It’s definite that western Uganda outcompetes other regions when it comes to remarkable tourist attractions and activities that offer memorable experiences. It’s evident that over 80% of tourists to Uganda opt for western region to explore the hidden gem. Therefore, any Uganda safari booking without visiting the western region is incomplete and missing. A combination of undulating plains, Great Rift Valley, lakes, rivers, beautiful landscape and a variety of birds, primates and other wild animals offer you a lifetime experience. Western Uganda comprises of six districts, which include Fort portal, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Kasese, and Rubirizi. Top tourist attractions in western Uganda include:
Queen Elizabeth National park
Located along with Fort portal Mpondwe road in Rubirizi district, Queen Elizabeth national park is Uganda’s second-largest national park spreading over 1,978 square kilometers of land. The park is also one of the most visited parks in Uganda known for its high concentration of wild animals. The main activities within Queen Elizabeth National park include game viewing, lion tracking in kasenyi plains, katwe salt mines, Munyanyange crater lake,
Flamingoes at Lake Munyanyange
nature walks and the famous launch cruise at kazinga channel. Game drive in the park offers you great chance to see numerous animals such as elephants, lion, leopards, waterbucks, warthogs, elands, Uganda kobs, buffalos, Topis, L’Hoest gazelles, hippos, ground, and tree-climbing lions among others. Also, the shores of Kazinga channel shelters numerous birds which include white egrets, saddle billed stork, Africa fish eagle, African kingfisher, Long tailed Cormorants, white winded, swamp nightjar, African morning dove, Little bee eater, and Knob billed ducks among others. Also, trek chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge in the eastern corner of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Accommodation /Lodges in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Mweya Safari Lodge
• Kasenyi Safari camp
• Katara Lodge
• Engazi Game Lodge
• Park View Lodge
• Kyambura game lodge
• Queen Elizabeth Game lodge
• Pumba safari lodge
• Ihamba lakes Safari Lodge
• Buffalo safari lodgeKibale Forest National park
Kibale forest is a stretch of lowland and montane forest located in Kabalore district western Uganda. The moist rain forest is home to chimpanzees and other 12 primates including black and white monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Colobus Monkeys, Red tailed Monkeys and blue monkeys among others. The rain forest is therefore, the best place for Uganda primate safaris. Besides primates, Kibale forest shelters numerous terrestrial mammals which include duikers, bush pigs, forest elephants, Giant forest hogs, Bushbucks, African buffalos, and warthogs among others. For birders, Kibale forest shelters over 325 bird species which include black-eared ground thrush, yellow potted nictaor, African Pitta, Blue-breasted kingfisher, African grey parrot, Collared Apalis, Little greenbul, Pigeon, red chested Owlet, Afep Pieon, and little green bull among others. Nature walk within the forest and to Bigodi wetland sanctuary offers you a fresh feeling of the natural environment. Also, spare time to visit Amabare Ganyina Mwiru in fortporal and learn about the historical attachments of these stalagmites and stalactites to the Banyonyoro.
Accommodation/lodges in Kibale Forest National Park
• Primates Lodge
• Crater Safar Lodge
• Rweteera Safari Park
• Ndali Lodge
• Isunga Lodge
• Chimpanzee forest camp
• Kyaninga Lodge
Lake Mburo National Park
Explore Lake Mburo National park located in Kiruhura district, a few kilometers from Mbarara city. A drive to LMburo Park gives you scenic views of the Ankle flat farms with long-horned cows. The park was originally a hunting area, which was transformed into a national park in 1963. Top tourist activities in Lake Mburo national park include a boat cruise, game safaris, night game drives, bird watching, nature walks, Rubanga forest, salt lick, Fishing, milking experience, cycling safaris and horse riding among others. The park has a variety of lodging accommodations, which offer luxury, mid-range and budget food and sleeping services at affordable rates.
Lodges in L Mburo national park include:
• Mihingo Safari Lodge,
• Mburo Safari Lodge,
• Mantana Tented camp
• Arcadia Lodge
• Mpogo Safari lodge
• Rwakobo rock resort
• Rwonyo rest camp
Bwindi Forest National Park
We could not miss out mentioning Bwindi forest national park in southwestern Uganda. Sheltering the highest population of endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi forest is a must-visit destination in Uganda. Gorilla trekking is undeniably the most done tourist attraction in Uganda, which attract a high number of travelers to Uganda from all parts of the world. Fortunately, Bwindi forest is strategically located in easy connection from Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo & Kibale forest national parks. A gorilla trek in Bwindi can, therefore, be combined by other activities in other western Uganda parks.
Lastly, western Uganda is naturally endowed with exceptional tourist attractions worth visiting. A Uganda safari to Kibale forest, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, and Bwindi forest national parks offers you a remarkable experience.byAfrica Adventure safaris.