Post Updated
Uganda is among my favourite travel destinations the world. Yes, world. To me, it has everything – safari, mountains, lakes, gushing rivers and lovely people. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked as a holiday destination and even as a safari destination, despite having one of the best National Parks and Gorilla treks.
I have nothing against Kenya or Tanzania as a safari destination, but I have had some incredible experiences in Uganda, and I am partial to it – I don’t mind saying that. Uganda has the raw authenticity, and its people are its true treasures. It is not so ‘posh’ as Kenya, but it is wilder and real.
When I first went to Uganda, I had no checklist, and even today I don’t have one – there is nothing like being offered the country on a tourist platter – most likely you’ll end up seeing things just the way they are meant to be.
Over the years I have written about Uganda – specific places and experiences, but this post is all about Uganda and how it can become your most favourite place too!
Bucket list – Uganda
Uganda must be included in your bucket list at once – trust me, you are never going to regret it. Why? I’ll tell you why and I’ll tell you this on authority. I have traveled to this country a dozen times (or more) and every time, there is something new to do, see or experience. It is a country of surprises waiting to happen. Of course there are times I end up eating at the same restaurant, seeing the same herd of elephants on the safari or end up having the same conversation with the same people but it is exciting every time!
Uganda is more than Idi Amin, Lake Victoria and the infamous Entebbe airport siege. Uganda is about lush green forests inhabited by primates (gorillas and chimpanzees), arid savannahs, lakes, snow-capped mountains, tea, coffee plantations and is the home of River Nile (White).
I know I will never tire of traveling through this country – and there is no doubt Uganda occupies a very special place in my heart. There is something magical and magnetic about it – a vibe that is hard to ignore that you will fall in love with it at once.
Did you know that it was Winston Churchill who fondly renamed Uganda as The Pearl of Africa? With good reason too.
Here are my top reasons to go to Africa if you haven’t already!
Lake Victoria
The second largest Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world (at a staggering 26,500 square miles) is a destination in itself. In this lake is the famous Ssese Islands but above all, it is the birthplace of River Nile.
Source of River Nile
The River Nile takes birth in this lake at Jinja and continues downstream to take life as the world’s longest river.
Wildlife: The Big 5, Gorillas and Chimpanzees
Uganda has incredible wildlife. In fact, from the first time I visited to the most recent time, much has developed. Roads leading out of the city are better, new lodges and activities are opening up everywhere and the tourism infrastructure in the national parks has improved drastically. It also offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to track the mountain gorillas.
Stunning National Parks
Murchisons Falls National Park
To watch the mighty Nile squeeze itself through a 7 m gorge and plunges into the Devil’s Cauldron with a thunderous roar. The river cruise bring you up to this point from where you can hike to the top of the waterfall. This is the best place to see wildlife- as they come along to the river’s edge to drink. On the little islands formed in the river is your best chance to see Nile crocodile!
The park also nurtures healthy populations of elephant, lion, hippo, giraffe, buffalo and other large mammals.
Of all the different types of wildlife that Uganda has, there is one primate that makes you forget the rest. Yes, it’s the gorilla! Close behind is the chimpanzee followed by the rest of the animal kingdom, not to mention the Nile crocodile!
Boat Safari in Murchison Falls
A boat safari along the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park is easily one of the best wildlife experiences in Uganda. You glide past pods of hippos, crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks, and elephants wandering down for a drink, all with the steady hum of the river beneath you. But for me, it came with one of the most unforgettable sightings: a hippo baby that was only a few hours old.
Watching something that new, that fragile, in the wild… it stops you. It’s a quiet, grounding reminder of just how raw and real life is out here.
Entebbe Wildlife Centre
The Entebbe Wildlife Centre serves as a rescue, rehabilitation, and education center, housing animals like lions, giraffes, elephants, and shoebills, and offers experiences such as ‘Zookeeper for a Day’. Its not a typical zoo – but a place where you can interact with the animals.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
The most popular savanna park in Uganda and the best place to see lions including the tree climbing lions making it the perfect destination for a wildlife safari It has a diverse habitat that includes lakes, savannah grasslands, forests and wetlands that serve as home to the biggest variety of large mammals in the country.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This is a UNESCO Site – the deep and dark forests are among the oldest in the country offering a complex ecosystem and is the home of the mountain gorilla.
Kibale National Park
A small but vibrant and wild national park is renowned for its primate diversity. Kanyanchu Primate Walk in the Kibale National Park is the park’s flagship experience where the visitor gets the chance to encounter 13 different primate species, with diurnal monkeys such as red colobus, black-and-white colobus, and grey-cheeked mangabey. However, the undisputed highlight of this walk is the Kibale chimpanzees—one of Uganda’s greatest wildlife spectacles.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located on the Kampala – Gulu highway, about 180 km away from Kampala. I visited this upon return from Murchisons Falls National Park, one of the best game parks I have been to, despite its low profile.
It is the only place in Uganda where you can track rhinos on foot, a vital conservation effort and a genuinely memorable experience.
Read more about it here.
Hot seat of adventure
Uganda has some of the best rapids in the world – which makes it the adventure capital of East Africa. Navigating the rapids of River Nile is an adventure of a lifetime. Jinja (the source of River Nile) is known as the adventure capital because downstream from here, the calm river transforms into rapids – and while I have personally stayed away from white water rapids, I have seen adventure junkies take on these rapids with gusto.
The Ugandan Equator
At the Uganda Equator you can stand with your foot on two hemispheres!Where else do you find an imaginary line that bisects earth into two hemispheres? The Equator Point in Uganda is definitely an interesting place to visit. It is quite a sight to see people standing with their feet on either side of the equator in an attempt to get that perfect picture to show off!
It is said that you are “lighter” when standing at the equator because there is no gravitational pull and your body weight is reduced by 3 percent. Water runs down in sinks clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Kasubi Tombs
An active religious place in the Bugandan Kingdom and the burial ground for the earlier Kabakas. To the Bugandans, Kabaka is the unquestioned symbol of spiritual, political, and social state. For those interested in Uganda’s history, this is a great place to start, though it won’t seem so much a ‘tomb’ as a ‘living museum’ once you walk through the Bujjubukula (gatehouse made of wooden columns, reeds and thatch) and into the Olugya (the main courtyard) of the Kasubi Tombs complex. The Kasubi Tombs are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Need more reasons?
The Food
I love the food of Uganda – true, it may not be as varied as food from other countries, but everything here is fresh, locally procured and wholesome. I wrote a detailed post about what to eat while in Uganda. But in a nutshell I’d strongly recommend eating matoke (steamed and mashed plantains), ugali and beans and Luwombo.
Of course, if you are looking for the regular western food, Kampala is full of swanky eateries and cafes to cater to your mzungu needs.
The People
You simply cannot ignore the deep-throated and friendly laughter of the Ugandans and the way they take things so casually – two most important things for the first time traveler seeking to create a memorable experience here. Uganda is full of friendly people eager to take pictures with you! And what’s more, they will always smile for the camera without much encouragement! They are curious (will ask you lots of questions without inhibitions) and even call you mzungu in a friendly, welcoming way (no racism here) and offer you advice on everything – from boda-boda to riding matatus. And oh, they love to party as much as they like their beer.
What Is Uganda most famous For
Uganda has slowly and steadily built a reputation for offering some of Africa’s most unique experiences:
- Trekkers paradise: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Hot seat of adventure: The source of the River Nile in Jinja, often called the adventure capital
- Tree climbing lions: Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Birder’s Paradise: Over a 1000 secies of birds found in the country
- Rich cultural diversity with dozens of tribes and traditions
- Lush landscapes including crater lakes, forests, and wetlands
Is Uganda Worth Visiting
Yes. Uganda offers exceptional value compared to more value for the money, a real connection with the land, and moments that last forever. As a solo female traveller, not once did I worry about personal safety and people were kind and friendly. So, it does have a few limitations as compared to the other popular safari destinations – but that is the charm. once you are in Uganda, you hardly ever worry about the luxuries.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Uganda
The truth is, quite frankly, a year-round destination. The “best” time depends entirely on what you want to experience.
The Dry Season (June–September, December–February) is generally considered the best time because the rails are drier, making gorilla trekking and gorilla tracking more manageable, and wildlife is easier to spot during a game drive. The Wet Season (March–May, October–November) makes the landscapes come alive with green and is the best time for bird watching.
