Best Tourist Destinations in Uganda

Uganda is a lesser-known but beautiful destination in Africa, known for its lakes and rivers, which make up 25% of the country. Despite being landlocked, this will help you to identify the best tourist destinations in Uganda that make visitors want to return, including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, among others. Bwindi National Park is highly recommended for gorilla treks, and the country features large savannah reserves, lowland rainforests, and stunning lakes, providing one of Africa’s best wildlife experiences. Its diverse landscapes include the eastern savannah and western rainforest, along with a variety of wetlands. Visitors can track chimpanzees in Kibale National Park or gorillas in tropical jungles, go boating on rivers filled with hippos, or search for the Big Five animals: lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino. Uganda is truly a magical place for wildlife lovers.

Best Tourist Destinations in Uganda

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

The white rhinos at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch in Uganda were bred from six individuals brought to the country in the early 2000s. Ziwa is the only place in Uganda where visitors can see and track these rhinos on foot, with high chances of sightings. Rhinos were once common in Murchison Falls National Park in the 1960s but were poached after Uganda’s independence. There are plans to move some rhinos to other parks in Uganda, making Ziwa a top spot for viewing the Big Five until then.

Mabamba Swamp

Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport is located on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. It is close to Mabamba Swamp, a community ecotourism project known for bird-watching. Mabamba is the top spot in Uganda to see the shoebill, a unique bird that feeds on lungfish. Visitors can also see other birds like the African fish eagle, palm-nut vulture, goliath heron, and African jacana on canoe trips into the swamp.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Mountain gorillas are the centre of attraction in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and one of the best tourist destinations in Uganda, which houses over 40% of the world’s mountain gorillas. Visitors can track more than 25 family groups, with up to eight people allowed per group each day. Gorilla trekking usually involves a challenging hike through dense plants, but can also be a simple 20-minute walk. Facing these gentle giants, who are 98% similar to humans, is a unique and possibly life-changing experience. Despite its tough name, Bwindi is accessible and one of Uganda’s best spots for gorilla trekking. Guided by naturalists, visitors spend an hour observing gorillas in their natural home before returning to comfortable lodges. The trek may be wet and muddy, but it is truly remarkable.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest national park, divided by the Nile River. It is home to a variety of animals, including elephants, buffalo, lions, and hippos, and has nearly 500 bird species. Visitors can see chimpanzees and colobus monkeys in the forests. A highlight is the boat cruise to Murchison Falls, where the Nile dramatically narrows through a 7-meter cliff, hailed by explorer Sir Samuel Baker as the White Nile’s most significant feature. These boat trips offer views of wildlife like hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds. Game drives north of the Nile often encounter lions and Rothschild’s giraffes, while the delta provides chances to spot shoebills.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is renowned for its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes. A key attraction is the Kazinga Channel, where buffalo and elephants mingle with hippos against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains. Visitors can enjoy boat trips on this picturesque waterway and game drives on the nearby Kasenyi Plains, known for its large herds of Uganda kob and their predators. Other highlights include the Maramagambo Forest’s crater lakes, tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha Sector, and chimp trekking in Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest. The park boasts an impressive list of 610 bird species, making it a premier location for bird watching. It is also home to elephants, buffalo, leopards, and various antelope species.

Kibale Forest National Park: Primates, Birds & Butterflies

Uganda is an excellent place for wildlife viewing, particularly for gorilla tracking and spotting the Big Five. Kibale National Park is one of the best tourist destinations in Uganda to track chimpanzees, but cheaper options like Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Budongo Forest, and Kyambura Gorge are also available. Kibale offers more than just chimps; visitors can see various monkey species, such as the unique Uganda mangabey, and vibrant forest birds, like the great blue turaco. Kibale National Park is gaining popularity for its tropical rainforest experiences. While large mammals are harder to find, the stunning butterflies and beautiful birds make up for it. Guided chimpanzee treks allow visitors to explore and spot many of the park’s 12 primate species.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo is a great overnight stop for travellers between Kampala and the gorilla trekking forests in south-west Uganda. While elephants aren’t present, its mix of habitats offers many mammals and birds, and its peaceful atmosphere gives relief after a long journey.

Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is often wrongly seen as the second-best place to see mountain gorillas in Uganda. Although it has only one gorilla group with limited permits, it is a great place to visit because it has three large silverbacks and more open bamboo forests. Mgahinga also offers the chance to track the unique golden monkey and has stunning views from the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes, which can be hiked.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Uganda’s Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the far northeast near South Sudan and is less visited than Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks. This remote area offers excellent wildlife viewing, including large herds of buffalo, elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, plains zebras, patas monkeys, and various antelopes. It is the only park in Uganda where lions, leopards, and cheetahs can be found together, as well as the only place in East Africa with wild rose-ringed parakeets.

Lakes Bunyonyi and Mutanda

Lakes Bunyonyi and Mutanda are located in Uganda’s southwestern highlands, where gorillas are found. Both lakes are formed from submerged river valleys blocked by lava flows and are surrounded by steep slopes and wooded islands. They are safe for swimming due to the absence of certain harmful animals and diseases. Lake Bunyonyi has many resorts and is popular with tourists, while Lake Mutanda feels more remote and has fewer, higher-end lodges. On clear days, Lake Mutanda offers stunning views of the Virunga Mountains.