Day trips (from US$50 per person) to see the residents here in Lake Victoria are popular. Plan ahead and you can join the overnight experience and a forest-walk with the chimps, who’ll climb all over you.

Located outside the park in Bundimusoli, the Twa people were relocated here when the park was established and, with no other choice, have since adopted agriculture, but they’re keeping hold of their traditions.

Established by the Ugandan Culture Centre in 1964, Nommo is a reliable spot for quality artwork.

A good alternative to climbing Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains or Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, trekking in Mt Elgon National Park offers a milder climate, lower elevation and much more reasonable prices.

Formerly known as Tulifanya, this well-established gallery has knowledgeable owners who can inform you about artists who matter. It features a notable Geoffrey Mukasa collection.

Built in 1922 Mengo Palace is the home of the king of Buganda, a grand historical site.

Once described as the most spectacular thing to happen to the Nile along its 6700km length, the 50m river is squeezed through a 6m gap in the rock and crashes through this narrow gorge with unbelievable power.

The legendary, mist-covered Rwenzori Mountains are presumed to be the Mountains of the Moon, described in AD 350 by Ptolemy, who proclaimed them to be the source of the Nile River.

Small, but definitely worth a visit with fascinating monthly exhibitions; check website for events. There are also some cool sculptures on the grounds.

Small contemporary gallery featuring Ugandan paintings and abstract sculptures in monthly shows.

A great place to learn about the history and culture of the Buganda Kingdom, guided tours take you inside the parliament building, providing interesting stories and details about the 56 different clans.

A low-key Buganda royal site, Wamala Tombs is 11km north of Kasubi.

A space for artists and freelancers, which features regular shows, film screenings and an outdoor cafe.

Inside the Home of Edirisa hostel, this simple and squashy (but very worthwhile) cultural museum houses a replica traditional homestead, built of sticks and papyrus, showing how the local Bakiga people lived a centuries.

Buganda royal tombs located 4km from Wamala tombs.

Artist-run gallery and studio featuring emerging and established Ugandan abstract artists.

One of Kampala’s premier sights, the prominent National Mosque was begun by Idi Amin in 1972 and finished in 2007 by Colonel Gadaffi. The hour-long tour allows you to scale its soaring minaret for the best views of Kampala.

Just down from Namirembe Cathedral, this small-scale gallery sells quality paintings by local artists at affordable prices.

While it functions primarily as a zoo, this centre is actually a world-class animal refuge that has benefited from international assistance in recent years. Most of the animals on display were once injured.

Uganda’s largest national park and one of its very best; animals here are in plentiful supply and the raging Murchison Falls a sight to behold.

Located 12km from Mbarara on the road to Kampala, this new cultural village is worth a look. Set on the grounds of a former palace of the Ankole king, this quality museum explores the peoples of southwestern Uganda.

Laid out in 1898, these expansive gardens are perfect for a leisurely stroll. The highlights are its pockets of thick rainforest, which locals claim some of the original Tarzan films were made in, and excellent bird watching site.

The Unesco World Heritage–listed Kasubi Tombs is of great significance to the Buganda kingdom as the burial place of its kings and royal family.

Along the highway on approach to Kabale, keep an eye out for this museum. It has a varied collection of artefacts and masks, information on clans, and more quirky items such as displays on the evolution of phones an…

The 370-sq-km Lake Mburo National Park is an increasingly common stop on the safari circuit since it’s the only place in southern Uganda to see zebra. It’s also the only park in the country with impala.

The birthplace of the mighty Nile river (or one of them anyway…), here the water spills out of Lake Victoria on its journey to the Mediterranean flowing fast from the get-go.

Get up close to some of the world’s deadliest snakes, including cobras and vipers, as well as chameleons, crocs and lizards, all which are rescued or injured. It’s around 3km off the Entebbe–Kampala road.

Although it’s the smallest of Uganda’s national parks at just 34 sq km, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park punches well above its weight. Tucked away in the far southwest corner of the country.

The Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve is the oldest protected natural area in Uganda, having first been set aside in 1926. Once one of the best-stocked and most popular wildlife parks in East.

These homegrown botanical gardens have a lot of well-signed indigenous plants and trees, as well as an organic farming project that grows herbs, flowers, trees, natural dyes, vegetables and medicinal plants.

Located on the outskirts of town, royal prisoners were starved in the prison ditch during the upheavals of 1888–89. Kabaka Kalema killed 30 of his brothers and sisters here in 1889 in his quest to keep control of the kingdom.

The Semliki Valley is a little corner of Congo poking into Uganda. The only tropical lowland rainforest in East Africa is a continuation of the huge Ituri Forest in the DRC and forms a link between the heights of Ea….

The 795-sq-km Kibale National Park is a lush tropical rainforest, believed to have the highest density of primates in Africa. It’s most famous for being one of the best places in the world to track wild chimpanzees.

Covering 1978 sq km, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most popular in Uganda. With landscape including savannah, bushland, wetlands and lush forests, the park is inhabited by 96 species of mammals.

Open to the public, a visit to parliament is an interesting way to spend an hour or two. You can either tour the building, or see the government in action – parliament sits from 2.30pm Tuesday to Thursday.

Looking down over the town from its highest hill, the palace is worth a visit purely for its 360-degree panoramic views. It’s the residence of King Oyo, who ascended the throne in 1995 at the age of three.

The water dripping from the roof of this small cave is milky white, hence the name Amabeere (‘Breasts’). Most of the rock formations are broken, but it’s fun to walk behind the waterfall covering it and past the walk.

This eco-tourism site, set up with the help of Fort Portal’s Kabarole Tours, preserves an attractive 13-sq-km valley that otherwise would have been gobbled up by the surrounding tea plantations.

The Budongo Forest Reserve is a large (825 sq km) tract of virgin tropical forest on the southern fringes of Murchison Falls National Park. Its main attractions are chimpanzees and birds (366 species).

Home to almost half of the world’s surviving mountain gorillas; the World Heritage-listed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of East Africa’s most famous national parks. Set over 331 sq km of improbably steep.

Offering some of the most stunning scenery of any protected area in Uganda Kidepo Valley National Park is hidden away in this lost valley in the extreme northeast of Uganda. The rolling, short-grass savannah of the …

Right in the city centre, this temple has elaborate towers and a swastika-emblazoned gate. Peek inside to see the unexpected dome.

These royal tombs 4km south of town make for a peaceful excursion. While from outside it’s not much to look at, if you can find the caretaker he’ll let you in for a look at the tombs, which house drums, spears.

About 35km out of Kampala, the 453-hectare Mpanga Forest Reserve is a decent option if you want to escape the chaos of Kampala for a day or two. It’s best known for its 181 species of butterfly, while red-tailed monkeys.

Just off Kira Rd, this classy little gallery features works by serious local artists. Downstairs has changing monthly exhibits, while upstairs is a permanent collection, but everything is for sale.

There’s plenty to interest you here with a varied and well-captioned ethnographic collection covering clothing, hunting, agriculture, medicine, religion and recreation (get the low-down on banana beer.

On the western bank of the river you’ll find the pleasant Source of the Nile Gardens and Speke Monument – a pillar commemorating where the British explorer first laid claim to the historic source of the Nile in 1858.

A centre for Ugandan contemporary artists is in the process of setting up an exhibition space; keep an eye out for upcoming events on their website, including its biannual Kampala Contemporary Art Festival.

Located 23km southeast of Entebbe in Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, or ‘Chimp Island’, is home to over 40 orphaned or rescued chimpanzees who are unable to return to the wild.

Less overwhelming in terms of size but more attractive, the gleaming white Kibuli Mosque, dominating Kibuli Hill southeast of the centre was the previous principal mosque in Kampala.

There’s not much to see at this cave, next to the little waterfall at the bend in the road just above the village, but the caretaker will tell you a few tales about how the Sabiny people used to live.

The Big Five are back. In 2005, Rhino Fund Uganda opened this private 70-sq-km reserve, 170km northwest of Kampala, about 30 years after poachers shot the nation’s last wild rhino in Murchison in 1983.

Situated about 10km from central Jinja, Bujagali is not an actual waterfall, but rather a widespread series of large rapids, and was once one of Uganda’s outstanding natural beauty spots.

Mabira Forest Reserve – On The Way to Jinja – Eastern Uganda

It’s worth popping into this happening community arts centre to see what’s on, whether it be an art exhibition or cultural perfomance, or just stopping by for a meal. There’s also banda accommodation for USh50,000

This huge domed Anglican cathedral, finished in 1919, has a distinct Mediterranean feel. In years past the congregation was called to worship by the beating of enormous drums, which can still be seen in a little hut…

This twin-towered Roman Catholic cathedral has a memorial to the Uganda Martyrs, with 22 Catholic victims (later declared saints) enshrined in the stained-glass windows. They were among other Ugandan Christians burn…

An unexpected find in this neck of the woods, the Jewish Abayudaya community in the outskirts of Mbale on Nabugoye Hill dates back to the early 20th century. The synagogue is a simple, yet appealing, rustic red brick walls.

Many boat drivers will take you to these islands, where British missionary Dr Leonard Sharp founded a leper colony and settled in 1921, but the story is more interesting than the sights.

On the highest hill behind Lake Nyamirima, from this viewpoint you can see up to five lakes (depending on the air clarity).

Run by Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort, this 35-acre island is worth a visit if you want to see to wildlife such as zebra, waterbuck, ipala and kob up close. All were brought here from Lake Mburo National Park.

The equator crosses the northern sector of the park near Kasenyi and is marked with a circular monument on either side of the road, which is predictably popular with passerbys stopping for that quintessential holiday.

The Wednesday market, 11km south of Fort Portal, is the largest market in the west and attracts traders from all over, including many from the DRC selling fresh produce, clothing and bric a brac.

The small, seldom-visited Katonga Wildlife Reserve is certainly one of the best places to spy the elusive sitatunga antelope, known for its curious webbed.

This commercial market is across from the bus stand with vendors selling fruit and vegetables among other produce and clothing.

Translating to Punishment Island, this tiny island was so named because it was once the place where unmarried pregnant women were dumped to die. Their only rescue from drowning or starvation was if a man who was too…