Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa and it’s bordered by South Sudan in the north, Kenya in the east, DRC in the west, Tanzania in the south, and Rwanda southwest. The equator crosses Ugandawhich divides the Earth into two. She has two seasons throughout the year: the dry and wet seasons. Uganda is home to the endangered mountain gorillas with half population in Uganda. Uganda is a popular tourist destination with attractions including national parks, mountains, vegetation, the source of the Nile, and the great Murchison Falls. Since it isa popular tourist destination more hotels and lodges have been put up to accommodate all people thus the reason for the budget hotels in national parks and outside the parks.
Budget lodges
Kazinga Channel View Resort
It is located in Katunguru, Rubirizi, giving incredible views of the park since it’s near the Kazinga channel. Elephants and baboons come around and go about their business. You get to see them at a close range while at your lodge relaxing. The lodge has self-contained and spacious block houses, bands, and cottages, all with comfortable, well-furnished rooms, not forgetting a camping ground for visitors.
Topi lodge
Topi Lodge is near Queen Elizabeth National Park by the Ishasha sector at the rim of the park only 5 minutes from the southern gate to the Ishasha sector. The lodge is within the savannah surrounded by birds that give you sweet melodies as the sun rises and when setting the lodge’s African designs are the grass thatched roof, kitenge materials, and chairs.
Rwonyo Rest Camp
This lodge is operated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and is located in the park many wild animals come around this camp to give visitors a chance to view animals without going on a game drive.
Leopard Rest Camp
It is located outside the park only 1 km offering a variety of accommodation activities, and safari options for every traveler. Accommodation at this lodge ranges from bush camping for visitors interested in bush camping can come with their own tents, kitchen, and cooking facility for those with their food. Lazy camping allows you to get the wilderness experience without having to sleep on the ground with each tent elevated on a concrete platform covered by a thatched roof. Safar tents and luxury safari tents.
Sambiya River Lodge
It is located only 30 minutes from the top of Murchison Falls offering a great location in the heart of the park best known for its peaceful atmosphere and friendly staff it offers the best services to client’s budgets.
Murchison Falls Giraffe Camp
It offers comfort in the safety of the wilderness with en suite safari tents with open showers, en suite Banda rooms, and a campsite offering open ground for camping.
What are some of the best destinations in Uganda?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
It is home to the endangered mountain gorillas, butterflies, and birds and is 9 9-hour drive southwest of Kampala and 1 hour with chartered flights from Entebbe International Airport. Bwindi houses more than half of the world’s population. Bwindi also provides shelter to 120 mammals including primates such as baboons, antelopes, and elephants as well as reptiles. The gorillas can be seen or accessed with a permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a local registered company. Gorillas live in groups called families with the male called the silverback as the head and therecan be up to 40 members per family. 26 groups are now habituated for tourism and are available for trekking. Here the visitor gets to spend more time with the gorillas compared to one hour of gorilla trekking and this only takes place in the Rushaga sector and only 4 people are allowed to habituate per session unlike 8 for trekking.
Gorilla permits cost as follows per person:
USD 800 per person for foreign non-residents
USD 700 per person for foreign residents
UGX 300,000 for East African citizens
Habituation gorilla permits costUSD 1500 for foreigners and UGX 750,000 for Ugandans.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Thisis the most popular savannah park in Uganda and the best place to see the tree-climbing lions. It spans the equator line and monuments on either side of the road markthe exact spot where it crosses latitude 00. The park is home to over 95 mammal species and over 600 birds. Panoramic views of the Kazinga channel with its banks lined with boffolas, elephants, hippos, fig trees hiding tree climbing lions. Most of the park comprises open grassland and savannah which tends to be moist and woody boasting 20 carnivores like spotted hyenas, leopards, lions, and stripped jackals.
Lake Mburo National Park This is the smallest savannah park in Uganda. It is home to 350 bird species, including zebras, impalas, buffalos, oribi, waterbuck, topi, hippos, and hyenas. Once covered by open savannah it supports the healthy population of buffalos, bush pigs, warthogs, and hippos. Lake Mburo is comprised of 20 wetlands that house numerous bird species.