Famous places in Uganda

Famous places in Uganda vary from one person to another and there are many destinations to visit around the country which are popular among both local and international travelers on safari in the country.

Uganda is an east African country with various places to visit during a safari or tour. Tours around the country can be done in the western, central, eastern, northern and southern parts of the country for short and long holidays which can be done at any time of the year.

Depending on your interest when visiting Uganda, the places to visit can be natural attractions like national parks and wildlife reserves or physical features, manmade attractions, historical sites, religious sites and many other destinations.

National parks in Uganda

Famous places in Uganda to visit are the national parks especially for the international tourists who are interested in seeing the wildlife and primates found in the country. Uganda has 10 national parks and they include Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, Kibale forest national park, Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kidepo valley national park, Mgahinga national park, Lake Mburo national park, Semuliki national park, Rwenzori mountains national park and also Mount Elgon national park.

There are also 12 wildlife reserves found in Uganda which can be visited during wildlife tours around the country and the famous one is the Pian Upe wildlife reserve in the north eastern part of the country.

When it comes to famous places in Uganda, Bwindi national park is among the destinations which many tourists go to in order to see the gorillas. This national park is in the south western Uganda and it is home to mountain gorillas which can be seen during activities such as gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation. A gorilla permits in Bwindi national park costs 700 USD for foreign nonresidents, 600 USD for foreign residents and 250,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans for tourists above the age of 15 years who are permitted to engage in the gorilla treks.

Another famous place to visit in Uganda is Kibale national park which is found in the western part of Uganda. This national park is also referred to as the primate capital of the world and things to do in Kibale national park include chimpanzee trekking and habituation, bird watching, guided nature walks, visiting the Bigodi swamp and also cultural tours.

Murchison falls national park is another famous place in Uganda and it is home to various wildlife species including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, giraffes, waterbucks, impalas, topi, bushbucks, hippos and many others. Activities to do in this national park include morning and afternoon game drives, bottom of the falls cruise, top of the falls hike, viewing of the top of the falls, hot air balloon safaris, chimpanzee trekking among others.

When driving to Murchison falls national park, you can also make a stop at Zziwa rhino sanctuary to engage in a rhino tracking experience in Nakasongola district and other activities to do include the shoebill experience, canoe rides, birding and also nature walks.

For wildlife safaris, another famous place in Uganda is Queen Elizabeth national park which is in the south western part of the country and it known to be home to the tree climbing lions as well as other wildlife species like elephants, buffalos, leopards, waterbucks, hippos, impalas and many others. Activities to do in this national park include game drives, lion tracking, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge, bird watching, cultural tours and guided nature walks among other activities.

Kidepo valley national park is another famous place in Uganda and it is located in the north eastern part of the country. This national park is known for being remote, for the rich culture of the locals in the neighboring communities such as the Ik tribe, the Karamojong, the Dodoth among others. There are also different wildlife species in Kidepo national park such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, hartebeests, impalas, topi, waterbucks, oribi, hyenas among others.

Mgahinga national park is another famous place in Uganda and it is located in Kisoro district. This national park is home to gorillas and also golden monkeys and some of the Virunga ranges also make up part of the national park including Gahinga, Sabinyo and Muhabura. Activities to do in the national park include hiking, gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, bird watching, batwa cultural tours, nature walks among others.

Semuliki national park is famous for the Sempaya hot springs and this national park is located in the western part of Uganda and apart from visiting the hot springs other activities to do include nature walks and bird watching as well as cultural tours.

For a wildlife viewing experience closer to the city, Lake Mburo national park is famous among tourists. This national park is also in the western part of the country and it is a good place for nature walks, horse riding, game drives and boat rides as well as cultural tours when visiting Uganda.

Rwenzori mountains national park is a famous place in Uganda because of the Rwenzori mountains which are Africa’s 3^rd highest peak. This mountain is also snowcapped and referred to as the mountains of the moon.

A famous place for hikes in the eastern part of Uganda is Mount Elgon national park where the main attraction is Mount Elgon located on the border of Uganda and Kenya.

Physical features

For the locals who desire a more secluded holiday by the beach, Kalangala island is a famous place in Uganda. International tourists however also visit the island during their tours in the country.

Lake Victoria in itself is another famous place in Uganda and it is also known for being the largest lake in Africa. The different islands are visited on Lake Victoria which is also a good place for boat rides as well as fishing. In Entebbe, boat rides on Lake Victoria can go as far as where the equator crosses. Other activities to do on Lake Victoria include visiting Mabamba swamp, relaxing by the beaches, visiting Ngamba island sanctuary among others.

Another famous place in Uganda is the Sipi falls which are located on the foot hills of Mount Elgon in the eastern part of the country. The Sipi falls consist of 3 waterfalls and activities to do around the falls include coffee tours, hiking to the falls, cultural tours with the Bagisu people, abseiling as well as sunset walks.

The source of the Nile in Jinja is a famous place to visit in Uganda and activities done at the destination include boat rides, visiting the craft shops, visiting the Mahatma Gandhi monument. Other activities done in Jinja along the Nile include rafting, bungee jumping, horse rides, kayaking, tubing, zorbing

Lake Bunyonyi is another place to visit in Uganda and it is located in south western part of the country. This lake is in south western Uganda and it has 29 islands. Activities to do around the lake include boat rides, zip lining, batwa cultural tours, swimming, birding among others.

Mabira forest is located on the way to Jinja and this rainforest is also another famous place in Uganda. Activities done in Mabira forest include zip lining, forest walks, archery, bird watching, camping among others.

Religious sites

Places of worship are also famous among tourists visiting Uganda and some of these include the Gadhafi mosque, the Namugongo martyrs’ shrine, Bahai temple, Namirembe cathedral and many others.

Cultural sites

Uganda is known for having different tribes in the various parts of the country and a cultural experience around the country is another must do experience during a tour. Some of the sites to visit include the Kabaka’s palace, Kasubi tombs, Sezibwa falls, Mparo tombs, Igongo cultural center, Tooro palace, Amabere ganyinamwiru caves among others.

Book a Customized Safari

Read about

10 Things you Should NOT DO on an African Safari.

What to expect on a safari in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

How to Choose the Best Tour Operate for Your Safari in Africa

Lake Mburo National Park

12-Day Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi

Some of our African Safaris

1 Day Jinja Ultimate tour Experience

1 Day White Water Rafting in Jinja

3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Habituation via Rwanda