Tourist Places to Visit in Uganda, Kampala, East Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Uganda, Kampala, East Africa, Africa

Uganda is an East African landlocked country, surrounded by South Sudan to the north, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the east, Kenya to the east, Tanzania to the south and Rwanda towards the southwest. It is blessed with diverse geographical features such as fascinating natural tropical forests, inviting game reserves and spectacular waterfalls, which are mainly located on the border lines of the country. Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda, situated on the shore of the world’s largest tropical lake, Lake Victoria.

Tourism is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, used as a major weapon to eradicate the country’s poverty. Located at 1.0667° N, 31.8833° E, Uganda spans a total area of 241,038 sq. km.

History of Uganda:

The Ugandans were originally hunter gatherers, whose history dates to around 2,300 years back. The locals turned towards social life with the arrival of migrated Bantu-speaking people to the southern Uganda. In the middle of the 19^th century, Uganda fell under the European rule, prominently under the British and ultimately Uganda’s independence was proclaimed on 9 October 1962. Uganda takes its name from the country’s largest traditional kingdom, Buganda.

Getting Uganda:

Entebbe International Airport is the prime airport serving Uganda, situated close to the town of Entebbe and around 40 km southwest of the capital, Kampala. The airport connects Uganda to many global destinations like Amsterdam, Dubai, Cairo, London, Dar es Salaam, Doha, Johannesburg and Istanbul.

Uganda also has international bus connection, which extends from Kampala to Nairobi, Kigali, Bujumbura, Goma and Dar es Salaam. Buses, rental cars and bikes and taxis are the prevalent options to get around Ugandan cities.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Uganda:

English and Swahili are the official languages of Uganda, while Luganda is a widely communicated language in the country.

Uganda cuisine has mixed features of English, Arab and Asian, cuisines. Stew of groundnuts and beans are the major parts of famous Uganda’s dishes.

Ugandan shilling is the currency of Uganda and debit and credit cards are also widely accepted all around Uganda. Kampala is a popular shopping centre in the country.

What to do in Uganda?

Gorilla tracking
Rafting
Quad biking
Horse riding

Must see in Uganda:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park:

UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is renowned as Africa’s one of the opulent ecosystems with a large number of diverse animal and bird species between densely spread up trees. Gorillas are the focal point of this natural wonder. Kanungu is the nearest city to Bwindi.

Uganda Museum:

Located in the capital city Kampala, the Uganda Museum is a place, where visitors can get the overview of the cultural heritage of Uganda with exhibitions of artifacts and artworks showcasing the ethnological, natural-historical and traditional life of Uganda.

Kibale National Park:

Covering an area of 766 sq. km, the Kibale National Park is situated in the southern part of Uganda, well known as a prominent eco-tourism and safari destination and houses 13 primate species, including Red Colobus and chimpanzees.

Lake Mburo National Park:

Lake Mburo National Park is situated in the district of Kiruhura in Western Uganda, around 30 km from Mbarara city. The park is mainly noted for its around 300 bird species and animals like zebras, impala and buffaloes. There are also camping facilities within the park.

Murchison Falls National Park:

The Murchison Falls National Park is a great safari destination with a wide range of wild creatures like elephants, giraffes, hartbeast and buffalos. The park is adorned by a dramatic waterfall of Nile River. Guided tour is advised.

Other places of interest in Uganda include:

Kidepo Valley National Park
Ssese Islands
Kasubi Tombs
Bujagali Falls
Lake Mutanda
Entebbe Wildlife Sanctuary

When to visit Uganda?

Uganda features a tropical climate with two rainy seasons and the best time to visit Uganda to feel the real beauty of its natural attractions is from December to March and from June to September.

Where to stay in Uganda?

There are dozens of hotels in Uganda, mainly concentrated in the capital city Kampala, where all sorts of hotels can be found from budget guest houses to top end star rated with upgraded tourist favor amenities. Some high end hotels in Uganda (Kampala) include: