Nicknamed the “Pearl of Africa” by Sir Winston Churchill, Uganda offers a smorgasbord of impressive attractions and unique things that you can’t see or do anywhere else. Not only can you go mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda, but can also stand in two different hemispheres at once in this country.

Amazing wildlife, awe-inspiring waterfalls, grand lakes, vibrant culture, and heart-racing adventures all await you in Uganda. Let’s explore the best things to do in Uganda.

Straddle The Equator

The best place to straddle the equator in Uganda is Kayabwe of the Mpigi District where you will find a smattering of souvenir shops and restaurants. You will also find an equator landmark in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Go Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Number one on our list of things to do in Uganda is gorilla trekking. If you’re looking for adventure, you can’t get any better than this! Get up close and personal with mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Only a handful of people get to spend time with wild mountain gorillas in their natural habit, because there are roughly only 720 left on the planet. Gorilla trekking is therefore both a fascinating and truly unique experience, one that’s understandably at the top of many people’s bucket lists! Here are 20 more things to know about mountain gorilla trekking.

Endangered Rhinos

Due to poaching you won’t spot rhinos in Uganda’s national parks. But the good news is that there are several white rhinos living happily in the expansive Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

The sanctuary was started in 2005 by the rhino reintroduction project, and profits from visitors go towards the breeding programme and their eventual release into the wild! These endangered, magnificent creatures are free to move around on 7,000 ha of land.

Watch them at close range on a one- to two-hour trek whilst they roam in their natural habitat.

Canoe On Lake Bunyonyi

The second deepest lake in Africa, Lake Bunyonyi is one of the country’s top natural treasures.

The lake is framed by lush, terraced hills, but it’s the 29 islands of various shapes and sizes scattered across the water that make it most magical. Its the perfect place to relax, explore the neighbourhood on a quad bike or go bird watching.

The word bunyonyi in the local language actually means ‘birds’, and yes, you guessed right – it’s thus called because the lake is home to an extremely broad range of bird species! Get your camera ready and check out those stunning views.

Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park

If you consider yourself a bit of a nature buff, you’ve probably heard about the Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s the most popular tourist attraction in Uganda and the most visited national park – and we can see why! It’s home to 96 species of mammals, including lions, buffaloes, warthogs, hippos, crocodiles and elephants. You can spot them all at close range.

Very few African lions climb trees. Nobody knows for sure why a handful of lion populations in Uganda and Tanzania go up trees when their brethren don’t. Some think they climb trees in order to avoid tsetse fly bites. Others believe it’s a way of them escaping the heat on the ground. Whatever the real reason, they look rather comfy!

Visit The Salt Pans Of Lake Katwe

Lake Katwe is a traditional salt-mining lake known for its high-quality salt. Small salt mines make a pretty pattern on the edge of the lake. We recommend popping by on your way to Queen Elizabeth National Park to see how the local community mines the salt.

FYI, the lake was formed in the aftermath of a violent volcanic eruption.

Visit Murchison Falls

Murchison Falls became one of Uganda’s first national parks in 1952. It’s the largest national park in Uganda and one of the best destinations for those interested in the country’s wildlife.

Today, you can expect to see elephants, crocodiles, endangered giraffes, leopards, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, buffalos, hippos, antelopes and waterbucks. That’s a long list! The park is also home to 460 species of birds, including the shoebill stork.

And of course a visit to Murchison Falls would not be complete without a visit to the falls themselves up close in person. You can do this on an unforgettable boat cruise.