Western Uganda Destination Guide
Most travellers to Uganda head straight to Western Uganda as the region has the best of everything the country has to offer. It is a truly wonderful destination with decent tourist infrastructure, good climate, and an unbelievable network of game reserves, national parks and bird sanctuaries. Amazingly scenic, the terrain is made up of high mountains, savannah grasslands, lakes, wetlands and lush tropical rainforests. What is more, not many places, even in Africa, can boast of the wildlife that you find here. Western Uganda is home to half the gorillas left in the world, a great number of chimpanzees and an array of other wildlife including lions, elephants and antelopes, as well as an astonishing 600-plus bird species inhabiting its many protected areas.
An ideal destination for wildlife and camping safaris, you can also go on hiking and trekking tours and indulge in adventure sports like white-river rafting. For most visitors a trek up the majestic Rwenzori mountain range or a close meeting with the highly endangered gorilla in the lush jungles of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an experience of a lifetime.
To top it all, the people are friendly and hospitable, making your journey all the more pleasant.
This Western Uganda Destination Guide lists some of the main sights and attractions of a visit to this stunning region. Use it in conjunction with our Western Uganda Tours page, which lists tours and activities that may be of interest. And for further information on Uganda generally, be sure to take a look at our Uganda Country Guide.
Things to See & Do in Western Uganda
Follow the links below or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Western Uganda:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Gorilla Tracking
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Kibale Forest National Park
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Lake Mburo National Park
- The Rwenzori Mountains National Park
- Semliki National Park
- Ankole Cattle
- Drum Makers of Masaka
- Uganda Equator
- Hiking
- White-water Rafting
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The most popular nature reserve in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the last remaining habitats of the highly endangered gorilla. Almost half of the 700 odd gorillas left in the world live here. Located in South Western Uganda, the reserve is thickly forested and mountainous making it an exhilarating though tough place to explore. It encompasses a 331 sq km area mostly made up of tropical rain forests that are thought to have flourished even as far back as the last Ice Age. Though the gorillas are its most famous inhabitants, the place is also noted for its biodiversity and the richness of its flora and fauna. The park is a nine hour drive from Kampala. Remember to book your permits in advance as only a limited number are given a day. And be prepared for a long walk if you want to see the gorillas.
Gorilla Tracking
South Western Uganda, particularly Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Mgahinga National Park, is home to almost half of the 700 or so gorillas left in the world. Gorilla tracking is the biggest attraction for most visitors to these parks. However, it involves hours of trekking through dense jungles and even then you may not see them as they tend to move around. But if you do get to track them down, you can get real close to them as they are accustomed to humans.
Remember to book your gorilla tracking permits in advance as only a few permits are issued per day. You can book your permits at the UWA office at Kampala.
Remember to book your gorilla tracking permits in advance as only a few permits are issued per day. You can book your permits at the UWA office at Kampala.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Set amidst two lakes (Edward and George) and covering the length of the Kazinga channel that connects the two, Queen Elizabeth National Park is extremely picturesque. The terrain comprises grassy plains, tropical forests and volcanic craters. The different vegetation zones add to the biodiversity of the place, making it the ideal habitat for a variety of animal and plant life. The park boasts over 600 bird species and around 100 different mammals.
The Kazinga channel has the world's highest concentration of hippos. The Kyambura Gorge, towards the north-east of the park, is thickly forested and the tall trees and vines harbour chimpanzees and other primates including Colobus monkeys, Red Tailed monkeys and baboons. A myriad variety of birds nest in the canopies of this forest. Elephants, buffalos and different types of antelopes grazing in the lush savannah are common sights in the park. Other animals commonly spotted in the park include leopards, lions, waterbucks, Ugandan kob, topi, side striped jackals, hyenas, warthogs, giant forest hogs, and crocodiles. Snakes like spitting cobra, puff adder, African rock python and green mamba are also found in the park.
The Kazinga channel has the world's highest concentration of hippos. The Kyambura Gorge, towards the north-east of the park, is thickly forested and the tall trees and vines harbour chimpanzees and other primates including Colobus monkeys, Red Tailed monkeys and baboons. A myriad variety of birds nest in the canopies of this forest. Elephants, buffalos and different types of antelopes grazing in the lush savannah are common sights in the park. Other animals commonly spotted in the park include leopards, lions, waterbucks, Ugandan kob, topi, side striped jackals, hyenas, warthogs, giant forest hogs, and crocodiles. Snakes like spitting cobra, puff adder, African rock python and green mamba are also found in the park.
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale, situated on Fort Portal plateau, is noted for its chimpanzee population and is the best place to watch these great apes in their natural environment. The tropical rainforest of Kibale shelters around 1500 chimpanzees and has the reputation for having the largest number of primates in Uganda. Endangered species like the red Colobus monkeys and the I'hoesti monkeys are frequently sighted in this park.
Murchison Falls National Park
One of the oldest and biggest (3,840 sq. km) nature reserves in Uganda, Murchison Falls is home to a great number of animal species including the lion, leopard, giraffe, chimpanzee, hippo, crocodile, buffalo, antelope, elephant and around 450 species of birds. Chimpanzee tracking and boat rides along the river Nile that flows through the park are popular tourist activities here. The Murchison Falls and the Karuma Falls are grand spectacles not to be missed.
Lake Mburo National Park
This national park, located in the Mbarara district, is one of the smallest national parks in South Western Uganda. Home to huge herds of impala and zebra, the park is a savannah with a scattering of acacia trees and contains the Mburo Lake from which it derives its name. Other animals found in the park include buffaloes, topis, hyenas, elands and klipspringers. You also come across plenty of birds including the red necked spur, crested falcon, wood dove, African grey hornbill, brown parrot, quail, woodpecker, crowned crane and the starling. A boat trip along the lake is a great experience and the best way to spot wildlife.
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The Rwenzoris, also known as the Mountains of the Moon, is the highest mountain range in Uganda and rises well over 3000 m. Its highest peak Margherita is 5109 m above sea level. A hike up the beautiful mountains with its glaciers, lakes and waterfalls is a thrilling experience. But it is tough too and takes about a week to climb up to the 4000 m mark as conditions can often be wet and slippery. A biodiversity hotspot, the plant and animal life on the mountains is extraordinary. Chimpanzee, bushbuck, elephant, giant forest hog and buffalo are frequently spotted and on rare occasions you also come across a leopard or two.
Semliki National Park
Located to the west of Fort Portal, the Semliki Valley is a part of the vast Ituri forest along the border with the Congo. A most scenic place with great views of rainforests, savannah and wetlands, the park lies near the northern foothills of the Rwenzoris and is bordered by the Albert Lake and the Semliki River. The biggest attractions of the park are the hot springs at Sempaya and the pygmy village at Ntandi. Ntandi, a short distance from Sempaya, is also the park headquarters. Trekking tours and hikes into the forest can be arranged here. The area is noted for numerous bird species and is home to about 300 varieties of butterflies.
Ankole Cattle
The Ankole cattle, also known as Ankole Longhorn, is an indigenous breed of cattle famous for their huge, distinctive horns. They are a prized status symbol and used for ceremonial functions.
Drum Makers of Masaka
Drums have been used in Africa since ancient times as a means of communication and during celebrations. In Uganda the main drum making area is the Mpambire village near Masaka. Traditional drum makers use particular species of trees found in the forests around to make the drums.
Uganda Equator
Uganda straddles the equator and as you travel west from Kampala, you come across this mark painted on the street denoting the equator. It is an interesting place and most visitors stop by to take a few pictures. There are monuments on either side of the road and a few shops that sell souvenirs and T-shirts.
Hiking
To really experience the natural wonders of Uganda, a hiking tour is highly recommended. For hiking enthusiasts the country offers a number of great hiking destinations. The Rwenzori Mountains is a great place for hiking and it takes about 10 days to reach its highest point at Margherita. The Mgahinga National Park with its three extinct volcanoes offers exciting hiking.
White-water Rafting
White-water rafting is fast gaining popularity in Uganda and there are some great rafting locations in Uganda. Jinja, source of the Nile River, is a particularly good place for rafting.
Welcome and the hardworking team from The Far Horizon, your local connection in stunning Western Uganda! We are a local, friendly and experienced team working in South Western Uganda and are ready to provide you with an authentic Ugandan holiday!
