Attractions in Kasese
Kasese is located on the western side of Uganda and lies North of Lake George. Kasese is the main income-generating place in that area. the district is located along the Equator. Kasese is a multi-ethnic district with many people of different ethnic backgrounds and the main languages there include; Rutoro, Rukonjo, Banyankole, Basongora, Bakiga, and Baganda.
Famous of copper mining at Kilembe mines and cobalt mining and it has history for the Uganda Railway that runs from Kasese to Kampala then Tororo.
Kasese has the largest number of tourists due to the outstanding environment and other big commercial centers and the district covers about 3389.8sqkm with 533,000 people who live within the main town alone, it is a fast developing district because of the tourism activities and attractions.
It takes about 6 hours to reach Kasese via Mubende-Fortportal highway from Kampala accessed by air through Kasese airstrip by Aero-link Uganda which has daily flights from Entebbe Airport and the flights take about 60 minutes.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Queen Elizabeth National park
Second largest national park after Murchison falls national park and one of the best-protected areas. The park is shared between Kasese, Bushenyi, Kamwenye, and Rukungiri and a different number of attractions like the Big four of the Five which include Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, and Leopards, and over 600 bird species like Jacana, Saddle bill stork, African Skimmer, Yellow billed stork among others, primates and water bodies include Kazinga Channel, Lake George, Lake Edward, and Lake Katwe and activities like game drives, birding, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, Nature walk, community tours, boat cruise along the Kazinga channel famous for the high concentration of Hippos in Africa and the Nile crocodiles.
MOUNTAIN RWENZORI
Tourists who love mountain climbing should never miss out on the Rwenzori mountain ranges because it is one of the tallest mountains in the world for breathtaking adventures and it is considered the third highest mountain in Africa with 5109ff next to Kenya and Kilimanjaro.
Hiking to the highest peak the Margherita peak takes 6 -9 days for one to reach there and at the end of the hiking, you are awarded a certificate of completion. it offers a good view of the surrounding areas where visitors can able to view the beautiful surrounding and the mountain has wildlife, primates, deep gorges, and bird species.
KILEMBE MINES
This is where Copper and Cobalt mining is done in Uganda making it the perfect commercial mining in the East African Community the mines are located in the town suburb of Kilembe along mount Rwenzori. The mines produce about 4 million tons of copper and create more employment opportunities for the locals around.
KARINZU FOREST RESERVE
The reserve also harbors chimpanzees where visitors can also go for tracking apart from the Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park it is a 2-hour drive from Kasese town and the place is good for birding.
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
It is a 3hours drive from Kasese to the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will find the incredible Bwindi National park a destination with the mighty mountain Gorillas in Uganda. the park currently has 17 habituated Gorilla families and apart from Gorilla trekking, tourists can also visit the Batwa community for the experience, bird watching, forest walking, and biking among others.
KIBALE NATIONAL PARK
The park is famous for the concentration of Hippos in Africa,13 species of chimpanzee, vervet monkey, Mangabeys, Red-tailed monkeys, colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, and Olive baboons.350 bird species, Bigodi wetland known for bird watching and primates. Activities there include Chimpanzee tracking, chimpanzee habituation, experience night forest walk, bird watching, and guided walk.
The park is located 90-minute drive from Kasese.
QUEEN’S PAVILION
Is another attraction besides wildlife, a boat cruise, it was constructed for Queen Elizabeth 11 of England when she visited Uganda in 1952, it was later renovated for the royal guests from England in 1954.
The pavilion is 800 meters from the Equator monument overlooking a thrilling landscape of crater lakes with a community-run internet café and a place to relax for the tourist to take a cup of coffee or tea after the morning game drive, and purchase locally made souvenirs and is also blessed with various accommodation facilities around 35 of them, craft shops for souvenirs among others.