10 Activities to Include on your Uganda Safari 2024/2025
10 Activities to Include on your Uganda Safari 2021/2022 are the things that you will engage in during your safari in the Pearl of Africa. Uganda has a lot of activities to offer to travelers and they range from cultural experiences, wildlife viewing, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, mountain climbing, bird watching among others. Below is a list of the 10 activities to include on your Uganda safari 2024/2025.
- Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is one of the 10 activities to include on your Uganda safari 2024/2025, gorilla trekking is an adventurous activity that involves moving on foot into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. In Uganda, gorilla trekking activity is done in two destinations Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbors about 19 habituated gorilla families and Mgahinga gorilla national park or simply Mgahinga nationa park which harbors one habituated gorilla family. Gorilla trekking in both destinations starts with a briefing about the rules and regulations at the park headquarters. After the briefing you will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park takes 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where they slept the previous night. During trekking you will have great views of other primate species like chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, different bird species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed, take photos and record videos.
- Boat cruise
Boat cruise is an amazing activity in Uganda which gives travelers an opportunity to have great views of beautiful scenery, relax your mind among others. Boat cruise safaris in Uganda are done on different water bodies like lake Victoria which is the second largest lake in the worlds, Lake Bunyonyi which is the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest lake in Africa, Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo , source of the Nile and Albert Nile in Murchison falls national park. Boat cruise in Uganda gives travelers an opportunity to enjoy spectacular views of animals like elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, giraffes, antelopes among others drinking water along the shores, view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view water birds like bee-eaters, fish eagles, king fisher’s, cormorants, hornbills among others. You will also have great views of the fishermen preparing their fishing gears for night fishing, nearby villages among others.
- Wildlife viewing
Uganda has a number of national parks and game reserves which harbor abundant wildlife species hence making it one of the best destinations for wildlife viewing. Major national parks in Uganda for wildlife viewing include Kidepo valley national park, Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Semuliki national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Lake Mburo national park. Wildlife species in the national parks can be viewed during the game drives which can either be done early in the morning, afternoon or an night, different wildlife species in Uganda include elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, waterbucks, giraffes, zebras, bushbucks, warthogs, cheetahs, hyenas, Uganda kobs, Jacksons hartebeest, hippos, topi, elands, oribi, impala, primates like chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, olive baboons, golden monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey among others.
- Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is the second popular activity carried out in Uganda after gorilla trekking, the activity allows visitors to move into the forest on foot in search of chimpanzees and when found spend one hour with them in their environment. Chimpanzee trekking activity in Uganda is carried out is different areas such as Kibale national park which harbors about 1500 chimpanzees, Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park which harbors about 800 chimpanzees, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, Kalinzu forest, Semuliki national park and Ngamba island sanctuary. Chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda start with a briefing at the headquarters where after you will be allocated an experienced part guide to lead you during trekking and a chimpanzee family to trek. Trekking of chimpanzees in Uganda takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on their location because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other primates, bird species, plants and once the chimpanzees are found you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which helps you to take photos, record videos, observe their habits, behaviors, watch them feed, play, hunt, breastfeed, rest, fight, take park in feeding the orphaned chimpanzees at Ngamba sanctuary among others which gives you unforgettable experiences on your safari.
- Bird watching
Uganda is a home of more than 1074 recorded bird species which makes it one of the top birding destinations in Africa. Major bird watching sites in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth national park which harbors more than 600 bird species, Murchison falls national park which harbors more than 450 bird species, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Kibale national park, Lake Mburo national park, Kidepo valley national park, Rwenzori mountains national park, Maramagambo forest, Mabira forest, Mabamba swamp, Budongo forest among others. Bird watching can be done with an experienced park guide who will help you to view different bird species like the prehistoric shoebill stork, augur buzzard, black kite, standard winged nightjar, black breasted barbet, short tailed warbler, flamingos, African harrier, great blue turaco, African green broadbill, hooded vulture among others.
- Golden monkey trekking
Golden monkeys are unique and beautiful primate species that are found in Mgahinga gorilla national park in southwestern part of Uganda. Golden monkey trekking is an active and exciting activity that starts with a briefing at the park headquarters about the rules, regulations and expectations. After the briefing you will be allocated an experienced park guide and then start trekking which takes about 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on the location of the golden monkeys because they like to move from one place to another in search of food . During golden monkey trekking you will follow trails of leftover bamboo shoots, leaves and once they are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment which gives you an opportunity to watch them jump up in trees, play, feed, take pictures and record the breathtaking moments.
- Mountain climbing
Uganda is blessed with mountains, hills, valleys, volcanic mountains which make it an ideal destination for mountain climbing safaris for the visitors who are interested in hiking. Mountains in Uganda include mount Rwenzori which is the third highest mountain in Africa with mount Stanley’s Margherita peak which stands at 5,109 meters above the sea level, mount Elgon which rises at an altitude of 4,321 meters above the sea level, volcanic mountains like Mount Gahinga which stands at 3,474 meters above the sea level, Mount Muhavura which stands at 4,127 meters and Mount Sabinyo which stands at 3645 meters above the sea level. The volcanic mountains are found in Mgahinga gorilla national park and during mountain climbing you will walk through the dense forests, savannah grasslands, bamboo forest, heath and alpine zones with spectacular views of animals like elephants, duikers, primates like chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, bird species among others and once you reach at the summit you will have spectacular and breathtaking views.
- Rhino tracking
Rhinos in Uganda are found at Ziwa rhino sanctuary which is located in Nakasongola district on the way to Murchison falls national park. Ziwa rhino sanctuary is a home of 22 southern white rhinos and the only place where you will be able to see the rhinos in the wild. Rhino tracking at the sanctuary starts with a briefing where after you will be given a well trained ranger who will guide you through the bush to where the rhinos are. During rhino tracking which takes about 1 to 2 hours you will be able to view rhinos in their sanctuary and learn more about their behaviors, habits, lifestyle from the guide. You can do rhino tracking on its own or visit the sanctuary on your way to Murchison falls national park which is the largest protected area in Uganda.
- Cultural experience
Cultural experience is one of the 10 activities to include on your Uganda safari 2024/2025 because cultural experiences give you an opportunity to interact with the local people in the local communities such as the IK and Karamajong people who live near Kidepo valley national park, Batwa/pygmies who used to live in the Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park before they were gazetted into national parks, Bakiga, Baganda among others. During your cultural experiences you will be able to learn about the local people’s culture, tradition, dress code, way of living, visit their homesteads, farmlands, learn how to make local beer from bananas, listen to their ancient stories, taste their local dishes, enjoy their traditional performances, buy craft souvenirs among others. During the cultural experiences you will also give you a chance to visit Igongo cultural centre in Mbarara, Ndere cultural centre, Entanda cultural centre in Mityana where you will take park in different cultural experiences like traditional drumming, traditional welcoming songs, private sex education talks among others.
- Kampala city tour
Kampala city tour is also an interesting activity for travelers who are interested in visiting urban tourist attractions in Uganda. During the Kampala city tour you will be able to visit different places like Kasubi tombs, Kabaka’s palace, Uganda Museum where you will know more about Uganda’s culture, local markets like Owino, Nakasero market where you will be able to interact with the local traders, Kibuli mosque, Namirembe cathedral, Bahai temple, craft centers where you will buy souvenirs, the Parliament of Uganda for those interested in politics, shopping centers among others.
Best time to visit Uganda for safaris
Uganda can be visited anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to October and December to February. During the dry season there is less rainfall in the national parks therefore access roads will be passable, trekking and hiking trails will be passable and vegetation will be less hence allowing you to have clear views of wild animals.
Uganda can also be visited in the wet season during the months of march to April and November because that’s the best time for bird watching where bird lovers will be able to view migratory bird species from Europe.
