The golden opulent savannahs, untamed rolling landscapes, and thick tropics spread across the country. All stature Uganda into an influential safari destination with great offers tabled. Gorilla Safaris rightly positions Uganda as one of the most admirable tourist destinations on the African continent.
With a total of about 330 mammals in the wild, around 1090 bird species are recorded in the country. Close to 90 aquatic life and many other natural features, suggested golden safari in Uganda.
Uganda is a small East African interior, which occupies a total area of about 241,559 sq/km. The country is bordered by 5 countries including South Sudan northwards, Kenya Eastwards, Tanzania Southwards, Rwanda Southwestwards and the Democratic Republic of Congo Westwards.
Uganda suggests one of the remarkable adventure safaris that unveil unique features of which some are only customized for safaris here. The treasure in the 10 Uganda national parks, the source of the world’s longest river, Africa’s largest fresh water lakes, 3rd and 4th Africa’s highest mountains.
With the combination of larger primate adventures, the country accommodates about half of the world’s mountain gorillas, best chimpanzee tracking experience. The fantastic climate in the world and diverse cultural display are among the package of a safari in the Pearl of Africa.
Top attractions on a Uganda Safari
Gorilla trekking
Mountain gorilla trekking is by default customized for only three countries. Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, among them Uganda share half of the gorillas in the wild. Chances to track gorillas are higher in Uganda with the highest number of habituated gorilla families.
Gorillas in Uganda are endemic to two tropical volcanic forests of Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi remains the capital of gorillas, and has around 18 habituated gorilla families. There are 4 trekking sectors in the park of which one must trek from one a day, the sectors are Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
Gorilla trekking has topped to highlight the rest of the adventures in Africa. Trekking the gorillas is tracing mankind’s background that dates about 40,000 million years of man’s evolution. Trekking the gorillas through the thick forests and finding them, an hour in their presence you realize the evolution narrative carries a certain percentage of truth.
Trekking gorillas in Uganda a permit costs $700. There is another experience of spending a full day with the gorillas, is gorilla habituation. For gorilla habituation, a permit costs $1500.
Chimpanzees Tracking
Uganda represents Africa’s finest destination to track chimpanzees. Chimpanzees are known to be one of the most intelligent among primates and are the second largest among primate species. The apes are believed to share almost 98% of the human DNA.
Uganda hosts a number of about 15000 chimpanzees that reside in several forests. Kibale National Park is the prime among other forests that hosts the apes. Kibale National Park also stature to suggest the best chimpanzee tracking safari experiences.
Chimpanzees for trekking in Uganda are fully habituated to ensure that upon their encounter, trackers have that special close up encounter. Chimpanzee tracking safaris are done at Kibale National Park, Budongo forest reserve, Kyambura gorge forest, and Toro Semuliki game reserve.
The rates of tracking chimpanzees vary according to where to trek the apes from and famous $200 for tracking at Kibale National Park.
World class rafting
Along the source of the River Nile, the world’s longest river is this amazing adventure. At the source of the Nile in Jinja, the East African adrenaline capital of adventures, can raft and advance to grade IV and V. White water rafting is among the list done adventures in Africa. Uganda is one of the adventure thrills that would not miss on your safari package.
Jinja is located east of Kampala, Uganda’s capital and it’s one of the major tourist districts. For something special off the games through the savannahs and tropics, white water rafting must be your consideration.
Along with rating adventures, several activities can be done alongside and these are kayaking, tubing, bungee jumping, boat riding, horse riding and quad biking among others.
The Big Five Safaris
The big catch of Uganda, Uganda safaris is ever incomplete without a wild safari drive to watch several animals. Uganda has a complete list of Big Fives that are encountered in the savannah parks in the country.
Majorly, the big five are seen on a game drive and wild boat cruises, but for the case of Uganda to finish the full list of big five must include the Ziwa rhino sanctuary. The sanctuary is the only place in Uganda to watch rhinos in their natural habitat.
A list of the big five is the reward from the savannah parks, among which one can spot at least three of the games. The savannah parks in Uganda are Murchison Falls National Park in the northwestern of Uganda, and Kidepo Valley National Park in the northeastern of Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park in southwestern and Semuliki National Park in western Uganda.
The big five are seen majorly on a game drive, the most done adventure activity in Uganda. Opting for a safari to Uganda, your combination must include the wild game drive to sight some of the big five.
The World’s most powerful waterfalls
The eye catching moist falls have today scooped a position among the most enchanting tourist destinations. Murchison Falls are among the amazing nature wonders of Uganda, these are arguably considered to be the world’s most powerful falls.
The dramatic falls, accompanied by mystical thunderous roars of rapids forced into a contracted gorge. Along the stretches of the Victoria Nile River, are these amazing cliffs through which rapids penetrate to find a great fall.
The Murchison Falls are accessed either by a top of the fall drive for the panoramic view of these phenomena. You can also take a boat cruise that sets from Para to the bottom of the falls watching how rapids settle to flow.
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s most visited national park and the Murchison Falls contribute much to its popularity.
Diversity of culture
Uganda is made up of diverse ethnicities, these ethnic groups stand to practice different customs and practices. Among the diverse cultural practices, including learning their lifestyle, and enjoying their entertainment side through traditional songs and dances. Cultural diversity also partners in food tastes of which every region and culture has its different dish.
Visiting designated tourism communities with unstaged lifestyles. Among the most amazing cultures to visit include the Batwa located within the gorilla hub. The Batwa are located in southwestern Uganda in communities neighboring Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The Karamojong culture is located in northeastern Uganda, these are amazing pastoralists. They have a history of being cattle rustlers, but their lifestyle is worth exploring. Exploring the Manyatta housing and their dances, and stories are interesting things. Several other cultures are worth exploring across the country.
Tree climbing lions
The special package for safaris in Uganda, it’s really an awesome moment finding the pride lousily relaxed under tree branches. The special package is a reward only at Queen Elizabeth National Park in the Ishasha sector south of the park.
Tree climbing lions are among the thrillers of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the prides have adopted another way of relaxing and spotting for prey.
Top Tourist Destinations to go to on Safari in Uganda
There is a long queue of tourist destinations that can be considered when drawing a combination of things to do on a Uganda safari. These top destinations are cities, islands, and national parks with special tourist interests.
Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda’s most visited national park especially by tourists seeking to watch great wild animals. The popular Murchison Falls National Park is located in northwestern from Kampala, Uganda’s capital. It’s by size the largest protected conservation area in Uganda with an area coverage of 3978 SQ/KM.
Murchison Falls National Park is famous for majorly two things, i.e. the mighty Murchison Falls that pour along the Victoria Nile northwards. These thunderous roars of the waters falling through the narrow 7m wide gorge down at 45ft. And also Murchison Falls National Park is famous for being a park where tourists can have a chance to watch the full list of the Big five animal. This is attained with the accompaniment of Ziwa Rhino sanctuary found en route to Murchison.
However, Murchison Falls National Park has several activities that tourists can engage in. Among these adventure activities include game drives, boat cruises to the bottom of the falls, driving to the top of the fall, hiking to the top of the falls, nature walks in Budongo forests, chimpanzee tracking, spot fishing and community visits.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The gorilla hub, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the center of these amazing human like creatures. Mountain gorillas are endangered species and in Uganda are endemic to only Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. All times around, Bwindi is the best forest to trek gorillas.
The park accommodates a reasonable number of species, over 450 gorilla individuals call the Bwindi volcanic forest their home. The park has about 18 habituated gorilla families, meaning a reasonable number of trekkers can trek gorillas here each day.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park due to its special flora was named a UNESCO heritage site. It’s a crucial tropical forest inhabiting some of the endemic plantations which can’t be found anywhere else. At Bwindi, tourists can do either gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation. The cost of each is $700 for gorilla trekking and $1500 for gorilla habituation.
Jinja city the source of the Nile
Named the East African capital of adventures. Jinja city is well known as the old industrial park of the country but has turned to be a tourist spot in East Africa. Its fame is attributed to the source of the Nile River which is the world’s longest river.
Jinja city is located east of Kampala capital about 80km, it’s among the largest cities in Uganda and a tourist hotspot with several thrillers. The source of Nile River is a portal for a number of adventure activities. If ever, though of the adrenaline city, Jinja, source of the Nile has it all.
The rafting hub, rafting for both bachelors and advancing. With various levels of rapids, one can raft up to grade IV &V for the advanced rafter. Rafting at the source of the Nile is at the world’s standard. Other accompanying adventures include; bungee jumping kissing the waters are 45fts down, kayaking, tubing, water sliding, horse riding, quad biking, nature walks, cultural encounters and hiking.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda’s most famous national park, Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in western Uganda. The park was named Queen Elizabeth in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth who visited Uganda in 1952. It’s the best spot for bird experts as over 600 bird species are recorded here.
Queen Elizabeth is the park with the longest list of adventure activities done than other parks. Among the activities to do here include, game drives, boat cruises, community visits, tree climbing lion tracking, chimpanzee tracking, lion tracking experience, hippo census, mongoose tracking, and bird watching among others.
