How to be a tourist in Uganda: my top 4 tips for young Ugandans who want to travel
I recently received a message from a young Ugandan who wrote “I love touring. What can I do to start touring one of these days?”
Although there are tour companies that develop group packages specifically for Ugandans [read: domestic tourists] here are a few of my ideas to get you started.
Tip no. 1. Add an extra day to an existing trip
You don’t need a lot of money or time to become a tourist in Uganda. For example, if you go on a work trip upcountry, think about extending for one or two days so that after you’ve done your work, you can explore the area.
- Try local foods
- Ask about local customs
- Enjoy the scenery
- Learn a few words in a new language
These experiences will give you a different perspective on what you know about your own country. I’m sure you will be amazed at what you learn. I have lived in Uganda for ten years [read: permanent tourist in Uganda!] and honestly feel I have only scratched the surface of this country in terms of travel experiences and culture.
Tip no. 2. Add an interesting stopover on a family visit
Can you include a bit of exploration on a family trip? If you’re going upcountry to visit relatives, look out for places to stop along the way.
Some of my favourite places to stop include the Equator Monuments (near Masaka or Kasese), the Nakayima Tree in Mubende, Biharwe Eclipse Monument near Mbarara, the Entanda project near Mityana. Read about some of these places here in my “25 little-known places to visit” and be a tourist in Uganda like me 😉.
By including a short stopover on a trip you are already planning you save on fuel plus you get to break up what might be a tedious journey.
Tip no. 3. Use public transport
If you don’t have access to a car, that doesn’t need to hold you back from being a tourist in Uganda.
I have travelled by public transport (bus, matatu, tuk tuk and train) across East Africa: from Kampala to Nairobi, from Malindi and Watamu to Mombasa, from Kampala to Kigali, and as far west as Nyungwe Forest on Rwanda’s border with Burundi.
I’ve had very few hassles on public transport and simply LOVE staring out of the window as the countryside passes by!
Tip no. 4. Explore what’s on your doorstep
Having said all this, you don’t need to travel out of Kampala to be a tourist in Uganda.
Have you visited any of these?
- The Bahai’ Temple
- Ghadaffi Mosque in Old Kampala
- Afriart Gallery and Afriart on Seventh
- The Lubiri Palace in Mengo
- Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo
- Kabaka’s Landing Site in Mulungu by Munyonyo
Did you know these ‘everyday’ places are popular with tourists? Places that you drive past every day and take for granted are full of historic and cultural interest. When you visit one of them, it will give you further ideas about other places you can visit. Read my blog History in your hand – exploring Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe with three new maps and a mobile app (all free by the way!)
What’s stopping you from being a tourist? (And don’t just say ‘money’)
I want to travel the length and breadth of Africa, so guess what I did? I found a job as a volunteer here in Uganda. I then used this as a base to travel around East Africa. I knew I would never earn the money to see all these places independently, so that’s why I created this blog, bartering my way around the region by exchanging stories for a place to stay.
If you really want to travel, you will find a way. Like anything in life, it’s about having the right attitude.
What is tourism really? What is the difference between international and domestic tourism in Uganda?
Tourism is about many things.
For international visitors to Uganda, most of them want to see the country’s incredible wildlife. That may not be your thing. You may prefer hiking a volcano or birdwatching or learning about the cultures of different tribes. You may just want to shake your kabina at a music festival! Ugandan tourists often prefer traveling in big groups.
Maybe you like swimming or boat rides. Do you want to learn to sail on Lake Victoria? Learn to ride a horse? Ride a CAMEL?
The possibilities are ENDLESS – you just need a bit of imagination.
I was tickled pink when fellow blogger Tumuhimbise Moses sent me a link to his latest blog “Breaking resolutions with a 10km walk.” Thanks for the mentions Moses – keep up the excellent writing!
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How do I travel? Read some of Diary of a Muzungu’s bus and train adventures across Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda!
By bus from Kampala to Nairobi
By tuk tuk, bus and SGR train between Malindi, Watamu, Mombasa and Nairobi
A very inspiring article and if readers don’t get up off their butts or kabinas and take your advice then it’s because they don’t want to. Certainly reading your blog should inspire the would be traveller.
Thank you! It’s really interesting how young Ugandans have been getting into tourism over the last couple of years. When I first moved to Uganda, going on safari was seen as a white tourist thing, something that Africans would never do. However, these days I have Ugandan friends who are just as adventurous as I am. They’ll spend the weekend camping, go hiking, try zip lining, go on safari, go birdwatching. It’s really exciting to see domestic tourism pick up. My blog is proof that you don’t need a lot of money to travel around the region either. Virtually all of my travels have been done using public transport.
LOL get off your kabina!
Where can I click “like” for your article?
You should see floating social media icons on the left hand side of the page or above/ below the article in a horizontal line. Do you see it?
Nice read. All these things are actually doable.
Thanks for dropping by Pamela 🙂
Yes I think the spirit of adventure can start with small activities in your neighbourhood. Volunteering for conservation organisations, for example, allowed me to have amazing wildlife experiences for little or no cost. I’m not a vet or a ranger but instead used my writing and fundraising skills to help promote conservation. I believe that if you really want to travel and experience life, you’ll find a way.
Great read for me planing to start a fun travel vlog. I’ve always wondered on how to get started but always got caught up in excuses like i’m not ready.
Since my kind job allows me to work from anywhere, i just have to put my thoughts in order and get on the road.
Thanks for the tips and like Pamela said, they’re all doable.
Thanks Hamza – and you know what they say “there’s no time like the present.” Wishing you the best of luck – send me a link once you launch the vlog!
I’m one of those who uses the excuse of “I don’t have money” this article has interesting tips. Especially the idea of touring at home town is quite amazing(eye opener)
Aha! Yes you see it’s not so much about having money as about creating the opportunity and tuning into what’s already around you.
I don’t believe that tourism in Uganda is just for muzungus. Travel to Kenya, and you’ll see how much Kenyans LOVE travelling within their own country, going to the countryside for the weekend, going camping, etc. We need to pick a leaf from them!
Lovely to read from you David 🙂
You got me… Of recent I was in Western and northern Uganda for my education seminars but I never took off time to tour the area! Lesson learned next time better!
Like you say Rogers, next time I highly recommend planning a bit of time off while you are upcountry.
This is the incredible Park Guell. It was a beautiful morning of blue skies and sunshine. As we entered the park, parrots flew overhead. As we walked up the hill we saw the Mediterranean sea. It was magical! For that hour, I wasn’t there with my boss working – I was a traveller.
I used to work for a company that had offices in Barcelona. I had never been there but it was high on my list of places I wanted to visit. I was thrilled when my boss told me that we had been asked to go there for a meeting.
However I realised that the itinerary was going to be: arrive at the airport, go straight to a meeting, work late, sleep, go back to the airport… it was hardly the sightseeing trip I wanted!
I made myself get up extra early so I had an hour to explore the city on foot before the meeting started.
That morning taught me the importance of carving out a little bit of time for yourself 🙂
This is what I have been doing since my teenage years but never took myself to be a tourist. Just this year, WordCamp Kampala organised a bike ride in Entebbe and the kids in the neighbourhoods were calling us ‘abazungu’ even when all of us where black.
Another way I have toured some places is by requesting a teacher in charge of a kids’ school trip to fix me on their team. I remember touring Western Uganda at only 150,000 Ug. Shs. for a period of 1 week. We visited Kyambura gorge, the rift valley, Katwe Salt lake, climbed Rwenzori Mountains, went to Kazinga Channel, visited Mobuku, visited crater lakes, amabere ga nyinamwiru, the list is endless.
Once, I went for a friends introduction ceremony wiyh my syafg of 5 in Mbale and we made sure we got pictures of all the moments along the way. We visited Itanda falls, Sezibwa, views of My. Elgon etc.
I think I qualify to be called a tourist.
Wow Dumba, you could have written this blog! 🙂
Thanks for sharing all your examples of how we can travel without breaking the bank… I had to laugh at the ‘black muzungus’ going for a bike ride – I can imagine the kids’ jokes! LOL welcome to my world.
I’ve visited most of the places you list but what is there to see at Mobuku? And how do I get there?
At Mobuku? There isn’t anything of importance for a tourist. The place is a learning area for geography students who learn about irrigation, why the government set it up, and why this specific area doesn’t receive enough rain. Its purely academic.
Inspiring article, I did this too while going for a project work in the Island called Buyiga in Mpigi district,we used a local canoe manually driven by one energetic boy,I watched the beautiful lillies, the swamp,and I had my first experience in water transport. #IamAtouristInMyOwnCountry
Inspiring article, I did this too while going for project work in the Island called Buyiga in Mpigi district,we used alocal canoe manually driven by one energetic boy,I watched the beautiful lillies, the swamp,and I had my first experience in water transport. #IamAtouristInMyOwnCountry
Hi James
Thanks for your comment 🙂
Local canoes can be such fun. I loved the dugout canoe experience on Lake Bunyonyi with Gorilla Highlands.
I love your hashtag!
Thank you
I appreciate and adore you . Your well thought articles make me wanting more and more. Am a local tour guide here and your well researched work has always been a tool in doing some of my work. Keep it up!
Thank you Innocent 🙂 Glad you’re enjoying my blog.
Nodding all the way through – also thank you for the embedded links.
Let me cover the 25 little known places while I save for Watamu
When you say you’re nodding Danny, I hope that doesn’t mean you were nodding off – and that my blog wasn’t sending you to sleep? LOL.
Do save for Watamu. 100% worth it!