In a nutshell
- Alongside Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda often gets overlooked — yet it has some truly spectacular things to offer travelers.
- The standout highlights are Uganda’s national parks — some of which are home to gorillas. You can also spot lions, giraffes, zebras, and many other animals.
- There are also some cities well worth visiting — like Jinja, where the Nile flows out of Lake Victoria.
- We’re introducing you to the 11 best Uganda attractions and sharing plenty of personal tips along the way. Let’s go!
Sights in Uganda on a Map
To give you a better overview of where the best things to do in Uganda are located, we’ve marked them on a map for you.
The Best National Parks in Uganda
The national parks are the real highlight of Uganda. Gorilla trekking in particular draws visitors from all over the world.
But safaris to see lions, giraffes, or hippos are absolutely worth your time too.
Murchison Falls National Park
What do you need to know? Murchison Falls is the largest national park in Uganda and a seriously incredible all-around package — you can see animals like lions, giraffes, and hippos, and marvel at the Murchison Falls waterfall. A three-day safari lets you explore the park thoroughly, or you can drive through it on your own.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! We visited Murchison Falls National Park ourselves and saw an amazing number of animals. The waterfalls are breathtaking too.
Our tip: A comparatively affordable place to stay inside the park is the Red Chili Rest Camp. You can also stay outside the park in Pakwach. Our hotel recommendation: Mama Washindi Lodge.
Book the 3-day Murchison Falls National Park safari tour
Queen Elizabeth National Park
What do you need to know? Queen Elizabeth National Park is best known for its savanna landscapes and the tree-climbing lions you can spot here. But there’s more: the park also includes rainforests and swamps, making it incredibly biodiverse. Queen Elizabeth sits in the southwest of the country on the border with the Congo.
Is it worth it? Definitely — especially if seeing lions is on your list. Queen Elizabeth is the best national park in Uganda for that. Tree-climbing lions actually live here, which is something you won’t see just anywhere.
Our tip: If Uganda’s mountains interest you, it’s also worth making a side trip to the Rwenzori Mountains, which are very close by.
Our hotel recommendation: Engiri Game Lodge and Campsite
Book the 2-day safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
What do you need to know? Many people travel to Uganda primarily for the gorillas. The country is home to roughly 50% of the entire world’s gorilla population. To go gorilla trekking, you need a permit, which is unfortunately quite expensive. Bwindi National Park has the highest concentration of gorillas, making it the top spot to see them.
Is it worth it? 100% — if you’ve always dreamed of seeing gorillas in the wild, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the perfect choice and one of the true must-sees in Uganda.
Our tip: As an alternative, we recommend Mgahinga Gorilla National Park — it’s smaller, but there are also several volcanoes nearby. So if mountains are on your radar too, Mgahinga is fantastic.
Book the 3-day gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Mount Elgon National Park
What do you need to know? Mount Elgon is something of an under-the-radar pick among Uganda’s national parks. It’s popular for hiking and visiting the Sipi Falls. It’s not known for classic wildlife safaris, but you can still spot animals like zebras and antelopes. The park is named after the extinct volcano Mount Elgon, which you can also summit.
Is it worth it? Yes — especially for hiking enthusiasts, Mount Elgon is a great national park well off the beaten path of Uganda’s most famous attractions.
Our tip: If you’re planning to travel from Uganda to Kenya, Mount Elgon National Park is perfect for a stopover since it’s essentially along the way.
Our hotel recommendation: Rock Garden Sipi
Book the Sipi Falls hike including a coffee tour
Lake Mburo National Park
What do you need to know? Lake Mburo is a relatively small national park in Uganda. It’s best known for its large zebra population. You can also see impalas, giraffes, and a huge variety of bird species here. A boat trip on Lake Mburo is really worth adding to the mix too.
Is it worth it? Yes — we especially recommend Lake Mburo National Park as a stopover if you’re traveling from Kampala to one of the gorilla trekking parks.
Our hotel recommendation: Hyena Hill Lodge
Book the Lake Mburo National Park day tour
More Natural Highlights in Uganda
Beyond safari tours in the national parks, there are other natural attractions in Uganda that are seriously worth seeing. Here are our top picks.
Mount Stanley
What do you need to know? At 5,109 meters (16,762 feet), Mount Stanley is Uganda’s highest peak and the third-highest mountain in Africa — after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. It sits in the Rwenzori Mountains on the border with the Congo.
Is it worth it? For mountaineers, Mount Stanley is absolutely one of the top highlights in Uganda.
Our tip: If you’d rather not go quite so high, Uganda has many more great mountains to explore — almost all of them are in the Rwenzori range.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Admission: $60 USD
- Tickets: purchased at the entrance
What do you need to know? Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can see rhinos in the wild. They once lived in Murchison National Park but disappeared mainly due to poaching. In 2006, eight rhinos were brought to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and the population has been growing ever since.
Is it worth it? Definitely — if rhinos are on your list, don’t skip this. If wildlife in general is your focus but rhinos aren’t a priority, you can pass.
Our tip: The sanctuary sits right on the route from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park, so it makes a great stopover.
Book the day tour to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary from Kampala
Cool Cities in Uganda
Beyond the stunning landscapes, you should also spend time in a few cities in Uganda — that’s where you’ll get a real feel for authentic everyday life in the country.
Kampala
What do you need to know? Uganda’s capital isn’t the most beautiful place on earth — it’s more of a mix of traffic chaos, loud music, and people hollering everywhere. It’s exhausting, but at the same time genuinely fascinating. Beyond the many markets in the city center, Kampala has some important points of interest too, like the Kasubi Tombs, Kabaka’s Palace, and the National Mosque.
Is it worth it? It’s a mixed bag. Culturally, Kampala delivers with the Kasubi Tombs and Kabaka’s Palace. At the same time, the city is very chaotic and the traffic is a real challenge.
Our tip: In Kampala you can do a chocolate-making tour — we tried it and honestly loved it.
Our hotel recommendation: Pangolin Nest Boutique Hotel — a stylish place to stay in a great location in Kampala.
Jinja
What do you need to know? Uganda’s second-largest city, Jinja, is calmer and more laid-back than Kampala. That’s drawn a lot of expats to the area, and you’ll find a great selection of cafés and restaurants. Since Jinja sits on both the Nile and Lake Victoria, you can go on boat tours and do whitewater rafting here.
Is it worth it? Yes — Jinja is especially great if you enjoy boating and water sports. But it’s also a fantastic place to simply recharge for a few days.
Our hotel recommendation: The Jewel and the Lake — a great place to stay with views of Lake Victoria.
Book the Jinja day tour with boat trip from Kampala
Read all our tips for Jinja:
Cultural Highlights in Uganda
In Uganda, you can experience not only wildlife and beautiful landscapes but also rich culture and living tradition. Here are the places you shouldn’t miss.
Four Traditional Kingdoms of Uganda
What do you need to know? Uganda has four traditional kingdoms — Buganda, Bunyoro, Toro, and Ankole — that no longer hold political power today but remain deeply culturally significant. They were abolished by the state in 1967 and have existed again since 1993 as cultural institutions. You can visit museums, palaces, and tombs associated with them. The cultural sites of the Buganda Kingdom in Kampala are the best known.
Is it worth it? Totally! During your trip to Uganda, you should definitely visit some of the kingdoms’ historic sites — alongside the stunning nature, they offer wonderful cultural experiences that most visitors really appreciate.
Our tip: Particularly worth seeing are the Karuzika Palace and the Amabere Caves in Fort Portal.
Nyero Rock Paintings
What do you need to know? The Nyero Rocks are a relatively unknown but genuinely fascinating sight in Uganda. Located in the east of the country, the paintings on the rocks are around 4,000 years old. From abstract symbols to giraffe and human figures, there’s a lot to discover here.
Is it worth it? Yes — the rocks are a real off-the-beaten-path gem in Uganda and a great stopover if you have plenty of time to spend in the country.
Our tip: Beyond the paintings, it’s also worth climbing the rocks themselves. From up top, you get great views of the surrounding area.
General Tips for a Road Trip through Uganda
You have several options for exploring Uganda:
- On your own with a rental car
- Rent a car with a driver included
- Book a guided tour or safari
On Your Own with a Rental Car
The most affordable and adventurous way to explore Uganda is in a rental car on your own. What many people don’t realize: you can do safari tours in the national parks entirely without a guide.
If you’re traveling through Uganda independently, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Avoid driving at night, as carjackings do occur
- Make sure you’re well-informed about how to behave in national parks around wild animals
- Book a 4×4 off-road vehicle
- Traffic drives on the left, roads are in poor condition, and traffic can be very unpredictable
Compare rental car deals for Uganda on Discovercars
Book a Rental Car with a Driver
A popular option is to rent a car with a driver. This is especially convenient since you don’t have to drive yourself and you hand over responsibility for the vehicle.
The prices are a bit higher than going solo, but at around 80 euros per day they’re still very reasonable.
You can also do multi-day tours with a driver — accommodation and meal costs for the driver are usually included in the price.
Book Guided Tours and Itineraries in Uganda
The most comfortable — but also most expensive — option is a guided tour. These are especially recommended if seeing a lot of wildlife is a priority.
Some animals in the national parks can be quite hard to spot on your own. Uganda’s guides know the terrain best and will take you straight to where the animals tend to be.
You’ll also pick up fascinating background knowledge about the country, its nature, and its people along the way.
Browse safari tours and activities in Uganda on GetYourGuide
We share more important travel advice for Uganda in our Uganda travel tips
