Situated on a peninsula in Lake Victoria, the former seat of Uganda’s government, Entebbe is just a short drive from the current capital and offers plenty to keep visitors amused. This charming town features tree-lined streets and serves as an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding area. Tourists can look forward to spending days on beautiful beaches along the banks of Lake Victoria, stroll through the fields and forests of the magnificent Botanical Gardens, or pay a visit to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a haven for country’s orphaned chimps.
Located in southwestern Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is said to be Africa’s oldest rainforest. It is world-renowned for its excellent gorilla-sighting opportunities - the forest is home to half of the remaining mountain gorillas on earth. This gorilla experience takes place among a rugged landscape of dense jungle, cascading waterfalls, sparkling mountain streams, deep valleys, and steep ridges. The untouched forest has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecological significance, and aside from the amazing gorilla interactions, there are other drawcards such as a network of forest walks, over 340 species of bird to spot, and a variety of brightly-coloured butterflies to identify. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the spectacular Virunga Volcanoes, three of which are still active.
Surrounded by other wonderful parks in the western region of Uganda, the Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for its rich biodiversity, wildlife and history. In the southern part of the park, the remote Ishaha sector is home to tree-climbing lions who spend long lazy days dozing in the pretty fig trees. The Uganda Kob, a type of antelope, are watched carefully by the tree lions while grazing the plains Around Lake Edward, enjoy fishing and more game watching - make sure to look out for chimpanzees, elephants, crocodiles, and perennial and migratory bird species.
One of the most popular parks in Uganda, the Queen Elizabeth National Park lies in the western region of the country. In the northern part of the park, visitors can look forward to boating along the Kasinga Channel, which is home to the largest population of hippos in the world and an abundance of Nile crocodiles. Along the banks, an incredible number of birds and wild animals flock to the river’s edge. At Kyambura Gorge, fondly known as ‘Valley of the Apes’, chimpanzees are at home in a world of lush tropical rainforest spread with canopies, and three salty crater lakes are decorated with swathes of pink flamingos. On the western shore of Lake George, the vast Kasenyi Plains are inhabited by lions and several interesting bird species.
Kibale Forest National Park in western Uganda is famous for its high density of primates, breathtaking crater lakes, and dense, beautiful jungle. Thirteen primate species inhabit the stunning tropical forest, including red-tailed monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red colobus monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys. Visitors can observe some of the 300 bird species and 250 butterfly species. Buffalo, forest elephants, leopards, bushbucks, and sitatungas also live in the park, although they are generally shy. The area is adorned with around 50 exciting crater lakes and numerous pristine hiking trails. Several cultural tours delve into the rich traditions of the Batoro people, offering travelers the opportunity to experience Batoro dances, songs, and traditional healing up close.
The ecosystem of the Kibale Forest, a mountain and rainforest system with enclosed swamp and grassland sections, is directly connected to the savanna areas of Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south – a great opportunity to visit both parks.
The best time to visit the park is the relatively dry period from June to September or December to March. However, the park can also be reached with four-wheel-drive vehicles during the rainy season.
As previously described
