Destinations

5 Best Places to Visit on a Road Trip through Western Uganda

What is a road trip?

A road trip is a long-distance journey on the road usually done in a car or bus. It is a general term used to describe a long trek made in a vehicle for pleasure. In this article, I will analyze fives places which one can visit on a road trip to western Uganda, but first, by assessing what makes a road trip interesting.

What makes a road trip interesting?

The most unexpected element of diving headfirst into your dream road trip are discovering a new path or purpose. It is this unexpected treasure of travel (discovering the unexpected) that makes one of the most fulfilling reasons to take that long-awaited road trip.

The most memorable tales about safaris usually revolve around funny encounters with nature or the times travelers had to push their own limits as travelers while on a safari. It is because of this that road trips reward travelers with an archive of great stories to tell. These stories are often experiences travelers share after the safari or for years to come, enriching their own life and hopefully those around you.

Traveling is the perfect opportunity to try something new in one’s day-to-day life. Therefore, taking on a road trip instead of touring the same destinations like what most people tend to do is an ideal way to try something new, which is what a perfect road trip is all about.

Travelers on a road trip usually find inspiration in nature’s many wonders. This often involves looking up at the beautiful mountains above you, amazing waterfalls, walks around amazing towns and cities, and the incredible canopy of trees while at a campsite in unfamiliar surroundings among others. These bring about contentedness you wouldn’t have otherwise thought possible.

What do you need to consider to go for a road trip to Uganda?

To take on a road trip adventure, there are several items each traveler ought to have. In this article a few items (most essential) have been picked out to ensure one enjoys a breathtaking adventure while on the road as shown below;

• A safari vehicle
• Area map
• A guide
• Road safety rules
• Accommodation centres
• Driver’s license
• Camping gear
• Spare tire and tools
• First aid kit

Here are the five places to visit on a road trip to western Uganda;

Equator

The equator is an imaginary line that subdivides the earth into two parts- the northern and southern hemispheres. Located at Kayabwe town, the equator is an interesting en route along the Kampala- Masaka highway in Mpigi district. The Uganda equator is one of the most known landmarks in Uganda.

Visiting the equator is a mind-blowing venture rewarding you with the opportunity to take pictures while on a road safari to western Uganda. While at the site, a number of experiments are demonstrated by a guide to show the evidence that the location is crossed by the imaginary line. Travelers get the chance to learn about how the sun rises and falls at a shorter interval something which has been termed as ‘full days and nights’ while at the equator than any other place in the world. Discover the interesting fact of being 4% lighter than your normal weight, and the difficulty to tell seasons since it is always warm throughout the year while at the equator.

It is no doubt a memorable moment and experience having to stand one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern hemisphere.

Igongo Cultural Centre

Igongo cultural center is situated along the Mbarara- Masaka road in Mbarara district is the next ideal stopover while on a road trip in western Uganda. The center is the ultimate destination for lovers of history, art, culture, and comfort in the region. It is an awesome spot for travelers who need a stopover for lunch or even an overnight stay. Igongo cultural center is the biggest cultural center in the west and southwestern region of Uganda, endowed with attractions that depict the customs and traditions of the people of Ankole.

The center has a number of attractions including a museum that showcases the most traditional aspects of the Banyankole people. The displayed artifacts at Nkwanzi crafts for any interested visitor to have a look at and bookshop with books about Ankole traditions and Uganda, traditional costumes among others are ideal for visitors interested in appreciating culture. In addition, Igongo cultural center rewards visitors the taste of the Ankole culture through traditional foods served at the restaurant and the displays which travelers can explore as they proceed to the next destination.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi is the most popular destination in Uganda. It attracts thousands of travelers looking to gorilla trekking. The park is home to almost half of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas. If you looking for a gorilla safari, this is one of the destinations not to miss.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is a special destination where every part is live with a variety of natural wonders. The savannah park is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to other parts of western Uganda. Lake Mburo national is a natural haven for flora and fauna with its back teeming with animals and birds. The park harbors sixty-eight mammal species including buffaloes, hippos, Impalas, elands, warthogs, oribi, reedbuck, hyena, leopard, Defassa waterbuck, Zebras, and about 315 bird species.

This park is a beautiful place with sculptured landscapes and rolling grassy hills with abundant forest galleries, seasonal and permanent swamps among others. A forest walk is lively in Rubanga forest with beautiful sounds of over 40 bird species. Boat trips are remarkable to see diverse water-loving animals and reptiles such as crocodiles, hippos, and birds. Fishing, nature trails are some of the best alternatives while at Lake Mburo national park. All these make the park an ideal stopover while on a road trip to western Uganda rewarding travelers with thrilling wildlife encounters.

Kitagata Hotsprings

Believed to have miraculous healing powers are the Kitagata hot springs, found in the western region of Uganda. The hot springs are situated in Kitagata, found in the Sheema district. Endowed with a very rich past, the hot springs get people moving from far and near to come and bath while seeking healing from the hot water.

There are two hot springs adjacent to each other- Ekyomugabe believed to have been used by the Akole king and Mulago named after Uganda’s referral hospital. The Kitagata hot springs’ ability to heal almost all skin diseases and some inner diseases has since left the site an attraction in western Uganda. The scenery to the site is breathtaking with conical hills and inselbergs characterized with beautiful vegetation of green trees and grass, making a must-see while on a road trip to western Uganda.

Fort Portal

Located in one of the most attractive parts of Uganda, Fort Portal is greatly famous for its cultural, scenic, and primate species. A stopover in Fort Portal while on your road trip to western Uganda is a worthwhile venture for every tourist in Uganda. The town is endowed with impressive sites like crater fields, such as Ndali Kasenda crater in the northwest of Fort Portal town which offer rewarding hiking experiences.

Cultural heritage sites like the Karambi tombs where the Tooro kings are buried, the Royal Palace with its magnificent building, and the Amabere ga’ Nnyinamwiru caves that show the Chwezi era are best of all culturally rewarding. The adventure tea cycling in the famous Mpanga tea plantation is also another experience to view the beautiful lush tea estates.

Enjoy festivities and celebrations like the naming ceremony ‘Empango’ ritual, King Coronation, and many others as you proceed to the next destination.

In conclusion, road tripping is the best way to experience Uganda’s less travelled roads and explore the less-visited attractions. While driving at your own pace, you will be able to drive your own adventure in the pearl of Africa.