Uganda:A Nation Teeming with Exotic African Wildlife and Incredible Natural Landscape

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Uganda:A Nation Teeming with Exotic African Wildlife and Incredible Natural Landscape

Uganda is a country in East Africa, right next to Kenya. Uganda is famous for its incredible nature, spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, and welcoming people. The expansive Lake Victoria covers the South-East corner of the country. Uganda has so much to offer for sightseeing travelers and in this article, we'll introduce the top ten sightseeing places to visit on your trip to Uganda.

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Uganda:A Nation Teeming with Exotic African Wildlife and Incredible Natural Landscape

1. Kazinga Channel (Rubirizi)

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Kazinga Channel is a natural channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. The channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward in Uganda. This vast 32-kilometre-long stretch of wilderness offers the perfect chance to see Uganda’s diverse range of wild animals.

River cruises organised by the National Park are available on the Kazinga Channel everyday between 3pm and 5pm local time along with independent boat tours for those who want more privacy. You can typically see elephants, Nile crocodiles, buffalos, hippos, lions and range of different exotic birds from a cruise on the Kazinga Channel.

2. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Kabale)

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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a primeval forest in the mountainous part of South-West Uganda. Famous for being the home to the endangered mountain gorillas of Uganda, visitors can opt for a gorilla safari tour. Be aware you'll normally need a permit for this however and Uganda’s government limits the number of permits issued, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Guided hiking and biking tours are also highly-recommended when visiting the park. The best time to visit is typically during the months of February and September, when the weather is pleasant, there are less visitors and prices are a bit lower as these months are seen as off-peak.

3. Murchison Falls National Park (Masindi)

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A vast park in the north-west of the country, the area is known for its beautiful waterfalls and jungle-river setting. The Victoria Nile which flows through the park is a popular spot for fishing, especially for catching the famous Nile Perch which can weigh over 100 kilograms. Along with fishing you can spot a wide variety of wildlife such as giraffes, elephants, hippos, leopards, Nile crocodiles, chimpanzees, and many more that roam the park.

4. Gaddafi National Mosque (Kampala)

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A huge, colorful mosque sitting on Kampala Hill, the mosque is named after Colonel Gaddafi, a notorious Libyan leader, who put funds towards its construction. The mosque is huge and can accommodate over 35,000 worshipers. It's open to tourists every day, but opening times vary, so check them before you set out to visit. Make sure to climb the mosque’s minaret for a great panorama of Uganda’s capital city of Kampala.

5. Kibale National Park (Kasese)

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Often considered the best place in Africa for seeing chimpanzees, various companies offer safaris in this national park to see these lively creatures. To be able to take part in
the safari you will need a Chimpanzee Tracking Permit issued by Uganda’s government. The best time to visit Kibale National Park is between November and February or between June and September. During other parts of the year it often rains which can make treks difficult or impossible.

6. Lake Mburo National Park (Mbarara)

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Lake Mburo National Park is a peaceful national park in the west of Uganda, populated with zebras, antelopes, buffalos, and other wild animals. The park has vast expanses of open Savannah grassland. While visiting Lake Mburo National Park there are a lot of options: you can enjoy a gentle stroll, a safari jeep ride, a rustic horseback excursion or have a go on an adrenaline-pumping quad bike.

7. Sipi Falls (Mbale)

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Sipi Falls are a collection of three waterfalls located in the North-East part of Uganda. Sipi falls take their name from a medicinal banana called sep, native to Uganda. The highest of the three waterfalls is over 100 meters tall. Right next to the waterfalls, at the top of the drop is a primary school, which welcomes tourists to visit if they wish. Those wishing to visit the impressive waterfalls can usually find accommodation in Sipi or in the nearby town of Mbale.

8. Uganda Wildlife Education Center (Entebbe)

Uganda Wildlife Education Center is an educational institution which teaches visitors about conservation, wildlife and ecology of the area. The center is in Entebbe, a city just 40 kilometres from Uganda’s capital city of Kampala. As well as sightseeing it is possible to volunteer at Uganda Wildlife Education Center if you want to stay for a longer period. We recommend sightseeing the Centre because it organizes many fascinating educational programmes, for example, children between 6 and 16 can become an animal keeper for a day.

Conclusion

Uganda is a fantastic place for an insight into the vibrant wildlife and nature you can find in Africa. Home to a huge variety of animal and plant species, the country is full of beautiful forests, waterfalls, lakes, rivers and mountains that make for beautiful sights. A nature-lover is bound to enjoy a holiday in Uganda. To see these fascinating wild animals in their natural habitats, be sure to make Uganda your next holiday destination.

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