Post covid-19 safari in Uganda.
After long years of lockdown, do you want to relax your mind in Uganda? Pearl of Africa is the best destination for you and you’re family, friends and couples. Uganda is a British protectorate that was colonized by Britain however gained its independence in 1962. Sir Samuel Baker and his wife Florence Baker named it the pearl of Africa due to its beautiful scenery like the most powerful falls which Samuel named Murchison falls, and mountain gorillas which are found in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park which are over 400 individuals compared to those in Rwanda and Congo, mt Rwenzori, Mt Elgon, chimpanzees which can be spotted in large number and many more.
Despite the pandemic, most people have realized that ‘life is short’ so exploring Uganda during their holidays is the best decision a visitor cannot regret because of its beauty. However, the pandemic affected Uganda economically, socially, politically and religiously.
What to do in Uganda?
Generally, Uganda has 10 national parks that are Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park, Kibale national park, semuliki national park, mt Elgon national park, Mt Rwenzori national park, Bwindi Impenetrable national park, kidepo valley national park and Mgahinga national park. These parks contain many activities and these are detailed below.
Gorilla trekking.
These are unique creatures that can be accessed by gorilla permits which cost $700 per person. Mountain gorillas are known to be close relative to human beings due to 98% DNA. This activity is the most popular in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park harboring half of mountain gorillas in the whole world. However, these gorillas are spotted in Rwanda in volcano national and Congo in Virunga national park. To access these 17 gorilla families in Uganda, visitors are briefed to pack cameras, water& snacks, raincoat, comfortable hiking boots, long trousers, a long t-shirt and hiking sticks. it is advisable to book gorilla permits in time because they are on high demand due to a limited number of visitors per day.
Chimpanzee tracking
Chimpanzee tracking is also a spiced activity that you don’t wish to miss out on while you’re in the pearl of Africa. The activity is done in the morning hours just like gorillas where game rangers first brief about the tracking and what is expected to do while you’re with chimps. During the tracking, visitors will spot them in large numbers jumping from one tree to another if you’re lucky ones. Cameras are accepted without flashlights to have the best one-hour visit with chimps. Accessing them in Uganda, a chimp permit costs $200 per person limited to 8 people during tracking. These chimps can be accessed in kibale national park, budongo forest, kalinzu forest and kyambura gorge forest.
Golden monkey tracking.
Do you want to meet sliver with the gold creature? Mgahinga national park is the best destination for these golden monkeys. Tracking these requires a permit which is advised to be booked in time due to high demand in the market. However, mgahinga national park inhabits mountain gorillas with one gorilla family that is apart from golden monkeys, there are other primates that are spotted like red-tailed monkey and blue monkeys.
Culture
Uganda the pearl of Africa is blessed with different tribes with different cultures like Buganda , Ankole, Busonga, bakiga, karamonja and many more. Places like Ndele cultural center is the best place to visit where there are different entertainment of different cultures like basonga, banyankole, baganda , bagisu and many more to have unforgettable moments while you’re in Uganda.
While in kidepo valley national park, visitors will spot mayatta homes in karamong, will be entertained by karamonja dances, and feed on blood and fresh milk from their cows during their nature walk which will make their safari memorable.
Game drive
This is a spiced-adding activity every visitor doesn’t wish to miss out on while on a safari in Uganda. The game drive is mostly done in savannah parks like Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison falls national park, kidepo valley national Park, Lake Mburo national park and many more. The game drive always takes 2-3 hours to search for animals like lions, elephants, Uganda kob, zebras, giraffes and more. Visitors are free to take photos but are told to follow the rules and regulations of the game drive that is not overspeeding and not to get out of the car since they are with wild animals for safety.
Hiking and nature walk.
Hiking and nature walk is an additional activity for visitors and it starts morning hours and evening hours however it’s always led by game rangers and guides to safe guide the lives of visitors in the forest or around local communities. Hiking and nature walk requires a visitor who are physically fit and he or she is expected to pack water and snacks, cameras, comfortable hiking boots, a hiking stick, long trousers, a long t-shirt, caps and long stockings. During the nature walk and hiking, visitors will be able to spot local communities where they are briefed to feel free to interact with the local people, support their local markets, try on their herbal medicine and many more to make their trip memorable.
Boat cruise
Due to the fact that Uganda is beautifully made with lakes, and rivers, a boat cruise is the best activity to do while you’re in Uganda. This activity can be done on the bottom of Murchison falls which are the most powerful falls in the world, in Queen Elizabeth national park on Lake Edward crossing to Lake Albert via kazinga channel, on Lake Victoria and at the source of the river Nile. During this activity, visitors are able to spot various animals like a school of hippopotamus, crocodiles, and birds, green vegetables around the lake shores, elephants, buffalos, kobs, and warthogs at the shores of the lake.
The boat cruise is done during the morning hours and afternoon hours however those who are good at fishing can be done in the evening hours.
City tour
Despite the fact Uganda is a country itself, it has 3 capital cities that Kampala as the main capital city, Gulu city and Mbarara city. To have the best time in Uganda, a city tour is also the best activity to do while you’re in Uganda. As a visitor, you can do shopping in malls, visit markets like Owino market, visit museum-like Uganda Museum, visit cultural centers like Ndele cultural center, igongo culture center in Mbarara city, visiting 5 –star hotels like the pearl of Africa hotel, Serena hotel and Sheraton hotel and many more.
Recently, jinja has been confirmed as a city tour due to touring activities it has like bungee jumping, source of the Nile, quad biking, boat cruise, water rafting, water sailing and river tubing and many more.
Birding
Uganda is the best biding paradise that every bird lover doesn’t wish to miss out. Some of these birds can be endemic birds, savannah birds, forest birds and many more. these birds include, shoe bill, Lesser Kesterel, the Armot Chat, the Red-Faced Barbets, the Great Snipe and Swamp Fly Catchers, fish eagles, Grey-backed Fiscals, Cattle Egret, Black-headed & Viellot’s Black Weavers, threatened papyrus gonolek, Hamerkop, Pied Crow, Sacred & Hadada Ibis, Long-crested Eagle and the Augur Buzzard.
