a wonderful scenic beauty. There about 70 mammals, 217 bird species thus visitor trekking the mountain get chance to see the notable wildlife here that includes; black and white monkeys, Rwenzori Otter, elephants, Angola Colobus, Blue monkeys, unusual reptiles such as the 3 horned chameleons among others. Activities to enjoy when you go for a Uganda safari in the park include; mountain hiking, birding, guided nature walks, cultural encounter among others.
Lake Mburo national park
Popularly known as the smallest savannah park in Uganda, Lake Mburo national is famous home to unique wildlife species that is difficult to find elsewhere in other safari destinations. It is located along the Mbarara – Masaka highway that connects Kampala city to other safari destinations in western Uganda, the park was gazetted in 1933 and by 1983, it was upgraded as a game reserve although officially declared the smallest savannah park after the coming to power of the NRM government. Lake Mburo Park is blessed with 13 lakes including Lake Mburo, about 68 mammal species, over 350 bird species plus the notable shoebill stork, red faced barbet, papyrus yellow Warbler, Abyssinian ground hornbill and many others. Some of the unique wildlife in the park include; impalas, Elands, Rothschild giraffes, Burchell’s zebras among others. Activities in Lake Mburo National Park include; horse riding, game drives, boat cruise on Lake Mburo, hiking, bird watching and forest guided walks among others. All these activities give you chance to sight the stunning wildlife and also explore the park’s scenic beauty.
Kidepo valley national park
Situated in the semi arid rugged valley in northern Uganda is Kidepo valley national park, the beautiful jungle was gazetted in 1962 occupying an area of about 1442 square kilometers, it harbors about 77 mammal species, over 475 bird species thus it is one of the tourist paradise searching for a wildlife adventure experience. The park is among the perfect destinations to experience a true African culture with the Karamajong and IK tribe of people – a small group surviving at the summit of Mount Morungole. There are about 77 mammal species plus over 475 bird species, the Narus valley and Kidepo valley harbor a number of animals namely the bat eared fox, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, elephants, caped buffaloes, elands, Uganda kobs and many bird species. Activities to enjoy when you take a trip to Kidepo valley national park include; game drive to explore the park, Bird watching experience, Cultural encounter, hiking Mt Morungole, guided nature walks among others.
Other safari parks to explore on Uganda safaris include Semuliki national park famous host to the Sempaya Hot springs, Mgahinga gorilla national park another great home to the endangered Mountain Gorillas and one family has been habituated for tourism and Mt Elgon Park – a wonderful haven to delight in incredible mountain hiking adventures. Although tourism in Uganda is mainly focused in her safari parks, a visit to each national park offers visitors a unique experience on each road trip attempt. As earlier mentioned, the Pearl of Africa is home to a diversity of tourist attractions and activities that are found in different tour destinations, here are some of the interesting things to do besides those found in the safari park;
Lake Bunyonyi
Bunyonyi is local word meaning a place of many small birds, on your Uganda Safari, don’t miss out an opportunity to tour the most charming and second deepest lake in Africa after lake Tanganyika, the ionic lake Bunyonyi is blessed with dotted 29 fascinating islands without forgetting the punishment island. There is a lot to experience when you visit this fabulous place namely, enjoy bird watching at this place due to the fact Lake Bunyonyi is known as a place of very many small birds as its name goes Lake Bunyonyi, grab an opportunity to enjoy a canoe ride experience that takes you to explore the islands, meet and greet with local community and also get lost in the thrilling sceneries of the Virunga volcanoes.
Kampala city
Kampala is not only known as the Capital city of Uganda but it is the largest and busiest town located in the central region of the country, it features an eye catching landscape beauty dotted with rolling hills which is one of the reasons it is referred to as a “land of seven Hills” hence giving a fabulous beauty to the Buganda region, there is a lot to explore when you take a tour with in and around Kampala city while on your Uganda Safari. It is important to note about 90% of the safaris to other destinations in Uganda begin from Kampala and end here, thus it acts as a tourist hub to other interesting places. Upon arrival in Uganda, you can choose to begin your Uganda Safari with a Kampala city tour that takes you to experience the amazing attractions like; Namugongo Martyrs shrine, Kabaka’s Palace in Mengo, Owino Market, Uganda Museum, Bahai Temple, independence Monument among other attractions.
Sipi falls
Uganda is home to mesmerizing waterfalls and Sipi falls is among them, the falls are found in Kapchorwa district in Eastern Uganda, they comprise of three stunning different waterfalls so close to one another and worthy to explore on your Uganda Safari. To access the beauty of Sipi falls, you are required to take a guided hike to the summit to sight these wonderful natural wonders, a tour to this place can be tailored with a visit to other nearby attractions for a thrilling safari adventure such as a visit to Mt Elgon national park.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is a wonderful place where visitors get chance to see the remaining endangered Rhinos in Uganda which had run extinct due to the illegal poaching practices in the parks. The rhino sanctuary was established with a major aim to protect the life of the rare Rhinos; this tourism site is located in Nakasongola district off from the Kampala-Gulu Highway before you connect to Kafu River. Rhino tracking is the star activity in this place although you can other interesting things like Bird Watching experience or guided nature walks.
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is known as the largest Lake featuring fresh waters, it is shared by three East African countries including Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. It is a charming lake dotted with stunning Islands namely the Ssese Island- hosting a diversity of impressive recreational activities including the cool leisure area like resorts and beaches. Ngamba Island is another fabulous Island found on Lake Victoria and it is famous host to the Orphan chimpanzees which have been rescued from poachers, a tour to Ngamba island offer a great opportunity to get close to these wonderful creatures and participate in taking care of them.
In synopsis, Uganda is an extremely fascinating safari destination featuring a wide range of impressive tourist attractions and things to do while on an adventure Road trip in Africa, activities to enjoy are far beyond gorilla trekking although it is still the top star attractions hence it is paramount to note that Pearl of Africa beauty can never be explored and summarized in just a day, therefore we advise you to plan your trip of a professional, genuine and experienced tour operator to assist you arrange a perfect safari that gives you chance to experience the best of Uganda’s natural wonders, here at Mumwe global safaris, we pride in providing the best Uganda safari experience at the most affordable price.
In case you a family, group or solo planning a trip to Uganda this season, we hope the above travel guide will assist you experience the best on your safari and give you a chance to enjoy lifetime adventures in Africa. To plan aUganda road trip with us, simply get in touch with our safari experts by sending an inquiry on info@ugandasafaribookings.com or call us now on +256-700135510 to speak with our team