Uganda safari guide
Uganda is one of the most visited destinations due to its beautiful landscape, scenery, wildlife unique culture among others. It offers various attractions and activities that people can engage in while on a safari such as gorilla trekking which is the most popular activity in Uganda, chimpanzee trekking, lion tracking, game drive, boat cruise, city tour, cultural visits, birding, nature walk, mountain climbing among others. The Uganda safari guide therefore gives you information about Uganda so as to help you plan a safari in Uganda.
Safari destinations in Uganda
Murchison falls national park, this is the largest and most visited national park in Uganda. the park is bisected into two sectors by River Nile that is the northern and the southern sector and both sectors harbor abundant wildlife including the big four mammals which are the elephants, buffaloes, lions and leopards plus other animals like giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, bushbuck, warthog, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, hippos, bird species like the elusive shoebill stork, primates like chimpanzees, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys among others. Visitors who want to explore all the sectors in the park will cross from one sector to another by a ferry so as to engage in thrilling activities in the park.
Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, this is a sanctuary that harbors the endangered rhinos. Ziwa rhino sanctuary is the only destination in Uganda where you can track the rhinos therefore in case you want to view all the big five mammals you can visit the sanctuary on your way to Murchison falls national park.
Queen Elizabeth national park, the national park is the second largest park located in southwestern Uganda. Queen Elizabeth national park is blessed with wildlife species with animal species like elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, oribi, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, crocodiles, hippos, mongoose, bushbucks, primates like the chimpanzees, baboons, monkeys which are found in Kyambura Gorge, bird species among others. the national park is famously known for the tree climbing lions which are found in Ishasha sector southern part of the park therefore on your safari in the park engage in a game drive in Ishasha sector so as to view the tree climbing lions which will be lazily lying up in the acacia, fig tree branches looking at the antelopes grazing in open savannah vegetation.
Bwindi impenetrable national park, the national park is located in southwestern Uganda in Kanungu district. Bwindi impenetrable national park is popular known for the endangered mountain gorillas which are the most popular and most visited attractions in Uganda. The park is a home of over 450 mountain gorillas which is half of the world’s mountain gorillas and visitors who visit the destination can participate in interesting activities like gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation experience among others.
Kibale forest national park, the national park is also known as the primate capital because it harbors about 13 primate species including the chimpanzees which are the second visited attractions in Uganda after the mountain gorillas, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys among others. On your safari in Kibale forest national park can participate in chimpanzee trekking, chimpanzee habituation, forest walk among others which give you incredible and life time experiences.
Kidepo valley national park, this is one of the isolated national parks that is located in the remote Karamoja region north Eastern Uganda. The national park is blessed with beautiful and charming landscape, vegetation, abundant wildlife including wild animals like elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, reed bucks, waterbucks, zebras, giraffes, cheetah, Oryx, Jackson’s hartebeest, stripped hyena, elands, jackal, kudu, Uganda kob, bush pigs, warthogs, bird species like Kori bustard, ostrich among others. On your safari in Kidepo national park you can engage in cultural encounters where you visit the Karamojong tribe and IK tribe which is the smallest ethnic tribe in Uganda.
Source of the Nile, River Nile is the longest river in the world and the source is found in Jinja one of the tourism destinations in Uganda. On your safari at the Source of the Nile you can engage in thrilling and breathtaking activities like white water rafting, bungee jumping, boat jetting, horse riding, swimming, quad biking, kayaking among others.
Lake Bunyonyi, this is the deepest lake in Uganda and the second deepest lake in Africa. Lake Bunyonyi is located in Kabale district and offers spectacular views of the landscape, hills, sunset and sunrise among others. On your safari in Lake Bunyonyi you will engage in canoeing where you cruise on the lake in dung out canoe exploring the 29 islands on Lake Bunyonyi.
Other safari destinations include Lake Mutanda, Sipi falls, Sezibwa falls, Lake Mburo national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Semuliki national park, Ngamba Island, Mabamba swamp, Lake Victoria, Rwenzori national park, Mount Elgon national park among others. For more information about safari destinations in Uganda you can contact Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website.
Safaris in Uganda
Gorilla trekking, this is the most dove activity in Uganda where visitors move into the tropical rainforest in search of the endangered mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking is an interesting activity that is carried out in two destinations that is Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbors the highest number of the mountain gorillas and Mgahinga gorilla national park which harbors 2 habituated gorilla families. Bwindi impenetrable forest is the most visited gorilla destination in Uganda because it harbors about 19 habituated gorilla families which are found in four sectors namely Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Ruhija sectors. Gorilla trekking takes about 2 to 6 hours in the jungle and once the gorillas have been found you will spend one hour with them in their natural habitat taking photos, recording the moments, learning about their habits, behaviors among others. visitors who want to engage in gorilla trekking should acquire a gorilla trekking permit in advance because the permit are competitive and usually get sold out.
Chimpanzee trekking, this is the second most done activity in Uganda after gorilla trekking. Chimpanzee trekking is an activity where visitors move into the forest in search of the habituated chimpanzee families. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is done in various destinations including Kibale national park, Budongo forest, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu forest among others. Trekking takes about 2 to 4 hours and once the chimpanzees have been found you will spend one hour with them in their natural habitat.
Wildlife viewing, Uganda has abundant wildlife species ranging from vegetation types, wild animals, bird species, primates among others. wildlife species can be viewed in the national parks during the game drive, nocturnal game drive, nature walk among others and you will view animals like elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, elands, oribi, topi, impala, waterbucks, hippos, bushbucks, warthogs, giant forest hog, zebras, giraffes, cheetah, bird species like the elusive shoebill stork, great blue turaco, papyrus Gonolek, handsome francolin, kori bustard, ostrich, primates like mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, pottos, bush babies among others.
Birding safaris, Uganda is one of the best birding destinations in that it harbors over 1040 bird species. Birding safaris in Uganda are carried out in all national parks such as Queen Elizabeth national park, Kidepo valley national park, Kibale national park Murchison falls national park and other destinations like Mabamba swamp which harbors the elusive shoebill stork.
Boat cruise safaris, Uganda harbors many water bodies such as lakes and rivers therefore on your safari you can engage in boat cruise where you will cruise near animals, have views of the landscapes, birds among others. Boat cruises in Uganda are carried out on Lake Victoria, Murchison falls national park, Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park among others. During the boat cruise you will view the crocodiles and hippos in water and other animals which will be around the water banks to drink water especially during the dry season which gives you an opportunity to take perfect pictures of the animals.
Uganda Safari Company
When going on a safari in Uganda you have to choose a safari company to use and when selecting a safari company you have to consider various factors such as knowing if the company is registered with tourism associations, checking company reviews on trip adviser, checking the company profile, services offered by the company, time of response for example how fast does the company respond to your inquiry, prices of a safari, mode of payment among others. When choosing a safari company you should compare qualities with other companies so as to come up with the best company for your safari. I can recommend some of the best safari companies in Uganda for example Achieve Global Safaris, Explore Rwanda Tours, Focus East Africa Tours Ltd among others which organize safari trips to different destinations in Uganda and East Africa at an affordable price.
Best time to go on a safari in Uganda
Uganda can be visited any time throughout the year though the best period is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February. During this time there is less rainfall in the country which makes it the best period to travel because access roads to the safari destinations will be passable, there will be short grass in the parks which makes it easy for wildlife viewing, trails in the parks will be dry which makes activities like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, nature walk, birding successful, many animals will gather around the water banks to drink water which gives you an opportunity to view abundant wildlife species and also take plenty of photos.
Though visitors prefer visiting in the dry season rain can be expected anytime regardless of the season and the dry season has its own shortcomings for example the parks will be overcrowded, gorilla trekking permits will be competitive, safari lodges will be fully booked which requires you to book in advance so as to avoid disappointments.
Uganda experiences two rainy seasons in the months of March to May and October to November, During the rainy season there is heavy rainfall in the national parks which makes it difficult to participate in some activities such as gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, nature walks among others but there are some advantages for visitors who visit during the rainy season such as discounted lodges, less crowds in the park, less competition of the gorilla trekking permits therefore a last minute traveler can also be able to acquire a gorilla trekking permit.
Where to stay on your safari in Uganda
There are a wide range of luxury, midrange, budget and campsite accommodations in Uganda. Every destination has its own accommodations where you can stay therefore its advised that on your safari in Uganda you stay in accommodations near the safari destination for easy accessibility.
What to carry on your safari in Uganda
What to carry or pack for a safari depends on the destination you want to visit and the activities you want to participate in for example visitors who want to visit Jinja can carry light clothes, those who want to hike mountains in the park should carry hiking shoes and those who want to engage in gorilla and chimpanzee trekking can carry long sleeved shirt and trousers, warm sweater because it’s always cold in the morning and evening hours, energy snacks, insect repellent, waterproof rain jacket, long socks, garden gloves, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, walking stick among others.
