The Top 15 Places to Visit in Uganda

Uganda packs an extraordinary range into a small country: rainforests with gorillas and chimpanzees, savanna with lions and elephants, the source of the Nile, snow-capped mountains, crater lakes and a rich living culture. Here is our pick of the fifteen places we think every traveller should know about. No one trip can include them all, so we’ve grouped them by theme and added some ideas for combining them at the end.

Primates and forests

• 1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trekking permits are US$800 for foreign non-residents (US$600 in April, May and November). Read about Bwindi’s four sectors.
• 2. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. “Where gold meets silver”: golden monkeys, gorillas, volcano hikes and the Batwa Trail. It’s Uganda’s smallest national park, on the slopes of three extinct Virunga volcanoes where Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo meet.
• 3. Kibale National Park. East Africa’s best place to track chimpanzees, with 13 primate species. Pair it with a walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.

Savanna safaris

• 4. Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kazinga Channel boat trip, crater lakes and the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha.
• 5. Murchison Falls National Park. Uganda’s largest park, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge. See our Murchison guide.
• 6. Kidepo Valley National Park. Remote, wild and beautiful, in the far north-east. In 2026, white rhinos returned here for the first time since 1983.
• 7. Lake Mburo National Park. Zebras, impala, walking and horseback safaris, and a handy stop between Kampala and the gorillas. It’s the closest savanna park to Kampala and a relaxed place to break the long drive south-west.
• 8. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Track white rhinos on foot on the way to Murchison. Read our rhino tracking guide.

Lakes, rivers and mountains

• 9. Jinja and the Source of the Nile. A boat to the spot where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria, plus kayaking and white-water rafting.
• 10. Lake Bunyonyi. A deep, island-dotted lake among terraced hills, perfect for canoeing and resting after a gorilla trek. At about 1,950 m it’s cool and peaceful, with lodges on its shores and islands.
• 11. Rwenzori Mountains. The “Mountains of the Moon”, with glaciers, giant plants and serious trekking. See our Margherita Peak guide.
• 12. Sipi Falls. Three waterfalls on the slopes of Mount Elgon, with hikes, abseiling and coffee farm tours.
• 13. Fort Portal’s crater lakes. Dozens of lakes in old volcanic craters, with lovely lodges and walks near Kibale. Add the Amabere caves and a stroll through Fort Portal, one of Uganda’s most attractive towns.

Birds and culture

• 14. Mabamba Bay and Entebbe. Search the papyrus for the shoebill by canoe, close to the airport. Here’s how to see a shoebill.
• 15. Kampala’s heritage sites. The Kasubi Tombs, Mengo Palace, the Namugongo Martyrs Shrine and lively markets. See more in our historical sites roundup.

How to fit it together

• The classic south-western loop (8–10 days): Lake Mburo, Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale.
• Add the north-west (3–4 extra days): Ziwa and Murchison Falls.
• Kidepo is best reached by scheduled flight, or as part of a longer road trip through the north.
• Roads are long and slow, so don’t try to see everything at once. Our guide to how many days you need and the best time to visit Uganda will help.

Good to know

• Book gorilla permits early. They’re limited, and the dry-season months sell out first.
• Park fees and activity prices change, so we always confirm current rates when we quote.
• Mix wildlife with culture. Even a single morning in Kampala or with a community group adds a lot.
• Allow time to rest. A slow afternoon at a lodge, on a lake or by a crater rim often turns out to be a highlight.
• Consider flying for the longest legs. Scheduled light aircraft serve Bwindi, Kidepo, Murchison and Queen Elizabeth, saving long days on the road.

Whichever of these places catch your eye, we’ll help you shape them into a route that works. Browse our Uganda destination page, then tell us your dates and interests and we’ll design your itinerary.