Sight seeing in Uganda

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:22:52 +0100

Sightseeing 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.

tours-and-safaris

Sight seeing in Uganda