Top 5 things to do in Uganda
Uganda is called the pearl of Africa, and not without reason.
One of the most beautiful countries in Africa, where you can explore beautiful nature, experience fascinating culture and marvel at some of the most fascinating animals in the world.
One of the biggest attractions Uganda has to offer is of course the Gorilla trekking. I personally have had this on my bucketlist for 14 years, so it was high time I made the trip. However, I quickly learned that Uganda is so much more and there are so many things to do here, you can easily spend weeks and weeks without being bored.
I know most people don't have weeks to spend on vacation and want to spend the time they have wisely. So here are my tips for the top 5 things “you must do” when in Uganda.
1. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest
The first is of course Gorilla trekking in Bwindi. In my opinion you can't really go to Uganda without experiencing this. I had been looking forward to this for 14 years so my expectations were pretty high and it did not disappoint. It will remain as one of the highlights of all my travels.
Even though preservation has managed to increase the number of Mountain gorillas, there are only approximately 1000 Mountain gorillas left in the world. They cannot survive in captivity so the only possibility to see these magnificent creatures is in the wild in Uganda, Rwanda or DCR Congo.
They have been habituated so they pose no threat to humans, however they are wild animals and you will watch them in their natural habitat and you have to be respectful of that. If you are very lucky you can even experience them being curious of you or wanting to play.
2. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest
Chimpanzees are said to be our closest living relatives, which makes them even more interesting to watch! However, you will probably hear them scream and break branches high up in the treetops long before you see them.
Since the chimpanzees spend most of their time in the treetops this is more a waiting game than gorilla trekking. In our case we waited for 45 minutes before the chimpanzees came down from the trees. However, when they first come down from the trees it is truly an amazing experience and well worth the wait.
Chimpanzee trekking is also possible to do in other places in Uganda, but the population is densest in Kibale National Park and sightings are therefore more common. But as with all wild animals, seeing them up close a guarantee.
3. Ziwa Rhino sanctuary
This is the only place you can see wild rhinos in Uganda, and there are currently 32 white rhinos living here. The rhinos are wild but still well protected from poachers by rangers day and night. The feeling of walking around looking for this magnificent and almost extinct animal and suddenly seeing it walking towards you is incredible and definitely a must when coming to Uganda. This is also the place we experienced the least tourists, so we had the rhinos all to ourselves, which made it that more magical.
If you want you can also opt to take a wildlife walk with one of the rangers later to learn more about the nature and other animals that live there.
4. Murchison falls
Murchison falls is the most powerful waterfall in the world and the sheer strength of the water is a sight to behold. This was actually way more spectacular than I imagined and the possibility of seeing three rainbows at the same time was reason enough for me to go there.
I chose to see the falls both from the top and bottom. You can easily see the top by car, but the bottom can only be reached by boat. If you opt to view Murchison Falls from the top I highly recommend paying an extra 10$ to access the trails so you can see the falls from different levels and angles.
Even though you can see animals like elephants, crocodiles and water buffalos on the boat ride, I personally would opt to skip this 3-4 hour boat ride. The view is much more breathtaking from the top, and you will see even more animals up close if you take a cruise on the Kazinga Channel instead.
5. Murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park was my favorite park for game drives and animal sightings! This is one of Uganda's oldest and biggest protected areas.
I did game drives in the morning and evening and saw every animal I had on my wish list, even the elusive leopard. Even though you are never guaranteed spotting wild animals, this park will at least give you a lot to watch because there are literally animals everywhere! The rangers were also more informative and helpful than other parks we went to. The Rangers are there to make sure the animals are safe from poachers, take action if tourists go where they should not and monitor where the animals are. This way they can also give guides information on where the animals are so tourists can spot them.
