Home › Travel Guides › Africa Travel Guide › Uganda › Things to see and do in Uganda
Image gallery

Picking Tea in Uganda

© Creative Commons / jpslim

Things to see and do in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, on the edge of the western Rift Valley, covers an area of 331 sq km (128 sq miles). The forest, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, is a sanctuary for around half the world's mountain gorillas, including the Mubare and the Habinyanja groups. It is also famed for being the home of the Colobus monkey, various species of chimpanzee, hundreds of species of birds and many other animals, including forest birds, snakes, lizards, chameleons and butterflies. As well as animals, the park is home to huge trees covered in creepers, a bamboo zone and rare plants, including mistletoe and orchids. Trekking permits to see the gorillas are strictly limited and must be booked in advance.

Entebbe

Enjoy the botanical gardens and lakeside beach at Entebbe, the major gateway to Uganda for air travellers.

Forest reserves

See the forest ecotourism projects at rainforest sites around the country. The Budongo Forest Reserve, situated near Masindi on the road to Lake Albert, is the largest mahogany forest in East Africa. Other forests worth looking at are the Kasyoha Kitomi Forest, near the Albertine Rift Valley and the Kalinzu Forest Reserve, in the southwest of the country.

Fort Portal

From Fort Portal, explore the Ruwenzori Mountains, the hot springs at Bundibugyo and the Semluke Wildlife Reserve.

Jinja

Visit the second-largest town in Uganda, Jinja, on the shores of Lake Victoria. The town is somewhat under-populated but there is a very lively Saturday market.

Kampala

Explore Kampala, the capital. Set among hills with fine modern architecture, tree-lined avenues, cathedrals, mosques and palaces of the old Kingdom of Buganda, other sights include the Uganda Museum and the Kabaka Tombs on Kasubi Hill.

Kisoro

Set off for a climbing expedition in Kisoro, the starting point for trips to Mounts Muhavura and Mgahinga. Experienced mountaineers should head to Mount Elgon, the Rwenzoris and the Virungas for easy and medium climbs.

Lakes

Go fishing in the many inland waters. There are seven lakes around Kisoro, which also offer duck shooting. There is a great opportunity for sport fishing at Murchison Falls National Park.

Mpanga Forest

See a drum-making village and abundant wildlife in the Mpanga Forest, situated near Kampala.

Nile

See the source of the Nile at the Owen Falls Dam, near Jinja.

Trekking

Go trekking in high mountains, lush hills, wetlands and arid lands. Treks include the Karamoja, the Central Circuit trail and the Sasa River Trail on Mount Elgon. Set in fertile and lush country near Mount Elgon, Mbale is popular.

White-water rafting

Experience huge waves surging around heavily forested islands whilst white-water rafting along the rapids of the White Nile, where the volume of water is equivalent to 10 times that of the Zambezi. Look out for hippos, crocodiles and monkeys along the way.

Wildlife

View some of the best national parks in Africa - Uganda has 10, along with 10 wildlife reserves and seven wildlife sanctuaries. Ruwenzori National Park is regarded as one of the continent's most spectacular.

Travel Deals

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Africa, the way it should be seen
We´re cutting the cost of Africa overland trips by up to a whopping 40%. 25% off many trips departing by 30/6/12.
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.