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Tourist Places to Visit in Uganda, Kampala, East Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Uganda, Kampala, East Africa, Africa

Uganda is an East African landlocked country, surrounded by South Sudan to the north, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the east, Kenya to the east, Tanzania to the south and Rwanda towards the southwest. It is blessed with diverse geographical features such as fascinating natural tropical forests, inviting game reserves and spectacular waterfalls, which are mainly located on the border lines of the country. Kampala is the capital and largest city of Uganda, situated on the shore of the world’s largest tropical lake, Lake Victoria.

Tourism is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, used as a major weapon to eradicate the country’s poverty. Located at 1.0667° N, 31.8833° E, Uganda spans a total area of 241,038 sq. km.

History of Uganda:

The Ugandans were originally hunter gatherers, whose history dates to around 2,300 years back. The locals turned towards social life with the arrival of migrated Bantu-speaking people to the southern Uganda. In the middle of the 19^th century, Uganda fell under the European rule, prominently under the British and ultimately Uganda’s independence was proclaimed on 9 October 1962. Uganda takes its name from the country’s largest traditional kingdom, Buganda.

Getting Uganda:

Entebbe International Airport is the prime airport serving Uganda, situated close to the town of Entebbe and around 40 km southwest of the capital, Kampala. The airport connects Uganda to many global destinations like Amsterdam, Dubai, Cairo, London, Dar es Salaam, Doha, Johannesburg and Istanbul.

Uganda also has international bus connection, which extends from Kampala to Nairobi, Kigali, Bujumbura, Goma and Dar es Salaam. Buses, rental cars and bikes and taxis are the prevalent options to get around Ugandan cities.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Uganda:

English and Swahili are the official languages of Uganda, while Luganda is a widely communicated language in the country.

Uganda cuisine has mixed features of English, Arab and Asian, cuisines. Stew of groundnuts and beans are the major parts of famous Uganda’s dishes.

Ugandan shilling is the currency of Uganda and debit and credit cards are also widely accepted all around Uganda. Kampala is a popular shopping centre in the country.

What to do in Uganda?

Gorilla tracking
Rafting
Quad biking
Horse riding

Must see in Uganda:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park:

UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is renowned as Africa’s one of the opulent ecosystems with a large number of diverse animal and bird species between densely spread up trees. Gorillas are the focal point of this natural wonder. Kanungu is the nearest city to Bwindi.

Uganda Museum:

Located in the capital city Kampala, the Uganda Museum is a place, where visitors can get the overview of the cultural heritage of Uganda with exhibitions of artifacts and artworks showcasing the ethnological, natural-historical and traditional life of Uganda.

Kibale National Park:

Covering an area of 766 sq. km, the Kibale National Park is situated in the southern part of Uganda, well known as a prominent eco-tourism and safari destination and houses 13 primate species, including Red Colobus and chimpanzees.

Lake Mburo National Park:

Lake Mburo National Park is situated in the district of Kiruhura in Western Uganda, around 30 km from Mbarara city. The park is mainly noted for its around 300 bird species and animals like zebras, impala and buffaloes. There are also camping facilities within the park.

Murchison Falls National Park:

The Murchison Falls National Park is a great safari destination with a wide range of wild creatures like elephants, giraffes, hartbeast and buffalos. The park is adorned by a dramatic waterfall of Nile River. Guided tour is advised.

Other places of interest in Uganda include:

Kidepo Valley National Park
Ssese Islands
Kasubi Tombs
Bujagali Falls
Lake Mutanda
Entebbe Wildlife Sanctuary

When to visit Uganda?

Uganda features a tropical climate with two rainy seasons and the best time to visit Uganda to feel the real beauty of its natural attractions is from December to March and from June to September.

Where to stay in Uganda?

There are dozens of hotels in Uganda, mainly concentrated in the capital city Kampala, where all sorts of hotels can be found from budget guest houses to top end star rated with upgraded tourist favor amenities. Some high end hotels in Uganda (Kampala) include:

Kabira Country Club
Kampala Serena Hotel
Hotel Le Petit Village
Cassia Lodge
Emin Pasha Hotel
Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort
Lake Victoria Serena Resort
Golf Course Hotel
Protea Hotel Kampala
Silver Springs Hotel
Grand Global Hotel
Kampala Sheraton Hotel
Shangri-La Hotel Uganda Ltd
Metropole Hotel Kampala
Afrique Suites Hotel

Tourist Places to Visit in Tichla, Oued Ed-Dahab–Lagouira, West Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Tichla, Oued Ed-Dahab–Lagouira, West Africa, Africa

Tichla is a town as well as commune belonging to the Aousserd Province in Oued Ed-Dahab–Lagouira region in the Moroccan controlled part of Western Sahara. Tichla is situated along the highway N1105 leading it to two major Western Saharan cities Dakhla and El-Aaiun. Tichla is geographically positioned between 21° 35′ 0″ N latitude and 14° 58′ 23″ W longitude.

Tichla is located around 400 km southeast of Dakhla and around 850 km south of El-Aaiún, the capital and largest city of Western Sahara.

How to reach Tichla?

In Western Sahara, Dakhla Airport is the closest major airport to Tichla. This airport is located within the premise of Dakhla city, around 400 km northwest of Tichla and covers flights from Gran Canaria (served by CanaryFly) and Agadir and Casablanca (served by Royal Air Maroc).

Due to the lack of buses between Tichla and other Western Saharan cities, it is advised visitors to hire a car at Dakhla Airport to get Tichla. To get around Tichla, rental vehicles like car and bikes are the prevalent options.

Food and Shopping in Tichla:

Tichla nearly has all the basic facilities, including grocery stores and food corners but expecting chain restaurants and shopping complexes in Tichla would be superlative. For more facilitated shopping and restaurant options, one can drive towards the Dakhla city, where all sorts of upgraded shops can be found.

Things to do in Tichla:

Village tour
Shopping
Walking

Places to see in Tichla:

Tichla Fortress:

There is a small historical fortress in Tichla situated in the northern part of the town. The fortress lies left of N1105 highway from the centre of Tichla town. Visitors can take the aid of locals for the easy exploration of fortress.

Dakhla:

Dakhla is the most popular tourist destination of Western Sahara. Located on the coastline of Atlantic Ocean, Dakhla has become famous as a heaven of water sport lovers, especially frequented by tourists who are enthusiastic of kite-surfing, windsurfing and surf casting activities. Mosques, Catholic Church and waterfront promenade are the other attractions of Dakhla. Dakhla is situated around 400 km northwest of Tichla.

El-Aaiun:

El-Aaiun is the capital city of Western Sahara, located around 850 km northeast of Tichla. Dakhla is renowned as a city with diverse tourist attractions such as an old Spanish Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi, a traditional market with a wide selection of local specialties and excellent desert beaches.

List of other places of interest near Tichla include:

Dakhla Waterfront
Catholic Church in Dakhla
Beach of Dakhla
Windfish Pro-Center
Guelta Zemmour
Centre Artisanal
Laayoune-Plage
Dchira
Massage du Monde
Moroccan Berm
Tarfaya

Best time to visit Tichla:

The best time to visit Tichla depends on visitors’ preference, though the most popular time among tourists to visit Tichla is from June to August.

Hotels in Tichla:

Tichla houses very few tourist favor hotels, so most people visiting Tichla consider Dakhla city for accommodation purpose. Dakhla is situated around 400 km northwest of Tichla. Dakhla is home to all kinds of modernized hotels with latest facilities and services like free airport transfer, bar and restaurant, arrangement vehicles for local travel. Some prominent hotels in Dakhla (around 400 km from Tichla) are listed below:

Hotel Erraha
Hotel Buenavista
Hotel Doumes
Palais Touareg
Hotel Oued Eddahab
Hotel al Wahda
Hotel Sahara Regency
Hotel Calipau Sahara
Dakhla Spirit Lagoon Camp
Lagon Bleu Dakhla
Rio Aguila Aventure
Ocean Vagabond
Dakhla Evasion
Bab al Bahar Hotel et Spa
Auberge des Nomades du Sahara

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Tifariti, Sahrawi Arab, West Africa, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Tifariti, Sahrawi Arab, West Africa, Africa

Tifariti is a town in Western Sahara under the control of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. It is located around 135 km from the Moroccan controlled Western Saharan city Smara, between 26.158° N latitude and 10.567° W longitude at an altitude of 490 meters. Tifariti is a town with all the essential facilities like hospital, shops, school and mosque. There is also a museum in the town showcasing the cultural and historical features of the town and territory.

History of Tifariti:

Before becoming part of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Tifariti had seen the rule of many regional powers and European Empires, including the Spanish. Tifariti was also a noted battle site during the Western Sahara War fought between the Moroccan Army and the Polisario troops.

Connectivity to Tifariti:

The nearest airport to Tifariti is Smara Airport, which is situated in Morocco controlled Smara city, around 200 km from Tifariti. Generally people live in Tifariti use minibuses, rental cars and bikes for local travel.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Tifariti:

Tifariti is the site of an annual international event “ARTifariti”, which involves the performances of many renowned artists from several countries. The University of Tifariti is the only university and major cultural centre in Tifariti.

There are shops and restaurants limited in Tifariti, of which most are traditional options. So it is advised visitors to bring all the essentials before visiting Tifariti.

Things to do in Tifariti:

Visiting school
Shopping
Walking

Places to see in Tifariti:

Erqueyez Archeologic Park:

The Erqueyez Archeologic Park is one of the best tourist destinations in the territory. It is home to a lithic works factory and around 100 caves with rock paintings and mound graves.

University of Tifariti:

The University of Tifariti is the first Sahrawi university, situated in the town of Tifariti. It was established in 2013 with the aid of many prominent African, American and European universities.

Navarra Hospital:

The Navarra Hospital is one of the important landmarks of Tifariti, was built in the year 1999. The hospital is known for its nice construction with beautifully designed exterior.

Tifariti Museum:

The Tifariti Museum was constructed with an objective of displaying the historic importance and cultural features of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. It is also one of the major landmarks of the town.

Tifariti Mosque:

Tifariti Mosque is a well constructed mosque and one of the identities of Tifariti. Non-Muslim visitors are not allowed inside, but its exterior view can be caught.

List of other places of interest near Tifariti include:

El-Aaiun
Mosquée Cheikh Maoulainin
Tarfaya
Guelta Zemmour
Zaouia Cheikh Cheikhna Maoulainain
Centre Artisanal
Dakhla
Bir Lehlou
Laayoune-Plage
Dchira
Windfish Pro-Center
Massage du Monde
Moroccan Berm

Best time to visit Tifariti:

Probably the months between June and September are ideal to visit Tifariti in Western Sahara, when the town generally experiences dry weather and many events take place in the town and its surrounding areas.

Hotels in Tifariti:

Tifariti houses few tourist favor accommodation centres, so visitors are advised to consider hotels of Dakhla or El-Aaiun for accommodation purpose to enjoy better hospitality services. The below list includes hotels in El-Aaiun and Dakhla:

Hotel Nagjir Ville
Hotel Salwan
Camping Sabor del Sahara
Hotel Josefina
Hotel Residence Lajwad
Hotel Parador
Le Camp Bedouin
Bab al Bahar Hotel et Spa
Auberge des Nomades du Sahara
Palais Touareg
Rio Aguila Aventure
Ocean Vagabond
Dakhla Evasion
Dakhla Spirit Lagoon Camp
Lagon Bleu Dakhla

Smara Tourist Places to Visit in Smara, Moroccan, West Africa, Africa

Smara Tourist Places to Visit in Smara, Moroccan, West Africa, Africa

Smara, also spelled as Semara and Samara is a historic city situated in Western Sahara under Moroccan control. Geographically Smara is located between 26°44′22″ N latitude and 11°40′13″ W longitude, around 210 km southeast of the Western Saharan capital, El-Aaiún and 750 km northeast of the city of Dakhla.

History of Smara:

According to the documented history, Smara was founded in the year 1869. A religious and political leader shaykh Ma al-‘Aynayn, who proclaimed Smara as his holy capital in 1902 and founded an Islamic library as well in the town. After Spain released Smara from its control in 1975, Smara fell under the control of the Polisario Front and later Morocco occupied Smara in the very next year in 1976.

Conenctivity to Smara:

Smara houses an airport, with scheduled flights from Casablanca, Ouarzazate, Zagora and Rabat. The airport is located around 2 km away from the city centre.

Smara has good connectivity by bus many northern Western Saharan and southern Moroccan cities, including Laayoune and Agadir, provided by CTM, Supratours and Satas. The local transportation of Smara is served by minibuses, rental cars and taxis.

Food and Shopping in Smara:

The modern city Smara houses all kinds of tourist favor shops and restaurants that are spread up all around the city. Products like handicraft items, clothes and artworks are relatively cheaper in Smara than other Western Saharan cities. There are also many nice food corners in Smara serving customers with Western and African menus.

Things to do in Smara:

City tours
Shopping
Walking

Places to see in Smara:

Zawiy Maalainin:

Zawiy Maalainin is a ruined stone fortress in Smara. It is one of the prime tourist attractions of Smara. There is also a mosque within the fortress wall.

Mosque in Smara:

Being a Muslim dominated area, Smara houses many magnificent mosques with historic importance. Generally mosques are not allowed for non-Muslim people, so non-Muslim tourists can have the beauty of mosques from outside.

Smara Airport:

Smara Airport is one of the three functioning airports of Western Sahara, situated 2 km away from the city centre. The airport is well constructed and maintained and also receives non-travelers for its pleasant surroundings.

El-Aaiun:

Situated around 210 km northwest of Smara, El-Aaiun is a Western Saharan capital, home many renowned historical attractions, including an old Spanish Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi. Other highlights of the city include multi-use stadium Stade Sheikh Mohamed Laghdaf, Hassan I Airport and desert beaches.

List of other places of interest in and around Smara include:

Zaouia Cheikh Cheikhna Maoulainain
Mosquée Cheikh Maoulainin
Tarfaya
Guelta Zemmour
Centre Artisanal
Laayoune Off Road
Dchira
Windfish Pro-Center
Massage du Monde
Moroccan Berm
Dakhla
Bir Lehlou
Laayoune-Plage

Best time to visit Smara:

The tour of Smara can be enjoyed best between the months of June and September.

Hotels in Smara:

Smara houses some fine hotels, but not in large number, so tourists can take the suggestion of visiting city El-Aaiun or Dakhla to find a wide range of hotels with world class facilities. Buses are regular between Smara and El-Aaiun but not between Dakhla and Smara but rental cars would be helpful. In below list, the first 7 hotels are in El-Aaiun (around 210 km from Smara) and the rest of the hotels are in Dakhla (around 750 km from Smara):