Uganda Scenery Tours
Uganda rests along the East African plateau, positioning itself as a landlocked country, yet “Gifted by Nature,” as described by Sir Winston Church Hill in 1908. Its unique scenery, incredible wildlife, bird life, culture, and welcoming people truly depict it as the “Pearl of Africa,” making Uganda immensely popular for African safari tours.
Beautiful Uganda
Uganda’s scenery offers a diverse array of landscapes, including lush rolling hills, forests, waterfalls, lakes, snow-capped mountains, rivers such as the Nile River, and vast tracks of Savannah grasslands (National Parks). Exploring these landscapes introduces visitors to a variety of attractions.
Uganda Lakes & Rivers
The country boasts several lakes, notably Africa’s largest Lake Victoria, which also serves as the source of the River Nile, shared by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. It hosts various islands such as the Ssese Islands, Bugala Island, and Ngamba Island (home to orphaned chimpanzees). Additionally, there are numerous wetlands, serving as paradises for birds.
Lake Bunyonyi lies between two districts, Kabale and Kisoro, in southwestern Uganda. As Africa’s second deepest lake, surrounded by rolling hills, it offers an excellent haven for birders and is free of bilharzia. Visitors can enjoy activities such as swimming, boat rides, nature walks, birding, and hiking amidst incredible scenery.
Lake Edward and Lake George, located in western Uganda, form the Kazinga Channel, home to various animals like crocodiles, hippos, elephants, buffaloes, among others. The Kazinga Channel attracts visitors for boat cruises to observe these animals and enjoy birdwatching. Other lakes include Lake Kyoga, Lake Albert, Lake Katwe, among others.
The River Nile, one of the world’s longest rivers, flows northwards, easily spotted in Jinja district. It creates numerous drainage features, including various swamps. Since its discovery by early explorers, the River Nile has been a significant attraction for Ugandan Safaris, offering activities such as boat cruises and white water rafting.
Uganda Mountains
Uganda boasts several mountains, each offering something unique. The Rwenzori Mountain, found in western Uganda, is the country’s highest mountain, crossed by the Equator but snow-capped. It is one of Africa’s most attractive alpine areas due to its waterfalls, glaciers, and lakes, offering visitors the opportunity to hike amidst unspoiled landscapes covered with various vegetation types.
The Kigezi Highlands are also captivating, covered with terraces and forests. Other mountains like Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, among others, also host diverse attractions.
Forests
Uganda is blessed with numerous forest covers, each harboring different and unique species. Forests like Kibale Forest and Budongo Forest Reserve offer excellent opportunities for chimpanzee tracking. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the remaining endangered mountain gorillas, providing visitors with the unforgettable experience of gorilla trekking.
Other forests like Mabira offer activities such as nature walks, birdwatching, and zip-lining.
Savannah Grasslands (National Parks)
Most areas in Uganda covered with savannah grasslands are homes to a vast number of flora and fauna, with breathtaking landscapes. About 10 national parks have been established and opened to tourists, including Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Bwindi Impenetrable, Kibale Forest, Kidepo Valley, Mgahinga Gorilla, Semuliki, Mt. Elgon, and Mt. Rwenzori National Parks.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, the country’s most visited park, features lush savannahs where over 600 bird species and various wildlife species can be spotted. Divided by the Kazinga Channel, visitors enjoy boat cruises amidst this rich ecosystem.
A visit to Murchison Falls National Park offers unforgettable experiences such as game drives, hikes, launch cruises, and sport fishing in Uganda’s oldest and most scenic park. The park is home to magnificent falls, cascading down into a gorge before the Nile continues its journey northward. Observing these falls either at the bottom or from the top after a hike is an experience not to be missed.
With the few scenic landscapes mentioned above, Uganda still has much more to offer, including several beautiful waterfalls like Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa district in Eastern Uganda and Ssezibwa Falls, among other breathtaking sceneries.
