Sight seeing in Uganda
August 3, 2011Sightseeing
in Uganda
Uganda is an amazing variety of fun, adventure, excitement
and nature. Fascinating equatorial beauty along with dense forests, modern
cities, traditional culture, national parks, sanctuaries, islands, breathtaking
locales and wildlife safaris make up a visit to Uganda. Uganda
attractions and sightseeing include a
botanical garden in Entebbe which is a century old, national parks,
sanctuaries, tombs, museums, islands, native traditional villages and vibrant
modernized cities.
Safaris form the most wanted aspect of Uganda attractions and sightseeing as it takes the tourists
through the forests and wildlife reserves introducing them to the gorillas,
hippos, lions, chimpanzees, monkeys and numerous colorful birds living there. Attractions
and sightseeing in Uganda comprises the
Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Kasubi Tombs, Uganda Museum, Sesse Islands,
Lake Mutanda, Mount Muhavura, Mount Sabinyo, Mount Gahinga, Kibale National
Park and Ngamba Island chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Murchison Falls National
Park - The Nile, Uganda's Largest Park
300km North
West of Kampala (6 hour drive). The sight of the Nile River, the world's
longest river, winding its way through the park and plunging through a narrow
gap is unforgettable. The falls are stunning, notable not so much for their
size as for their immense power, caused by the 50m-wide Nile being cone-shaped
tool through a narrow cleft (7m-wide) in the rocks before falling into a pool
43m below. The park is vast and beautiful. Predominantly wooded savannah, the
4,000km² areas is home to many of Africa's best-known plains animals including
giraffe, lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, hartebeests and many more.
Fishing beneath the falls is quite an experience where Nile perch and
tiger-fish provide an exciting challenge to anglers.
Murchison Falls National Park - The
Nile, Uganda's Largest Park
300km North
West of Kampala (6 hour drive). The sight of the Nile River, the world's
longest river, winding its way through the park and plunging through a narrow
gap is unforgettable. The falls are stunning, notable not so much for their
size as for their immense power, caused by the 50m-wide Nile being cone-shaped
tool through a narrow cleft (7m-wide) in the rocks before falling into a pool
43m below. The park is vast and beautiful. Predominantly wooded savannah, the
4,000km² areas is home to many of Africa's best-known plains animals including
giraffe, lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, hartebeests and many more.
Fishing beneath the falls is quite an experience where Nile perch and
tiger-fish provide an exciting challenge to anglers.
Queen Elizabeth National
Park - Incredible Biodiversity
435km south
west of Kampala (5.5 hour drive). Lying across the equator, this 1,978km² park
is bordered to the south west by Lake Edward and to the Northeast by Lake George
with the Kazinga Channel connecting the two. Serene and teeming with animals
Queen Elizabeth boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game park
or reserve in the world, with almost 100 mammal species and an incredible 606
bird species. To support such biodiversity the vegetation is hugely varied from
open savannah to rainforest, from dense papyrus swamps and crater lakes to the
vastness of Lake Edward. The rainforest in the Kyambura Gorge is home to
chimpanzees and the remote Ishasha sector is famed for its tree-climbing lions
with flamingoes providing a stunning splash of colors on the crater lakes.
Semuliki Valley Wildlife
Reserve - Uganda's First Protected Area
375km west of
Kampala (6 hour drive). Previously known as the Toro Game Reserve, Semliki
Valley Wildlife Reserve is the oldest protected area in Uganda. Here is where
East Africa meets west. It is unique, gifted with geographic barriers that have
formed a natural haven for wildlife. Where the savannah is criss-crossed by
shining river valleys, and the escarpment, the edge of the Western Rift Valley,
plunges into Lake Albert. The habitat diversity (riverine forest, woodland and
savannah) within the 558km² area of the reserve supports a huge array of fauna
including lion, leopard, elephant (both savannah and forest species) buffalo,
and chimpanzees as well as a staggering number of birds, with over 400 having
been recorded.
Semuliki National Park -
Hot Springs, Forests and Pygmies
370km west of
Kampala (6.5 hour drive). Situated within the remote Semliki Valley, site of
the Sempaya Hot Springs and named for the river which forms the Congolese
border, this 221km² area of park protects an extension of the Congo's vast
Ituri Rainforest. The park is of particular interest to birdwatchers since a
high proportion of the 400 bird species recorded here, are thought to occur
nowhere else in Uganda (10% are essentially Congolese species).
Kibale Forest National
Park - Chimpanzees
350km west of
Kampala (4.5 hour drive). This 760km² area of rainforest, interspersed with
patches of grassland and swamp, supports a rich variety of fauna, 250 species
of animal and over 300 birds. There are 13 different primates here, the highest
total for any Ugandan National Park, including a large population of chimpanzees,
some of which have been habituated. Of the birds, the Prigogine's ground
thrush, the only bird that is endemic to Uganda, can be found.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park was
founded in 1993 and combines a magnificent world of snow with fascinating
vegetation that homes a large variety of flora and fauna. Commonly known as the
"Mountains of the Moon" the Rwenzori Mountains today is one of the
most popular national parks in Uganda. Unlike Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya (in Africa)
the Rwenzori Mountains are not volcanic mountains.
Rwenzori means 'rain-maker' and the annual rainfall of the region ensures that
the ice-capped peaks are visible only on a few days. The Rwenzori Mountains
National Park provides splendid grounds for hiking and a number of other
activities. Trekking and hiking in the Rwenzori
Mountains National Park in Uganda create an unusual and exciting
adventure as it provides a stunning view of the forest covered slopes and the
iced peaks and an introduction to the wildlife of the region. A 6-7 day hike
through the "Central Circuit Trail" should not be missed.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park of
Uganda is a storehouse of a remarkable range of afro-alpine vegetation,
comprising huge lobelias and groundsels which are the specialty of Rwenzori,
and a number of wildlife species which include chimpanzees, elephants,
Bushbuck, Forest Hog, Hyrax and leopards. A number of unique the national park
homes a large variety of bird species like Rwenzori Touraco, Francolin, Olive
Pigeon and White necked raven.
The Rwenzori National Park Uganda
experiences heavy rainfall almost throughout the year. The best time to visit
the place is in July or August or from December to February which are the
driest months. A natural and wildlife reserve, the Rwenzori National Park is an
adventure worth experiencing.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
National Park - Gorilla Tracking
530km south
west of Kampala (8.5 hour drive). Situated down in the south west of the
country, on the edge of the Western Rift Valley this 331km² of montane
rainforest is the only forest in Africa where gorillas and chimpanzees occur
together. The world population of mountain gorillas is currently estimated at
600, half of which live in Bwindi, alongside an estimated 350-400 chimpanzee.
In addition to the gorillas and chimps this ancient rainforest - one of the few
in Africa to have flourished throughout the last Ice Age (making it over 25,000
years old) - is home to several other mammals (approx. 93 species) as well as
roughly 360 species of bird.
Kibale Forest National Park -
Chimpanzees
350 km west of
Kampala (4.5 hour drive). This 760km² area of rainforest, mix together with
patches of grassland and swamp, supports a rich variety of fauna, 250 species
of animal and over 300 birds. There are 13 different primates here, the highest
total for any Ugandan National Park, including a large population of
chimpanzees, some of which have been habituated. Of the birds, the Prigogine's
ground thrush, the only bird that is endemic to Uganda, can be found.
Kidepo National Park-
Enchanting
840km north
east of Kampala (1.5 hour flight or 2 day drive). Tucked into the corner of
Uganda's border with Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo is a truly stunning park boasting
a real sense of wilderness that enchants visitors. The mountainous terrain of
the park is broken by the Narus Valley in the south west and the Kidepo Valley
in the north east and is more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. Whilst
the park is large (1,442km²) most of the wildlife is concentrated within the
Narus Valley revealing fantastic panoramic views of vast herds of buffalo with
elephant, giraffe, waterbuck and zebra grazing alongside. There are also a
number of predators present including lion, cheetah, leopard, and spotted hyena.
Lake Mburo National Park -
Zebra, Lakes & Rolling Grassland
230km south
west of Kampala (3.5 hour drive). With a varying landscape of open plains,
acacia grasslands and marshes this park is home to a huge array of flora and
fauna. About 68 different species of mammals can be found within its 260km².
The park also has approx. 313 different species of birds including Uganda's
national emblem, the crested crane.
Kidepo National Park-
charming
840km north east of Kampala (1.5 hour flight or 2 day
drive). Tucked into the corner of Uganda's border with Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo
is a truly stunning park boasting a real sense of wilderness that enchants
visitors. The mountainous terrain of the park is broken by the Narus Valley in
the south west and the Kidepo Valley in the north east and is more typical of
Kenya than the rest of Uganda. Whilst the park is large (1,442km²) most of the
wildlife is concentrated within the Narus Valley revealing fantastic panoramic
views of vast herds of buffalo with elephant, giraffe, waterbuck and zebra
grazing alongside. There are also a number of predators present including lion,
cheetah, leopard, and spotted hyena.
Safaris form the most wanted aspect of Uganda attractions and sightseeing as it takes the tourists through the forests and wildlife reserves introducing them to the gorillas, hippos, lions, chimpanzees, monkeys and numerous colorful birds living there. Attractions and sightseeing in Uganda comprises the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Kasubi Tombs, Uganda Museum, Sesse Islands, Lake Mutanda, Mount Muhavura, Mount Sabinyo, Mount Gahinga, Kibale National Park and Ngamba Island chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Rwenzori means 'rain-maker' and the annual rainfall of the region ensures that the ice-capped peaks are visible only on a few days. The Rwenzori Mountains National Park provides splendid grounds for hiking and a number of other activities. Trekking and hiking in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda create an unusual and exciting adventure as it provides a stunning view of the forest covered slopes and the iced peaks and an introduction to the wildlife of the region. A 6-7 day hike through the "Central Circuit Trail" should not be missed.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park of Uganda is a storehouse of a remarkable range of afro-alpine vegetation, comprising huge lobelias and groundsels which are the specialty of Rwenzori, and a number of wildlife species which include chimpanzees, elephants, Bushbuck, Forest Hog, Hyrax and leopards. A number of unique the national park homes a large variety of bird species like Rwenzori Touraco, Francolin, Olive Pigeon and White necked raven.
The Rwenzori National Park Uganda experiences heavy rainfall almost throughout the year. The best time to visit the place is in July or August or from December to February which are the driest months. A natural and wildlife reserve, the Rwenzori National Park is an adventure worth experiencing.
Posted by Segawa Ephraim.