Visiting Uganda is every tourist’s dream with the country residing most of tourists’ favorites. From residing the endangered mountain gorillas, some of Africa’s tallest mountain ranges, chimpanzees, the famous big five of Africa, the source of the world’s longest river – Nile River, Africa’s largest lake – Lake Victoria, beautiful and photogenic landscapes, and the welcoming and vivacious people of Uganda all make this country a tourist’s paradise. Below are the 5 must – visit towns in Uganda for you to explore some of the country’s amazing attractions:
Kasese Town:
Kasese is the major town of Kasese district in western Uganda. Kasese is the largest town in the Rwenzururu region and the town is within proximity to some of the popular remarkable destinations in Uganda.
The town is situated less than an hour drive from the famous Queen Elizabeth National Park and also about 25 kilometers away from the legendary Rwenzori Mountains and Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
The two aforementioned destinations will definitely make your visit a one to remember as they comprise of several attractions.
In Queen Elizabeth National Park you will be able to spot the one and only tree climbing lions, four of the popular Africa’s big five (African Lions, African savannah elephants, Cape buffaloes, and African Leopard), chimpanzees, several antelope species, and also cruising on the beautiful Kazinga channel (that connects Lake Edward to Lake George) offers some of the best sightings to the Park’s abundant wildlife that throng the shores to drink water and also the famous water predators; crocodiles and hippos.
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park also resides Africa’s third, fourth, and fifth highest mountain peaks and several waterfalls, snowfields, glaciers and lakes. This Park is also known for its exceptional beauty and plant life as well as wildlife.
It consists of numerous species that are endemic to the Albertine Rift system and very many endangered species. In the Park you will spot more than 89 bird species, 15 butterfly species, and four primate species.
Some of the wildlife species to spot here include the forest elephant, chimpanzee, hyrax, black-and-white Colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, duiker, and Rwenzori turaco, among others.
Fort Portal:
Fort Portal is also a famous tourism city in western Uganda and it resides one of the best protected areas in the country, Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale is a primate enthusiast’s paradise as the Park boasts 13 primate species, more than any other African Park.
Among the 13 primate species include the chimpanzees, and it is perhaps the best Park for tracking chimpanzees all over the world – an extraordinary experience! While in Fort Portal, you will visit very many other attractions like the Amabeere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves, Tooro Kingdom Palace, and various beautiful crater lakes.
The town is also within vicinity to various attractions in western Uganda such as; Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable, Rwenzori Mountains, and Semuliki National Parks, among others.
Masindi:
Masindi is a famous town in western Uganda and the town is situated about an hour’s drive to the country’s largest and oldest national park, Murchison Falls National Park, in northwestern Uganda. Less than an hour’s drive you can also access the country’s only home to the wild rhinos, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Visiting the two aforementioned destinations offers a lifetime experience exploring some of the country’s and continent’s favorites attractions, including all the big five of Africa, the great Murchison Falls, and several beautiful bird species, among many other attractions.
Kabale:
Kabale is also a fascinating town in western Uganda, in Kabale district of the Kigezi sub-region. The town also comprises of several attractions among them which include the remarkable Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Bwindi is widely known for inhabiting the largest number of the endangered mountain gorillas – an estimated number of 459 mountain gorillas. Other attractions to visit also include the paradisiacal Lake Bunyonyi and within proximity is the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, another mountain gorilla national park in Uganda.
Karamoja:
Karamoja is a town in Northeastern Uganda where there is the famous Karamajong tribe. The Karamajongs have one of the most unique and amazing cultures in Africa and one of the top tribes to interact with on a cultural tour in Africa.
Besides the amazing culture of the Karamajong people, avid cattle keepers, the other great things to explore include the photogenic and picturesque Kidepo Valley National Park – the best Park in Uganda for wildlife safaris, and the second largest protected area in Uganda – the Pian Upe Game Reserve.