Top 5 Destinations in Uganda

Uganda is, in my opinion, the perfect African destination. It’s green, it’s wild, it’s warm, it’s beautiful. It has jungles, it has lakes, it has friendly people, it has untamed savannahs, it has majestic lions and serene elephants. Uganda has bustling, musical and vibrant cities, and it has quiet, peaceful nights underneath the Milky Way in green savannahs. Uganda has loud, thrilling music and it has the discreet songs of the crickets, a lullaby for the sleeping antelopes, leopards and zebras of the night. Uganda has wild adventures like gorilla trekkings in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or rafting the Nile, but Uganda also has relaxing, slow weekends on the shores of Lake Victoria, sipping ice-cold cocktails amongst lazy palm trees. Uganda has the tumultuous African adventures and Uganda has utter luxury and gastronomy; Uganda has tropical heats in Lake Victoria and alpine freshness atop the snowy Mount Rwenzori.

Uganda, a land of the best african contrasts, is a hidden gem of Africa, and with so many interesting destinations to choose from within the country, it’s easy to feel lost. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are the top 5 best destinations of Uganda.

1. Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls, in a coherent image of the country it belongs to, has it all. A surreal paradise of green jungles, powerful, mesmerizing waterfalls, scarlett sunsets and vast savannahs full of peaceful giraffes, lions, panthers and antelopes, Murchison Falls National Park encompasses the most prized and sought after African beauties in its 4000 square kilometers.

The variety within Murchison Falls National Park makes it like a planet on its own, with its own ecosystem and diverse biomes. The incredible diversity of the land, with seas of lush green tropical forests, the flow of the large Nile river, the wild, powerful waterfalls, and the endless savannahs full of the majestic African wildlife, transport you into what feels like a dream world or a Disney movie, a compact little Africa regrouping the best highlights of the continent.

Murchison Falls is an amazing destination because it’s never monotonous, with absolutely grandiose experiences that have nothing to do with each other. It’s definitely in my Top 3 Destinations of Africa, and it’s really quite difficult to describe it in such a short paragraph. The things to say about his part of the world are endless, and the words not quite enough, which is why I invite you to watch my video on Murchison Falls for gorgeous visuals.

2. Chimp Trekking in Fort Portal

Kibale National Park, brightly green, wildly untamed, alive with the sound of exotic bird songs, is populated by the fascinating, powerful animal that is the chimpanzee. Almost human, but not quite, the experience of connecting with our closest relative is life-altering and deeply thrilling.

We spend all our lives surrounded by people. It’s humans that we know, that we are used to. We have our societies, our cultural norms, our quirky little habits. We eat soup with spoons, we pat each other on the back after a success, we go on honeymoons with our partners. So, imagine how wholesomely bizarre it is that chimpanzees behave the exact same way as we do. These apes will eat their favorite snack, ants, scooping them up with their favorite stick. They scratch each other on the back for social bonding after spending time grooming each other, cleansing each other of tics, branches and dirt. They even go on chimpanzee honeymoons, with couples leaving the community for weeks, coming back after their ritual of consortship mating. 

Having such similar cousins and never meeting them is a shame. The experience of seeing each other, looking at each other, truly understanding how related we are, is extraordinary. Sharing 98.8% of our DNA, having what feels like the same understanding of social etiquette, having fascinating cultures make us feel like from a same family, yet so distinct. Feeling so close to something so different is a life-altering experience, where your brain understands that it’s currently seeing its relative, its friend, a wild animal. Suddenly, something deep in you, a biological instinct, a consciousness that goes beyond your humanity, understands: you both are wild animals. This significant moment of two living beings crossing each other’s paths is registered, and one’s mind goes completely silent. All that remains is the electricity in the air, the mystical energy formed between two lives existing at the same moment in time, the same moment in the Ugandan jungle. This outworldly experience is definitely a must-do in the Pearl of Africa.

Gorilla trekking is actually much more popular than chimpanzee trekking: but I aim to share my experience, and, in my controversial opinion, chimpanzee trekking was a better experience than the world-famous, ever-popular and sought-after gorillas. If you want to know more about chimpanzee trekking and my unexpected take on gorilla trekking, stay tuned for next week’s article: Gorilla trekking vs Chimpanzee Trekking: why I think Chimpanzees is better.

3. Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is probably the greenest place I have ever been to. And, if you read my other articles, you know that the sight of the pure, vibrant, singular shade of African green is part of the ultimate African experience. Simply seeing this invigorating color, feeling the incredible green light waves hit the color cones of your eyes, soothes you to your deepest, truest core. Queen Elizabeth National Park, on the border with Congo, next to Lake Edward, is a peaceful haven, deep in the center of Africa. The energy here, a profound silence and complete and utter isolation, is powerfully magical. 

Queen Elizabeth National Park has an incredibly high concentration of elephants. The majestic animals roam about, and one would stop a dozen times in a mere hour or two to turn off the engine of the safari car, stare out of the roof to silently and peacefully observe the elegant, fascinating, mesmerizing gray creatures. I always say that Uganda reminds me of an altered Switzerland: when I lived in Geneva, going about the roads and highways of the country, healthy, wholesome cows would graze about in beautiful green fields. Cows would be the monotonous reality of long road trips. In Uganda, it’s the same; except that you need to replace cows with elephants. Baby elephants, matriarch elephants, tusky ones, all roam around in harmony, enjoying life as we observe them.

What struck me most about Queen Elizabeth National Park was the silence. Deep green. Deep silence. Deep Africa. The safaris here are meditative. The royal Mount Rwenzori governs the landscape, keeping a noble eye on its mystical valley. The antelopes run in a swift elegance by the thousands. Majestic leopards roam about lazily, their big paws and undisturbed looks of pure power a fascinating watch. The elephants make one’s chest swell with adoration and admiration. If caught in the torrential rain storms of Africa’s heart, you’ll face the apocalyptic vision of troops of antelopes standing still, thousands of petrified statues, filled with life and the savannah’s instincts, solid as stone under the tempest. 

Queen Elizabeth National Park is peace. With such a limited number of humans, a difficult access, the exclusivity of Africa’s core is immensely thrilling and splendidly serene. One almost misses the chaos of Kampala, filled with the hoards of Boda Boda’s, or even the loud roar of Murchison Falls’s waterfalls. Here, every movement is heard, from the light step of a leopard to the silent munching of an elephant delighting in acacia leaves. On this dramatic backdrop of misty, damp dark green savannah and towering Mount Rwenzori, life feels pure. No distractions occur, one is simply in Africa’s artery. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, you transcend your simple human identity: you find your place in nature, you become a part of the Earth once again.

It’s so easy to forget that we are animals, that we are a part of this planet and not guests present to exploit it as we please. When enveloped in the African silence, you understand what you truly are about. You are a body, a human one. You have a heart and you have flowing blood and you have lungs and you have muscles. You can run and you can hunt and you can breathe. You live. Life is in you. And that is all. Careers, money, human relations, politics, all disappear here. You are isolated in your aliveness, confined to your animal essence. All that matters here, deep in the Ugandan savannah, is that you are alive. You exist and that is all that is true. Your alive body, the dark green, the elephants, the panthers, the antelopes, the mountains and the silent, moist air. 

Suddenly, your brain feels oddly silent. You feel each satisfying breath you take. The only thoughts you have aren’t even formulated. They’re vibrations. When you transcend your human identity, what makes you human does not occur anymore. Words do not govern your thoughts. Language feels superficial. All that it real is the vibrations you feel in every cell of your body when you establish eye contact with a grand elephant. All that is real is your physical presence, every atom of your body transported through a silent valley of Africa. Borders don’t exist: the concept of neighboring Congo or Uganda feel like mere lines in a distant human imagination. Humanness is far away, it is a distant concept. Here, you know all you are is the planet, the universe, as the universe is you. Borders don’t exist on the land, and borders don’t exist in physicality either. Observing each other with a tree-climbing lion, you both know you’re the same. Nothing separates you. You are one entity, one unit, one planet, one universe. Your skin may be a barrier, the contour of the lion’s whiskers may be a border, but here the illusion of distinctness disappears. Here in this magical valley, you finally feel whole, because you know you are everything that exists and will ever exist. 

4. Lake Mburo

Lake Mburo is wild, untamed, fascinating. In Turkish, I would say that it is damardan Afrika: from Africa’s vein. It’s an authentic, wild adventure perfectly representative of Africa’s greatest qualities. 

The unsettling silence and isolation of Lake Mburo National Park is most thrilling. It has a dark, omnipresent, mysterious shade of green, and its vast, shimmering, flat gray lake is oddly muted, with luscious green vegetation, wild eagles, and glowing, mirror-like waters. It’s peaceful of appearance, but savage and untamable in reality, with hoards of hippos roaming around the seemingly serene, yet too silent, unsettling and beautiful Lake Mburo. 

Unsettled and isolated, wildly untended, Lake Mburo National Park has beautiful wildlife. Peaceful, elegant and imposing giraffes graze silently on tall acacia trees. Zebras in mesmerizing troops walk around happily. Robust yet endearing, the iconic warthogs run around dark green bushes, their adorable babies running behind, with their short legs, big noses and beautiful puppy eyes. Fierce, royal leopards with huge, captivating green eyes and splendid spotted fur roam in the tall bushes and on the imposing, monumental deep black rock formations, walking their slow, elegant, powerful feline walk. 

Lake Mburo’s unique atmosphere, this ambiance of untouched beauty, too savage, too dark, endlessly captivating, is a raw African experience that is worth living. 

Lake tours on private boats are incredibly pleasant, especially in the early morning, soon after the sun rises. Watching nature wake up, silently admiring nature's preparation for a new day, is simply magical.

I would like to note that Lake Mburo is not the best safari destination (Murchison Falls and Kidepo rank higher in terms of wildlife experience). 

Now, with what aim should you go to Lake Mburo? 

Mburo is lovely if what you want is:

• An easily accessible safari destination, not demanding too much road or effort (Lake Mburo National Park is only a 4-hour drive from Kampala on good quality roads)

• An enjoyable stop for a night on the road to Western Uganda, dividing a long journey into multiple pleasant destinations and experiences

• An opportunity to get out of the city for the weekend and reconnect with nature after a long week

• A time to disconnect completely and relax in the countryside

• A varied destination, with safaris, beautiful lodges and boat rides.

5. Bunyonyi

Bunyonyi. This adorable name is a poor representation of the majestic Bunyonyi. One of the most unique destinations of East Africa, this gorgeous secluded lake populated by charming little islands will conquer your heart. From the deep, mysterious shades of deep blue-gray to the vibrant greens, Bunyonyi is a fascinating visual experience. One can stare and stare, never fully understanding the magic that is going on before their eyes. In the heart of Africa, difficult to access, isolated, exploring this part of the world is truly therapeutic. Canoeing from island to island, listening to the birdsongs, ziplining between islands, meditating at the top of the mountain, are only a few of the activities here in Bunyonyi. I definitely believe Bunyonyi is a must-see in Uganda and should be a priority. 

This short paragraph doesn’t even begin to describe the wonder that is Bunyonyi. To read a detailed description of this little paradise, I strongly recommend you read my article The 5 Best Things to do in Bunyonyi.