Top 10 places to visit in western Uganda : The western part of Uganda is known for its various attractions and breathtaking scenery as well as diversity in culture. This part of the country is famous for its primate tours and wildlife safaris including gorilla trekking experiences and chimpanzee trekking and Uganda can be accessed through flights to Entebbe international airport which is a starting point for safaris in the country.
The different sites found in western Uganda are found in different parts of the region and they include the following;
- Queen Elizabeth National Park:
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the western part of the country and is among the popular tourist destinations with a wide variety of wildlife species including tree climbing lions, elephants, leopards, hippos, impalas, kudu, waterbucks, hartebeests, hyenas, warthogs and also over 600 species of birds.
Tourists during their tours around Queen Elizabeth national park can engage in game drives, boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel, lion tracking, bird watching, hiking, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge and also nature walks through the park’s diverse ecosystems. Another activity that is done around the national park is visiting the Katwe salt mines.
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is another popular tourist site and is in the south western part of Uganda and is home to mountain gorillas.
The national park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site offering tourists experiences such as gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation, guided nature walks and hikes, Batwa community tours and bird watching tours in the dense forests.
Different sectors of Bwindi national park can be visited for gorilla trekking tours including Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Ruhija sector and Nkuringo sector.
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park:
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is another important tourist site for gorillas located in south western Uganda.
The national park is also a destination where tourists can engage in golden monkey trekking and habituation as well as hiking Virunga mountains found in Mgahinga national park such as Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Muhabura and also engage in other activities such as cultural experiences with the Batwa Pygmy community.
- Kibale forest national park:
Kibale Forest National Park is the home of chimpanzees located in western Uganda and this tourist site is also known for its high density of primates which are about 13 species.
The primates which can be seen around Kibale national park include chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, baboons, red tailed monkeys among others. There are also numerous bird species found at the destination including Albertine endemic bird species.
Tourists visiting Kibale national park can participate in activities such as chimpanzee trekking and habituation through the tropical rainforest, visiting the Bigodi wetlands, and also guided nature walks.
- Lake Mburo national park
Lake Mburo National Park is also located in western Uganda and is one of the small national parks in Uganda where tourists can engage in wildlife safaris.
Activities done around the national park include guided nature walks, night game drives, horse riding, game drives in the morning and afternoon, boat rides on Lake Mburo. Lake Mburo national park is home to wildlife species such as giraffes, lions, hippos, buffalos, warthogs, impalas and zebras as well as over 300 bird species.
- Rwenzori Mountains:
The Rwenzori Mountains are a tourist site best known for hiking adventures in Uganda and it is also referred to as the Mountain of the Moon.
These stunning mountain ranges in western Uganda have a snowcapped peak and the highest peak is the Margherita peak at 5109 meters. Mount Rwenzori has different hiking routes such as the central circuit route, Kilembe trail and Bukurungu tail which are used to hike through its different zones which have unique flora and fauna.
Visitors can embark on community tours and interactions with the Bakonzo people and also climbing expeditions on the Rwenzori mountains, exploring their diverse ecosystems and breathtaking landscapes.
- Semuliki national park
Semuliki National Park is another tourist site located in western Uganda and it is found in Bundibugyo District on the border with Democratic Republic of Congo.
One of the unique attractions found in Semuliki National Park is the Sempaya Hot Springs. There are also different wildlife species like colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys and numerous bird species found around the national park.
Activities done around Semuliki national park include guided forest walks, bird watching and also cultural visits in the neighboring villages.
- Top 10 places to visit in western Uganda : Crater lakes
There are different crater lakes which can be seen during tours around western Uganda and these lakes can be seen around Fort Portal and also around the Rubirizi area.
Crater lakes in Uganda were formed as a result of volcanic activity and they are known for breathtaking views and are also habitat for various bird species and aquatic life. Some of the crater lakes found in the country include Lake Nkuruba, Lake Lyantonde, lake Nyabikere, Lake Nyinambuga, the Ndali-Kasenda craters, Bunyaruguru crater lakes among others.
Around the crater lakes, tourists can engage in bird watching, boat rides and also hiking.
- Top 10 places to visit in western Uganda : Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru
The Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru Caves are a popular tourist destination in western Uganda and can be visited during tours around Fort Portal,
It is believed by the locals that these caves were the breast of Nyina Mwiru and tours around the destination involves hiking, guided nature walks exploring the caves, learning about the local culture, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
- Top 10 places to visit in western Uganda : Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is another attraction visited in Uganda and it is found in the southwestern part of the country in Kisoro District.
The lake is also surrounded by terraced hills and Lake Bunyonyi also has about 29 islands which can be visited during Uganda safaris around the destination. Activities which are done around the lake include boat rides, bird watching, swimming, zip lining and also community tours.
Many other parts of Uganda including the east, north and central regions can also be visited during tours in the country.
