Top 7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Uganda in 2024

The 7 top reasons why you should Visit Uganda – The Pearl of Africa. Wonderful Uganda birding opportunities, wild chimpanzee trekking, beautiful scenery, Ugandan local foods, the vibrant culture of Uganda, and friendly people are part of the many reasons why you should visit Uganda. Uganda is undoubtedly one of the Best African safari destinations featured on many international travel sources as a must-visit destination.

Discover Uganda, the Pearl of Africa

Uganda was named a must-visit destination on the National Geographic Travellers Cool List 2019 and in many journals as a place to visit before you die. Here is why any traveler should choose to visit Uganda the Pearl of Africa;

Gorilla trekking Safaris in Uganda are unrivaled, they create lifetime experiences with a feel of the true aliveness of the African jungle. Mountain Gorillas are known to live only in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo but Uganda is definitely always the best choice.

Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda

Gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park – Both Bwindi and Mgahinga Parks offer Affordable Gorilla Trekking Tours at USD 600 for foreign nonresidents until June 2020 and USD 700 from then on. This is half the price for the trek in Rwanda and Congo is disturbed by political unrest. Uganda has the highest gorilla family number with 19 habituated Mountain Gorillas available for trekking. It’s still only in Bwindi where tourists can have a gorilla habituation experience since a few of the mountain gorillas haven’t been fully habituated yet.  Both trekking and habituation offer African Adventure Travellers a lifetime experience.

Kibale Forest National Park is dubbed the primate capital of the world because of the high chimpanzee population in the park. Chimpanzee trekking in Safaris Uganda is the best way of getting close to man’s closest relatives in their natural habitats.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park

Other spots for Chimp tracking on a Safari in Uganda include the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo forest just adjacent to Murchison Falls National Park, and Kalinzu forest. For Uganda safari tourists with limited time, visiting Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is much rewarding. Here you don’t trek the chimpanzees but interact with them in their rescue center as well as learn a lot from their behavior.

Murchison Falls: About 300 cubic meters of water are squeezed through a 7 meters gorge each second falling 43 meters below forming the world’s most powerful waterfalls – Murchison Falls. Murchison Falls National Park – A Safari in Murchison Falls National Park offers a chance to glimpse at the scenic falls formed on the Nile River. Murchison Falls safaris offer perfect opportunities for photography and sightseeing.

Evening Game Drive in Murchison Falls National Park

A hike to the top of the mighty falls and a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls is the best way of exploring the falls. These and more can be experienced on a 2 day at Murchison Falls Safari.

Uganda is host to about 330 mammal species and therefore a great destination for wildlife tours in Africa.  Safari Uganda and have the chance to view several wildlife species.  Some of the wildlife species seen in Uganda include the big five African game which are Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards, Rhinos, and Elephants. Other wildlife species include several antelopes like the Elands (biggest antelope) and the dik-dik (smallest antelope), Rock hyrax, Zebras, Giraffes, Warthogs, Oribis, Side striped jackal, Bushbucks, waterbuck, cheetahs, and many more. Primate species include the Patas monkey, Black and White Colobus monkey, golden monkeys, olive baboons, and many more. Wildlife viewing tours are best done on game drives using 4×4 open roof safari vehicles. Tours can be short or long depending on how much you would love to have the experience.

Mountain Rwenzori and Mount Elgon are the ideal hiking safari destinations in Uganda. Mountain Rwenzori hosts the highest peak in the country at an altitude of 5,109m above sea level.  The hike to the peak of the Rwenzoris lasts at least 8 days. Mount Elgon has its highest altitude at 4,321m above sea level with three popular hiking trails of Sasa, Piswa, and the Sipi trails.

Hiking in Mount Elgon National Park

Hiking Mount Elgon takes about 4-6 days depending on the hikers’ ability. Other hiking trip destinations in Uganda include the Mgahinga Volcano hike, Mount Moroto hike in north Eastern Uganda, and a hike to Kagulu hills in the Buyende district.

White water rafting at the source of the Nile River in Jinja is the perfect way to get your adrenaline hyped. The rafts explode through huge walls of white water and drift through the warm green pools of the beautiful tropical sunshine.

White Water Rafting on the source of Nile

Having a white water rafting experience in Jinja is just one perfect way any adventure lover can have an amazing experience on the Nile waters. Rafting can be undertaken in different grades, ranging from grade 5 to grade 3, family rafting and other milder rafting experiences can also be undertaken by families.

Bird watching tours in Uganda are perfect for avid birders, seasoned birders, groups, families, and solo travelers. Uganda has over 1,065 confirmed bird species distributed all through the borders of the country. Shoebill Stork – Birds of Uganda – Depending on what a birder would love to see, bird watching tours are good all year round. The Fox’s weaver is endemic to Uganda and found in the Eastern part of the country. Grey Crowned Crane is the country’s national bird.

shoebill

Shoebill stork is the sought-after bird species by many of the birders in Uganda. 24 Albertine Rift endemics can also be seen in Uganda and these include the Ruwenzori Batis, Handsome Francolin, and many more. Best bird watching spots include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Mabamba wetland, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Semuliki National Park, and many more.

Cultural Tours in Uganda can be in any part of the country with about 56 tribes that have different cultures and traditions. Taking cultural visits helps you have an insight into the traditions of Ugandans including music, dance, drama, and livelihoods. Planning to have cultural safaris in Uganda can best be done on a long safari that is tailored with wildlife, birding, or gorilla safaris.

Batwa Pygmies

The smallest tribes in Uganda include the Batwa pygmies and the IK people in Southwestern and North Eastern Uganda respectively.  Options for Uganda Safari are endless with almost all of the wildlife species of East Africa seen here. The only difference is that Uganda is a less crowded destination and therefore you take advantage of viewing wildlife with fewer interruptions. This is a perfect way of getting lost in nature!

Uganda is the dream destination for those in search of the absolute pinnacle of primate safaris. … Uganda outshines all other safari destinations in these two areas, but, in addition, it remains a superb destination for traditional safari by vehicle or by boat, thanks to its lush habitats and variety of species. A safari to the country will not leave you the same, since it offers lasting safari memories.

The country can be visited all year round however most tourists have described the best time to visit Uganda to be between the two dry seasons: between December and February, and between June and August when conditions are particularly good for trekking to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Game spotting in national parks is also good at this time, as well as between February and March.

Journeys You May Be Interested In