Arua City district, Uganda

Places to visit near Arua

Arua is a town in Arua City district, Uganda, home to about 55,585 people. Within 50 km by road there are 149 places to visit — 102 churches, 5 hill stations & viewpoints, 16 wildlife, forests & gardens and 12 mosques & dargahs. The must-see places are Mount Wati (33 km), Ajai Wildlife Reserve (56 km) and Lodonga Mionre Basilica (62 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Arua on the map

Arua, Uganda
Arua, Arua City district, Uganda. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Arua at a glance

Location
Arua City district, Uganda
Population
about 55,585
Coordinates
3.0201° N, 30.9110° E
Places within 50 km
149 (1 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for churches and mosques & dargahs

Top places to visit near Arua

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Arua: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near Arua, by type

Churches near Arua

165 churches within 100 km of Arua. The closest is MCE Church Uganda (1 km); the best-known is Emmanuel Cathedral (4 km). Best time: year-round.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Arua

46 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Arua. The closest is Arua Hill (2 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Arua

21 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Arua. The closest is Arua Central Forest Reserve (2 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Mosques & dargahs near Arua

20 mosques & dargahs within 100 km of Arua. The closest is Safi Mosque (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Parks near Arua

6 parks within 100 km of Arua. The closest is Park Yard (4 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Waterfalls near Arua

2 waterfalls within 100 km of Arua. The closest is Oliva Falls (12 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

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A one-day trip from Arua

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 30 km on the road.

  1. Start in Arua
  2. 1 km Madi Lugbara Musuem · museum, Arua City
  3. 12 km Oliva Falls · waterfall, Arua
  4. 12 km Emmanuel Cathedral · church, Arua City
  5. 2 km Arua Central Forest Reserve · nature spot, Arua City
  6. 1 km Arua Hill · hill, Arua City
  7. 2 km Back to Arua

Plan a longer trip from Arua — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Arua

No traveller has reported from around Arua yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Arua

    All places near Arua by distance

    Within 15 km of Arua

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Arua by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches102165MCE Church Uganda (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints546Arua Hill (2 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1621Arua Central Forest Reserve (2 km)
    Mosques & dargahs1220Safi Mosque (1 km)
    Other attractions57Kulubuku Spring (12 km)
    Parks56Park Yard (4 km)
    Waterfalls22Oliva Falls (12 km)
    Museums11Madi Lugbara Musuem (1 km)
    Temples11Hindu Temple (1 km)

    Arua: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Arua?

    Madi Lugbara Musuem (museum, about 1 km), Arua Hill (hill, about 2 km), Arua Central Forest Reserve (nature spot, about 2 km), Emmanuel Cathedral (church, about 4 km), Oliva Falls (waterfall, about 12 km), Mount Wati (viewpoint, about 33 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Arua?

    149 places on Spotwander: 102 churches, 5 hill stations & viewpoints, 16 wildlife, forests & gardens, 12 mosques & dargahs, 5 other attractions.

    Which is the nearest church to Arua?

    MCE Church Uganda, about 1 km by road; Christ the King Catholic Church (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Arua?

    Arua Hill, about 2 km by road; Nyungwe (32 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Arua?

    Arua Central Forest Reserve, about 2 km by road; Lokiragodo Central Forest Reserve (15 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Arua?

    Start in Arua, visit Madi Lugbara Musuem, then Oliva Falls, then Emmanuel Cathedral, then Arua Central Forest Reserve, then Arua Hill, and drive back — about 30 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Arua?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for churches and mosques & dargahs.

    Towns near Arua

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Arua’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Arua on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.