Overview of Sights & Attractions

Categories of sights & attractions  National parks, Wildlife and Plants  Sites  Culture  Tourist activities

National Parks Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Kibale National Park Kidepo Valley National Park Lake Mburo National Park Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Mount Elgon National Park Murchison Falls National Park Queen Elizabeth National Park Rwenzori Mountains National Park Semuliki National Park

Wildlife & Flora These are mostly unique to Uganda Mountain gorilla (world’s largest primate) Tree climbing lions White Rhino (almost extinct in the world) Red Duiker Others Elephants, hippos, giraffes, crocodiles, monkeys, buffalos, zebra etc. Birds Shoebill stalk (endangered) Grey Crowned Crested crane (National bird). Other birds & butterflies of more than 800 species Plants Flamboyant tree, jack fruit, passion fruit, flowers of many species Pictures of Uganda’s Wildlife

Sites Beautiful lake Bunyonyi in Kigezi (deepest lake in Africa) Source of the mighty river Nile at Jinja (longest river in Africa) Kasubi tombs (Buganda Kings’ burial ground) Tororo rock Nyero rock paintings Waterfalls; Murchison, Sipi, Bujagali, Kisiizi etc.

Culture  Royal Kings and Kingdoms e.g. Kabaka of Buganda, Omukama of Tooro etc  Dance Over 200 types e.g. Imbalu from Bugisu (initiation by circumcision)  Dress; every region has its own style e.g. gomessi in Buganda  Food and drink Delicacies include luwombo, eshabwe (white sauce made from cow ghee), malewa (bamboo shoots)etc Local brew e.g. tonto (from bananas), kwete (from sorghum)  Different Traditions and custom, Legends (stories), norms and proverbs

Tourist Activities Wildlife Safaris and Camping Butterfly and bird watching Fly and Sport fishing Rafting and bungee jumping Gorilla trekking Geo caching Hiking and mountain climbing Tours and visits e.g. source of the Nile Religious e.g. Uganda Martyrs pilgrimage etc

VISITOR CHARACTERISTICS

Reasons why visitors come to Uganda. more visitor characteristic info.

Challenges of Tourism in Uganda Low publicity and bad image Foreigner’s lack of knowledge about Uganda’s existence. Those who know, do so for the wrong reasons e.g. Idi Amin, AIDS, war, poverty ; which is not entirely true! Poor infrastructure Lack of enough buses, guides and proper roads to some sites Destruction of general Eco-system Top 10 countries in terms of bio-diversity but few steps have been taken to nature this. (recent government’s near sale of Mabira Rainforest for sugarcane planting) Current suspension from WTO This is due to unpaid bills. It clouds the credibility of Ugandan tour operators in the eyes of suppliers from other countries.