TOP 5 TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN UGANDA
Top 5 Tourist Destinations in Uganda : Uganda the pearl of Africa is a very fascinating tourist destination located in the east African region of Africa, Uganda is a very peaceful country famous for offering amazing safari experiences through its numerous destinations. Uganda is gifted with diverse attractions which are of interest too tourists, attraction in beautiful Uganda include wildlife such as lions, leopards, elephants, Uganda kob, giraffe, baboons, mountain gorillas and many more. There is physical features such as mountain Rwenzori, mountain Elgon, rift valley escarpments, Lake Victoria, the great river Nile and many more. Other attractions include culture and cultural sites, archaeological sites, local dishes, festivals and many.
Uganda’s fascinating attractions are too many to count, this article presents to you the top five tourist destinations which should never miss on your destinations to visit list while in Uganda on a safari.
MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Murchison falls national park is an interesting tourist destination full of mysteries to discover and many mazing safari activities to keep you entertained and amused throughout your safari. Murchison falls National Park is situated in North West region of Uganda covering an area of 3893 square kilometers, this amazing national park also known as kabalega falls national park lies in the northern region of the Albertine region stretching through districts of Buliisa, Nwoya, kiryandongo and Masindi.
Murchison falls national park has many breaking attractions but the most attractive of all of them is the Murchison falls, Murchison falls in the park is formed when the tributary of great river Nile the albert Nile forces its way through the hard rocks bursting out as a water fall with vigorous sound and force. As 23 feet wide and 7 meter Murchison falls flows, it forms a permanent trade mark of a colorful rainbow over it creating a spectacular view.
Other attractions encountered in Murchison falls national park include
Beautiful vegetation that is savannah woodland and riverine forest in rabongo and kaniyo pabidi forest.
Wildlife that is mammals and primates such as buffaloes, lions, elephants, leopards, Uganda kob, bush elephants, hartebeests, antelopes, African buffalo, spotted hyena, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys and many more. There is aquatic animals like hippopotamuses and crocodiles.
Birds such as shoebills, Goliath Heron, Grey-crowned Crane, Saddle-billed Stork, and long-toed Plover whilst African Skimmer and African Fish Eagle patrol, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Nightjars, Marabou stork and many more.
Murchison falls national park offers breathing and interesting safari activities such as game drives, bird watching, nature walks, launch cruise and hiking to the top of the falls which are very fun and entertaining.
Murchison falls National Park is categorized under the great Murchison falls conservation area which consists of Murchison falls national park, Bugungu and karuma wildlife reserves. The park is situated 300 kilometers from Kampala the capital city of Uganda northwest wards and can be accessed by both road and air means of transport.
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
Bwindi impenetrable national park is a unique ecological system situated in the south western region of Uganda, the park is an amazing tourist destination and ranked as one of the most visited national parks in Uganda and East Africa. Bwindi impenetrable national park covering an area of 321 square kilometers is a top tourist destination partly because it is one of the few protected areas in the world habiting the critically endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi is a unique area as it is where montane and lowland forest meet and this explains to why it was declared a UNESCO world heritage site.
The main attraction in Bwindi impenetrable national park is the precious mountain gorillas, the thick forests of the park are a home to the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world that is over 400 mountain gorilla individuals. Mountain gorilla in Bwindi offer the amazing mountain gorilla trekking safari activity which is the main tourist activity in the park. Mountain gorilla where trekking takes place are habituated making the comfortable to human presence and give specific names with specific leaders in their specific groups. These groups which are trekked are also situated in four sectors that is buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga, these sectors are situated in different regions of the park and harboring different families that is
Rushanga sector situated in Southern region of Bwindi consists of Nshongi group, kahungye group, Busingye group, Nkuringo group, Bweza and Mishaya group
Buhoma sector situated in Northern region of the park consists of mubare group, Habinyanja group, Rushegura group and Katwe group
Ruhija sector consists of Bitukura group, Oruzogo group and kyaguriro group.
Nkuringo sector consists of Nkuringo group and Christmas group.
Other attraction Bwindi impenetrable national park include the batwa ancient people, mammals of about 120 species such as antelopes, fest elephants, forest duiker antelopes, bush buck antelopes and many more. There is also tree species, butterflies and bird species.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in kanungu district that is 473.9 kilometers from Kampala the capital city of Uganda, the park can be accessed by both road and air transport.
KIBALE NATIONAL PARK
Kibale national park is another breathtaking tourist destination in Uganda, kibale national park located in the western region of Uganda is one of the most important eco-tourism and safari destination as it is one of the few areas in Africa where you can find both montane and lowland forest. The park covers an area of 795 kilometers.
Kibale national park is at times referred to as the land of primates because the parks thick deep forests are the home for a number of primates, chimpanzees are the main attractions of kibale national park. Because of large population of chimpanzees, the park is famous for offering amazing chimpanzee tracking experience and it is the only national park in Uganda offering chimpanzee habituation experience. There are other primates such as L’Hoests monkeys, red colobus monkey, black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkey, olive baboon, grey checked mangabey, and bush baby which are easily spotted in the deep thick forests of the park.
Other attractions in kibale national park include animals such as buffalos, leopards, duikers, bush pigs, and elephants. There is also birds that is over 372 species in the park such as blue-headed sunbird, collared-Apalis, black-capped apalis, red-faced woodland warbler, and purple breasted sun-bird, green-breasted Pitta, Black Bee-eater, Yellow-spotted Nicator, Yellow-rumped tinker bird and many more.
Kibale national park is adjacent to queen Elizabeth national park and Ndali-kasenda crater area which enriches your safari to kibale as you get to visit these other tourist destinations. Visiting kibale while on a safari will give you too participate in safari activities like chimpanzee habituation experience, chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, forest walks, nocturnal forest walks and guided nature walks which will keep you busy and entertained throughout your stay
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Queen Elizabeth national park is a mysterious park full of many attractions and wonders, Queen Elizabeth national park sometimes referred to as kazinga national park is situated in western Uganda covering the area of 1978 square kilometers and stretching through districts of kasese, kamwenge, Rubirizi and Rukungiri.
Queen Elizabeth national park consists of many attractions which makes it to rank among the top 5 tourist destination in Uganda, attractions in Queen Elizabeth national park include
Kazinga channel: kazinga channel is a 32 kilometers channel connecting Lake Edward to Lake George, kazinga channel is a home to aquatic animals such as Nile crocodiles, hippopotamuses, Nile crocodiles. The channel offers amazing boat cruise as you enjoy the view of many animals as they come to drink water.
Kyambura gorge. Kyambura gorge the valley of apes is a forested narrow valley situated in the far eastern region of the park, in this gorge you get encounter chimpanzees while on a chimpanzee tracking experience or on a guided nature walk.
Ishasha sector. The famous and most loved Ishasha sector is situated in in the southern sector of the park, it is known for harboring tree climbing lions and it is the only place in the park where you get to spot them.
Other attractions include mweya peninsular, Katwe crater and explosion lakes, Maramagambo forests, lake kyasanduka and Lake Nyamasingiri.
Queen Elizabeth national park is a home to a variety of animal species such as Warthog, Buffalo, Elephant, Uganda Kob, Waterbuck, Oribi, Topi, hippopotamus, crocodiles, Giant Forest Hog and many more. Their also many bird species which are encountered in the park such as White-faced Whistling, Spur-winged Plovers, Squacco Heron, Fish Eagle, Pink and white backed Pelicans, Long tailed Cormorants, African Jacana, Yellow backed Weavers, open-billed Stork, Water-Thick knee, Pied kingfishers, Wattled Plovers, the Black Crake and the Knob-billed and many more.
While in Queen Elizabeth national park you get to participate in safari activities such as bird watching, game drive, chimpanzee tracking, sightseeing and guided nature walks.
KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Kidepo valley national park is an enchanting destination still ranked as the most scenic protected areas in Uganda, the park is situated in north eastern region of Uganda. Kidepo covering an area of 1,442 kilometers is ranked as the third best national park Africa, the park is well known for offering one of a few destinations offering the best game drive safaris that is day and night game drive.
Kidepo national park is a fascinating destination covered by short red oat grass, taller bunchy guinea thatching grass, red thorn acacias, drumstick trees, sausage trees and monkey bread which not only offer you uninterrupted view of the park and the animals but also eaten as food by animals. Kidepo national park is made up of many tourist attraction which include
The beautiful scenic landscape, no national park in Uganda has a landscape as fascinating as kidepo national park, the landscape is filled with valleys that is kidepo, Narus and Namamukweny valleys, mountains and hills that is mount Morungule and Lomej hills.
Hot springs. Hot springs in the park are kanangorok hot spring situated in kidepo valley, watching hot water jetting from the rocks in the ground is a sight to always remember.
Wildlife. Kidepo is a home to many wildlife species which are seen while on a game drive or nature walk, these animals include cheetah, caracal, aardwolf, greater and lesser kudu, mountain reedbuck and Guenther’s dik-dik, herds of buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes and elephants, the greater and lesser kudu with the highly endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.
Bird species. Kidepo national park is a home to many beautiful bird species such as Greater kestrel, Jackson’s hornbill, Karamoja apalis, Northern carmine bee-eater, Purple grenadier, Pygmy falcon, Red-throated bee-eater, Rose-ringed parakeet, Rufous chatterer, White-bellied go-away bird.
Culture. Kidepo national is the perfect suitable destination for culture tourism as it offers authentic African culture through two tribal groups that is Karamojong and the minority Ik people. Luckily enough groups’ culture, norms and practices have not been affected by civilization and modernity.
Kidepo national park is situated approximately 705 kilometers from Kampala the capital city of Uganda and can be accessed by both road and air transport.
If you are looking for the best safari experience in Uganda visiting one of the above tourist destination will grant your wish and give you tonnes of memories to remember.
