Uganda tourism is largely based around its wildlife, 
namely big game safaris and gorillas. In fact, Uganda does quite well with its gorilla tours, which account for a significant percentage of the country’s GDP. But there is a lot more to the country than elephants, rhinos and gorillas. For instance, did you know that Uganda is the source of the Nile, or that it boasts the third highest mountain range in Africa, which is rumoured to be the most challenging?
The Ugandan government and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) are on a mission to promote the lesser known treasures of their country as much sought after tourist destinations. The drive seems to be working because even though it’s still early days, it’s expected that the country will receive a glut of British travellers who are looking for something a little more exotic than their traditional holidays to France, Spain and Greece.
Attractions brought to the fore
Some of the attractions that may be considered lesser known but that deserve their place in the sun include:
- The Murchison Falls National Park, which is at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley. It’s located where the Bunyoro escarpment merges into the plains of Acholi land; it is Uganda’s largest national park and one of its oldest conservation areas. The Victoria Nile divides the park neatly in half. One of the highlights of the park is the Murchison Falls, which is where the Nile drops 40m and is transformed from a raging river to one that gently flows the 55km to Lake Albert. Here Uganda’s game comes into play as one can see elephant, giraffe and buffalo come down to drink. But look out for hippos and Nile crocodiles, which lurk in the depths.
The park also contains dense rainforest, which is home to a number of primates, including chimpanzees. Some tour operators offer chimp tracking tours, while others focus on bird watching. Bird species that call the park home include the shoebill stork, bee-eater, king fisher and fish eagle.
- Rwenzori Mountains National Park contains the third highest mountain range in Africa: the Rwenzori Moutains. They are also known as the “Mountains of the Moon” as they reach 5109m above sea level. The park is in western Uganda near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and is a World Heritage Site.
The park contains over 195 bird species and is paradise for bird watchers and hikers, who will enjoy the six magnificent peaks and the opportunity to explore three glaciers.
Another mountain well worth a visit is Mount Elgon in the Mount Elgon National Park. It’s located in east Uganda on the Kenyan border. Mount Elgon, which is the fourth highest mountain in east Africa, is said to be among the easiest to climb and is suitable for most people with a moderate level of fitness.
- The source of the Nile is to be found near the Ugandan city of Jinja. It offers white water rafting and game fishing and, of course, the Murchison Falls. Activities in the area include trekking, mountain biking and bird watching in the Mabira Forest, quad biking, and sunset cruises.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
