If you are traveling to Uganda for the first time, you may be hard-pressed to decide which places are best to explore. To settle your dilemma, we have compiled a list of the most beautiful places to visit in Uganda.

Murchison Falls

Whether you visit by boat cruise on the Victoria Nile or a safari tour, you don’t want to miss Murchison Falls in northwest Uganda.

Here, you can witness enormous waters bursting through a narrow gorge before crashing in powerful, roaring cascades.

While you are visiting this breathtaking sight, you may also want to explore the surrounding protected area that makes up Murchison Falls Conservative Area to spot some of Africa’s icons such as African lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, buffalo and more.

Looking to stay in the Murchison Falls region? Here are some accommodation options.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is like a sample platter of Africa. You can try a little of everything African here with diverse habitats and exotic wildlife.

Wetlands, forests and savanna grasslands offer ample opportunities to see the likes of elephants, leopards, hippos, chimpanzees, giraffes, and the tree-climbing lion. There are various safaris, lake cruises, and even hot air balloon tours available here for you to explore this amazing area.

Don’t forget about the equatorial sun!

Lake Katwe Explosion Crater Drive

If already in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you should consider reserving space on your itinerary for one of Uganda’s most scenic drives, the Explosion Crater Drive.

It takes about 2 ½ hours, but it is well worth the time. Not only will you have the chance to see wildlife like buffalo and elephants, but also magnificent views of natural landmarks like Mountains of the Moon, Crater Lake, the Blue Mountains of the Congo, and Lake Edward.

Kazinga Channel

Taking a boat cruise on the scenic Kazinga Channel is another way to see amazing wildlife and gorgeous scenery if you are in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.

With the boat hugging the banks of the channel, you may see African Cape buffalo, hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, and numerous bird species.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Although there is only one family of gorillas living here, the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers great trekking tours for you to experience striking vistas of the Virunga Mountains, bamboo forests, volcanoes, and the endangered golden monkey.

Lake Mutanda

Found nearby the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the African Great Lakes region, Lake Mutanda is one of Uganda’s jewels. Surrounded by the Virunga Mountains and dotted with lush islands, this lake is a beauty to behold.

A visit here offers wildlife sightings, birdwatching, canoeing, fishing, hiking, biking and trekking with the Batwa People, the native people of the nearby forest.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Located north of Kampala in Nakasongola, this sanctuary is home to Uganda’s only population of wild rhinos, but that is not all it offers.

Scenic nature walks, canoe cruises, and guided trekking tours award you with sights of hippos, crocodiles, large antelopes, and more than 250 different bird species.

Learn more about the white rhino (northern and southern). 

The Equator

A visit to Uganda offers you the unique opportunity to stand on the equator and be in two hemispheres at once. Uganda is one of the few countries in the world where the equator crosses through it.

The best equator landmark in Uganda is found on the Kampala-Masaka Road, where you will find a few restaurants and craft/souvenir shops as well.

Other equator markers in Uganda are found in Queen Elizabeth National Park and near Entebbe.

Entebbe Botanical Gardens

The locals say that the original Tarzan movies were filmed here, but whether that is true or not, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens is a wonderful place of beauty and discovery where you will find numerous trees, flowers, butterflies, monkeys, squirrels, and birds.

Located near Lake Victoria, this 40-hectare (98 acres) garden complex is a breath of fresh air where you can picnic, walk through a rainforest or just enjoy birdwatching.

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park

If you want to experience Uganda’s most extraordinary natural beauty, a visit to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a must-do.

Home to the “Mountains of the Moon,” this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers stunning scenery consisting of waterfalls, lakes, rivers, glaciers, and forests that shelter many bird species and chameleons.

Hiking, mountain climbing and culture visits with the Village of Ruboni are just a few of the exciting things you can do here.

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