For an authentic nature experience, explore the best campsites in Uganda. Enjoy national park drives and get close to the wildlife while enjoying all Mother Nature offers. From Kidepo Valley National Park to Mgahinga National Park, there is no shortage of exciting destinations for your journey. Also, don’t forget about Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. Each offers a unique perspective on Uganda’s beauty. If you are seeking an adventurous solo camping journey through Africa, there is no more suitable destination than Uganda.
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What is the Best Location for a Campsite?
For the best campsites in Uganda, look for places that are:
- Flat, where your odds of finding a level campsite are best.
- Within convenient proximity of firewood and water.
- Off-trail, so you don’t disrupt another backpacker’s wilderness experience.
- Not at the bottom of a valley or canyon, where the air would be coldest and most humid.
Best Campsites in Uganda
1. Boomu Women’s group campsite
Boomu Women’s group campsite. Photo/The Uganda Trips.
Immerse yourself in Uganda’s culture and beauty by camping at Boomu Women’s Group Campsite Uganda. Located close to Budongo Forest Reserve and Murchison Falls National Park, this campsite offers an ideal spot for independent adventurers on their safari. You will have the chance to interact with locals as you craft your own souvenirs or help prepare meals, then journey into wilderness activities within Murchison Falls National Park. The absolute must-dos on your trip to the Nile include boat cruising, scaling up Murchison Falls for a breathtaking picnic scene, trekking alongside chimpanzees in Budongo Forest and venturing through lush forests.
2. Apoka Rest Camp
Apoka Rest Camp. Photo/Rent A Car Uganda.
In northern Uganda, Apoka Rest Camp offers sixteen self-contained cabins and a hostel with fourteen bandas. Each banda has two beds for budget travellers, making it an economical option when visiting Kidepo National Park. But if camping is more your style, feel free to bring tents and other essentials—make sure you pack enough food and drinks.
Plus, the views from these unparalleled bandas are nothing short of stunning: open savannas as far as the eye can see in nearby Kidepo Valley National Park. This park is one of the best campsites in Uganda, ideal for wildlife and bird watching. Whether on a solo journey or with friends and family, enjoy guided nature walks and visits to the Karamojong manyatta house.
3. Entebbe Backpackers Hostel and Campsite
Entebbe Backpackers Hostel and Campsite in Uganda is located along Church Road, about five (5) kilometers from Entebbe International Airport. The campsite is approximately 700 meters off the Kampala-Entebbe Airport route, after the Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel opposite the Uganda Printing and Publishing Cooperation.
From Entebbe Backpackers, you can easily connect up to the Ssese Islands (Kalangala) and the chimpanzee sanctuary at Ngamba Islands in Lake Victoria and Uganda Wildlife Education Centre the Botanical Gardens at Entebbe. If you are keen enough, you will spot out rare shoebill stork in Mabamba swamp.
4. Red Chili Rest Camp
Red chili Rest Camp. Photo/Red Chilli Hideaway.
Red Chili Rest Camp is another campsite in Uganda located within Murchison Falls National Park on the southern bank of the River Nile, approximately 500 meters off the Paraa ferry. A bonfire is lit most evenings, provided the weather allows for the full safari experience. The camp offers mid-budget accommodation in the park in well-furnished safari tents and bandas with public or private bathrooms and the only camping facilities with up-to-date showers, toilets, a cooking area and security lighting.
5. Simba Safari Camp
Simba Safari Camp. Photo/Queen Elizabeth National park.
Simba Safari Camp is one of the most popular camps in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and it is located on top of the hill that overviews Lake Kikorongo. The site offers the best panoramic views beyond the park’s open savanna plains, wildlife species and Lakes, especially Lake George and the renowned Kazinga Channel. It is also strategically located along the Kasenyi plains, on the edge of Lake George, the most famous mating ground for Uganda Kobs, making it the best wildlife spotting site in the park.
The camp is also next to other areas in the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, for instance, the Mweya Peninsula and the Kazinga Channel, which allows you to undertake a boat cruise, close-range game viewing and birding. Visitors can also engage in guided chimpanzee trekking around the Kyambura Gorge.
6. Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Ishasha Wilderness Camp. Photo/Jacana Tours.
Ishasha Wilderness Camp is also one of the best campsites in Uganda, where you can explore the wonders of southern Queen Elizabeth National Park and experience authentic African life. Pitch your tent steps away from River Ntungwe and prepare for a unique safari adventure! Keep an eye out for special sightings, such as the tree-climbing lions, buffaloes, elephants, black and white colobus monkeys – all in their natural habitat. So don’t wait any longer; come and see what this incredible spot offers.
7. Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort. Photo/Tracks4Africa.
This campsite is situated on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi, offering stunning views of the lake and surrounding hills. The site has various accommodation options, including tents and cabins, and features a restaurant, bar, and activities such as canoeing and hiking. Lake Bunyonyi is a scenic freshwater lake surrounded by steep hills and terraced fields, and is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
You can enjoy a variety of activities during your stay at Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort, including canoeing, swimming, bird watching, and nature walks. The resort also offers boat trips on the lake and guided tours to nearby attractions such as the Batwa Cultural Trail and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
8. Lake Mburo National Park
campsites in Lake Mburo. Photo/Lake Mburo National Park camp.
If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Kampala for a weekend, Lake Mburo National Park is your ideal destination. The park offers an unparalleled opportunity to observe beautiful wildlife in its natural habitat. With picturesque landscapes and diverse animal species, this unique getaway promises memories that will last long after your trip ends.
The park offers many activities such as horseback riding, boat cruises, game drives, mountain biking, walking safaris and quad bikes available! For those wanting simplistic camping options during their visit, the Uganda Wildlife Authority campsite at the lake shores or Iwonyo Campsite would be ideal spots to set up camp.
9. Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park. Photo/Love Uganda Safaris.
Uganda is known for its abundant primate population. Although accommodation can be pricey in this area, there are plenty of campsites in Uganda to choose from. For example, both the Rweteera Safari Camp and Nkuruba Campsite have become popular choices amongst travellers looking to explore this natural wonderland.
10. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
camping at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Photo/For the Love of Wonder.
Uganda was once home to only extinct rhinos, but today they can only be found at both the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center in Entebbe and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Unlike the zoo-like feel of Entebbe, visitors to Ziwa are treated to a real wilderness experience with an opportunity for rhino tracking. For those wishing for an overnight stay, there is one recommended campsite known as Rhino Camp located onsite.
