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Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, has an incredible diversity of landscapes, culture, and wildlife. Ecologically, this small African nation is where the east African savannahs meets the western African rainforest jungles, while a varied mosaic of wetlands covers approximately 25% of its surface area. In Uganda, adventure is everywhere. One day, you would be hiking through thick, green jungles to find wild gorillas or chimpanzees.
The next day, you might be cursing down a river full of hippos o driving across wide savannah grasslands looking for the famous Big Five animas (rhino, lion, elephant, leopard, and buffalo). This, in short, is a dream destination for anyone who loves nature and wildlife. Cultural immersion in Uganda is also profound in the rhythmic dances and heartfelt songs of the 56 local tribes. From the Batwa People ancient melodies to the energetic dances of the Karamojong, Uganda’s soul is expressed through its people.
Here are the 14 top places to visit in Uganda.
Some of the most thrilling Uganda safari experiences require you to set out on foot.
Hiking in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bwindi Impenetrable Forest tops many adventurers’ wish lists, as this is one of the few locations on Earth where tourists can track and encounter mountain gorillas. With expert guides, you can navigate the steep and thick rainforest, hoping to spend a precious hour with one of the 25 gorilla families.
From a safe distance, you can watch them eat, groom, and live their daily lives. Gorilla trekking is unforgettable, but it’s not the only way to explore this protected forest jungle. You can join guided birdwatching tours or nature walks to spot many unique species.
Additionally, Batwa cultural performers, whose ancestors lived with gorillas in the forest, run organized events on the forest fringes to share their rich heritage.
Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport sits in a stunning location on the northern shore of Lake Victoria – Africa’s biggest lake. Even better, for new arrivals, Entebbe is only a short drive or boat ride from Mabamba Swamp, a bird-watcher’s paradise managed by the local community as an ecotourism project.
Mabamba heads the list of best places to visit in Uganda (actually, make that anywhere in on the continent) to see the rare and strange-looking shoebill.
This bird looks like something from the age of dinosaurs and eats lungfish. When it’s upset, it claps its huge, shoe-shaped beak like castanets!
On a traditional motorized boat through the swamp, you might also spot other amazing birds like the African fish eagle, palm-nut vulture, giant goliath heron, and the African jacana, which walks on floating lily pads.
Many visitors to Uganda often bypass Uganda’s capital and head straight into the wild.
This is understandable: nature lovers often don’t want to get caught in city’s notorious traffic jam during their precious few days in Uganda. But by skipping Kampala, you miss an important part of what makes Uganda special.
Kampala was once the center of the powerful Buganda Kingdom, one of five kingdoms that ruled the land until the late 1800s. The city got its name from the impala antelope that used to roam its forests and grasslands. Over the years, Kampala has seen British colonial rule and survived the harsh times under Idi Amin.
Today, it’s a lively and growing city, full of energy and culture. It’s East Africa’s center for business, art, and creativity. Motorbike taxis called boda-bodas zip through busy streets packed with vendors, while the city’s lively all-night scene pulse with energy until the sun comes up.
Most Uganda safari packages focus on wildlife viewing, and understandably so. But if you love adventure or a bit of city fun, Jinja is a great place to visit.
This charming town sits on Lake Victoria and looks out over the spot where the Nile River—the world’s longest river—begins its journey north through the Sahara Desert all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.
Jinja still has old buildings from when it was once Uganda’s second-biggest city, along with plenty of cool cafés, restaurants, and nightclubs.
If you’re into thrills, the Nile near Jinja is perfect for exciting activities like white-water rafting on huge Grade 5 rapids, kayaking, bungee jumping, tubing, and quad biking.
From Jinja, the Nile, a river of legends, rushes through Uganda with youthful vigour.
One of its most spectacular waterfalls is located inside Uganda’s largest protected area, Murchsion Falls National Park. Here, the river which is about 50 meters wide tumbles through a rocky gorge, just seven to ten metres wide, at around 300 cubic metres per second. To enjoy this natural wonder, visit the Top of the Falls Viewpoint or hike along the edge of the gorge. Below the falls, the river becomes calm, and the banks are green and full of life.
A peaceful boat ride on the Victoria Nile from Paraa lets you see hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and many kinds of birds among the tall palm trees and papyrus plants. In other parts of the park, you can go on game drives north of the Nile to spot lions and Rothschild’s giraffes. Boat trips to the delta where the Nile meets Lake Albert often reward visitors with a rare sighting of the shoebill.
Uganda’s beautiful Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon, have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. This park is home to Africa’s third-highest mountain, Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley, which rises to 5,109 meters.
The Rwenzoris are important for nature, science, and culture. They hold some of the main sources of the Nile River and are filled with rare plants like giant heathers, lobelias, groundsels, and healing herbs. Exploring this park isn’t easy—it’s tough and wild.
But for strong hikers and climbers, the breathtaking alpine views are worth it. You’ll see snowcapped peaks, rushing rivers, clear lakes, and waterfalls. The park is rich in birdlife, and if you’re lucky, you might spot forest elephants, L’Hoest’s monkeys, or the rare Rwenzori black-fronted duiker.
Is there any creature more elegant than a giraffe running at full speed? They seem to move in slow motion, even when they’re running as fast as 55 kilometers per hour. One of the best places to see these graceful athletes is Kidepo Valley National Park.
This park’s picturesque savannahs are home to the rare and endangered Rothschild’s giraffes, a special type of Northern giraffe. Kidepo National Park is the least visited of Uganda’s vast protected grasslands, and it’s hidden in the country’s remote northeastern area, more than 10 hours by road from Kampala.
If you make the effort to visit, you’ll be rewarded with an amazing experience.
Besides giraffes, you might also spot cheetahs, ostriches, bat-eared foxes, kudus, caracals, and other unique animals that are found nowhere else in Uganda.
Mount Elgon National Park, Africa’s eighth-highest mountain, is only for those who love hiking.
Sitting on the border between Uganda and Kenya, it’s much quieter than popular mountains like Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, or the Rwenzoris.
Mount Elgon is perfect for hikers and climbers looking for a peaceful, affordable adventure. The main trails are easy to reach by road, and the park entrance and guide fees are reasonably priced.
It’s hard to know where to begin when talking about the wonders of Queen Elizabeth National Park. One great place to start is the Kazinga Channel, where large groups of buffalo and elephants come to drink, while hippos lounge in the water below the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains.
A boat ride along this beautiful waterway is a highlight of any visit. You can also enjoy game drives on the nearby Kasenyi Plains, where herds of Uganda kob (a type of antelope) attract hungry predators.
Other amazing spots in the park include the jungle-covered crater lakes of Maramagambo Forest, the famous tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha Sector, and chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest. Plus, the birdwatching here is incredible, with over 610 species, more than any other East African park.
It’s Uganda really knows how to show off! Not only can you track gorillas and have a good chance of seeing the Big Five, but it’s also the best place in Africa to track chimpanzees, our closest relatives.
Kibale National Park is the top spot to see them, though places like Kalinzu Forest, Budongo Forest, and Kyambura Gorge are cheaper and less crowded.
Kibale isn’t just about chimps—there’s much more to enjoy. During your visit, you could easily spot up to six different species of monkeys, including the Uganda mangabey, which is found only in the country. The park also has lots of colorful birds like the great blue turaco, double-toothed barbet, and red-headed bluebell.
Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos today. Even better, it’s one of the rare places in the world where you can track these ancient-looking giants on foot—and you’re almost sure to spot them!
Not long ago, Uganda used to be home to both the black and northern white species of rhinoceros. But by the early 1980s, due to poaching, trafficking and political turmoil under the dictatorship of Idi Amin, native populations – once thought to number around 800 – were wiped out.
More than a decade later, six rhinos were reintroduced to Ziwa ranch, a former cattle farm in the center of the country. These have now multiplied to 48. Plans are in place to move some of these rhinos from Ziwa to other parks in Uganda. Until this happens, however, Ziwa will remain one of the best places to visit in Uganda for people who want to see all the Big Five.
Some people call Mgahinga Gorilla National Park the second-best place in Uganda to see mountain gorillas—but that’s really unfair.
It’s true that only one hbituated gorilla family lives here and gorilla permits are limited. But this group is one of the most fun to visit, with three big silverbacks and a habit of staying in open bamboo forests, making them easier to see than in Bwindi.
Mgahinga National Park also has other great things to offer. It’s the only place in Uganda where you can track the rare and beautiful golden monkeys, which love to munch on bamboo. Plus, the park sits on the lush slopes of the Virunga volcanoes, and you can climb three of these stunning peaks on exciting day hikes.
These two beautiful lakes sit in the same hilly region of southwest Uganda where gorillas live. Both were formed when lava from the Virunga Volcanoes blocked old river valleys.
They are surrounded by steep, terraced hills and dotted with green, tree-covered islands.
Best of all, they’re safe for swimming—no crocodiles, no hippos, and no bilharzia (a water disease common in lower areas). The main difference between the two lakes is how developed they are for visitors. Lake Bunyonyi is popular and has many places to stay, from budget to luxury, making it a favorite spot to relax after a safari.
Lake Mutanda is quieter and more remote, with just a few mid-range to high-end lodges. Still can’t choose? Just know that on a clear day, the sunset view over Lake Mutanda with the Virunga Mountains in the background is one of the most stunning sights in all of Africa.
Lake Mburo is Uganda’s smallest savannah park, but it’s easy to get to and full of charm.
It’s just a 3-hour drive from Kampala, and if you’re coming from the southwest where the gorillas are, it’s only half a day’s journey. Many people like to end their Uganda safari here because it’s peaceful and relaxing.
The park is packed with wildlife, with over 350 kinds of birds and 68 types of animals. It’s the only place in Uganda where you can see impalas, elands, and klipspringers. It also has the most zebras in the country—about 5,000! And it probably has more leopards than anywhere else in Uganda.
What really makes Lake Mburo special is the adventure. You can go on a cycling safari, ride a horse through the wild, take a guided walk, or hop on a boat trip across the lake. Each activity gives you a unique and exciting view of nature.
Uganda beckons with its friendly people, breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and remarkable wildlife. For an unforgettable Rwanda safari, contact Orugano Safaris. Our safari specialists will curate your dream adventures, seamlessly combining Uganda and Rwanda for great African safari experience.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Nkuringo Sector- Uganda
+256-701-230-309
info@oruganosafaris.com
