Less known Ugandan destinations
Less known Ugandan destinations: Uganda is renowned for its beautiful scenery, varied and rich cultures, and wonderful wildlife. While many international travelers head to top-known spots such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, there’s a lot to be said for discovering some of the country’s off-the-beaten-path gems. This piece looks at a few less-known Ugandan destinations that promise one-of-a-kind experiences far from the hordes.
Sipi Falls, in Eastern Uganda, evokes a multi-sensory experience—the most intoxicating of which is a sight, a cascade of water that plunges 330 feet. Its drops are vestigial. Most of the water makes an unbroken descent to the ground and misses the ledge above the next drop entirely. Not only is it Uganda’s tallest waterfall, Sipi Falls is also positioned to be seen tumbling down the face of the cliff from several angles. It is the prime photography site in Eastern Uganda, particularly for those who embrace the golden hour between dusk and dawn. Seemingly, the sun sets a little later in Sipi than it does anywhere else in the world. And the images captured at the falls looking upward and then down toward the basin below are iconic, Waterfall Photography 101.
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the most isolated and least visited national parks in the country and lies in the remote northeastern corner of Uganda. Although it can hardly be described as accessible, Kidepo Valley National Park offers a staggering variety of wildlife and breathtaking scenery. The park harbors some 77 different kinds of mammals, among them elephants, lions, leopards, and the seldom-seen cheetah. Kidepo’s landscapes, which range from the rugged mountains of the park’s northern end to the stunning expanses of savannah in its southern reaches, provide a magnificent setting for both game drives and walking safaris. One can also have cultural experiences with the Karamojong, whose distinctive customs and traditions are long remembered after a visit to the park.
The terraced geography of our 21st-century homes in southwestern Uganda is reminiscent of the stair-step structures that the Swiss people build as they move up and down the valley floors and mountainsides. What is far more evident, though, as one gazes at the picture-perfect panorama of Lake Bunyonyi, is the pulchritude of a placid body of water lying beneath quilted hills. Nestled in terraced gardens, a couple of romantic homes dot the shores of the lake, which the 2015 Uganda Wildlife Authority Guide suggests is “becoming a best-kept secret with the lake’s serene nature.”
The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, located in central Uganda, is crucial to the conservation of the endangered rhinoceros. The sanctuary is currently home to the country’s only wild rhinos, having been established to reintroduce the species after it was poached to local extinction by the early 1980s. On a recent visit to Ziwa, following an early morning briefing and outfitting with walkie-talkies for the lead trackers, the experience of following the hour-long “track” to the rhinos was nothing short of exhilarating. Although the Zimbabwe-trained head guide carries a rifle as a precaution (of the four hunter-gatherer groups that the Ziwa Sanctuary shares its 70 km perimeter fence with, the most dangerous is the one that carries spears), the walk is safe because the full-time staff at the Ziwa Sanctuary ensures that all the animals within its boundary, including those in the deep grass, are on their schedule.
Located in western Uganda, Semuliki National Park is one of the country’s lesser-known treasures. Its diverse ecosystem is more like that of Central Africa than East Africa, thanks to the tectonic formation of the nearby Albertine Rift Valley. The park is a repository of dramatic biodiversity—its 220 square kilometers home to many species of birds, primates, and plants that are rare or found nowhere else in Uganda. Among the main attractions are the Sempaya Hot Springs, which bubble out of the ground in a spectacular and beautiful manner reminiscent of a scene from Yellowstone National Park. “Don’t sit too close to the water—it’s hot!” a park ranger instructed us while we were soaking in the attractive setting. We were making that park-famous error of too enthusiastically photographing an attention-grabbing natural feature.
Mount Moroto in northeastern Uganda provides an exhilarating trekking experience for those who are looking for an adventure. Part of the Karamoja region, renowned for its unique culture and stunning topography, Moroto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trek up Moroto is not for the faint-hearted. It involves not only a strict climb to the peak, but also a distinctive brilliant panorama at the top that is worth every ounce of effort. The path (when there is one) is marked by unusual boulders that somewhat precariously balance on each other, which is iconic for this area. When you are with your eyes scanning the right side of the path, you feel a little zaftig with a puffed-out chest.
Uganda’s secret treasures allow visitors to step beyond the ordinary to uncover locales laden with natural splendor, wildlife, and rich cultural experiences. The stillness of Lake Bunyonyi—whose very name evokes the sound of tranquility—competes with the barely accessible Kidepo Valley National Park, where rugged untrammeled landscapes present a seemingly alien beauty rarely seen in the African wilderness. In these and other off-the-beaten-path hidden gems, travelers encounter the essence of the Pearl of Africa. If you’re ready for an adventure and an authentic experience, Uganda’s lesser known destinations invite you to unearth them.