In case you are visiting Uganda, we extremely advocate 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 should you don’t have time to do the whole lot, you might be questioning how greatest to spend a day in Kampala.

Nicely, with that query in thoughts, we’ve put collectively this at some point Kampala itinerary. It covers the primary highlights that we advocate seeing, which might be excellent for a primary time customer. It covers the main points of interest that almost all 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 advocate adjusting this to fit your personal private tempo and pursuits. For those who prefer to go a bit slower and spend longer at points of interest, then after all you’ll be able to change it up.

This itinerary although ought to provide you with an excellent start line for how you can spend a day in Uganda’s capital metropolis. Let’s get began.

A 1 Day Kampala Itinerary

We’ve visited Kampala a lot of occasions and have visited the vast majority 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 get pleasure from seeing.

After this detailed 1-day itinerary, we’ll additionally share another urged itineraries based mostly round totally different themes, to offer you much more concepts on your day in Kampala. So these are every targeted particularly on these with a selected space of curiosity equivalent to historical past, tradition, meals, artwork, wildlife, and so on.

However first, let’s have a look at our really helpful approach to spend a day in Kampala.

Cease 1: Take 3-hour strolling tour of central Kampala @ 9am

Our suggestion on your first exercise of the day can be to take a strolling tour with a educated native information. It will assist provide you with a good suggestion of the historical past of Kampala, study cultural practices, and be capable to ask questions to assist information the remainder of your time within the metropolis.

Central Kampala generally is 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 conserving you protected could be a good suggestion.

There are a variety of various strolling excursions obtainable of Kampala which usually final 3 to 4 hours. Sights visited will range, however the majority of excursions will embrace the primary highlights of central Kampala. So that 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 high firm we are able to personally advocate for strolling excursions as we’ve taken a number of strolling and meals excursions from them throughout our visits to Uganda. You may 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, this can usually lengthen the tour time by round an hour. It’s additionally in a special a part of town to that which most foot excursions give attention to, so usually requires both a boda-boda or taxi journey to a different space of town.

For those who do that then you definitely is likely to be a bit pressed to do the whole lot else on this itinerary and still have lunch, however clearly it’s as much as you what your priorities are.

For those who determine to go to the mosque and nonetheless wish to go to the remainder of the advocate locations within the afternoon, I’d advocate asking your information about grabbing a fast sandwich or snack for lunch on the finish of the strolling tour or think about selecting 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 can 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 widespread strolling excursions to contemplate in Kampala embrace:

Cease 2: Lunch @ 12pm

At noon, after your strolling tour is completed, we advocate 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.

In case you are taking a full day tour, your tour will seemingly embrace a cease for lunch and the worth is commonly included as a part of the tour.

In case you are not taking a full-day tour, we advocate asking your strolling tour information for a superb lunch suggestion. One of many advantages of taking a guided tour is that you may ask your information for suggestions for different sights in addition to the place to eat lunch. That’s why after we take a strolling tour in a metropolis we’re visiting for a number of days, we at all times attempt to do it close to the beginning of our keep so we are able to make the most of the guides suggestions for our remaining days.

There are many fast avenue meals stalls and carts that cater to locals should you simply desire a rolex (omelette wrapped in flatbread), plate of kikomando (chapati and fried beans), meat skewer, or a sizzling sandwich/wrap (typically a chapati wrap with filling). These are fast, low-cost, and filling.

There are additionally buffet model lunch spots the place you’ll be able to sit down and take a look at a number of dishes directly. These are usually an excellent worth. In case you are in search of some widespread native meals to strive apart from a rolex, we’d counsel 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 could be a staple throughout East Africa), and grilled meats.

Your information can assist counsel a spot for you based mostly on what you might be in search of, and also you simply wish to ensure the place appears to be like sanitary and the meals is served sizzling. Keep away from contemporary veggies and salad, chilly dishes, unbottled water, undercooked gadgets, and so on.

For those who want a nicer sit down place and have a bit extra time, we advocate heading to an area lodge restaurant. Most lodges have eating places that serve each lodge friends and guests.

After all you may also 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 should you want. Even in case you are not prepared for lunch, breaking no less than for a espresso, tea, or soda although could be good after a protracted strolling tour.

Kabaka’s Palace @ 1pm

The main focus of the rest of the day is on a lot of cultural sights that can show you how to perceive the historical past of Uganda, from pre-colonial occasions via to the extra fashionable age.

The primary cease we advocate on 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 most important Kingdom, and its capital was additionally Kampala. The Buganda monarchy dates again over 800 years and continues to be alive and nicely in the present day.

Historically, the Kabaka has had his palace on high of one of many many hills of Kampala. At this time’s palace, often called Lubiri or Mengo palace, isn’t any totally different. It’s discovered on high 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 warfare, following which it was utilized by Idi Amin throughout his oppressive regime. The palace is now not occupied by the Kabaka, who solely visits for ceremonial causes.

And not using a Royal individual 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 straightforward to rearrange, simply go to the primary gate, pay an entry price, and a information will present you round.

Your tour will usually embrace a superb oral historical past of the palace and its grounds, in addition to the primary occasions that formed what you see in the present day. 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 damaging affiliation is the primary purpose that the palace and its grounds are now not occupied by the Kabaka.

We actually loved our tour of Kabaka’s Palace and grounds. The tour information was wonderful, and we learnt loads about Uganda’s historical past, together with current and extra distant historical past. We additionally loved studying about conventional bark fabric making and a few of the native video games that locals prefer to play.

A tour will usually final round an hour and we predict is a superb approach to study extra concerning the historical past of Uganda. You additionally get a superb view of Kampala from Mengo Hill.

Kasubi Tombs @ 2:45pm

Simply 10 minutes drive (relying on site visitors!) from Kabaka’s Palace are the Kasubi Tombs. These are additionally associated to the Royal household, being the ultimate resting place of a lot of the Buganda Kings.

Historically, the Kabaka, or King of Buganda, would select a singular location for his or her burial. So the Kasubi tombs are uncommon as a result of they’re residence to 4 Kabaka’s, in addition to a lot of their descendants. The tombs date from 1882, with the primary burial in 1884, and the newest in 1971.

There are a variety of constructions on the positioning, with the massive major 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 large constructing is primarily constructed from pure supplies within the conventional model. It’s distinctive measurement 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 could be seen if you go to. These embrace the Royal drum home, in addition to the properties 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 induced 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 price 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 have been nonetheless present process renovations after we final visited. These have now been accomplished. Our tour included all the primary sights, and our information was additionally superb, actually bringing to life the whole lot that we noticed.

Uganda Nationwide Museum @ 4pm

After visiting the Kasubi Tombs, should you nonetheless want to proceed sightseeing and studying about Uganda, then we extremely advocate 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 study all about Uganda’s cultural heritage and historical past.

There are a variety of reveals on show, which cowl the whole lot from conventional musical devices to artwork, drugs, clothes, fossils and far way more. You may mainly study all concerning the historical past of the area from pre-history to the current day.

One in every of our favourite elements of the museum is the skin space, the place you’ll discover a lot of totally different conventional buildings. These signify a few of the totally different tribes and time durations of Uganda throughout the years, and every constructing additionally accommodates a lot of traditionally correct reveals.

This isn’t a large museum, so even should you don’t have lots of time left in your schedule we predict you’ll nonetheless get pleasure from a go to. There’s a price to go to and it’s positively someplace you’ll be able to go to on a self-guided foundation as there’s loads of info obtainable in English.

Break @ 5:30pm

At this level within the day, you’ve executed loads and we’re going to advocate taking a break, seemingly heading again to your lodge in case you are 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.

In case you are 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 advocate, if potential, 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 occasions per week and have been one in every of our highlights of our final go to to Kampala.

The efficiency takes place outdoors below an enormous mango tree, and showcases one of the best of Uganda tradition throughout the varied 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 deliver the expertise to the subsequent stage.

It’s additionally potential to have dinner as a part of the present for an additional price, with a lot of conventional dishes included. We will advocate doing this because it provides you with a superb alternative to strive some native meals and never have to fret about discovering dinner.

We arrived a little bit early for our present so we may discover the grounds a little bit bit and have a look at the artwork on show. We then sat down to look at the present because the daylight light into night time, and actually loved the power and enthusiasm of the performers.

This was a very enjoyable expertise and one in every of our favorite issues to do in Kampala. We will extremely advocate it!

Various 1 Day Kampala Itinerary Choices

For those who’d like some extra inspiration for spending a day in Kampala, we’ve some strategies for you. We’ve put collectively some extra 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 give you your personal excellent 1-day itinerary. We’d counsel that planning to go to 3 or 4 points of interest in a day would make sense for many guests, though do be aware that actions situated outdoors 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 advocate.

By way of planning a day like this, you’ll be able to both do the whole lot your self, or you’ll be able to attain out to a tour operator who can put collectively a non-public customized tour based mostly in your pursuits, equivalent to this one. They need to deal with all of your transportation and in addition make sure that your sightseeing targets are achievable within the time you’ve.

Historical past Itinerary

Kampala has a lot to supply those that are excited by studying concerning the historical past of town and Uganda usually. We’d counsel 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 potential to ebook a tour which incorporates these sights in addition to a lot of others, equivalent to this full day tour.

Meals Centered Itinerary

For those who’d prefer to study extra concerning the meals of Kampala, then you’ll be able to put collectively a day which focuses on exploring native markets, studying about native meals and dishes, and consuming a few of the many conventional dishes of town. A day may look as follows:

Arts and Tradition Itinerary

There’s no scarcity of artwork and cultural points of interest to get pleasure from in Kampala. Right here’s an thought for a day targeted on exploring the creative and cultural points of interest within the metropolis.

Non secular / Religious Itinerary

Uganda has a wealthy religious life, with a lot of 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, non secular practices shifted dramatically in Uganda. As is commonly the best way, this was not a frictionless course of, with a lot of lives misplaced within the course of. Consequently, there are an excellent many sights of spiritual significance in addition to locations of worship throughout Kampala and the encircling area. It is likely to be difficult to suit the whole lot into at some point given how a lot there’s to see, however an thought can 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

The vast majority of these sights are visited as a part of this non secular tour of Kampala. This can be a comparable tour.

In case you are visiting Uganda as a Catholic pilgrim, the Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine and Basilica might be a must-see. It’s situated a 30 minute drive outdoors of town in Namugongo, however you’ll be able to can take a taxi or be a part of a tour to achieve it.

Additionally value mentioning is the very fascinating Shree Sanatan Dharma Mandal Hindi temple. It’s situated in central Kampala and is typically 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 might also be of curiosity. Simply be aware that it’s fairly an effort to get right here and is greatest when you’ve got a driver and you might must undergo a safety test as it’s situated close to the airport.

Markets/ Purchasing targeted itinerary:

Kampala has plenty of good markets to discover, from markets which give attention to arts and crafts via to extra conventional meals markets serving the wants of the native inhabitants. You might 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 the vast majority of these markets, in addition to a lot of different points of interest within the metropolis. There’s additionally a half-day tour which additionally covers the primary markets within the metropolis.

In case you are additionally heading to Entebbe, we’d additionally advocate 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’s additionally the Kitooro Market in Entebbe, a coated market that focuses extra on produce, meat, and on a regular basis gadgets.

Wildlife based mostly itinerary

Many individuals visiting Uganda are right here for the unimaginable wildlife alternatives, with chimpanzee trekking and gorilla trekking being excessive on the record 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 may 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 urged 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 situated in or round Entebbe. However these are nonetheless simple 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 can be to go to the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary (tour like this). For those who don’t have the time to do a visit out to the areas of Uganda the place chimpanzee trekking is feasible, then you’ll be able to go to Ngamba island as a substitute. That is on Lake Victoria and is residence to a lot of rescued chimpanzees.

For those who get pleasure from birds, you’ll be able to see plenty of birds in Kampala with out leaving town, particularly within the mornings. In truth there are over 300 species you may see in Kampala! We noticed a quantity on electrical wires and poles, in our lodges’ gardens, at widespread points of interest (Kabaka’s Palace, Kasubi Tombs, Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Baha’i Temple) and round golf programs.

So you’ll seemingly spot a number of chook species by simply going to widespread locations should you maintain 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

For those who’d prefer to study extra about life in Kampala, then we’d advocate taking a tour or two with a Kampala native. They’ll be capable to take you to locations you most likely wouldn’t have thought to go by yourself, in addition to share their insights on life within the metropolis. You may select a tour (or excursions) that meet your pursuits. An instance itinerary may look as follows:

As you’ll be able to see, there are myriad methods to fill a day (or extra!) in Kampala.

Reserving your Day Tour in Kampala

You might have a number of totally different choices for getting round Kampala, together with doing the whole lot 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.

We’ve executed each, and having a driver for the day was positively simpler. In case you are visiting Uganda as a part of an extended journey the place you’ve a tour firm, then they may seemingly be capable 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 will fear concerning the site visitors, parking, and the route, and you’ll get pleasure from your self with sightseeing.

Lastly, you’ll be able to ebook a tour that covers the sights you wish to see. There are each non-public and group excursions obtainable. When evaluating excursions, at all times 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 practically at all times ebook our excursions upfront with both GetYourGuide or Viator which each supply a 24-hour cancellation coverage for most tickets and excursions. This implies you’ll be able to cancel a tour as much as 24 hours earlier than it begins and obtain a full refund. This permits for flexibility if our journey plans unexpectedly change.

Listed below are a lot of tour choices we recommend which is able to supply a superb expertise on 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 non secular websites in and round Kampala, together with the Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine, the main 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. We’ve executed each these excursions, and they’d be a superb choice for the primary half of your day in case you are following our itinerary.

As you’ll be able to see there are many tour choices on 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 may discover helpful in planning your journey to Uganda and the broader area.

• We’ve a complete information to issues to do in Kampala, to offer you extra inspiration for what to do within the metropolis.
• We’ve an in depth information to issues to do in Entebbe, that can assist you plan extra of your journey.
• We’ve an in depth information to chimpanzee trekking in Uganda in addition to gorilla trekking in Uganda. These are each widespread actions for guests to Uganda and nicely value doing in our opinion
• We’ve a information to selecting the greatest safari digicam, and a information to getting higher photographs on safari, so you’ll be able to make sure you get nice recollections of your journey.
• We even have an in depth safari packing record that can assist you determine what to deliver with you
• In case you are planning on visiting Kenya, try our information to issues to do in Nairobi and our urged 1 day Nairobi itinerary, which has plenty of concepts for town
• We’ve a information to getting on-line when travelling, that can assist you keep linked in Uganda
• You’re going to want to energy all of your units if you journey – see our information to the greatest journey adapters so you’ll be able to select the fitting one for Uganda
• For those who’d like a journey information, think about the Uganda Bradt Journey Information, which is mostly thought to be the most suitable choice for Uganda. We’ve used the previous version and might extremely advocate this ebook because it has the whole lot from the historical past of the nation and it’s folks, via to packing suggestions, planning recommendation and extra. It additionally contains detailed info on chimp and gorilla trekking.
• E book clever, 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 establish lots of what you see on a go to to any east African nation.

And that’s it! As at all times, we hope you discovered this information helpful. When 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 are able to.