BEST THINGS TO DO IN UGANDA.
Do you know why Uganda is called the pearl of Africa? If not here are the various attractions that you need to know to have the best Uganda tours. Uganda is called the pearl of Africa by Sir Samuel Baker who came and explored Uganda, he discovered that Uganda has a hidden treasure that needs to be exposed to the rest of the world due to beautiful attractions like Murchison falls national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park, Kibale national park, Semuliki national park, lake Mburo national park, Mgahinga national park, Mt Rwenzori national park, Mt Elgon national park, kidepo valley national park and many more.
Due to the fact that pearl of Africa has a lot in store to offer to travelers, there are always the most visited attractions that visitors prefer and these are,
Top 5 visited places in Uganda.
Murchison falls national park.
Murchison falls National Park is the oldest and largest park in Uganda covering a surface area of 3893sqkm. The park was established in 1952 and is formally known as kabalenga national park which falls under the umbrella of Murchison falls conservation area which involves Bugunga, Karuma Falls wildlife reserves and Murchison falls national park. The park is a uniquely spectacular experience with Murchison falls that roar sounded overflow of water passing through the narrow gorge and spreads down to a placid stream flowing into Lake Albert.
While in Murchison falls national park the visitors will do a game drive which takes 2-3 hours where elephants, giraffes, lions, buffalos, warthogs, waterbucks, crocodiles, hippopotamus and many more, chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest, birding like egrets, shoebill, spurful, kingfishers, ring-necked bird, long-horned bird, owl and many more, boat cruise on the lower side of the falls where they will spot a rainbow during sunny weather in the park.
Besides the attractions, the park can be accessed by either road or flight from Kampala kajjasi airstrip or Entebbe International Airport. While by road, visitors will drive 300 sqkm from kampala to the park which is located in Masindi district. It takes 5-6 hours to reach the park whereas the visitors using flight will use one hour to reach pakuba airstrip in the park. However, during the game drive to the park, clients might see it as a long journey as long but it’s worth it due to spotting various attractions along the way.
Queen Elizabeth national park.
Elizabeth national park is the second largest park in Uganda to Murchison falls national park. The park is located in the western part of Uganda covering an area of 1978sqkm. The park was formerly called kazinga national park before the visit of the British monarch the Queen who later baptized Queen Elizabeth national park. The park is among the most commonly visited park in Uganda due to its various attractions like birding, game drive, boat cruise, nature walk and many more.
While at the park visitors will spot spectacular mountains of the moon beautifully surrounded by Rwenzori rangers. The park is accessed by either road or flight from Entebbe International Airport or kajjasi airstrip.
While by road visitors will be able to view and take photos on the equator with the monuments on either side of the road which marks the exact point where it crosses latitude 00 unlike those in the flight. During the drive to the park, visitors will spot various attractions like tea plantation, kibale national park if all Mubende-route is used, and lake Mburo if masaka –mbarara route is used. The drive takes about 7-8 hours to reach the park which is really worth it due to the various attractions potted along the way.
Whereas by flight, visitors will use 2 hours and a half minutes to reach kasese airstrip in Queen Elizabeth national park. While on the flight, animals in the park will be spotted like elephants, buffalos, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, bush pigs, warthogs and different bird species will be viewed as well.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
The bwindi impenetrable national park is the most commonly visited park in Uganda for inhabiting the unique endangered creatures that are spotted in virunga ranges in the whole world. The park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda covering an area of 321sqkm. Bwindi and mgahinga national park is home to 400 mountain gorillas unlike other parks like Virunga and volcano national park. Gorillas are inhabited four sectors that are Buhoma sector, Nkuringo sector, Ruhija sector and Rushaga however the other family is located in mgahinga park is the Nyakagezi gorilla family.
Besides its popularity, visitors are expected to pack cameras, water & snacks, comfortable hiking boots, long trouser, long t-shirt, long stockings, raincoats and hiking sticks.
The gorillas can be spotted in bwindi by either road or flight from kampala kajjjasi airstrip or Entebbe international park. Most visitors prefer road trip because its more adventurous than the ones on a flight however the road trip takes 9-10 hours from kampala to bwindi. For visitors using flight will take one hour and fifty minutes from kampala kajjasi or Entebbe.
However visitors are limited to 8 individuals to trek gorillas in the jungle, children below 15 years of age are not allowed to trek, illed visitors are not allowed to trek to avoid gorillas from being affected. Trekking the gorillas in the jungle will cost $700 per person which is cheaper than the gorilla permit from Rwanda which is $1500 per person.
Kibale national park.
Kibale national park is the best destination for chimpanzee trekking in the pearl of Africa. The park is located in the western part of Uganda covering an area of 795sqkm. kibale national park is not only visited for chimpanzee but also birding and Nature walk. It takes about 4-5 hours to reach the park which is adventurous by spotting tea plantations and during the nature walk, bigodi wetland sanctuary and rest in bananas are the most amazing activities you don’t wish to miss.
While at the park the elephants, Buffalos, leopards, elephants are also present, a large number of reptiles and butterflies are also there though hardly seen but with different bird species like L’Hoest’s monkey, red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboon, golden cats, red & blue duikers, Bush baby alongside a variety of birds.
Kidepo valley national park.
Kidepo valley national park is located in the eastern part of Uganda covering a surface area of 1442km2 with an altitude between 914 and 270m above sea level. Despite the fact that the park is located in semi-arid areas between Sudan and Kenya, it inhabits big five animals like elephants , Buffalos, Leopard, Hippopotamus, lions and many more thus making it the best place for game drive. Besides game drive the park is best for bird lovers where different bird species over 475 birds are spotted in the park like ostrich, red and yellow barbet, little bee- eater and many more. Kidepo valley national park is also best for culture tours since there are karamonj people who are cattle keepers sleep in grass-thatched houses, believe in traditional doctors and many more.
