Tourist Sites in Uganda: Top Tourist Attractions and Places
The Tourist Sites in Uganda are the backbone of the country’s sustainable tourism progress. Tourist attractions in Uganda range from national parks, wildlife reserves, water bodies, forests to cultural and historical places among others. When you choose to Tour Uganda, you will visit numerous places of wildlife enjoyment. Besides the country’s 10 National Parks and game reserves, there are also various Uganda tourist sites that attract visitors in the country every year. These attraction places further include Waterfalls, forests, Lakes, Rivers, Islands, communities, hot springs, mountains and hills, traditional palaces, religious sites and city or towns to mention. The above mentioned tourism sites and places plus the excellent weather are what qualified Uganda to be called the “Pearl of Africa”. Combining all the visitor attractions, they can only be toured exhaustively for over a month. From beautiful national parks, rolling hills and mountain, magnificent lakes and rivers, Natural tropical forest to amazing cultures and hospitable people, they make Uganda one of the most marvelous holiday destinations in Africa and also in the world. The Seven Wonders of Uganda are also some of the major tourist sites in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.
The National Parks of Uganda include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Home to Mountain Gorillas in Uganda), Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Mgahinga National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Semuliki National Park. Others Uganda tourist sites include Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, The Source of River Nile in Jinja, Sezibwa Falls in Mukono, Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria, Mabira Forest, Sempaya and Kitagata Hot springs in Semuliki and Bushenyi respectively plus Lake Bunyonyi among others. Others are Kampala’s attractions which include the Uganda Museum, Kasubi Tombs, Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine, The Bahai Temple, Kabaka’s Palace in Mengo, The National Theater, Ndere Centre and many more.
You cannot mention attractions without talking about wildlife sanctuaries in Uganda which play a vital role in tourism. Uganda Wildlife Sanctuaries include Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria, Entebbe Wildlife Sanctuary, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Jinja Wildlife Sanctuary and Kazinga Wildlife Sanctuary. Others are Malawa Wildlife Sanctuary, Mount Kei Wildlife Sanctuary, Otze Forest Wildlife Sanctuary, Ntoroko-Kanara Wildlife Sanctuary and Nyaburogo Wildlife Sanctuary.
Top Things to do in Uganda: Uganda Tourist Activities
With all the mentioned tourist sites in Uganda, activities include wildlife safaris and tours, Gorilla Trekking done in Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Chimpanzee Tracking, Game Drives Safaris and Mountain Climbing/Hiking among others. Visitors to Uganda can also enjoy nature walks and community tours, Picnicking and Mountain Biking. Forest Walk, chimpanzee habituation and Bird Watching among the many. More things to do in Uganda also include Bungee Jumping, Quad Biking, Horse Riding, Golfing and Hill climbing to mention are all things to do in the Pearl of Africa. There are several water activities like boat cruise tours, White water rafting on the Nile, Kayaking, Jet Boat Cruise and spot Fishing.
National Parks in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable forest in south western Uganda is a home to Mountain Gorillas in Uganda, with gorilla trekking as a major activity.
Kibale National Park Uganda
Kibale Forest National Park is a home to the biggest number of chimpanzees in Uganda facilitating chimp trekking plus other primate and nature tours.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a second habitat to Mountain Gorillas in Uganda and is also known for gorilla and golden monkey trekking.
Lake Mburo National Park
The park is home to zebras, impalas, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, hyenas, topis, jackals, elands, hippos & crocs seen during game drive & boat ride.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison is the biggest game reserve in Uganda with activities like safaris, boat cruise, chimp trekking, top of the falls hiking & spot fishing.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This park has Kazinga Channel, Kyambura Gorge, forests and lakes, Ishasha Sector, Kasenyi Plains & Mweya as attractions.
Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon Hiking activities of Sipi Falls as well other waterfalls feature outstandingly on the list of the things to do in Eastern Uganda.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park also western Uganda is a destination for climbing, trekking, hiking adventure tours as well as nature walks.
Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park in Bwamba County in Bundibugyo District is famous for the magnificent Sempaya hot springs and the pygmies that live near it.
Wildlife Reserves in Uganda
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
This 7000 hectare ranch is the only place for rhinos in Uganda, therefore rhino trekking, nature walk and birding are the major things to do at the site.
Karuma Wildlife Reserve
Karuma Wildlife Reserve is found in Kiryadongo district of western Uganda and is part of the Murchison Falls Conservation area.
Budongo Forest Reserve
Budongo Central Forest Reserve is one of the chimpanzee trekking sites in Uganda and is also part of the wider Murchison Falls Conservation Area.
Kyambura Game Reserve
Kyambura Game Reserve bordering Kyambura Gorge to the west is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park and a home to a variety of wildlife including primates.
Pian Upe Game Reserve
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, the second largest conservation protected area in Uganda is a conservation area in the Karamoja subregion of northeastern Uganda.
Katonga Wildlife Reserve
Katonga Wildlife Reserve in western Uganda along the banks of River Katonga and established in 1998 on 211 sq kms is home to many animals species.
Ajai Wildlife Reserve
Ajai Wildlife Reserve is a protected conservation area in north-eastern Uganda characterised by seasonally flooding swamps & wooded savannah.
Kigezi Wildlife Reserve
Kigezi Wildlife Reserve is positioned in Rukungiri district in western Uganda near to Maramagambo forest and occupies an area of 265 square kilometres.
Bokora Game Reserve
Bokora Game Reserve also called Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve is positioned in the Savannah plains of karamoja sub-region of north eastern Uganda.
Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
Bugungu Wildlife Reserve is a seasonal wetland featuring the Savannah, Afro-montane grassland Vegetation dominated by the
Top Tourist Attractions in Kampala City
Kasubi Royal Tombs Kampala
Kasubi Tombs, an attraction in Kampala is the burial ground for the Kabakas (Kings of Buganda) plus other notable members of the Kingdom’s royal family.
The King’s Palace Mengo
Also called Kabaka’s Palace in Mengo, the King’s Palace is the official residence for the ruling King of Buganda, the biggest kingdom in Uganda today.
Uganda National Museum Kampala
The Uganda Museum exhibits ethnological, natural-historical and traditional life collections of Uganda’s cultural, political and economic heritage.
Namirembe Cathedral in Mengo
Saint Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe, the oldest cathedral in Uganda serves as the Church of Uganda provincial cathedral and for Namirembe Diocese.
Gaddafi National Mosque Kampala
Located in Old Kampala, Gaddafi National Mosque is an attraction from whose tower one is able to view Kampala City clearly.
Kabaka’s Lake Kampala
The Kabaka’s Lake is the largest man-made lake in Uganda constructed by the 52 Buganda clans between 1885 -1888 during the reign of King Danieri Mwanga II.
Bahai Temple Kampala Uganda
The temple is a nice place atop Kikaaya hill outside the city with pleasant views and cool green environs with remarkable history about the Baháʼí Faith.
Naggalabi Coronation Site
Naggalabi Buddo Coronation Site is a historical place in Wakiso where Buganda Kings are crowned from, a practice that has been on for past 700 years.
Uganda Matyrs’ Shrine Namugongo
The Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo is one of the largest Christian pilgrimage destinations in Africa dedicated to the 22 Uganda Martyrs & saints.
Waterfalls in Uganda
Murchison Falls on the Nile
Murchison Falls is a waterfall between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert on the Victoria Nile in Uganda. Murchison Falls National Park is named after it.
Griffin Falls in Mabira Forest
Enjoy zip lining or super sky way in Mabira forest in Kampala-Jinja Highway plus nature walk and Mangabey monkey trekking in the jungle.
Sipi Falls on Mount Elgon
Sipi Falls is a series of three waterfalls in Eastern Uganda inKapchorwa district, northeast of Sironko and Mbale, the falls lie on the edge of Mount Elgon.
Aruu Falls in Pader District
The cascading Aruu Waterfalls are streams of falls in Pader district of Northern Uganda and offer a mesmerising memorable experience to its visitors.
Ssezibwa Falls Mukono
Ssezibwa Falls are an eye-catching waterfalls on River Ssezibwa about 32 kilometres from Kampala City off Kampala-Jinja road in Mukono district.
Itanda Falls on River Nile Uganda
The spectacular Itanda Falls in Eastern Uganda is about 27 kilometers from Jinja. The violent falls are one of the most captivating waterfalls in Uganda.
Sisiyi Falls, Eastern Uganda
The Sisiyi Waterfalls are another splendid falls in Eastern Uganda found in the Bulambuli district and are one of the most captivating places to visit.
Karuma Falls on Victoria Nile
Karuma Falls are roaring beautiful waterfalls on Victoria Nile on the eastern boundary of Uganda’s largest park, Murchison falls National Park.
Miriadua Falls in Maracha
Miridua Falls in Maracha District in Westnile are stunning falls on River Oluffe, 20km on Arua-Koboko road and and roughly 20-minutes from Arua Town.
Kisiizi Falls in Rukungiri
The beautiful Kisiizi Falls are found on Kyabamba River, flowing a few meters from Kisiizi Hospital in Kisiizi Parish, Nyarushanje Sub County, Rukungiri district.