Top 10 attractions in western Uganda : The western part of Uganda is considered one of the scenic parts of the country and it is made up of forests, mountains, lakes, valleys and many other attractions.
The top 10 attractions in western Uganda include the following;
- Kibale forest national park
Kibale forest national park is the destination to visit in western Uganda to enjoy a primate safari experience.
Some of the primates found in Kibale forest national park include chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, baboons among others which are among the 13 primates found at the destination.
Activities which are done around Kibale forest national park during safaris include chimpanzee trekking, chimpanzee habituation, visiting the Bigodi wetlands, bird watching, guided nature walks and also community tours.
- Bwindi national park
Bwindi national park is among the popular gorilla trekking destinations to visit in the south western part of Uganda.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park is done around sectors of the national park such as Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Nkuringo sector and Ruhija sector. Mountain gorillas are the type of gorillas found in the national park and they can be encountered during tours throughout the year.
Activities that tourists can engage in during their tours around Bwindi national park include gorilla trekking across the various sectors, gorilla habituation in Rushaga sector, bird watching, Batwa community tours and also guided nature walks and hikes.
- Lake Mburo national park
Lake Mburo national park is another safari destination to explore when visiting the western part of Uganda.
The national park is home to numerous wildlife and bird species and some of the activities done around Lake Mburo national park during safaris include day game drives and night game drives, boat rides on Lake Mburo, bird watching, cycling, horse riding among others.
Some of the wildlife species found in Lake Mburo national park include buffalos, impalas, hippos, zebras, giraffes among others.
- Mgahinga national park
Mgahinga national park is another destination to visit in the south western part of Uganda and it is home to mountain gorillas and is also known for being home to golden monkeys.
The national park is a destination where different activities can be done during safaris in Mgahinga national park and they include gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, Batwa tours, hiking around the Virunga mountains such as Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Muhabura and also bird watching.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park is done by individuals above the age of 15 years and there is one habituated gorilla family which tourists can interact with at the destination. This activity involves spending time with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and spending 1 hour with them.
- Semuliki national park
Semuliki national park is another destination which is found in the western part of Uganda and it is located in Bundibugyo district on the border with Democratic Republic of Congo.
Among the attractions in Semuliki national park is the Sempaya hot springs which are male and female hot springs. There are also different wildlife and bird species which can be seen during safaris around the destination.
Tourists visiting Semuliki national park can engage in activities such as bird watching, community tours and also nature walks during their safaris.
- Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park is another destination which can be visited during tours around the western part of Uganda.
There are various wildlife species found in Queen Elizabeth national park to see during safaris and they include elephants, hippos, buffalos, lions, waterbucks, impalas, hyenas, warthogs, elands, hartebeests, leopards among others as well as different bird species. Tree climbing lions can be seen during tours around the Ishasha sector.
Activities to do during safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park include boat safaris along the Kazinga channel, morning and afternoon game drives, guided nature walks, lion tracking, mongoose tracking, bird watching, chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura gorge, visiting the Katwe salt lakes among others.
- Rwenzori mountains
The Rwenzori mountains are among the famous hiking destinations to visit during safaris in the western part of Uganda.
Different routes are used during hikes on the Rwenzori mountains and they include Central circuit trail, Bukurungu trail and the Kilembe trail. The mountains are part of Rwenzori mountain national park which is another popular destination to visit in Uganda.
Apart from climbing Mount Rwenzori to get to the highest point which is the Margherita peak, tourists can engage in activities such as bird watching, nature walks and community tours around the destination.
- Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is located in Kisoro district in the south western part of Uganda and is known for having over 29 islands which can be visited during safaris around the destination..
The lake which is surrounded by terraced hills and Lake Bunyonyi is considered the deepest lake in Uganda.
Activities which are done around Lake Bunyonyi include swimming, canoeing, community tours, bird watching among others. Lake Bunyonyi is among the safe lakes for swimming and to relax after exploring other destinations in western Uganda.
- Hot springs
Hot springs are among the attractions which tourists can visit during tours around the western part of Uganda.
Some of the hot springs found in western Uganda include Sempaya hot springs in Semuliki national park, Kitagata hot springs, Rwagimba hot springs, Burugu hot springs, Ihimba hot springs among others.
- Crater lakes
There are different crater lakes which are found in the western part of Uganda and they are formed as a result of volcanic activity.
These crater lakes found in the western part of Uganda are found around Fort Portal and also around Rubirizi. Some of the crater lakes include Lake Nkuruba, Lake Nyabikere, the Ndali-Kasenda lakes, Lake Nyinambuga, Lake Kifuruka, Katwe crater lakes, Bunyaruguru lakes, Lake Kifuruka, Lake Lyantonde, Lake Kamunzuku, Lake Mafuro, Lake Kyema, Lake Kamweru, Lake Nkugute among others.
Over 50 crater lakes are found in Uganda and they can be visited during safaris in western part of the country.
