Uganda Tourist Attractions to Adventure on your Uganda Safari

Also known as the pearl of Africa, Uganda is a remarkable safari destination in Africa – teeming with a number of Safari attractions that are worth exploring on an African safari tour. There is nothing that you won’t see on a Uganda Safari tour, from the remarkable and elusive primates like gorillas, chimpanzees, golden Monkeys, and baboons to the more celebrated wildlife species like the African Big Five, Uganda is a superb safari destination with remarkable Uganda Tourist Attractions. If you are planning to visit Uganda for safaris 2024 -2025, some of the best Uganda Tourist Attractions include mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and the African Big Five Animals. Make sure to include them in your bucket list of what to see in Uganda.

This comprehensive guide details all top Uganda Tourist Attractions that you are likely to explore in Uganda, What to see and expect in Uganda and where to see thes best Uganda Safari attractions. Our Uganda tour/Uganada Safaris/Uganada Holidays offer you a chance to explore Uganda Tourist Attractions in various regions. We also offer various Uganda tourist activities and experiences that will keep you excited all through your Uganda safari.

African Big Five Animals

Uganda is one of the best destinations in Africa for viewing the African Big Five Animals on safaris. Uganda is home to all the African Big Five that can be seen on Uganda Wildlife Safaris. The African Big Five Animals is a term coined in the 1800s by trophy hunters, referring to what they considered the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. The African Big Five Animals include; lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and Elephant. During your Uganda safari tour, you can spot all the four in various safari parks, apart from the rhino that can only be seen in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Four(lion, leopard, buffalo, and Elephant) of the Big Five animals can be viewed in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Experience Uganda’s top 5 wildlife species during your Uganda wildlife safari tour. Consider Uganda for the Big Five African Sightseeing adventures.

Mountain Gorillas – Uganda Tourist Attractions

The endangered Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) is a sub-species of the of eastern gorilla that can only be found in Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R Congo. Mountain gorillas are one of the major attraction in Uganda and thousands of travelers from allover the world visit Uganda annually to participate in mountain gorilla trekking. Uganda’s gorilla live in the Bwindi Impnetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park all located in the southwestern part of the country.

Uganda’s Bwindi has the highest gorilla population per the last gorilla census (550 individuals) making it the best place to see these elusive creatures. There are 19 habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi that can be trekked by a group of 8 individuals per a day.

The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only one large habituated gorilla family of about 20 members. If you are planning a safari to Uganda, one of the must do is gorilla trekking. There is nothing that beats the feeling of encountering these elusive creatures in the wild and witnessing them mimic human behaviors – offering a sense of similarity. One of Uganda’s most treasured attractions is the mountain gorillas.

Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are a species of great apes that are wide spread throughout the central and East Africa. They belong to the family Hominidae, which also includes human beings, gorillas, and orangutans. Chimpanzees are the closest living relatives of humans, sharing approximately 98% of their DNA with us. Uganda is one of the best places to go for chimpanzee trekking safaris, especially at the Kibale National Park.

Uganda has an outstanding Chimpanzee population with about 5000 chimpanzees residing in the country’s tropical rainforests, sanctuaries, and National Parks. One of the best places to trek chimpanzees in Uganda is Kibale National Park. Kibale National Park is also dubbed the primate capital of the world since it inhabits 12 primate species. The other Chimpanzee trekking locations in Uganda include the Budongo Forest Reserve in Murchison Falls National Park and Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Chimpanzee Trekking – Uganda Tourist Attractions

Uganda is the home of different species of primates, like chimpanzees, black and white colobus, red tailed monkey, blue monkeys, golden monkeys, bush babies. The Chimpanzee trekking is an enriching experience that Uganda offers to its visitors and this activity is possible in Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest and Kyambura Gorge (in Queen Elizabeth National Park). Uganda counts an estimated number of 5.000 chimpanzees and there are many habituated families.

Birdlife in Uganda – Bird Watching – Uganda Tourist Attractions

Besides the large number of wildlife species in Uganda, the country is also a perfect destination for spotting some of Africa’s most unique bird species. Birding in Uganda is a popular safari experience included on most travelers’ bucket list when planning a Uganda Safari tour. Uganda is home to over 1070 different bird species, 11% of the total bird species population in the world and about 50% of total bird species found on the African Continent. Some of the most thought after bird species in Uganda is the elusive shoebill stork, a prehistoric bird that can be found in various Uganda wetland area such as Mabamba wetland. The other unique bird in Uganda are the Albertine endemic species and the Fox’s weaver.

The best sites for bird watching are: Semliki National Park and Wildlife Reserve, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National park, Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Mabira Forest and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

Mountain Rwenzori – Rwenzori Mountaneering, the “Mountains of the Moon”

Rwenzori is the biggest mountain range in Africa, running for over 120 kms along the border of Uganda with Congo. Originating from the geological phenomena along the Albertine Rift Valley, It does not have a volcanic origin unlike many other African mountains. Today it is enclosed within the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. Acacia Safaris offers the opportunity to experience the gorilla tracking safari in Uganda. In the central part, there are six main mountains. The highest is Mount Stanley, whose main snow covered peak, Margherita, 5.109m, is the third highest in Africa, only after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Rwenzori Mountains are also known as the “Mountains of the Moon”. The first climber to ascend the highest peaks of Rwenzori was the Italian Prince Luigi Amedeo of Savoy the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906.

Visitors to the Rwenzori can undertake the nine days long “central circuit” trekking, with the possibility climbing up to the main peaks. Otherwise a number of hiking options (one day, two days or more) are possible from the locations surrounding the Park (Kasese, Fort Portal, Ibanda). It is remarkable that many people visit Rwenzori to experience the extraordinary vegetation, the colorful flowers and lobelias. Visits to Rwenzori are advisable during the dry season from December to February and from June to September.

Wildlife Safaris Game Drive in the National Parks – Uganda Tourist Attractions

Uganda has ten gazetted National Parks , as well as a number of Natural Forests and Natural Reserve areas, with a broad range of safaris and wildlife experiencse. Among the significant attractions are: the boat – launch trips (in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo), naturae walks and game drives in any park with private vehicles. Very different from other African countries, “safari” in Uganda means a real closeness to nature, the animals, the people, the ambience. Safari in Uganda is a unique opportunity of true, direct and uncontaminated wildlife.

Kampala

Kampala is the capital city of Uganda, with over 1.2 milion inhabitants (Census 2002). Originally, like Rome, Kampala was founded on seven hills, each with its own particular function (Namirembe, Makerere, Kibuli, Kololo, Rubaga, Mulago and Old Kampala). It is named after “impala”, which is an antelope specie common in the region. Kampala is also the political capital of Buganda Kingdom, and hosts the Parliament (Bulange), the Royal Palace and the tombs of the kings (Kasubi tombs). The Buganda tribe represents over 20% of the whole population in Uganda and they speak Luganda, which is the spoken language in Kampala and most of Southern Uganda. Kampala is a modern and safe town, and it offers her visitors a number of cultural and artistic sites, apart from the entertainment and the possibility of walking through the shops, craft centres and markets of the centre.

Ssese Islands and Lake Victoria

Much of the Uganda territory is covered by, rivers and lakes. The biggest lakes are: Victoria, Albert, Edward, Kyoga. In particular, Lake Victoria – the biggest in Africa – is a tourist destination in Uganda thanks to the attractions offered by the archipelago of the Ssese Islands , though it is still a virgin place. These are 84 in number: some of them are very small; others have big extension and population, like Bugala Island, which is actually hosting most or the accommodation, beach and activities, like fishing, bird watching excursions, and boat riding. The second and spectacular island is Bukasa, where you can experience real fishermen village life, natural walks in an uncontaminated forest, experiencing African crops and fruits.

You can use public transport boats from Kasenyi Landing Site or by ferry boat from Entebbe Pier to Lutoboka Bay in Bugala Island. Other internal transportation can be arranged by hiring private boats.

Water Rafting and Source of the Nile

The legendary Source of the river Nile from Lake Victoria is located in Uganda, close to Jinja town. This is the starting point for the white water rafting route, which is widely regarded to be as exhilarating as the more famous Zambesi Gorge below Victoria Falls. About 10 kms down the river is the Source of the nile and a series of impressive rapids, fantastic scenery even for spending a relaxing day. The whitewater rafting activities have three options: half day, full day and two days activity, from a minimum of 5 kilometers to 30 kilometers. All levels and ages are considered; safety is guaranteed by highly professional staff and equipment.

Ecotourism and Cultural Tours

Uganda is a multicultural and multi tribal society, with at least 33 tribes and languages. Many regions in Uganda have kingdoms including the Buganda, Busoga, Bunyoro and Toro. Kingdoms and tribes are still very meaningful for people’s life and beliefs. The main Ugandan tribe is the Baganda, corresponding to the area of Kampala and Entebbe, today represented by the Buganda king and Buganda Parliament in Kampala (Bulange), where the chiefs (head of tribes) sit to discuss the problems and life of their people.

As a result Uganda promotes cultural tourism, traditional handicraft, dance and music performances, local medicine demonstration, local brewery production (banana beer, sorghum beer), local beliefs and their traditional sites. ÔÇ£community tourism”, also with a proper association, UCOTA (Uganda Community Tourism Association), which is working to improve the livelihoods of the local village communities.

Uganda is the paradise of “ecotourism”, where visitors are welcome as the people see them as a vehicle for a sustainable tourism development. In Uganda tourist activities are carried out with respect to the environment and culture.

Sport Fishing

Sport fishing is done on Lake Victoria and Murchison Falls National Park. The main catch of the Lake is the Nile Perch, which is the largest fresh water game fish in the whole world; the method of fishing is by use of trolling lures. The most common fish of the lake is tilapia. At Murchison Falls, fish are often caught using live bait. Fishing is generally done over a few days, requiring some level of fitness and experience.

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