Top Tourist Travel Destinations for 2020 | Uganda Ranked 30 Out of Top 52

At the moment, travel and travel planning are being or have disrupted by the worldwide spread of the coronavirus pandemic. However, after all the travel restrictions have been lifted, don’t be stuck at home looking out for destinations to visit this year. New York Times Magazine earlier this year ranked 52 travel destinations you must visit this year ranking Uganda number #30. Following numerous developments and positive changes in her tourism industry, Uganda has once again been ranked big in the top 52 places to visit this year 2020. The Pearl of Africa is among the five African safari destinations recommended by the New York Times as must-visit destinations for every traveller in 2020.

Uganda, a primate capital and birders paradise becomes more accessible… “Landlocked in East-Central Africa, Uganda has long been in the shadow of Kenya, Tanzania and other countries more popular with visitors on African safaris. But the Pearl of Africa, with its own rich wildlife, is set to become more accessible, thanks to the resurrection last summer of the country’s national carrier, Uganda Airlines,” reads in part their article published on January 9.

Read More About: Must Visit Destinations in Uganda

Are you a primate lover and you haven’t been to Uganda for a Uganda safari before? It’s important for you to know that it the world’s primate capital, with over 15 species (four of which are endangered). Uganda is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas that thrive well in their natural habitat of the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The dense forest mountain park, which ranges in elevation between 3,810 feet and 8,880 feet, also features a scenic waterfall trail framed by ancient ferns and wild orchids, and is a birder’s paradise, with 350 species of forest birds.

Besides Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda is also home to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (a national park part of the Virunga Conservation Area shared by Uganda Rwanda; Volcanoes National Park and Congo; Virunga National Park) where the rest mountain gorillas live.

Read More About: The Current Mountain Gorilla Population in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are UNESCO World Heritage Sites situated in southwestern Uganda. To go for a gorilla trekking safari in any of these national parks in Uganda, tourists are limited to a group of eight per gorilla family per day. The proceeds from their Uganda gorilla safari permits go toward conservation efforts and protecting the animals from poachers.

Why Was Uganda Ranked on the New York Times List of Top 52 Top Tourist Travel Destinations for 2020

The prime reason to why Uganda was ranked high, New York Times explains that Uganda is a Private Capital and home to the highest population of the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas living in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks hence it’s the best gorilla safari destination in Africa.

Visit Website: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

                        Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

New York Times further explains that Uganda is a true birders haven. It is home to over 1000 bird species some of which are so unique that they cannot be found elsewhere in the world. Are you coming to Africa for a birding safari? Uganda should be top on your list.

Additionally, the revival of Uganda Airlines has made connectivity for all tourists interested in safaris in Uganda easy, quick and simple. Unlike in the past, travellers can now book direct flights from most African countries straight to Entebbe International airport without making unnecessary stopovers.

Over time, Uganda; The Pearl of Africa has achieved growth in her travel industry. Many National parks have registered an increased number of tourist arrivals coming to do and see different treasures after which Uganda was named the Pearl of Africa.

Read More about; National Parks in Uganda

In the year 2018, the high number of tourists in Uganda came from Europe. Increased tourist numbers in Uganda were registered from Europe by +13.8%, Asia +10.2%, America at +9.2% and the Middle East at +9.7%. Also, Uganda registered a 6.1% increase in the number of African travellers in the year 2018. The number of international travelers also increased from 1,402,409 in 2017 to 1,506,669 in 2018.

New York Times 52 Top Tourist Travel Destinations for 2020

1.Washington, D.C.
2. The British Virgin Islands
3. Rurrenabaque, Bolivia
4. Greenland
5. Kimberley Region, Australia
6. Paso Robles, California
7. Sicily
8. Salzburg, Austria
9. Tokyo, Japan
10. Caesarea, Israel
11. National Parks, China
12. Lesotho
13. Colorado Springs
14. Krakow, Poland
15. Jodhpur, India
16. Western Sweden
17. Egypt
18. La Paz, Mexico
19. Grand Isle, Louisiana
20. Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
21. Jevnaker, Norway
22. The Bahamas
23. Kampot, Cambodia
24. Christchurch, New Zealand
25. Asturias, Spain
26. Haida Gwaii, British Columbia
27. Austin, Texas
28. Sabah, Malaysia
29. Churchill, Manitoba
30. Uganda
31. Paris
32. Lake District, England
33. Tajikistan
34. Antakya, Turkey
35. Leipzig, Germany
36. Lima, Peru
37. Molise, Italy
38. Copenhagen, Denmark
39. Richmond, Virginia
40. Mount Kenya
41. Minorca, Spain
42. Oberammergau, Germany
43. Plymouth, England
44. Atlantic Forest, Brazil
45. Belle-Île, France
46. Val d’Aran, Spain
47. Mongolia
48. Slovenia
49. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
50. Transylvanian Alps, Romania
51. Urbino, Italy
52. Glacier National Park and Whitefish, Montana

How Did they Choose These 52 Top Tourist Travel Destinations?

“Where would you go if you could go anywhere?” That was the question I posed to the members of The Times Travel desk back at the beginning of September, at our kickoff lunch for the 2020 edition of our annual 52 Places to Go list. Between that day and the list’s publication, there have been almost four months of research, discussion, debate and as many synonyms for “argument” as you can imagine. In the end, we came down to these 52 destinations that we hope will inspire, delight and motivate you to explore the world.

How did we choose them? After that initial poll, we asked our regular contributors, as well as The Times’s foreign and domestic correspondents, to suggest places that seemed newly fresh and compelling. We pestered in-the-know travellers for their 2020 musts. We grilled travel pros about what had them excited. To make the cut, it is not enough for a place to be beautiful, amazing and culturally significant. It also has to answer the question, why now? Why this place, this year?

Uganda’s most popular packages

• 3 days Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
• 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari to Bwindi
• 1 day Jinja tour excursion
• 1 Day Tour Ngamba Island Chimps
• 1 Day Kampala City Tour
• 3 Days Queen Elizabeth Park Safari Uganda
• 2 Days Wildlife safari in Uganda Queen Elizabeth
• 4 Days Wildlife Safari in Uganda to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari Uganda
• 2 Days Murchison Falls safari Uganda
• 7 Days Uganda Budget Wildlife Safari Tour to Murchison Falls
• 3 Days Uganda Gorilla tour to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
• 2 Days Uganda Safari to Lake Mburo National Park
• 3 Days Uganda Safari to Lake Mburo National Park
• 2 Days Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
• 5 days Wildlife and Chimpanzee Safari in Uganda
• 3 Days Chimpanzee trekking safari in Kibale Uganda
• 4 Days Wildlife Chimpanzee Safari
• 5 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Uganda
• 12 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour
• 10 Days Uganda Gorillas Chimps Safari
• 4 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari
• 6 Days Uganda Gorilla tour
• 6 days Uganda Gorilla Tracking safari
• 13 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari
• 8 Days Uganda safari tours
• 9 Days Uganda Safari
• 3 days Uganda Safari to Kidepo National Park