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Uganda tours, trips & holidays
Often referred to as the pearl of Africa, Uganda is an adventure-lovers dream. From snow-capped mountains to misty jungles to archipelagoes brimming with paradise islands. The natural splendour of Uganda has captured the hearts of travellers for years.
Explore giant lakes, search for rare mountain gorillas, and hike the highest mountain range in Africa. Party and dine in the bustling cities, soar through the open plains of Uganda’s national parks, and get your adrenaline pumping with anything from white-water rafting to bungee jumping. A holiday to Uganda is nothing short of spectacular.
Group Tours of Uganda with Tucan Travel
A group tour is an excellent way to explore Uganda. Our Uganda tours are open to anyone – friends, groups, couples and of course, solo travellers. We have six incredible itineraries to choose from, from the 8-day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Experience tour, visiting Uganda & Rwanda, to the ultimate 42-day African adventure hitting the highlights of this stunning continent. Our group tours to Africa use a combination of private vehicles, our own overland trucks and flights so you can make the most of your time abroad. Our custom-built overland trucks are there to pump a little more adventure into your holidays. Travel in much-needed comfort with ample space for passengers, even if it’s a large group. Our trucks are fitted with built-in electrical chargers and large sliding windows so you can be sure you’ve got a good view of the stunning African landscape. All of our tours are accompanied by an expert Tucan Travel tour leader and include all accommodation throughout.
Top 12 places to visit in Uganda
The untouched, African gem of Uganda has much to offer explorers, hikers, adrenaline-junkies and of course, wildlife lovers. Home to Africa’s largest lake, its highest mountain range and the world’s biggest concentration of mountain gorillas, there’s much here to explore. Add that to the serene lakes, the stunning islands, the bustling cities and the exceptional landscape, and it can be tough to know where to begin. Here’s our pick of the top 12 places to visit in Uganda.
1. Kampala
Don’t let your first impressions of this busy, dusty city put you off. The capital city of Uganda is a great place to begin your holiday. Get under the city’s skin, and you’ll soon find that this charming city packs a big punch. Kampala is also an excellent spot to use as a base for your Uganda safaris and excursions.
Visit the Kusubi Tombs, wonder the sun-drenched streets of Central Kampala with its bustling markets and throngs of crowds. Explore the beautiful Gaddafi National Mosque and sip a sophisticated cocktail or two down the Nakasero Hill area. The outskirts of the city provide a stark contrast with its rural setting of cattle farms and banana plantations.
Did You Know?
Uganda is such a fertile country that it can supply most of Africa with food grown on its land.
2. Lake Bunyonyi
Often said to be one of the most beautiful places in Uganda, Lake Bunyonyi provides an idyllic escape up in the Kigezi highlands. Picture rolling hills, gently sloping into the vast blue lake with over 20 islands peppered throughout the water. Float from island to island exploring the green terraces, fishing villages and eucalyptus and banana plantations. Go kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking and hiking. ‘Bunyoni’ literally translates to ‘place of small birds’. So you can rest assured that this is one of the best places in Uganda for bird watching.
3. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Home to the world’s largest concentration of mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the place to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Track the enormous silverback gorilla through 330 sq meters of endless green. Lush rainforests, steep mountains and dense foliage make this park one of the most biodiverse places in Uganda. As well as Bwindi’s most famous residents, the national park is home to 120 other species of mammal including forest elephants, chimpanzees, bushbucks, African golden cats and giant forest hogs. Bwindi forest is also one of the best places in Uganda for birdwatching.
4. Murchison Falls National Park
The stunning Murchison Falls National Park is the largest in Uganda. With the mighty Victoria Nile carving through its centre, creating crashing falls and raging streams, visiting Murchison Falls National Park is one of the best things to do in Uganda. Spot the big 5 and scour the skies for over 450 species of birds. The main attraction here is ‘Devil’s Cauldron’ – where the Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge, bursting out the other side creating its trademark, low-lying rainbow.
5. Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon National Park, situated in the jungle-covered highlands, has a wild beauty like no other. With an extinct volcano dominating the skyline and waterfalls cascading down its side, this place is nothing short of unique. From rugged canyons to underground mazes of cave systems and bubbling hot springs, you won’t run out of things to do. Keep an eye out for some of Africa’s most magnificent birds that call this place home.
6. Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park makes the cut for most Uganda tours, and there’s a good reason why. You’re almost guaranteed to see heaps of wildlife, including lions, zebras, hippos, giraffes, crocodiles and elephants. One of the biggest highlights here is the Ishasha area – where you’ll find the famous tree-climbing lions! Aside from the game drives, take a boat trip down the Kazinga Channel, explore caves and volcanic craters and hike through the stunning Kyambura Gorge and Maramagambo Forest.
7. Kibale National Park
The undisturbed forest of Kibale National Park is the primate’s capital of Africa and the best place in the world to track chimpanzees. Set amidst undulating hills, volcanic crater lakes, coffee plantations and giant fig trees, the stark, natural beauty of the area is unsurpassed. Hiking trails will have you traipsing through dense jungle, wild wetlands and tropical forests, searching for over 70 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, and of course the famous chimpanzees.
8. Jinja
Jutting out to meet the Victoria Nile, is the colonial river town of Jinja. Sleepy, tropical and relaxing, this is the perfect place to recoup some energy after the bustling cities and adrenaline-fuelled Uganda safaris. The city has some excellent bars and boutiques lining the river banks, housing every kind of accommodation from luxury resorts to rustic ecolodges. As for activities, Jinja is an excellent place for boat tours, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, quad biking or horse riding.
9. Lake Mburo
Swaying savannah, dense forests, murky swamplands and a trickle of lakes, make Lake Mburo one of the most beautiful parks in Uganda. During dry season, Lake Mburo becomes an excellent place for a Uganda safari as the wildlife congregate beside its watering holes. Even though this is one of Uganda’s smallest national parks, it’s home to a wide selection of wildlife. There’s plenty to do from birding to boat rides, horseback riding to hiking the Rubanga Forest and the beautiful rolling hills surrounding it.
10. Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Resting on the shores of Lake Victoria is the laid-back town of Entebbe housing the most famous Botanical Garden in Uganda – Entebbe Botanical Gardens. Filled with rare flora, trees, monkeys, flowers in every colour, squirrels, butterflies and birds, make this stunning place feel magical. Explore 98 acres of fresh grass, take a picnic on the lawn or discover the tranquillity of the rainforest. The gardens also house a variety of birds and monkeys.
11. Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the wildest, most remote parks in Uganda. If you can get here, you’ll be rewarded with much smaller crowds than in other National Parks in Uganda. Take a game drive through the rugged savannah, the semi-arid valleys of Kidepo and explore the Narus rivers with its mountainous backdrop. It’s wild, rustic beauty makes Kidepo one of the most stunning places in Uganda.
12. Ssese Islands
This remarkable archipelago, with no less than 84 islands, is Uganda’s little slice of paradise. Golden sands, sun-kissed beaches, calm, warm waves and absolutely beautiful scenery. Each island has its own charm and personality with different exotic flora and fauna on each one. Some of the most popular islands are the Buggala and Bulago Islands. Relax by the lake, hike in the lush rolling hills, kayak along the rivers or horse ride through the forests.
Why Tucan Travel
A Uganda holiday doesn’t need to break the bank. Group tours with Tucan Travel are an excellent way to explore all that Uganda has to offer, even if you’re on a tight budget. Our Uganda tours were built to provide the perfect blend of excellent value for money, authenticity and unforgettable experiences. We like to give our passengers a real inside look into the Ugandan culture.
Being an adventure tour specialist who has run tours to Uganda for decades, you can be sure that we work exceptionally hard to maintain our strong relationships with our local suppliers in Uganda. Whenever possible, we stick to family-run hotels and guest houses, avoiding large chains when we can. If you still need more convincing, check out all of the glorious awards we’ve recently won for our tours here. But don’t take our word for it, read what our customers say on Trustpilot.
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