Uganda Attractions & Highlights

Ngamba Island is one of the Ssese group of Islands in Lake Victoria. It is a sanctuary to around 49 orphaned chimps that have been rescued and are being rehabilitated. Half and full day trips as well as overnight trips to the sanctuary are on offer. This provides an exceptional opportunity to closely observe these fascinating great apes in a unique setting. The beautiful island is perfect for anyone interested in birdwatching, swimming, nature walks and kayaking.

The birthplace of the mighty Nile River, Jinja, is also known as the adventure capital of East Africa. The area is famed for its adrenaline activities and boasts white water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping, quad biking, horse riding and mountain biking. 

Gorilla trekking is the biggest draw and the highlight of all visits to Uganda. There are 17 habituated gorilla families in the Bwindi Forest with 136 gorilla trekking permits issued each day.

The Mgahinga National Park is home to 1 habituated gorilla family. Gorillas are some of the rarest and most intriguing apes and the fact that Uganda has the biggest population in the world makes gorilla trekking a must-do activity. Only eight people are allowed to visit a gorilla family per day, so please book your trip well in advance to make sure you get a permit.

The Kibale rain forest is the best destination in the whole of East Africa to be mesmerised by chimpanzees swinging from tree to tree. With maximum 6 clients, trekking usually lasts three hours offering one hour with the chimps. Other primates in the Kibale Forest include black and white Colobus monkeys, the grey-cheeked Mangabey monkeys and red-tailed monkeys along with more than 350 species of birds and plants. Other destinations in Uganda to trek chimpanzees include the Budongo Forest near Murchison Falls National Park, Kyambura Gorge in the Queen Elizabeth National Park and Semuliki National Park.

Gorilla trekking is the biggest draw and the highlight of all visits to Uganda. There are 17 habituated gorilla families in the Bwindi Forest with 136 gorilla trekking permits issued each day.

The Mgahinga National Park is home to 1 habituated gorilla family. Gorillas are some of the rarest and most intriguing apes and the fact that Uganda has the biggest population in the world makes gorilla trekking a must-do activity. Only eight people are allowed to visit a gorilla family per day, so please book your trip well in advance to make sure you get a permit.

With over 20 mountains in Uganda, the country’s magnificent topography includes mountains all around the country. You can summit the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains at 5119m in the south west, Mount Elgon at 4321m in the east or Mount Moroto, Mount Napak and Mount Kadam in the north. Each mountain offers a unique hiking trail giving travellers the opportunity to actively enjoy nature. You can also hike the 3 volcanoes in Mgahinga National Park - Gahinga, Sabyinyo and Muhabura. 

Climbing to the highest peak of the Rwenzori Mountains takes between 9 to 10 days and offers the opportunity to encounter breathtaking scenery, tropical glaciers, alpine vegetation, primates, birds, rivers and 9 lakes. The Mount Elgon climb takes 4 days.  

Uganda is one of the best places for birding in the world, with over 1050 species recorded. The climate and earth movements created perfect habitats for the birds in the form of lakes, swamps and forests. The most attractive bird species are the African green broadbill, black bee-eaters, the brown chest plover, green-breasted pitta, Karamoja apalis, Nahan’s francolin, Purvell’s illadopsis, red-fronted antpecker and the shoebill stork. Make sure to visit the national parks to experience superb birding safaris in Uganda.

The Nile perch can weigh over 100kg and is Uganda's largest and most sought out fish by anglers when fishing in Uganda. The best place to catch them is along the Nile river in Jinja and in the Murchison Falls National Park. Other major fish species in Uganda include tigerfish, tilapia, catfish and barbel to mention but a few. Licensed sport fishing in Uganda is conducted from the following designated places: the Sipi area near Mount Elgon, within Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo and on Lake Victoria.

Laid out in 1898, these expansive gardens are perfect for a leisurely stroll. The highlights are its pockets of thick rainforest which offer excellent birdwatching with 115 species. You'll also see plenty of monkeys, including black and white colobus as well as tree squirrels.

Once described as the most spectacular thing to happen to the Nile along its 6700km length, the 50m wide Victoria Nile is squeezed through an 8m gap, known as Devil’s Cauldron and crashes through this narrow gorge with unbelievable power. 

The equator crosses the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and is marked with a circular monument on either side of the road

This UNESCO World Heritage Centre is the burial ground of four Buganda monarchs, a sacred religious place for the Buganda Kingdom of present-day Uganda. It is located on Kasubi Hill, about 15 minutes from Kampala. 

If great beauty interests you, a trip to the magical landscape of Lake Bunyonyi, meaning “place of many little birds", should make your list. Located close to the border of Rwanda, Bunyonyi comprises 29 islands dotting the lake, making it one of the most scenic parts of Uganda. Its depth of 915m makes it the second deepest lake in Africa.