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Wondering what to do in Uganda? Uganda offers much more than just safari experiences. While most tour operators’ itineraries focus on hopping between safari parks, there are numerous other wonderful places to explore and activities to do. To help you plan your trip and make the most of your time, here is a list of the 12 top things to do in Uganda. Please note that the list is in no particular order, as narrowing it down to just 12 options was a challenge.
Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport has a remarkable location on the shore of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. Better still for new arrivals, Entebbe is only a short drive or boat ride from Mabamba Swamp, a bird-watcher’s haven run as a community ecotourism project.
Mabamba Swamp ranks as one of the best places in Uganda—and arguably the world—to spot the elusive shoebill. This massive pre-historic-looking bird is classified as vulnerable and is a bucket list sighting for any avid birder. With its large, yellow, almost human-like eyes, huge shoe-shaped bill, and 5-foot height, this big bird looks like something from the dinosaur era.
Other iconic birds likely to be seen on canoe trips into Mabamba Swamp range from African fish eagle and palm-nut vulture to the tall goliath heron and lily-trotting African jacana.
The absolute highlight of any safari in Uganda is the chance to encounter mountain gorillas, the largest and rarest primates on Earth. According to the last official population census in 2018, there are only 1063 of these beautiful animals left alive. Around 500 gorillas reside in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
And gorilla treks here can be organized for a fraction of what it costs in neighbouring Rwanda. Greenway Nature Tours has been organizing sustainable gorilla trips to Uganda for over eight years, offering extensive knowledge of the various options available.
When you book a trip with us, you are guaranteed a gorilla trekking permit.
You may also like; best things to do in Rwanda
Take a hiking adventure in Africa’s extraordinary “Mountains of the Moon,” also known as the Rwenzori Mountains, the largest mountain range on the continent and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
These majestic mountains have special vegetation, including Giant Lobelias and beautiful tropical flowers. There are mountain lakes, waterfalls and beautiful viewpoints over the different valleys. This is an experience you will not soon forget!
The Rwenzori has six peaks all over 5000 meters! The peaks are permanently covered with snow and on the way you will also encounter glaciers and walk through impressive moorland landscapes.
Mt Stanley is the highest mountain of Rwenzori and here is also the highest peak; the Margeritha peak (at 5109m) which requires lot of climbing experience.
Lake Bunyonyi, meaning a ‘place of many little birds’ is situated in the same southwestern highlands that harbor Bwindi’s gorillas. Perhaps the most idyllic place in Uganda, this serene freshwater lake comprises a submerged river valley dammed naturally by lava flows from the volcanic Virunga Mountains.
In this second deepest lake in Africa (900 meters) there are many islands where you can chill out or spend the night. With a hollowed-out tree trunk you sail across the lake and enjoy the real Africa.
A visit to Bunyonyi means a true resting point in your Uganda gorilla safari. Here you can enjoy spectacular views, silence and local African customs.
Uganda not only offer guaranteed gorilla encounters; it is also the best place in Africa to track chimpanzees, humankind’s closest genetic relatives.
Kibale is the best place to do this if you want to be reasonably sure of a sighting. Chimpanzees’’ loud screams and acrobatic leaps through the trees create an exciting spectacle, while their stomping on branches fills the forest with a deafening noise.
These sounds alone make an encounter with these primates a special event. Kibale is a beautiful rainforest located about a 5 hour drive west of Kampala. Inside it are the primeval trees of more than 50 meters high. Around 12 monkey species have also found their place here.
Besides many monkeys and beautiful trees, there are also many other mammals. Think for example of the rare forest elephants, colorful forest birds and not to forget the approximately 200 species of butterflies in all colors and sizes
Unlike many other African parks and reserves where settlements are prohibited, Queen Elizabeth National Park is unique. It is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where rural communities, visitors and wildlife coexist. It is also Uganda’s most visited park, and with good reason!
The park boasts a remarkable variety of habitats, home to over 95 species of mammals, 612 bird species, and much more. It is the easiest place in Uganda to see lions, which quite often climb trees in the Ishasha sector. For a truly unforgettable experience, you can track wild chimpanzees in the thick underground rainforest of Kyambura Gorge.
The park’s Kazinga Channel hosts world’s densest concentration of hippos. Along the channel, you’ll also find large populations of elephants, buffalo, and crocodiles. Exploring this channel by boat offers fantastic bird watching opportunities, and with a bit of luck, you might even spot leopards or giant forest hogs.
Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest national park located in the northwest is a day’s drive from Kampala.
The park is named after the Murchison Falls, the world’s most powerful waterfall, where the Nile violently crashes through a narrow gorge.
Explorer Sir Samuel Baker once described these falls as “the most important object on the entire course of the Nile.” A thrilling boat trip to the base of the falls not only offers a close-up view of this natural wonder but also provides excellent opportunities for wildlife sightings.
You can expect to see plenty of hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds, as well as elephants, buffalo, and various species of antelope. On game drives north of the Nile, lions and Rothschild’s giraffes are commonly spotted, while boat trips to the delta where the river meets Lake Albert often provide incredible shoebill sightings.
Lake Mburo is Uganda’s smallest savannah national park, but it packs a punch with its diversity of natural wonders. Its slogan is “whispers of the wild”, and indeed the soughing of wind in the trees and grasses brings peace to the city-worn soul.
It is also the only park in Uganda where you can find both eland and impala antelopes, and it is home to the country’s largest zebra population, estimated at around 5,000.
The park also probably contains the highest concentration of leopards found anywhere in Uganda. Mburo offers a variety of guided activities, including boat cruise, nature walks, cycling tours, horseback safaris and game drives. These provide a unique experience of moving amongst the giraffe and zebra in their habitat. Lake Mburo is easily accessible and only a 3-hour drive from Kampala.
Located near Murchison Falls, Ziwa is currently the only place in Uganda where wild rhinos can be seen. What makes it even more special is that it’s one of the few spots in Africa where visitors can track these prehistoric-looking heavyweights on foot.
Rhinos were once common in Murchison Falls Park in the 1960s, but were tragically poached to extinction during the turbulent post-independence era.
The white rhinos at Ziwa have been bred up from six individuals that were translocated to Uganda (mostly from Kenya) in the early 2000s. 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 animals.
While wildlife viewing is the main focus of most Uganda safari itineraries, those who enjoy urban experiences or adventure activities should consider a trip east of Kampala to Jinja.
This charming town, located on the shores of Lake Victoria, sits at the scenic source of the Nile River, where the world’s longest river begins its journey northward to the Mediterranean Sea, passing through the Sahara Desert. Jinja is filled with historical architecture from its time as Uganda’s second-largest city, along with a lively mix of modern cafés, restaurants, and nightclubs.
For thrill-seekers, the Nile River just upriver from Jinja offers an exciting range of activities, including;
Situated about two hours’ drive from Jinja, Sipi Falls is the perfect destination to swap your comfortable car seat for a pair of hiking boots. Nestled on the edge of Mount Elgon National Park, which borders Kenya, the falls get their name from the ‘Sep,’ a local medicinal plant found along the banks of the Sipi River, used by locals to treat measles and influenza.
The whole area is incredibly beautiful with rivers, waterfalls, wild vegetation, chameleons, endless banana plantations, coffee farms, traditional African villages and beautiful views of the Karamoja plains.
Sipi offers something for everyone, whether it’s bird-watching, challenging hikes, easy family walks, or cultural and coffee tours. For the adventurous, there’s even the option to try abseiling from the highest of the three waterfalls. If you have some extra time and want to experience ‘real’ Uganda, Sipi Falls is a fantastic stop in the less-visited eastern part of the country.
If you have the time during your Uganda safari, be sure to visit Kidepo Valley National Park. Located in the far northeastern corner of the country, bordering South Sudan and Kenya, the park offers adventurous travellers an untamed African experience, far from the usual safari crowds.
While it requires a challenging ten-hour drive from Kampala, this remoteness adds to the park’s allure as a hidden gem. Covering 1,444 square kilometers, Kidepo features river valleys, rolling plains, and forested mountains, all home to an incredible variety of wildlife. CNN has even called it “possibly the most beautiful park in Africa.”
What is your top of the 12 things to do in Uganda? Let us know!
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