The city of Mbarara is located in the southwestern region of Uganda. It is the country’s second-largest city, after Kampala’s capital city. The city has undergone rapid change since the beginning of the 21st century. Its development has surpassed other cities like Entebbe and Jinja in recent years, making it the 2nd most important in terms of infrastructure and industry.

Mbarara is known to be the cradle home of the Ankole kingdom (a city bordering Rwanda and Congo). It is also known for its Long-Horned Cattle. It has stunning landscapes and massive water bodies in its vicinities, which will provide excellent opportunities for nature enthusiasts. You can take the Mbarara tour and enjoy the many exciting tourist attractions in and around the town. 

Mbarara has many places of interest both inside the city and its surroundings. Visiting them will make your tour a memorable experience; The following are some of its attractions:

• Lake Mburo National Park: Although this is Uganda’s smallest national park, the Mburo National Park does not fall short of beautiful sights and attractions. If you are interested in off-road safaris, game viewing, and bird watching, you will most probably enjoy visiting this park. You can also cruise the beautiful Lake Mburo or even go fishing. Many animals like zebras, buffalos, hippopotamuses, leopards, hyenas and even lions can be found all over the park.
  Getting to the park is not difficult either; it is a one-hour drive from Mbarara. The park is about 240 km by road west of Kampala, but you can also take the plane to the Mbarara airstrip, which will get you there in no time.
• Queen Elizabeth National Park: If you plan on staying in Uganda for several days, ensure not to miss the Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park is famous not only for the numerous bird species it hosts – 618, which is the most in Africa! – but also the great diversity of mammals it is home to. Tree climbing Lions are one of the major attractions of this park, and you can enjoy a close-up encounter with these unique lions. Various mammals like giraffes, buffaloes, chimps, gorillas, and hippos can be seen around the park. You can even go on a balloon safari adventure in the morning and get an aerial view of the whole park; it is a sight to see!
• Ishasha Sector: The Ishasha sector is the most famous and most traveled part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is located at the western rim of the park. The scenery here is very different from the rest of the park. The Savannah plains contain various acacia, cactus, fig, and riverine trees. But the most famous attraction of this part of the park is the tree-climbing lions, unique to this place only. The males of these species have a black mane. The Ishasha sector of the QENP will provide you with an experience you will not forget.

• Kazinga Channel: A prominent feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the 32-kilometer (20-mile) long Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The canal is home to a wide variety of animals and birds, including one of the highest concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in the whole world.
• Igongo Cultural Center and Hotel: 12 Kilometers north of the city, on the Mbarara-Masaka highway, Igongo Cultural Center and Hotel can be found. As the name suggests, this is not merely a hotel but a combination of luxurious accommodations with cultural environments and a museum!
  After your long mountain hikes or the wildlife safaris, you can take some time off and relax in the pool or the sauna, visit the spa, and enjoy the African cuisine and traditional food, all in an exotic atmosphere.