Uganda’s 11 most popular destinations on Instagram that get insane amounts of hushtags
Photo by © Kendra Smith on Flikr
‘If it isn’t on Instagram, it didn’t happen!’ From breakfast to bungee jumping, coffee to cats and elephants to everything in between – we share all on Instagram.
For many, the first thing we do with a photo, video or live experience is to share it on ‘the gram’, whether we document the moment to reminisce in the future or gain some social “clout” we do document and we do it a lot.
Thanks to this global addiction, Instagram is a great indicator of popularity, so we decided to use the platform to see which Uganda points of interest have been #hashtagged the most!
11. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Kicking us off at No.11 is Mgahinga National Park with around 2,000 posts using #mgahingagorillanationalpark or similar, this is one of Uganda’s two gorilla habitat National Parks.
Not only does it make to Uganda’s most popular national parks’ list, it is also Uganda’s smallest at 33.7 square kilometers. This destination is home to mountain gorilla families shared between the boundaries of 3 nations, Rwanda, DR Congo and Uganda. Also within it’s jungle canopies are the cute little endangered golden monkeys.
10. Lake Mburo National Park
Together with 13 other lakes in the area, Lake Mburo forms part of a 50km-long wetland system linked by a swamp. Five of which lie within the park’s borders.
The national park is a haven for birdlife including the rare shoebill stork and some 350 0ther species! It is also home to more than 68 mammal species including leopard, hippo, hyena, zebra and eland.
9. Kidepo Valley National Park
Nestled in the wild frontier region of Karamoja, Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park is seemingly the most isolated national park in Uganda. Those that an African Safari journey to the park believe it to be one of Uganda’s most magnificent. It seems those who have visited are the lucky few!
With incredible animal sightings and few tourists, Kidepo Valley might be the most beautiful park in all Africa – don’t take our word for it.
Tailor-made safaris
8. Lake Bunyonyi
Not only does Lake Bunyonyi appear on the 5,000 Ugandan shilling note it features in our top 10!
Dotted with numerous islands and surrounded by terraced hills, Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most beautiful lakes in Africa. It is said to be one of the deepest lakes in Africa (44m – 90m) and one of the safest – there are no crocodiles or hippos lurking in the shore waters and it is bilharzia-free.
Safari
7. Kibale National Park
Kibale is famously known for chimpanzee trekking and adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kibale Forest is also known as the primate capital of Africa with 13 primate species recorded in this pristine forest.
The park is covered by a lot of forest cover mixed with segments of grassland and swamps on a raised plateau. This makes for an interesting ecosystem and results in Kibale being one of Africa’s foremost research sites.
Tailor-made Safaris
6. The Rwenzori Mountains
Often referred to as the ‘Mountains of the moon’, the Rwenzori Mountain range are a spectacular sight and a must-see!
The mountain is the third highest in Africa rising up more than 16,700 feet above sea level. It’s highest peaks, Margherita (the highest) and Mount Stanley, rise above the clouds and are permanently snow-capped.
Mountaineering Safari
5. Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular savannah reserve and has the widest variety of wildlife of any Ugandan park.
QENP is a highly rated destination for wildlife viewing, it is home to 4 of the big 5 (rhino is absent) and has abundant numbers of elephant, buffalo and lion.
The tree climbing lions found in the Ishasha sector are a spectacle not to be missed. They are often spotted watching the world go by (and sleeping – as cats do) in huge fig trees.
With over 600 species of birds spotted in the park, it is a twitchers’ paradise!
Game Drive Safari
4. Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is an exceptional place to see wildlife. Situated at the end of the Albertine Rift Valley, it Uganda’s oldest and largest Africa safari park.
Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnants valley wall, creating the park’s unique attraction, the dramatic falls and an 80km stretch of rapids.
There’s an abundance of activities in MFNP including hot air balloon rides, launch trips to the bottom of the falls, however, are the most common. Providing the opportunity to explore the park from the water and sight elephants, giraffes and buffaloes visiting the riverbanks. You can also see the waters permanent residents; hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds.
Murchison Safari
3. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
As names go, there’s hardly a more evocative African destination than the Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi.
Its misty landscapes are covered by Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest jungle, which dates back over 2.5 million years. It is one of Africa’s most ancient habitats, even surviving the last Ice Age.
This mystical land has produced incredible diversity of flora and fauna, resulting in some 120 mammal species and over 350 bird species call Bwindi home.
The star attraction, however, is, of course, the mountain gorilla. Bwindi is the habitat for roughly, half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population of about 1063 individuals.
This is one of the best places in the world to see mountain gorillas up close. It is a truly unforgettable experience – don’t miss it.
Second and first place goes to less tourist focussed destinations and more highly populated areas. As a result, these places are hashtagged a lot and make the list. Nevertheless, they have a charm and are worth visiting when in Uganda.
Gorilla Trekking Safari
- 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari
- 5 Day Luxury Uganda Gorilla Safari
- 5 Day Gorilla Adventure Safari by Road
- 8 Day African Jungle Adventure Safari
2. Entebbe Town
Entebbe lies on the shore of Lake Victoria and provides an attractive introduction to Uganda. As it is home to Uganda’s only international airport, it is a flying visit for most!
If you choose to spend a bit of time here, the vibe is relaxed and the nearby natural attractions are worth seeing. For example the UWEC Zoo that houses most of Uganda’s animal species like chimps, lions, cheetah, leopard, elephant, giraffe, birds and more. This is the best placed to get introduced to Uganda’s wildlife plethora.
1. Kampala
Kampala, with 282,483+ posts, tops our list. This is largely due to residents rather than tourists. It is no real surprise to see the capital and largest city of Uganda as the most hashtagged place in Uganda. This is the cultural center of Uganda.
Don’t be mistaken though, Kampala is a dynamic and engaging city and has several worthy attractions to keep you busy for a couple of days.
Onward
That concludes our round-up of Uganda’s most #hashtagged destinations. If you’re travelling to Uganda, don’t forget to hashtag ‘#nkuringosafaris’ or #travelugandanext.
Nkuringo Safaris provides luxury African safaris tailored to your own style. We will listen to your style, needs and your expectation and craft a safari to match those preferences, take care of the accommodation, transfers, meals and your curate your activities to synchronize with your style of travel. We’re a licensed travel company that’s been in business since 2007 and operate with a well travelled team of consultants that endeavor to understand and relate to you..
Talk to a consult right away. or send an email to info@nkuringosafaris.com
