10 Places to Visit in Western Uganda
Western Uganda is internationally known for hosting a variety of tourist attraction in Uganda at large. Many travelers who plan Uganda safaris visit Western Uganda, a place known to host several national parks, game reserves and unique places to see. Some of the popular tourist attractions not to miss in western Uganda include mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, Mountain Rwenzori (Mountains of the moon), birds among others.
Below are some of the tourist destinations in Uganda:
- Lake Bunyonyi – Its among the deepest lakes in Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi is known for hosting a variety of birds thus obtaining its name. While at Lake Bunyonyi, you can swim, enjoy a birding Canoe ride, Visit different islands, chill at the shores, cultural trip among others.
- Kisiizi Falls – The beautiful Kisiizi falls lie on Kyabamba River a few meters from Kisiizi Hospital in Rukungiri district which borders with Kabale – in “the Switzerland of Uganda” found in the south western corner of Uganda. These falls are about 27 metres high dropping water into a gorge continuing the flow of the River. Visitors to the Kisiizi falls are met by mist from the falls at least 100 meters away, indicating that you are approaching the beautiful sight with a sad cultural history according to me.
- Bwindi Forest – situated in south western Uganda and famous for protecting almost half of the world’s mountain Gorillas. In 1991, Bwindi Forest was ranked among national parks in Uganda. BINP was declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1994 and to date, Gorilla trekking is conducted every day, all year round.
- Kitagata Hot springs – Kitagata Hot Springs are natural hot springs in Bushenyi district of western Uganda. The springs are believed to have natural healing powers and by experiment, the hot water can boil eggs or bananas.
- Katonga wildlife Reserve – With an area of 207 square kilometers, Katomga Wildlife Reserve was gazetted in 1964 as a game reserve, to serve as a corridor for migrating wildlife from Western Uganda to Tanzania and Sudan. is a savannah grassland ecosystem located within Kyenjojo and Kamwenge districts. The journey into the Reserve is a three-hour drive from Kampala to Kyegegwa Town Council.
- Semuliki Wildlife Reserve – The Semliki Wildlife Reserve, formerly the Toro-Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, is a conservation protected area in the Western Uganda. It is located in Kabarole District, in the Toro sub-region, on the floor of the rift valley, where Lake Albert, the Rwenzori Mountains and the Kijura escarpment create backdrops.
- Kibale National Park – situated in western Uganda and known for protecting chimpanzees. Uganda is currently charging US$200 for chimpanzee trekking permit and chimpanzee trekking is the major activity in Kibale National Park. There are 13 species of primates including chimpanzees living within its 795km2 land cover with the most beautiful and most diversified tracts of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda.
- Lake Mburo National Park – the smallest savanna park in Uganda. Lake Mburo National Park is known for consisting many lakes, Zebras, Giraffes and kobs among others. It is situated along Kampala- masaka – Mbarara road in Kiruhura district.
- Queen Elizabeth national Park – the second largest National Park in Uganda. It’s a savannah park. It’s the best place to see lions and above all the tree climbing lions and the most popular savannah park in Uganda.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park is a great diversity of habitats including wetlands, hills, savanna glass land, mammals among others. The major tourist activities here include game drives, boat cruise, cultural tours among others.
- Mountain Rwenzori National Park– famous for protecting the highest block mountain in Uganda. The park is situated in western Uganda at the boarders of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). he Rwenzoris are a world-class hiking and mountaineering destination. A nine- to twelve-day trek will get skilled climbers to the summit of Margherita – the highest peak – though shorter, non-technical treks are possible to scale the surrounding peaks.