Best places you shouldn’t miss to visit when you’re on Uganda safari.
Jinja and Lake Victoria; the source of river Nile.
Jinja is a popular tourist destination famous because of the historical source of the White Nile. It is the starting point of the world’s longest river that flows from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea through the central and northern Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt.
After Entebbe, Jinja is a great starting point for your Uganda trip, especially if you are in for adrenaline-based activities. Bungee jumping, rafting, kayaking and other water activities are some of the many active tourist attractions in Jinja.
If you prefer a more relaxing way to experience Jinja, you may want to book a private boat tour on Lake Victoria to see the Speke monument at the source of the Nile. A boat tour to the source of the Nile one of the highlights in Uganda and a great way to spot birds that live near the river, like Kingfishers, fish eagles, storks and Ibises. When you reach the actual source of river Nile, you can jump off the boat and walk over a wooden deck towards the source of the Nile sign to make a quick photo. Do you know this is a small touristic spot with overrated boat trip prices that is not everyone’s cup of tea. This is the only way to visit the source of the Nile.
Ssese Islands
Ssese Islands are a group of about 84 Islands dotted along the northwestern shores of Lake Victoria. Each Island differs in size, shape and exotic Flora and Fauna. Here you can relax amid beautiful scenery, see chimpanzees, walk on white-sand beaches, enjoy horseback riding and windsurfing as well as interact with the Bantu people and learn about their culture.
Kasubi Tombs
Visit Kasubi Tombs as well when you’re on Uganda safari it will worth your time. A palace consisting of 35 buildings, this important historic site is the burial place of four former Ugandan kings and other royal family members.
A tour allows you to see interesting artifacts and learn about the rituals and traditions of Uganda’s largest tribal kingdom of Buganda.
Ndere Centre
In Kampala, the Ndere Centre is a great place to experience the colorful dance and music that is traditional to Uganda. Opened Sunday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, the Centre offers a 700-seat amphitheater where you can enjoy dinner along with a spectacular performance of colorful, high-energy dancing and music that displays the lively culture of the Ugandan tribes.
Sipi falls; a hiker’s paradise.
Sipi falls isa hiker’s paradise, it’s a series of three impressive waterfalls located in a spectacular, unharmed and green landscape near the border of Kenya. Its one of the most beautiful places in Uganda and a perfect place to unwind. The hike to all three falls takes 7-8 km. the waterfalls are only accessible by foot.
A local guide will accompany you on the walk and tells you about the historical and geographical background of the area and share some interesting facts like the medical purposes of the surrounding plants. Taking part in guided hiking activities like these is a perfect way to support the local Ugandan community and a spectacular way to enjoy and learn about the beautiful green surroundings of Sipi.
Sipi falls is also known for its many local coffee plantations Uganda’s leading export crop but because of financial difficulties, its hard for small local farmers to keep their heads above water. Visiting a coffee plantation plot in a rural Ugandan village is a great way to support the farmers. They are extremely hospitable and are happy to show you the whole coffee process from picking to shelling, grinding and roasting after finish by consuming a delicious strong Ugandan coffee straight from the source.
Kidepo valley National Park; the Serengeti of Uganda
When it comes to game viewing, Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the best places to visit in Uganda. It’s the most isolated park and unknown to many tourists but it offers an abundance of wildlife and spectacular Savannah landscape.
Kidepo valley National Park is located in northern part of Uganda, at the border with Southern Sudan. It takes some efforts to reach the park but the variety of wildlife and beautiful views are worth it all. Be prepared for bad road conditions and road closures when it rains. Also make sure you have enough fuel, Kaabong and Kitgum are the nearest places to stock up on fuel.
When you are in for an adventurous safari, you should add Kidepo national park to Uganda safari itinerary; a true gem and one of the most beautiful places on Uganda: Uganda’s own Serengeti.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
We all know that Rhinos are critically endangered because of poaching. The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary located near Murchison Falls National Park is the only places in Uganda to see Rhinos roaming around in the wild. It’s a Rhino re-introduction project for White Rhinos. You can trek them on foot, accompanied by a ranger. The Rhino trekking will last about 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
The rhinos are heavily protected but can roam free in an area that covers 7000 hectares of land. The walk is not heavy but its an open space so it can be very hot in the sun.
While visiting the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you have the opportunity to do more activities like shoebill trek, night walk, or canoe ride. You can also stay overnight in a lodge or tent. When staying overnight and you will have the highest chance of seeing the prehistoric shoebill.
Murchison Falls National Park.
Being Uganda’s oldest and largest wildlife reserve, Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most visited places in Uganda. It’s a home of four of the Big five game animals, rhinos excluded. Even if you have limited time, your chances of spotting animals are high. We saw lots of animals including a leopard, lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocs, antelopes and many birds.
One of the best things to do in Uganda is to visit the actual Murchison waterfall. I am highly recommended that it’s good to book a half-day tour to explore the falls including the boat trip to the bottom of the falls.
One the Murchison falls boat trip it is possible to get off the boat and hike to the top of the falls where the water of the river Nile clashes with the borders of a narrow rocky gap and drops down 34 meters.
Because of the flooding, its nolonger possible as part of the boat trip but can still do the Top of the falls Hike from a different starting point. If you are not able or don’t want to hike to the top, an alternative to see the actual Murchison falls is to get there by car as the most visited National Park in Uganda. Its definitely worth it to add it on your itinerary of Uganda safari.
Kibale National Park; the primate capital
Kibale Forest National Park is known as Uganda’s primate capital of the world and the best places to visit in Uganda to see the chimpanzee. Booking a chimpanzee trekking is the only way to see the chimpanzees and you’re allowed to stay with them for one hour at the moment you have found them.
If you want to spend more time with chimpanzees and learn more about their daily routine, its recommended to book the chimpanzee habituation experience. It’s a bit more expensive than chimpanzee trekking, but you will spend a whole day with the chimpanzees to watch their daily activities like de-nesting, foraging for food, grooming, playing and making nests for the night.
Its an exhausting day full of movement, but an experience of a lifetime. While trekking in kibale forest you can also find monkey species like the Ugandan Red Colobus and the rare L’Hoest.
Kasendra Crater Lakes Region.
The area around Kibale offers some of the most beautiful places to visit in Uganda like the stunning crater lakes in the Kabarole district, tea plantations, and the Rwenzori mountains. Hikers should explore more of the region. There is a recommended three-hour hike that includes three crater lakes, local villages, tea plantations and a great view from the top the world overlooking all 3 crater lakes and Rwenzori Mountains and one of the coolest places to visit in Uganda.
Bigodi wetlands sanctuary; a bird watchers paradise.
You can find the small Bigodi wetlands sanctuary near Kibale National Park which is a home to many other primate species and 200 different bird species like a great blue turaco. It’s a bird watchers paradise. This place is run by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED) and protects the Magombe swamp. All the profits are used to fund community projects around Bigodi like supporting local schools.
It’s really enjoyable to the swamp walking tour and visiting the local community, where you can learn about traditional weaving techniques by the Bigodi Women Group.
Queen Elizabeth National Park; the tree-climbing lions
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular national park, located in western Uganda and named after the royal Queen Elizabeth II of England. This park is home to numerous mammal species and birds offers stunning diverse landscape and views of the beautiful Rwenzori Mountains in the back.
Besides the typical African savannah, you will also find volcanic cones, beautiful salt crater lakes. From October to April, you might even be lucky to see flamingos at Lake Munyanyange, large herds of Buffaloes are also often found around the salt crater lakes in queen Elizabeth National Park. To get the best out of your visit to queen Elizabeth National Park, you need to take for several game drives.
Boat tour at Kazinga channel.
One of the most popular Uganda activities amongst tourists in Queen Elizabeth National Park is a peaceful boat safari at Kazinga channel. This activity takes a bout 3 hours and offers great opportunities for wildlife viewing. This channel connects lake Edward and lake George and is home to large concentrations of water buffaloes, hippos, Nile crocodiles and exotic birds. Sometimes you can even see elephants near or in the water. For the best views of the animals in the Kazinga channel, you have to make sure to get a seat on the left side of the boat.
Tree- climbing lions in the Ishasha sector.
Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park is the one of the few places in Africa where you can see tree-climbing lions. Ishasha sector is located in the southern part of queen Elizabeth National Park but it’s a must visit place in Uganda.
During the hottest parts of the day, you have the highest chance to spot tree-climbing lions. It is supposed that lions climb these huge fig trees as a way of protecting themselves against the numerous biting tsetse flies on ground level and to view well their potential prey grazing on the open plains. I will be lucky enough to capture tree-climbing lions. It was one of my favorite sightings at Queen Elizabeth national park.
Equator sign at Kayabwe; a fun photo stop over.
Uganda is one of the countries that is crossed by equator that cuts mother earth into two parts that is Northern and Southern hemispheres. The most iconic equator crossing spot is in Kayabwe, located 70km from Kampala and a fun place to visit in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi impenetrable National Park is located in south western Uganda where you can take a breathtaking mountain view, lush landscapes and an abundance of African wildlife are just a few reasons and it is one of the top places to visit in Uganda. Remember it is a home of to some quite number of the world’s last mountain Gorillas.
There are many Gorillas trekking tours you can join here to suit your level of skill or preference that will allow you to experience the sheer beauty of this place and to see mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat.
Lake Bunyonyi (Africa’s Switzerland)
As you might know, Uganda offers a great diversity of landscapes. One of the most tranquil and beautiful places in Uganda is lake Bunyonyi. This lake is located near the border of Rwanda in the south west of Uganda, a 2 to 3- hour drive from Bwindi. Lake Bunyonyi is believed to be the second-deepest lake in Africa (44m-90m).
The lake is known as the ‘Switzerland’ of Africa because of the surrounding green terraces, hills and valleys. The lake contains at least 29 islands and is 25km long and 7km wide.
One of the most well-known islands with a notorious history is kampene island known as Punishment Island. Unmarried pregnant girls were sent there to starve to death in the past. During our stay, we met the only living survivor, Ms. Mauda Kyitaragabirwe who shared her story with us. She was only twelve years old when she was abandoned by her family.
Visiting several islands by boat is highly recommended. There are no hippos or crocodiles and its bilharzia free, so it’s safe to swim in the lake. Besides relaxing or swimming, you can also choose to go canoeing in a dugout canoe or hiking through the hills and villages.
For the best view of Lake Bunyonyi, you should go to Arcadia Lodge for a drink on their huge terrace.
Lake Mburo National Park; the best sunset views
Out of the 10 National parks in Uganda, Lake Mburo is the smallest and the closest to the main towns of Kampala and Entebbe. This park offers endless views of wide-open Savannah landscapes with rolling hills and idyllic lake shores. Its home to 350 bird species as well as 68 mammal species including Buffalo, leopard, hyena and Jackal.
It's also the only place in southern Uganda to see many Burchell Zebras and the only park in the country with Impalas. There are no lions and elephants in the park because of that, lake Mburo is the best place for walking safaris and horse safaris in Uganda.
Visiting Lake Mburo is the perfect place to break up along Journey from the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala or Entebbe.
In my opinion, Lake Mburo National Park is underrated and really loved the iconic sunset views over Lake Mburo.
Kampala; the city of 7 hills
Kampala is the heart and soul of Uganda and must-visit when you travel to Uganda. Kampala is surrounded by many rolling hills and borders Lake Victoria, which is known as the largest freshwater lake in Africa. The capital city of Uganda offers a variety of things to do and places to see or visit including the Uganda National Mosque that offers a panoramic view over the city after climbing 300 steps to the top of Minaret, UNESCO Kasubi Tombs and Idi Amin’s Torture Chambers on the grounds of Kabaka’s Palace. Also don’t miss out on the vibrant Owino market and Nakasero food Market and the Nakasero Food Market to taste the flavors of the Ugandan cuisine including the famous ‘Rolex’. You can cover most top sights on a one-day walking tour in Kampala or a sightseeing bus tour including fun activities, Must-visit tourist attractions, Kampala’s lively nightlife scene the city that never sleeps and learn more about Kampala.
Owino Market
Owino Market is one of the largest markets in the region which can give you a great experience while on Uganda safari. It is located in the capital city, Kampala, this busy Market is full of color and character from its wide array of produce, clothing, electronics, and crafts to its lively vendors and customers.
Mabamba Swamp to see the shoebill
Mabamba swamp in Entebbe is a birdwatcher’s paradise known as one of the best places in Uganda to spot the dinosaur-like shoebill. Home to over 300 different bird species. The Mabamba wetland offers a captivating ecosystem that draws bird lovers nature enthusiasts and wildlife photographers from around the globe to go on safari to see the shoebill stock.
Hopefully, the above list is to inspires you to create your Uganda itinerary. Feel free to reach out if you have any suggestions to add to this list, or traveling to Uganda the Pearl of Africa.