17 Top Tourist Attractions in Uganda: Best Places to Visit

The top tourist attractions in Uganda range from mountain gorillas in misty rainforest to the thundering Murchison Falls, tree-climbing lions, the source of the Nile and snow on the Mountains of the Moon. Few countries pack so much variety into such a small area.

This guide lists the 17 Uganda tourist attractions we recommend most, grouped by type, with what to do at each one and how long to stay. Further down you will find the best time to visit, sample routes and ready-to-book tours that cover these places to visit in Uganda.

We are Tulambule Uganda Safaris, a licensed, Ugandan-owned tour operator based in Kampala. Our driver-guides have been taking travellers to these tourist attractions in Uganda since 2014.

17 Top Tourist Attractions in Uganda at a Glance

Use this table to see the main tourist attractions in Uganda, where they are and what each one is best for.

Attraction	Region	Best for
1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	South-west	Mountain gorilla trekking
2. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park	South-west	Gorillas, golden monkeys, volcano hikes
3. Kibale Forest National Park	West	Chimpanzee trekking
4. Queen Elizabeth National Park	West	Game drives, Kazinga Channel, tree-climbing lions
5. Murchison Falls National Park	North-west	The falls, Nile boat cruise, big game
6. Kidepo Valley National Park	North-east	Remote wilderness and big cats
7. Lake Mburo National Park	South-west	Zebras, walking and horseback safaris
8. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary	Central	Rhino tracking on foot
9. Jinja and the source of the Nile	East	Rafting and adventure sports
10. Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda	South-west	Relaxing after your gorilla trek
11. Mabamba Swamp	Near Entebbe	Shoebill birding
12. Sipi Falls	East	Waterfall hikes and coffee tours
13. Rwenzori Mountains	West	Multi-day mountain treks
14. Semuliki Valley	West	Hot springs and forest birds
15. Lake Victoria and the Ssese Islands	Central	Island beaches and sunsets
16. Kampala	Central	Culture, history and markets
17. The Equator	Central	A photo stop on the way west

Gorilla and Primate Tourist Attractions in Uganda

Primates are the reason most visitors come. Uganda is home to more than half of the world's mountain gorillas and thousands of chimpanzees, which makes these the most famous tourist attractions in Uganda.

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in south-western Uganda protects close to half of the world's roughly 1,063 mountain gorillas. More than 20 habituated gorilla families can each be visited by up to eight people a day.

A trek can take anything from one hour to most of the day through steep, muddy forest. When you reach the family you spend one unforgettable hour watching them feed, play and rest, often just a few metres away.

Treks start from four sectors, Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Our Bwindi gorilla sectors guide helps you choose, and the gorilla trekking permits guide explains the US$800 permit and how to book it.

2. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park covers the Ugandan slopes of three Virunga volcanoes. It has one habituated gorilla family, so permits are scarce and groups feel exclusive.

Mgahinga is also the only place in Uganda to track rare golden monkeys, walk the Batwa Trail with the forest's original people and climb an extinct volcano in a day. See how to combine golden monkeys and mountain gorillas on one trip.

3. Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is the best place in Africa to track wild chimpanzees, and one of the most rewarding tourist attractions in Uganda, with sighting rates of more than 90 percent. The forest holds 13 primate species, including red colobus, L'Hoest's monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary next door is a community-run walk full of monkeys and birds such as the great blue turaco. Read our guide to chimpanzees in Uganda for other chimp forests like Budongo and Kyambura Gorge.

Kibale sits close to Fort Portal and its crater lakes, one of the prettiest corners of the country. Here are the best places to visit in Fort Portal.

Safari Parks: Wildlife Tourist Attractions in Uganda

Uganda's savannah parks offer classic game drives and boat safaris with far fewer vehicles than Kenya or Tanzania. These are the wildlife tourist attractions in Uganda to add after your gorilla trek.

4. Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda's most visited safari park. Its highlight, and one of the best-known tourist attractions in Uganda, is a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, where elephants, buffalo and pods of hippos gather at the water's edge.

Morning game drives on the Kasenyi Plains bring Uganda kob, lions and hyenas. In the southern Ishasha sector, lions climb into fig trees to rest, one of the most famous sights in Uganda.

The park also has more than 600 bird species, more than any other protected area in East Africa, plus chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge and explosion craters to drive between.

5. Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda's largest national park. Here the whole River Nile squeezes through a gap just seven metres wide, then plunges 43 metres in an explosion of spray.

Of all the tourist attractions in Uganda, none is more powerful. A boat cruise to the foot of the falls passes hippos, Nile crocodiles and elephants, and a short hike takes you to the top. North of the river, game drives find giraffes, lions, buffalo and large herds of antelope.

For bird lovers, a morning boat trip to the delta, where the Nile meets Lake Albert, is one of the best chances in Uganda to see the rare shoebill.

6. Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park lies in Uganda's far north-east, on the border with South Sudan. It is the most remote of the tourist attractions in Uganda, so it sees few visitors, but the wildlife is outstanding.

Expect large buffalo herds, elephants, zebras, giraffes and ostriches against a backdrop of rugged mountains. It is also the only park in Uganda where cheetahs live alongside lions and leopards. Most visitors fly in, as the drive takes a long day each way.

7. Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda's smallest savannah park, about four hours' drive west of Kampala. It has no elephants or lions, which means you can explore on foot, by bicycle or on horseback.

Zebras, eland, impala, buffalo and giraffes are easy to see, and a boat trip on the lake brings hippos and fish eagles. It is one of the easiest tourist attractions in Uganda to reach from Kampala, and a perfect overnight stop on the way to or from the gorillas.

8. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Rhinos were poached out of Uganda by the early 1980s. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has bred a growing herd of southern white rhinos from just six animals, and it is the only place in Uganda to see them.

You track the rhinos on foot with a ranger, often getting within a safe few metres. Ziwa lies on the road to Murchison Falls, so this is one of the tourist attractions in Uganda that fits easily into a safari and completes your Big Five list.

Lakes, Rivers and Waterfalls: Scenic Tourist Attractions in Uganda

Uganda is a land of water, from Africa's biggest lake to the start of the world's longest river. These scenic tourist attractions in Uganda are perfect for adventure, birding or simply slowing down.

9. Jinja and the Source of the Nile

Jinja sits where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria to begin its journey to the Mediterranean. A short boat ride takes you to the source of the Nile, one of the most visited tourist attractions in Uganda.

Jinja is also East Africa's adventure capital, with white water rafting, kayaking, tubing, quad biking and bungee jumping. See our list of things to do in Jinja.

10. Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda

These two lakes lie in the same green highlands as the gorillas. Lake Bunyonyi is dotted with 29 islands and lined with terraced hills, and it is free of crocodiles and hippos, so you can swim and canoe.

Lake Mutanda is quieter, with a handful of lodges and a breathtaking view of the Virunga volcanoes. Both are among the most peaceful tourist attractions in Uganda, and ideal for a rest day after your gorilla trek.

11. Mabamba Swamp

Mabamba Swamp is a papyrus wetland on the shore of Lake Victoria, about an hour from Entebbe. A local guide paddles you through the channels in a canoe to find the shoebill, a giant, prehistoric-looking bird.

Mabamba is a protected Ramsar wetland and one of the top birding tourist attractions in Uganda. The visit makes an easy first or last day of your trip. Birders should see our Uganda birding tours.

12. Sipi Falls

Sipi Falls is a series of three waterfalls on the lower slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda, close to the Kenyan border. The tallest drops about 100 metres, and the cool mountain air makes this one of the best-loved Uganda tourist attractions for a weekend break.

A day hike visits all three falls, and you can add abseiling beside the main fall, rock climbing or a coffee tour with local farmers. Find more ideas in our best day hikes in Uganda.

13. Lake Victoria and the Ssese Islands

Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake. From Entebbe you can take a sunset cruise or a boat to Ngamba Island, a sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees.

The Ssese Islands are an archipelago of 84 islands with sandy beaches and forest. Buggala, the main island, is reached by ferry from Entebbe and makes a relaxing end to a safari.

Mountains and Hidden Valleys of Uganda

For hikers and nature lovers, these lesser-known tourist attractions in Uganda offer real wilderness with very few other visitors.

14. Rwenzori Mountains

The Rwenzori Mountains, the legendary Mountains of the Moon, rise to 5,109 metres at Margherita Peak, the third-highest summit in Africa. The range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most challenging of all the tourist attractions in Uganda.

Trails climb through bamboo, moss-draped forest and giant lobelias to glaciers and snow. You can hike for a day, take a three to four day trek, or spend more than a week reaching the summit.

15. Semuliki Valley

Semuliki National Park is a slice of the Congo basin rainforest inside Uganda. Its Sempaya hot springs, one of the more unusual tourist attractions in Uganda, bubble up hot enough to boil an egg.

Birders come for Central African species found nowhere else in East Africa. Nearby, the Semliki Wildlife Reserve offers savannah game drives and boat trips on Lake Albert.

Culture and City Tourist Attractions in Uganda

Uganda's people and history are attractions too. Most trips start and end around Kampala and Entebbe, so these stops are easy to add.

16. Kampala

Uganda's capital is busy and lively, built over many green hills, and it holds several of the cultural tourist attractions in Uganda. Highlights include the Kasubi Tombs, the UNESCO-listed burial place of the Buganda kings, the Gaddafi National Mosque with its city views, and the Uganda Museum.

Add a lively market such as Owino, the Ndere Cultural Centre's evening dance show and a boda boda ride if you are brave. See our things to do in Kampala.

17. The Equator

Uganda sits right on the Equator, and the most popular place to cross it is at Kayabwe, on the Masaka road about 75 kilometres from Kampala. You can stand with one foot in each hemisphere and watch the famous water-swirling demonstration.

There are cafes and craft shops, and it is on the main road to Lake Mburo and the gorillas, so almost every south-western safari stops at this quirky entry on our list of Uganda tourist attractions.

Best Time to Visit the Tourist Attractions in Uganda

You can visit the tourist attractions in Uganda all year, as the climate is mild on the Equator. The dry seasons are easiest for gorilla trekking and game drives.

Season	Months	What to expect
Long dry season	June to September	Best for trekking and game drives, busiest time
Short dry season	December to February	Good conditions, busy over the holidays
Wet seasons	March to May, October to November	Green scenery, fewer visitors, lower prices

Find the month-by-month detail in our guide to the best time to visit Uganda.

How Many Days Do You Need to See Uganda's Top Tourist Attractions?

Distances in Uganda are longer than they look on a map, so plan your route around how much time you have.

• 3 to 4 days: one highlight, such as gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Murchison Falls or Queen Elizabeth.
• 7 to 8 days: the classic route of Ziwa rhinos, Murchison Falls, Kibale chimps, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi gorillas.
• 10 to 14 days: add Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo, Jinja or the Rwenzori Mountains at a relaxed pace.

Short on time? Domestic flights from Entebbe reach Bwindi, Kidepo, Murchison and Kasese in one to two hours. Browse our short Uganda safaris or the full Uganda safari tours hub.

Tours That Visit the Top Tourist Attractions in Uganda

These safaris take in the gorillas, chimps and big game parks. Every tour is private and can be adjusted to your dates and budget.

Adventure, Lake and City Tours

Add a waterfall hike, a Nile rafting trip, a shoebill canoe ride or a few days on the islands.

See All Uganda ItinerariesBuild My Own Safari

Why Visit Uganda's Tourist Attractions With Tulambule

• Local and licensed: licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board, registered with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and a member of AUTO.
• Permits handled: we secure your gorilla and chimpanzee permits before we plan the rest of your trip.
• Private trips: your own 4x4 vehicle and experienced driver-guide, with no strangers on board.
• Every budget: lodges from comfortable mid-range to top luxury at each stop.
• Proven service: Ugandan-owned since 2014 and rated 4.9 on TripAdvisor.

Continue Planning Your Trip

Now you know the top tourist attractions in Uganda, the next step is choosing the ones that fit your time and budget. Tell us what you would love to see, and we will turn it into a route.

• Browse our safari itineraries
• Build your own safari
• Contact our team in Kampala