Many tourists love to visit the country due to its fascinating safari destinations. These feature stunning natural wonders that give you a thrilling adventure on your African Safari. However, to reach these destinations safely and comfortably, you will need to rent a 4×4 road trip car. Whether you plan on driving yourself or in the company of a driver-guide, we guarantee you will get the best feel of the Pearl of Africa on tour on the below-mentioned top 10 Uganda tourist destinations.
Murchison Falls National Park is the world’s strongest waterfall; the Murchison falls. The falls are formed by the continuous attempt by the Nile to force itself through an eight meters wide gorge thus forming a spectacular view whenever the Nile water finds its way through this gorge.
It is often Murchison falls that draws people to Murchison falls national park but besides the spectacularly memorable marvels of these mighty waterfalls lies a diversity of wildlife. It should be noted that Murchison Falls National Park has the best roads among all national parks in Uganda making it the most recommended road-tripping national park in Uganda.
Murchison Falls National Park is gifted with a diversity of wildlife. Whether you are road-tripping solo, or a couple or family, Murchison falls national park will not disappoint. Its size brings something to the table that no Ugandan national park can match. Though most Murchison falls safaris mainly highlight 3 days safaris; a minimum of 7 days is highly recommended for the best Murchison Falls National Park experience.
Source of the Nile; The Nile is a stream of life upon which countries like Sudan, South Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia base their survival. The beauty of visiting the source of the Nile is that the trip is not simply about the Nile rather you have a trip featuring both the Nile and Africa’s biggest lake; “Lake Victoria”.
When road tripping in Uganda; Jinja should be among the top destinations on your bucket list. It is one of the places that are not very far from Kampala. Unlike some national parks in Uganda; any type of car can suffice for a road trip to Jinja.
Jinja hosts interesting adventure activities that are experienced on the source of the River Nile. Such as; white water rafting, bungee jumping, horse riding, tubing, Quad biking among others. All these activities give you chance to explore the mesmerizing beauty of the river Nile in Jinja. If you are an adventure and leisure lover, your safari can never be complete without a visit to Jinja.
Kidepo Valley National Park
The most hidden gem of Africa is the right description that fits Kidepo valley national park. In the ranks of Serengeti national park, Kruger national park, and Masai Mara of Kenya; Uganda has Kidepo valley national park to offer. For now, it is only the Ugandan side of Kidepo that has been explored but probably in the future, South Sudan’s side of Kidepo will also be a force to reckon with.
Kidepo valley national park is located in northern Uganda. Its location has positioned it in a way that for anyone to visit it, they have to be deliberate. It is one of the places you cannot merely visit on a detour. It is a true African wilderness. The temperatures are relatively high, so acclimatization is often recommended to avoid your experience being marred by the temperature.
Many tourists who begin their trips from south-western Uganda often find the northern side too hot. For this reason, we would highly recommend anyone considering a long road trip in Uganda starting from the Kidepo valley side instead of the Bwindi impenetrable forest side.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is among the most popular national parks in Uganda. It is only in the recent past the Murchison Falls National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park have started to fairly compete against Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The main icon of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the tree-climbing lions. However, to some tourists, it is the co-existence between the people at the steam banks and the wildlife. It is common to find animals drinking water at the banks in the presence of people going about their day washing or collecting water.
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers an amazing landscape. Once coupled with the wildlife, it offers an amazing experience.
Kibale Forest National Park is another interesting safari destination featuring the largest population of chimpanzees in East Africa. In case you are a primate lover, Kibale forest is a perfect place you ought not to miss on your primate road trip. Chimpanzees in Kibale forest have been habituated and open for chimpanzee trekking experience throughout the year. The Uganda Wildlife Authority charges US$200 for anyone to see chimpanzees in the natural environment. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale offers you an insight to encounter with other primates like monkeys, forest wildlife as well as many colourful bird species thus giving you a unique experience in the forest jungle.
Lake Bunyonyi
This is the second deepest lake in Africa situated in south-western Uganda adjacent to the border of Rwanda. Lake Bunyonyi is a natural wonder of the world dotted with about 29 islands including the legendary Punishment Island.
The islands give the lake an impressive appearance worthy to explore on your road trip. This lake is known as one of the most beautiful lakes in the Pearl of Africa that attracts many tourists all over the world to come and experience it beauty. The lake is bilharzia free thus it is safe for swimming.
There is no dangerous wildlife like crocodiles and hippos in the lake. A visit to Lake Bunyonyi allows you an opportunity to enjoy a canoe ride as you explore eye-catching beauty of the lake as well as delight in a rewarding birding adventure.
The lake is one of the best birding sites in Uganda with about 200 bird species such as; the egrets, cardinal woodpecker, Herons, African Harriers hawks among others.
Lake Mburo National Park
This is the smallest Savannah national park blessed with unique stunning wildlife diversities, a mesmerizing landscape beauty among other impressive attractions. Wildlife in Lake Mburo is rare to be spotted in other national parks of Uganda such as, the Rothschild giraffes, Impala antelopes, Elands, Reed bucks, Hyenas, Burchell’s Zebras and many others.
The park is a great birding site with about 350 bird species including the rare shoe bill stork. Lake Mburo national park is a famous destination for unbeatable memories of horse-riding adventure in Uganda.
Bwindi Forest National Park is situated in south-western Uganda and the park is famous for offering the best mountain gorilla trekking adventure in Africa. Due to the fact that the park harbours almost half of the remaining mountain gorilla population in the world, there are about 19 habituated gorilla families in the park. Bwindi Forest is bisected into four impressive sectors where gorilla trekking is done such as; Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo sector.
A road trip with rooftop tent to Bwindi takes you about 9-10 hours’ drive via the Masaka – Mbarara Highway. To see the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest you are required to pay a gorilla trekking permit that costs US$700 per person per single trek.
Kampala is popularly known as the Capital city of Uganda blessed with a diversity of dynamic tourist attractions and activities. It is paramount to note almost all safaris to other destinations of Uganda begin and end in Kampala. On this note therefore the city acts as a hub point to other intriguing safari places in the Pearl of Africa.
Upon arrival in Kampala, you can take an optional Kampala city tour with a professional English-speaking guide. The Tours allows you to explore fascinating places such as; Kasubi Royal Tombs, Uganda Museum, Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine, Kabaka’s Lake, Kabaka’s Palace, Makerere University among others thus giving a good impressive introduction about Uganda.
Mount Rwenzori National Park
Are you a nature lover? Mount Rwenzori national park is home to a mythical mountain of the moon popularly known for adventure hiking experience. The park is found on the border of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo in Kasese district in southern western Uganda. A visit to this park gives you an opportunity to experience Mountain Rwenzori that is dominated with snow throughout the year.
