In January 2025, I traveled solo to Uganda for three weeks. I had been curious about the country for a long time and wanted a trip that felt a bit more adventurous than a typical beach holiday.
At 30 years old, with a backpack and only loose plans, I boarded a flight to Entebbe without really knowing what to expect.
First Stop: Entebbe
I landed in the middle of the night after a long journey and spent my first few days in Entebbe. I stayed at ViaVia Entebbe, a place I immediately fell in love with.
It was green, peaceful, and very relaxed. I fell asleep to the sound of birds and monkeys and started my mornings with breakfast and fresh watermelon juice overlooking the river. I enjoyed it so much that I booked the same place again for my final night before flying home.
While in Entebbe, I visited the botanical gardens and met Esther, who owned a small beauty salon. She braided my hair in a traditional African style with extensions, and while she worked, she served homemade food in the salon and we spent most of the day talking.
Kampala – Intense in Every Way
After a few quiet days, I continued to Kampala.
The first thing that hit me was the traffic. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. Cars, motorcycles, and people everywhere at the same time, constant honking, and complete chaos — but somehow it still worked.
I stayed at a hostel for two nights, met new people, and went out with some Ugandan friends before feeling ready to leave the big city behind.
The Long Bus Ride to Kabale
My next stop was Kabale in southwestern Uganda.
The bus ride took around 10–11 hours, but it was actually much better than I expected. I had booked one of the more comfortable buses, which was still very cheap compared to Swedish prices. There was air conditioning onboard and several stops along the way where you could buy snacks and drinks.
It was also a really interesting way to see the country. The landscape changed a lot the further south we traveled.
When I arrived, a taxi driver from the lodge where I would stay near Lake Bunyonyi was waiting for me.
Lake Bunyonyi – One of the Highlights of the Trip
Lake Bunyonyi was without a doubt one of the most beautiful places I visited during the trip.
The lake is surrounded by green hills and small islands, and the whole area felt completely different from Kampala. I spent a few days there swimming, taking boat trips, and trying a zipline across the lake.
I also went on a hike that turned out to be much more demanding than I expected, but the views over the lake and mountains made it completely worth it.
At the local market, I also tried “local porridge,” a fermented drink that was… interesting. Probably not something I’ll start making at home anytime soon.
A Private Guide Through Uganda
The taxi driver who picked me up in Kabale turned out to be both very friendly and knowledgeable, so quite spontaneously I decided to hire him as my private guide for the rest of the trip.
It allowed me to travel much more freely and visit places that would have been much harder to reach on my own.
We continued to Lake Mburo, where I went on safari and saw huge amounts of wildlife. We also ate at very local roadside restaurants along the way, which became a big part of the experience.
After that, we continued to Queen Elizabeth National Park for even more safari adventures.
There, I got to see both lions and leopards in the wild, which was definitely one of the biggest highlights of the entire trip.
Back to Entebbe
After the safaris, I returned to Kampala for some last-minute shopping before heading back to Entebbe and ViaVia for one final night.
Three weeks went by very quickly, but Uganda turned out to be exactly the kind of trip I had hoped for: varied, intense, beautiful, and full of experiences that felt very far away from everyday life back home in Sweden.