Places to Visit in Uganda

Lake Victoria is also known as the 'Pride of Africa' due to its sheer vastness and breathtaking scenery. It is the largest tropical lake in the world, and the prime attractions in the Lake Victoria Basin are the Ssese Islands and Rubondo Island National Park. It is one of the best Uganda attractions harboring over two hundred fish species, including the rare cichlid. You can only swim within designated swimming areas since the lake has crocodiles and flatworms. One of the world's longest rivers, the Nile, makes its way north from Lake Victoria.

Best Time to Visit:

June to October

Suggested Read: National Parks in Uganda

Murchison Falls is situated along the Nile River and is one of the best places in Uganda to appreciate the power of nature. It consists of two waterfalls: a smaller, more vertical drop called Uhuru Falls and the main drop. The twin waterfalls are an absolute delight for nature lovers and landscape photographers. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Uganda, where you can spot rare birds, like the grey crowned crane and shoebill. You can enjoy picnicking here, a Victoria Nile-Murchison Fall boat safari, and a hot air balloon experience.

1. Best Time to Visit:

December-February (Dry season)

2. Location:

Lolim, Masindi, Uganda.

Also Read: Things to Do in Uganda

Ssese Islands is situated on the northwestern part of Lake Victoria and comprises a group of eighty-four islands. It is one of the best tourist attractions in Uganda, with azure white sand beaches, rare plants, lush green forests, and palm trees. The islands have vast equatorial rain forests where you can spot primates like the Vervet monkeys and endemic bird species like African fish eagles, little egrets, Turaco, hornbills, barbets, and weavers. You can also sign up for an island drive and visit the famous Kalaya cave that is used for prayers by the locals.

1. Best Time to Visit:

June-August and December-February

2. Location:

Northwest of Lake Victoria, Uganda.

Also Checkout: Uganda Safari Holiday Packages

Kampala is the largest city in Uganda, dotted with numerous hills, green vegetation, imposing cathedrals, mosques, and churches. The city is perched between seven hills and is one of the best places to see the remains of its ancient tribes, like the Kasubi Tombs. It is one of the best Uganda attractions lined with colourful markets from where you can buy fresh produce, halal meats, spices, and fruit. The city is also famed for its bubbling nightlife and has tons of bars and clubs where you can party, drink and dance during the wee hours. Dig into Ugandan history by visiting Uganda Museum and the torture chambers at Kabaka's Palace.

Best Time to Visit:

December to February

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the best places to see in Uganda, as it is dotted with pristine rivers, cascading waterfalls, and majestic flora and fauna. It houses over half of the wild apes in the world and is one of the best places in Uganda for gorilla tracking. The park is also a haven for birdwatchers, and you can spot here three hundred and fifty-one species of birds, including Bar-tailed Trogon and Rusty-faced Woodland Warbler. You can sign up for the Batwa cultural experience, wherein you'll get a chance to enjoy an educational nature hike through the forest.

1. Best Time to Visit:

June-August and December-February

2. Location:

Kanungu District, Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park spans an area of 1978 square kilometres and is the second-largest national park in Uganda. The park has been named after the Queen of England and is surrounded by tropical rainforests, savannah woodlands, and savannah grasslands. It is one of the best places in Uganda where you can enjoy a game drive in the Kasenyi plains and spot animals like kobs, tree-climbing lions, buffaloes, and elephants. The park houses 619 bird species making it the second-best area for bird watching in Africa. You can also opt for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel and see a huge diversity of flora and fauna while floating on the water.

1. Best Time to Visit:

June-July and January-February for game viewing.

2. Location:

Fort Portal-Mpondwe Road, Rubirizi, Uganda.

Jinja is the fourth biggest town in Uganda, known for housing the official start of the Nile, the world's longest river. The town is located on Lake Victoria's northern end shores at the Source of the Nile, where the mighty river begins its journey to Egypt. It is one of the best Uganda attractions where you can enjoy a sunset boat cruise to the start of the Nile river and appreciate the beautiful scenery. Adventure seekers can also enjoy whitewater rafting on the series of grade-five rapids below Bujagali Falls.

1. Best Time to Visit:

June-September and January-February for rafting.

2. Location:

Eastern Uganda on the northern shores of Lake Victoria.

Get ready for the ultimate shopper's high as you stroll through the Owino Market and stock up on the best street finds. It is the largest open market in Uganda, with over 50,000 vendors/traders, out of which most of them are women. The market has been named after an elderly man who roasted maize and sweet potatoes in the area. From shirts to handicrafts and footwear to home appliances, you can find everything under the sun at the best prices over here.

Location:

Kampala, Uganda.

Ssezibwa Falls is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Uganda, where you can appreciate the power of nature and feel a wave of calmness in your soul. It is an important cultural site located along the Jinja Kampala Highway. The seven metres high waterfall is surrounded by lush green vegetation like Erithina and Bamboo. You can also spot colourful birds and animals like Vervet, African cobras, Red-tailed monkeys, Horned adder, etc. Adventure seekers can take a hike, enjoy bird watching, or have a long bike ride in the area.

1. Best Time to Visit:

Mid-June to August when the access route is not muddy.

2. Location:

Mukono District, Uganda.

The Equator is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Uganda, where you can stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other one in the Southern Hemisphere. This imaginary line that separates the two hemispheres of the world is situated on the Kampala-Masaka road and is the perfect lunch stopover. The temperatures around the Equator are very warm and humid, and you'll encounter lots of rainfall during the winters. There are many craft shops at the Equator from where you can buy souvenirs and handmade products.

Location:

Kayabwe, Mpigi District, Uganda.

If you're looking for one of the best places to visit in Uganda for relaxation and picnicking, Entebbe Botanical Gardens can be your ideal destination. The gardens are located along the Lake Victoria shores and are divided into different zones like tropical, rainforest, temperate and subtropical. It is one of the best Uganda tourist attractions with three hundred and nine plant species, out of which one hundred and ten are exotic and one hundred and twenty-two hold great medicinal value. You can also spot here a wide range of birds like orange weavers, swamp flycatchers, and African grey parrots.

Location:

Berkeley Road, Entebbe, Uganda.

Rubaga Cathedral is situated on top of Lubaga hill and is the oldest Roman Catholic diocese in Uganda. It is one of the best places to visit in Uganda for spiritual seekers and those interested in learning about Catholic history. The twin-towered cathedral is one of the best Uganda tourist attractions that will keep you mesmerised with its warped windows speckled with paintings of Catholic saints and the earliest missionaries' magnificent piers. It also houses the remains of the first African Central Africa Catholic Bishop, the late Archbishop Joseph Kiwanuka, and the first African Archbishop of the Kampala Diocese.

1. Best Time to Visit:

10:00 am and 5:00 pm when the masses are held

2. Location:

Mutesa Road, Kampala, Uganda