Where are you going to be this festive season?

King in the tree: A chimpanzee takes rest on a tree branch in Kibale National Park, a destination popular for chimpamzee tracking as a tourism activity. PHOTO BY EDGAR R. BATTE

For many people Christmas is the time to get together with family, recollect and think about the New Year. Some people will choose to stay home feasting, while others will go out, Gabriel Buule finds out which places will make your Christmas experience memorable.

The Zoo
Officially known as the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC), the Entebbe zoo is presumably the most family friendly tourism destination, especially for those around the central region given its accessibility and nearness to the city.
UWEC, located in Entebbe, doesn’t just offer a treat but a mega opportunity to watch animals under guidance and musical performances from artistes in place.
Besides the annual family Christmas party, in unusual manner there is an arrangement for families and small groups to dine, wine enjoy music and affordable first class accommodation at Shs100, 000/ for a bed and breakfast.

White Horse Inn Kabale
With road trips becoming a norm, those taking the Kabale route, one of the oldest hotel in the land, White Horse Inn got you sorted with a spa, sauna, gym and swimming as you view the terraces in Kabale hills.
At White Horse Inn, you’re a drive a way to several tourism land marks such as Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and for prayers, St. Andrews Catholic Church Nyarushanje is in the vicinity.

National Parks
Bwindi Impenetrable
If you have visited Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for mountain gorillas, the second and the last opportunity in Uganda must be Bwindi where a couple of habituated families stay.
All you need booking a permit to trek gorillas at $600 and $1500 per person for habituation experience.
But there is more to Bwindi than the primates, one is assured of a diverse experience, for instance, being able to watch more than 360 bird species.
While in Bwindi, you will also be entertained by the minority Batwa community at their newly established museum called Change a life Bwindi.

Kidepo Valley
Birds have always been a thing for travellers but in Kidepo it is a chance to see more than 56 birds of prey species. Ranked 3rd by American broadcaster CNN as Africa’s most scenic protected area Kidepo is home to game drives and breathtaking adventures.
In the thorny savanna vegetation, Kidepo Valley National Park is a home abundant wildlife species that make up to 77 distinct mammal species and 463 species of birds
For once in a life time when you are in Kidepo you will watch Lions roar, African elephants, jackal, cheetah, buffaloes, giraffes, bat eared fox, among other animals.

Murchison Falls National Park
Visiting Murchison Falls National Park will offer you a chance to other great landmarks like Victoria Nile, the shore of Lake Albert among others. The park is home to vast wildlife that include elephants, hippos and chimpanzees still to look up to are the fishing games in Karuma Falls.
The park that is located 305km north of Kampala, is home to Uganda’s prestigious Chobe Lodge, among many that provides accommodation and meals to visitors

Queen Elizabeth National Park
In a 5-6 hours’ drive from Kampala, the park that is located in western Uganda seats on 1978km2 and it can’t be accessed via Mbarara from Kampala or Fort Portal via Kasese.
The park offers you a chance to link up with other landmarks that include Kyaninga Lodge, lakes Edward and George which are linked by Kazinga channel.
For purposes of accommodation, the park has a couple of eateries and logdes that include Nyamusingiri in Maramagambo Forest, Simba Safari Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Bush Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, among many.

Kampala
The festive season in Kampala isn’t about church but culture and party that never stops, In Kampala , several events have been curated to grace the festive season that almost every happening place has a Christmas event on its programme
Top hotels that include, Sheraton, Protea Marriot, Serena have their menus adjusted to live up to the season.
Cultural centres that include National Theatre, Uganda Museum and Endere are also open offering a one-stop centre for art.

While in Jinja
White water rafting
You can dare the mild and try out water rafting at its best on River Nile and this is a once in a life time experience of rafting on the Nile at Jinja in Uganda.

Bungee Jumping
Bungee-Jumping can be done anywhere in the world, but Bungee-Jumping into the longest River on Earth, the historic River Nile is another thing altogether.

Itanda Falls near Jinja
You can crown up the trip with 27 kilometers trip outside of Jinja and visit yet another Whitewater Nile and experience nearly similar adventures just like on the River Nile.Itanda Falls offers a glance to sights and Sounds that will delight your senses and make you want to stay longer on the Nile in Jinja.