A well-planned Uganda tour offers tourists the chance to experience a variety of things that the country’s landscape, wildlife, and culture have to offer in a short amount of time. One of the best safari locations in Africa, Uganda is naturally blessed with lovely and hospitable people, a variety of wildlife with rare and some endemic species, a nice climate, mountains and valleys, rivers, and lakes. The top 5 activities you should include on your Uganda safari bucket list if you plan to visit Uganda, known as “the gem of Africa,” are listed below.
When tourists visit Uganda to experience its natural beauty, they primarily partake in these activities. Because of its tranquility and the beauty of its many attractions, Uganda is one of the top tourist destinations in Africa and is sometimes referred to as the jewel of Africa.
Due to the diverse range of wildlife attractions and the abundance of things to do once you get there, visiting Uganda is like visiting all of Africa at once. Activities like primate safaris, birding, aquatic adventures, and adrenaline experiences will all blow your mind and make Uganda a permanent part of your life memories.
Regardless of your interests, there are a variety of things to do in Uganda. Listed here are some of the most popular safari activities when visiting Uganda, known as the gem of Africa.
- PRIMATE ACTIVITIES
To witness the stunning primate species that Uganda is home to, this safari will take you to the top primate locations in Uganda. These include hiking with gorillas, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys.
Gorilla trekking: This is the most popular safari activity in Uganda and it brings substantially more money from exports than other safari pursuits. Only three nations in the world—Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda—have mountain gorillas. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park in southern Uganda are home to half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. Since they can only be seen in a few locations and there are significant limits on their conservation, seeing these endangered species in their native habitat is a once-in-a-lifetime event.
In Uganda, there are more than 20 habituated gorilla families that are accessible via trekking. Mountain gorilla encounters are limited to one-hour for visitors, although the entire trekking trip might last anything from two hours to a whole day, depending on where the gorillas are. Uganda charges USD 700 for each gorilla permit, less than other nations.
Gorilla trekkers must be in good physical condition because the landscape of these national parks requires considerable hiking before you can approach the gorillas. In order to get the most out of your time with these close relatives, keep in mind to abide by the gorilla laws and the park ranger’s instructions.
Chimpanzee tracking: A close second to gorilla trekking is chimpanzee tracking. Since chimpanzees and humans have 98 percent of the same DNA, following them is as intriguing as watching them eat, play, and jump from tree to tree. There is a 90% chance that you will spot these giant apes if you go chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, which is home to roughly 1500 chimpanzees.
The chimpanzee habituation experience at Kibale National Park lets you spend more time with the primates. Don’t miss the opportunity to interact with these chimpanzees in their natural environment because many of them have been acclimated. Generally speaking, the Kibale National Park, Kalinzu, Kyambura, Budongo Forest, and Ingamba Sanctuary are the best places to undertake chimpanzee trekking.
Golden monkey: These extremely rare primate species are only present in the volcanoes national park in Rwanda and the Mgahinga national park in Uganda. They are said to be a severely endangered species, and people are drawn to them because of their distinctive look and natural golden-brown color.
As a result of their playfulness and speed, they are challenging to photograph and film while on the hike. Golden monkey trekking is similar to gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in that it involves a 1-hour interaction with the animals, a briefing, and the need to obtain a permit before beginning the trip in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park.
- WILDLIFE ACTIVITIES
Game viewing: In Uganda, there are savanna and woodland parks that are home to a variety of animals. On game drives, you can tour these parks and get a closer look at and education on these species. A tour guide will lead you into the park to witness creatures such as tree-climbing lions, elephants, zebras, hyenas, buffaloes, leopards, giraffes, warthogs, Uganda kobs, and so many more. While on a game drive, carry a camera, and binoculars, and move in an open-roof tour vehicle. Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park to see these creatures in their natural habitats.
Birding: Uganda is one of the best birding sites in Africa due to its more than 1070 bird species, some of which are rare and endemic. In Uganda, protected and unprotected farms and woods are used for birding. You need to walk large distances to look for birds because they are everywhere.
The Uganda national parks and reserves, woodlands, along the banks of water bodies, and marshes are a few places in Uganda to go bird watching. African green broadbill, blue-breasted kingfisher, white napped pigeon, Rwenzori Turaco, shoebill stork, green-breasted pitta, red-fronted anti pecker, Karamoja Apalis, Nahan’s francolin, crowned eagle, brown chested alethe, purple breasted sunbird, short-tailed warbler, African jacana, great blue Tura
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo Forest, Mabamba Swamp, Semuliki Forest, Lake Mburo, Mgahinga National Park, botanical gardens, and Lutembe Bay in Entebbe are just a few of Uganda’s finest birding locations.
- MOUNTAIN HIKING
Mountain hiking is permitted in several protected areas in Uganda, including the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, and the Mgahinga National Park at the three Virunga mountain ranges (mountain Sabinyo, mountain Gahinga, and mountain Muhavura) in the southwest of the country. While engaging in this pastime, mountain hiking along well-traveled pathways offers scenic views that are daring.
If you would like to go on less strenuous climbs, you may also embark on the hike to the top of the falls in Murchison falls national park and the hike of the sipi falls in the mountain Elgon perimeter walls. In the natural world and in human civilization, hikers take advantage of the best aspects of an adventurous experience.
- CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
When visiting Uganda, tourists should not skip cultural excursions because Uganda is one of the top countries with the best cultural experiences. Uganda is separated into 4 regions, including the central area, western, eastern, and northern sectors. These regions are individually classified into more than 50 tribes, each with its own beliefs and customs, making Uganda a popular tourist destination for those interested in cultural heritage.
The cultural trip in Uganda will provide you with a fascinating opportunity to connect with and experience the locals in various communities and see other cultural places including the Uganda Museum, Kabaka’s Palace of Buganda, and Toro Palace in Fort Portal. The following were some of the distinctive cultures and traditional tribes:
The Karamoja tribe:
These are grouped as livestock keepers who live in the northern region of the nation. The tribe is broken up into various tiny populations, including the Pian, Matheniko, Tepeth, Bukora, and IK people. The IK people, who live in the hills of Morungole Mountain and are relatively distinct from other groups, engage in farming and animal husbandry. An incredible traditional cultural experience awaits you in Karamoja if you take a cultural tour there. Visitors can take part in daily activities including basket making, bead weaving, cooking local cuisine, singing along to traditional music, and watching exciting dance performances.
The Batwa tribe: In the southwest of Uganda, these are located in parts of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Mgahinga National Park. Before they were found guilty and driven from their homes for Bwindi and Mgahinga gazetion, they were indigenous forest people who lived in the forest and relied on natural resources. Their culture revolves around how they live, how they spent many years in the forest, and how they deal with life outside the forest. It is worthwhile for visitors to experience the Batwa traditional history, focal dances, and music.
- AQUATIC ACTIVITIES
Boat cruise: Tourists visiting Uganda for a safari should not skip this amazing experience. The source of the River Nile near Jinja, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo, Lake Victoria, Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kazinga Channel, and Murchison Falls National Park on the Albert Nile River are just a few of the locations in Uganda where you may take a boat tour.
It provides a chance to view and take in the beautiful scenery, as well as wildlife like hippos, buffaloes, elephants, and crocodiles, as well as birds like the shoebill, kingfisher, Gray-crowned crane, African fish eagle, Pied Kingfisher, African skimmers, Marabou stork, Egyptian goose, herons, yellow-billed storks, Fish eagles, and African jacana.
White water rafting: One of the most well-liked adventurous sports in Jinja is white water rafting. Due to the numerous grades 4 and 5 rapids, Jinja is considered to offer the best and highest quality white water rafting in all of Uganda especially at the Kalagala and Itanda falls, most exciting and breathtaking rafting is done in those areas. Participants use inflatable tube boats to go over harsh waves and rapids on the mighty Nile. As you approach the steel waters of the Nile, you’ll pass through some breathtaking landscapes and terrain along the river’s borders, as well as many wildlife species like birds, monkeys, butterflies, and plants.
Fishing: The huge Nile perch and tilapia are the most sought-after species to go fishing for. One of the best things about fishing in Jinja along the Nile is that some areas are designated for sporting fishing, enabling fishermen to catch enormous specimens. The early morning and late evening are the best times to go fishing.
Fishing without a plan is discouraged, as is utilizing outdated equipment. Perhaps one should only target adult fish. Anglers will first receive the proper fishing equipment before receiving a safety briefing before heading out to fish. The Nile in Jinja, Lake Victoria, Murchison Falls National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park are the best locations for fishing, and fishermen who practice sport fishing there are consistently cheery.
The best time to go on a safari in Uganda
Although safari activities can be enjoyed throughout the year, the dry months of June, August, September, December, January, and February are the ideal times to visit Uganda (peak season). Uganda has two seasons per year (dry and wet seasons). During the dry season, there is little rain, the national park’s pathways are navigable, and other tourist destinations are also accessible.
It is also easier to see wildlife during this time because the vegetation is sparse, allowing for easy access to all of the area’s amenities. During the dry seasons, a large number of animals and birds converge around water sources to drink water to quench their thirst from too much sun.
But there are other things you may do throughout the rainy months of March, July, October, and November. Enthusiastic birders will have a chance to witness the majority of the bird species during this wet season because many migratory birds like to move about a lot during this time. Spotting them in Uganda is a must.
