If you’re visiting Uganda, we extremely suggest spending a while in its capital metropolis Kampala. We’ve already coated in depth all our favorite issues to do in Kampala, however we admire that in the event you don’t have time to do every little thing, chances are you’ll be questioning how greatest to spend a day in Kampala.
Effectively, with that query in thoughts, we’ve put collectively this someday Kampala itinerary. It covers the primary highlights that we suggest seeing, which might be excellent for a primary time customer. It covers the most important points of interest that the majority guests are prone to wish to see, and is doable in a busy day of sightseeing with some cautious planning.
After all, as with every of our itineraries, we suggest adjusting this to fit your personal private tempo and pursuits. Should you prefer to go a bit slower and spend longer at points of interest, then in fact you may change it up.
This itinerary although ought to offer you an awesome start line for how one can spend a day in Uganda’s capital metropolis. Let’s get began.
A 1 Day Kampala Itinerary
Now we have visited Kampala numerous instances and have visited nearly all of the points of interest throughout town. Once we go to Uganda we usually attempt to have no less than a day to discover Kampala, however we’ve additionally spent longer within the metropolis on the finish of a visit earlier than heading on to our subsequent vacation spot.
Based mostly on our experiences, we put collectively this itinerary which encompasses a few of our favorite actions in Kampala that we predict cowl the primary highlights that guests will take pleasure in seeing.
After this detailed 1-day itinerary, we’ll additionally share another advised itineraries primarily based round totally different themes, to offer you much more concepts to your day in Kampala. So these are every targeted particularly on these with a particular space of curiosity equivalent to historical past, tradition, meals, artwork, wildlife, and so on.
However first, let’s have a look at our advisable option to spend a day in Kampala.
Cease 1: Take 3-hour strolling tour of central Kampala @ 9am
Our advice to your first exercise of the day could be to take a strolling tour with a educated native information. This may assist offer you a good suggestion of the historical past of Kampala, find out about cultural practices, and have the ability to ask questions to assist information the remainder of your time within the metropolis.
Central Kampala is usually a bit overwhelming, particularly to the first-time customer, so having a information with you who handles the logistics of the place you’re going and holding you protected may be a good suggestion.
There are a selection of various strolling excursions obtainable of Kampala which typically final 3 to 4 hours. Sights visited will range, however the majority of excursions will embrace the primary highlights of central Kampala. So which may embrace visiting a market or two, seeing central historic websites and buildings, sampling native meals, and visiting monuments in Kampala together with the Independence Monument.
We took this wonderful strolling tour of the highlights of central Kampala with information Arthur who is part of the ImmersionUG tour firm. It’s the prime firm we will personally suggest for strolling excursions as we’ve taken a number of strolling and meals excursions from them throughout our visits to Uganda. You possibly can see all their excursions right here.
Many excursions of Kampala additionally provide the choice to go to the Uganda Nationwide Mosque as a part of your tour. Relying on the tour, it will usually prolong the tour time by round an hour. It’s additionally in a special a part of town to that which most foot excursions concentrate on, so usually requires both a boda-boda or taxi journey to a different space of town.
Should you do that you then may be a bit pressed to do every little thing else on this itinerary and now have lunch, however clearly it’s as much as you what your priorities are.
Should you determine to go to the mosque and nonetheless wish to go to the remainder of the suggest locations within the afternoon, I’d suggest asking your information about grabbing a fast sandwich or snack for lunch on the finish of the strolling tour or think about choosing up a few issues on the market throughout the tour. You may as well come ready with some snacks and fruit in your day bag to eat throughout your day.
Another choice could be to ebook a strolling tour which has an earlier begin time, equivalent to this non-public tour which helps you to begin at 8am.
Another well-liked strolling excursions to think about in Kampala embrace:
Cease 2: Lunch @ 12pm
At noon, after your strolling tour is completed, we suggest stopping for lunch. You’ve simply spent round 3-4 hours strolling round, so a pause for lunch earlier than persevering with your sightseeing might be a good suggestion.
If you’re taking a full day tour, your tour will possible embrace a cease for lunch and the worth is usually included as a part of the tour.
If you’re not taking a full-day tour, we suggest asking your strolling tour information for a very good lunch advice. One of many advantages of taking a guided tour is that you would be able to ask your information for suggestions for different sights in addition to the place to eat lunch. That’s why once we take a strolling tour in a metropolis we’re visiting for a number of days, we all the time attempt to do it close to the beginning of our keep so we will reap the benefits of the guides suggestions for our remaining days.
There are many fast avenue meals stalls and carts that cater to locals in the event you simply desire a rolex (omelette wrapped in flatbread), plate of kikomando (chapati and fried beans), meat skewer, or a scorching sandwich/wrap (usually a chapati wrap with filling). These are fast, low-cost, and filling.
There are additionally buffet model lunch spots the place you may sit down and take a look at a number of dishes without delay. These are typically an excellent worth. If you’re on the lookout for some well-liked native meals to attempt apart from a rolex, we might recommend kikomando (fried beans and chapati), matoke or matooke (boiled and mashed inexperienced bananas), luwombo (a stew cooked in banana leaves that may embrace meat, fish, and/or peanuts), native fish (e.g., Nile perch, tilapia), posho or ugali (cornmeal porridge that may be a staple throughout East Africa), and grilled meats.
Your information may also help recommend a spot for you primarily based on what you might be on the lookout for, and also you simply wish to be sure that the place appears sanitary and the meals is served scorching. Keep away from recent veggies and salad, chilly dishes, unbottled water, undercooked gadgets, and so on.
Should you favor a nicer sit down place and have a bit extra time, we suggest heading to an area resort restaurant. Most resorts have eating places that serve each resort visitors and guests.
After all you can too save time by simply bringing alongside some meals with you (e.g., fruit, nuts, granola bars, jerky, and so on.) and having it as you go throughout the day in the event you favor. Even if you’re not prepared for lunch, breaking no less than for a espresso, tea, or soda although may be good after a protracted strolling tour.
Kabaka’s Palace @ 1pm
The main target of the rest of the day is on numerous cultural sights that may aid you perceive the historical past of Uganda, from pre-colonial instances via to the extra trendy age.
The primary cease we suggest to your afternoon is the Kabaka’s Palace. The Kabaka is the King of the Kingdom of Buganda, which is likely one of the 5 kingdoms which makes up modern-day Uganda. Buganda is the biggest Kingdom, and its capital was additionally Kampala. The Buganda monarchy dates again over 800 years and continues to be alive and effectively right now.
Historically, the Kabaka has had his palace on prime of one of many many hills of Kampala. As we speak’s palace, generally known as Lubiri or Mengo palace, isn’t any totally different. It’s discovered on prime of Mengo Hill, the place the palace has been located for the reason that mid nineteenth century. Nevertheless, the constructing was extensively broken throughout the 1966 civil struggle, following which it was utilized by Idi Amin throughout his oppressive regime. The palace is not occupied by the Kabaka, who solely visits for ceremonial causes.
And not using a Royal particular person to maintain protected from prying eyes, the palace grounds at the moment are open to guests. The palace itself is closed, however you get good views of its exterior. The palace grounds can solely be visited by tour, which is easy to rearrange, simply go to the primary gate, pay an entry charge, and a information will present you round.
Your tour will usually embrace a very good oral historical past of the palace and its grounds, in addition to the primary occasions that formed what you see right now. Additionally, you will tour the notorious torture chambers of Idi Amin, who had as much as 200,000 folks imprisoned and murdered right here throughout his regime. This darkish interval of historical past and the adverse affiliation is the primary cause that the palace and its grounds are not occupied by the Kabaka.
We actually loved our tour of Kabaka’s Palace and grounds. The tour information was wonderful, and we learnt quite a bit about Uganda’s historical past, together with current and extra distant historical past. We additionally loved studying about conventional bark fabric making and among the native video games that locals prefer to play.
A tour will typically final round an hour and we predict is a wonderful option to be taught extra in regards to the historical past of Uganda. You additionally get a very good view of Kampala from Mengo Hill.
Kasubi Tombs @ 2:45pm
Simply 10 minutes drive (relying on visitors!) from Kabaka’s Palace are the Kasubi Tombs. These are additionally associated to the Royal household, being the ultimate resting place of numerous the Buganda Kings.
Historically, the Kabaka, or King of Buganda, would select a novel location for his or her burial. So the Kasubi tombs are uncommon as a result of they’re dwelling to 4 Kabaka’s, in addition to numerous their descendants. The tombs date from 1882, with the primary burial in 1884, and the latest in 1971.
There are a selection of constructions on the positioning, with the massive foremost round constructing being the primary attraction. This 102ft huge, 25ft excessive constructing is the place the tombs of the 4 kings are literally discovered. The massive constructing is primarily constructed from pure supplies within the conventional model. It’s distinctive dimension and conventional building strategies led to it being listed as a UNESCO world heritage website in 2001.
In addition to the primary central constructing, there are a variety of different buildings on the positioning which may be seen once you go to. These embrace the Royal drum home, in addition to the houses for the Kabaka’s widows and members of the family. Historically these members of the family would reside on website to have a tendency the graves.
Tragedy befell the positioning in 2010 when an enormous hearth precipitated a substantial amount of destruction, however following intensive reconstruction efforts utilizing conventional supplies, the positioning is as soon as once more open for guests. There’s a charge to go to, which incorporates a wonderful tour of the grounds. Anticipate to spend round an hour to 90 minutes right here.
We loved our go to to the Kasubi tombs, though they had been nonetheless present process renovations once we final visited. These have now been accomplished. Our tour included all the primary sights, and our information was additionally excellent, actually bringing to life every little thing that we noticed.
Uganda Nationwide Museum @ 4pm
After visiting the Kasubi Tombs, in the event you nonetheless want to proceed sightseeing and studying about Uganda, then we extremely suggest taking the ten-minute drive to the Uganda Nationwide Museum.
This dates from 1908, making it the oldest museum in East Africa, and it’s the place to come back to be taught all about Uganda’s cultural heritage and historical past.
There are a selection of displays on show, which cowl every little thing from conventional musical devices to artwork, medication, clothes, fossils and far way more. You possibly can principally be taught all in regards to the historical past of the area from pre-history to the current day.
One in every of our favourite components of the museum is the skin space, the place you’ll discover numerous totally different conventional buildings. These characterize among the totally different tribes and time durations of Uganda throughout the years, and every constructing additionally accommodates numerous traditionally correct displays.
This isn’t a large museum, so even in the event you don’t have quite a lot of time left in your schedule we predict you’ll nonetheless take pleasure in a go to. There’s a charge to go to and it’s undoubtedly someplace you may go to on a self-guided foundation as there’s loads of data obtainable in English.
Break @ 5:30pm
At this level within the day, you’ve executed quite a bit and we’re going to suggest taking a break, possible heading again to your resort if you’re staying in Kampala, earlier than your night exercise. Maybe a drink, a nap, or a fast dip within the pool earlier than preparing for dinner.
If you’re not staying within the metropolis, I’d head to a restaurant or bar for a espresso, soda, juice, or beer and a pleasant break.
Ndere Cultural Middle @ 7pm
We might suggest, if doable, planning your go to to Kampala so the night co-incides with one of many cultural performances on the Ndere Cultural Middle. These performances run a number of instances per week and had been one in every of our highlights of our final go to to Kampala.
The efficiency takes place exterior below an enormous mango tree, and showcases one of the best of Uganda tradition throughout the assorted tribes who make up the land. A wonderful compere introduces every efficiency to offer you context and understanding of what you might be seeing, and actually helps convey the expertise to the following stage.
It’s additionally doable to have dinner as a part of the present for an additional charge, with numerous conventional dishes included. We are able to suggest doing this because it offers you a very good alternative to attempt some native meals and never have to fret about discovering dinner.
We arrived just a little early for our present so we might discover the grounds just a little bit and have a look at the artwork on show. We then sat down to look at the present because the daylight pale into night time, and actually loved the vitality and enthusiasm of the performers.
This was a extremely enjoyable expertise and one in every of our favorite issues to do in Kampala. We are able to extremely suggest it!
Different 1 Day Kampala Itinerary Choices
Should you’d like some extra inspiration for spending a day in Kampala, we’ve some solutions for you. We’ve put collectively some further choices themed round some particular classes like historical past, meals, tradition and so forth.
Be happy to combine and match throughout the points of interest to provide you with your personal excellent 1-day itinerary. We’d recommend that planning to go to 3 or 4 points of interest in a day would make sense for many guests, though do word that actions positioned exterior town just like the Mabamba Swamp tour or Entebbe Zoo are going to take up extra time. You may as well learn our information to issues to do in Kampala for extra concepts and knowledge on all of the websites we suggest.
By way of planning a day like this, you may both do every little thing your self, or you may attain out to a tour operator who can put collectively a non-public customized tour primarily based in your pursuits, equivalent to this one. They need to deal with all of your transportation and likewise make sure that your sightseeing objectives are achievable within the time you will have.
Historical past Itinerary
Kampala has lots to supply those that are all for studying in regards to the historical past of town and Uganda basically. We’d recommend an itinerary that appears one thing like the next:
- Morning: Metropolis tour equivalent to this one
- Afternoon: Uganda Museum, Kabaka’s Palace, and Kasubi Tombs
It’s additionally doable to ebook a tour which incorporates these sights in addition to numerous others, equivalent to this full day tour.
Meals Centered Itinerary
Should you’d prefer to be taught extra in regards to the meals of Kampala, then you may put collectively a day which focuses on exploring native markets, studying about native meals and dishes, and consuming among the many conventional dishes of town. A day would possibly look as follows:
Arts and Tradition Itinerary
There’s no scarcity of artwork and cultural points of interest to take pleasure in in Kampala. Right here’s an concept for a day targeted on exploring the creative and cultural points of interest within the metropolis.
Non secular / Religious Itinerary
Uganda has a wealthy non secular life, with numerous religions being practiced within the nation. These embrace Christianity and Islam, in addition to Judaism, Hinduism, Baha’i, and conventional beliefs and practices.
Through the years, and notably with the arrival of colonists, spiritual practices shifted dramatically in Uganda. As is usually the best way, this was not a frictionless course of, with numerous lives misplaced within the course of. Because of this, there are an awesome many sights of spiritual significance in addition to locations of worship throughout Kampala and the encompassing area. It may be difficult to suit every little thing into someday given how a lot there’s to see, however an concept could be:
- Morning: Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine Basilica, Baha’i Home of Worship
- Afternoon: Uganda Nationwide Mosque, Saint Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe, St. Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga
Nearly all of these sights are visited as a part of this spiritual tour of Kampala. It is a related tour.
If you’re visiting Uganda as a Catholic pilgrim, the Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine and Basilica might be a must-see. It’s positioned a 30 minute drive exterior of town in Namugongo, however you may can take a taxi or be part of a tour to achieve it.
Additionally value mentioning is the very attention-grabbing Shree Sanatan Dharma Mandal Hindi temple. It’s positioned in central Kampala and is usually visited in metropolis strolling excursions.
And for these of you who’re notably within the story of how Christianity got here to Uganda, a go to to the Kasingi touchdown website close to Entebbe may be of curiosity. Simply word that it’s fairly an effort to get right here and is greatest in case you have a driver and chances are you’ll must undergo a safety test as it’s positioned close to the airport.
Markets/ Buying targeted itinerary:
Kampala has a number of good markets to discover, from markets which concentrate on arts and crafts via to extra conventional meals markets serving the wants of the native inhabitants. You can simply spend a day visiting the markets in Kampala, which could look as follows:
- Morning: Owino Market, Nakasero Market
- Afternoon: Bagala Craft Market / Publicity Africa / Nommo Gallery
This full day strolling tour of Kampala contains nearly all of these markets, in addition to numerous different points of interest within the metropolis. There may be additionally a half-day tour which additionally covers the primary markets within the metropolis.
If you’re additionally heading to Entebbe, we might additionally suggest the Entebbe Juakali Centre (Entebbe Craft Market) and the little craft retailer inside the Victoria Mall throughout the road for native crafts and souvenirs. There may be additionally the Kitooro Market in Entebbe, a coated market that focuses extra on produce, meat, and on a regular basis gadgets.
Wildlife primarily based itinerary
Many individuals visiting Uganda are right here for the unbelievable wildlife alternatives, with chimpanzee trekking and gorilla trekking being excessive on the listing of issues to do.
While these actions primarily happen as a part of an extended multi-day safari, there are a variety of different wildlife experiences that you would be able to have in and round Kampala. A few of these experiences are a bit longer, so will take up a lot of the day.
Right here’s a advised day, adopted by some extra concepts for wildlife targeted actions round Kampala. Observe that whereas you are able to do city birding in Kampala, most different wildlife actions and points of interest are positioned in or round Entebbe. However these are nonetheless straightforward to do as a day journey from Kampala.
- Morning: Mabamba Swamp tour like this or city birding round Kampala
- Afternoon: Entebbe Zoo, Botanical gardens in Entebbe
Another choice could be to go to the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary (tour like this). Should you don’t have the time to do a visit out to the areas of Uganda the place chimpanzee trekking is feasible, then you may go to Ngamba island as a substitute. That is on Lake Victoria and is dwelling to numerous rescued chimpanzees.
Should you take pleasure in birds, you may see a number of birds in Kampala with out leaving town, particularly within the mornings. In reality there are over 300 species you can see in Kampala! We noticed a quantity on electrical wires and poles, in our resorts’ gardens, at well-liked points of interest (Kabaka’s Palace, Kasubi Tombs, Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Baha’i Temple) and round golf programs.
So you’ll possible spot a number of chook species by simply going to well-liked locations in the event you hold your eyes open. However it may be tough to do birdwatching in a big and congested metropolis, so simply watch out.
Kampala Native Life Itinerary
Should you’d prefer to be taught extra about life in Kampala, then we’d suggest taking a tour or two with a Kampala native. They’ll have the ability to take you to locations you in all probability wouldn’t have thought to go by yourself, in addition to share their insights on life within the metropolis. You possibly can select a tour (or excursions) that meet your pursuits. An instance itinerary would possibly look as follows:
As you may see, there are myriad methods to fill a day (or extra!) in Kampala.
Reserving your Day Tour in Kampala
You have got a number of totally different choices for getting round Kampala, together with doing every little thing your self utilizing journey shares, taxis or buses. Nevertheless, for a extra seamless expertise, we predict most guests are going to seek out it simpler to rearrange some form of transport.
Now we have executed each, and having a driver for the day was undoubtedly simpler. If you’re visiting Uganda as a part of an extended journey the place you will have a tour firm, then they are going to possible have the ability to embrace a while in Kampala as a part of your journey. Simply allow them to know the place you wish to go and what you wish to see.
Another choice is simply to rent a non-public driver for the day. They’ll fear in regards to the visitors, parking, and the route, and you may take pleasure in your self with sightseeing.
Lastly, you may ebook a tour that covers the sights you wish to see. There are each non-public and group excursions obtainable. When evaluating excursions, all the time test what’s and isn’t included. For instance, some excursions embrace entry charges, transport, meals and water, while others might not. It’s additionally essential to test any refund or cancellation insurance policies earlier than reserving.
Once we journey, we almost all the time ebook our excursions upfront with both GetYourGuide or Viator which each provide a 24-hour cancellation coverage for most tickets and excursions. This implies you may cancel a tour as much as 24 hours earlier than it begins and obtain a full refund. This enables for flexibility if our journey plans unexpectedly change.
Listed below are numerous tour choices we propose which is able to provide a very good expertise to your day in Kampala. Observe that if a non-public tour doesn’t go to all of the sights you wish to see, you could possibly attain out to the operator for a customized itinerary.
- This non-public customized tour information service will let you specify precisely what you wish to do and see together with your day in Kampala.
- This full day non-public tour with transport contains Kabaka’s Palace, Nationwide Mosque, a sit-down lunch, the Kasubi Tombs, Bagala Craft Market and Bahá’i Temple. Admission charges and lunch are included.
- This full day non-public tour contains Bagala Craft Market, Baha’i temple, Nationwide Mosque, Kasubi tombs, Kabala’s Palace, Basilica of the Uganda Martrys and a sit-down meal. Lunch and admission charges are included.
- This full day non-public tour features a go to to Kabaka’s Palace, the Kasubi Tombs, Uganda Nationwide Mosque, the Baha’i Temple, and the Namugongo Martyr’s Museum. It contains admission charges and lunch.
- This full day group tour contains Kabaka’s Palace, the Uganda Nationwide Mosque, Nakasero market, the Uganda Museum, and an arts and crafts market. Admission charges are included however not meals.
- We’ve discovered two full day excursions, this one and this one, which focus extra on the spiritual websites in and round Kampala, together with the Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine, the most important cathedrals within the metropolis, the Uganda Nationwide Mosque and the Baha’i temple.
- There are additionally shorter excursions of Kampala, together with this half day meals tour, and this half-day strolling tour. Now we have executed each these excursions, and they’d be a very good choice for the primary half of your day if you’re following our itinerary.
As you may see there are many tour choices to your time in Kampala!
Additional Studying
That sums up our information to spending a day in Kampala. We hope you discovered it helpful! Earlier than you head off, we wished to share some hyperlinks to different content material we predict you would possibly discover helpful in planning your journey to Uganda and the broader area.
- Now we have a complete information to issues to do in Kampala, to offer you extra inspiration for what to do within the metropolis.
- Now we have an in depth information to issues to do in Entebbe, that can assist you plan extra of your journey.
- Now we have an in depth information to chimpanzee trekking in Uganda in addition to gorilla trekking in Uganda. These are each well-liked actions for guests to Uganda and effectively value doing in our opinion
- Now we have a information to selecting the greatest safari digicam, and a information to getting higher pictures on safari, so you may make sure you get nice reminiscences of your journey.
- We even have an in depth safari packing listing that can assist you determine what to convey with you
- If you’re planning on visiting Kenya, take a look at our information to issues to do in Nairobi and our advised 1 day Nairobi itinerary, which has a number of concepts for town
- Now we have a information to getting on-line when travelling, that can assist you keep linked in Uganda
- You’re going to wish to energy all of your gadgets once you journey – see our information to the greatest journey adapters so you may select the correct one for Uganda
- Should you’d like a journey information, think about the Uganda Bradt Journey Information, which is mostly considered the most suitable choice for Uganda. We’ve used the previous version and may extremely suggest this ebook because it has every little thing from the historical past of the nation and it’s folks, via to packing suggestions, planning recommendation and extra. It additionally contains detailed data on chimp and gorilla trekking.
- Ebook sensible, we additionally pack and journey with each the Pocket Information: Birds of East Africa and the Pocket Information to the Mammals of East Africa. These are each very conveniently sized and can allow you to determine quite a lot of what you see on a go to to any east African nation.
And that’s it! As all the time, we hope you discovered this information helpful. In case you have any questions or feedback, simply pop them within the feedback part beneath and we’ll get again to you as quickly as we will.
