Uganda – Although landlocked, the variety of natural diversity that Uganda offers is astonishing when compared to its neighboring, the savannah countries of East Africa; not only does one have access to the majority of the savannah game that you would see in the classical wildlife destination in Kenya’s Masai Mara or in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.
While in Uganda, you also have over eight hundred species of birds, some national parks where you can track the mountain gorillas, a variety of habitats where you can also track chimpanzees or alternatively, take a couple of primate walks and a wide variety of forests, crater lakes, and mountains.
Uganda gives you the best combination to some of the best parts of African wildlife safaris, and in our opinion, Uganda still deserves the best wildlife planning for the best holiday experiences in the future.
Stunning accommodation: The accommodation in Uganda ranges in quality, but we never make compromises on location. See some of the most incredible vistas in the whole of Africa from your private views in the wilderness.
Amazing combos: Uganda’s location makes it perfect for combining with lots of other African destinations, including DR Congo Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. You can add some coastal or inland beaches too!
The home for mountain gorilla tracking: Track the mountain gorillas in two national parks, combine that with some classical savannah game viewing, all in one country!
Among the so many reasons, game viewing is the most popular tourist activity in Uganda. Wild animals like lions, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, elephants are common in Uganda’s national parks. Uganda is one of only few countries in the world where it is possible to visit endangered gorillas.
Mountain Gorillas are Uganda’s prime tourist attraction. The vast majority of these are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with a few others in Mgahinga National Park, both in southwestern Uganda and near both Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. In Bwindi, visitors have been allowed to view the mountain gorillas since April 1993. The development of gorilla tourism and the habituation of gorillas to humans is proceeding very carefully because of the dangers to gorillas, such as contracting human diseases.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the tree-climbing lions. Lions do not normally climb trees, except when chased by another lion group or wild buffalo. However, the tree climbing lions found in QE-NP intentionally climb trees and rest on them in the afternoon, when the sun is high. This is a unique phenomenon. There have only been rare similar sightings of this in Lake Manyara National Park of Tanzania.
Situated at the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, and snow-capped even at the height of summer, the legendary Mountains of the Moon are Africa’s highest range. Unlike its sister mountains of Kenya, and Kilimanjaro, hiking the Rwenzori is tough. It could take good eight or nine days to complete the Kilembe Trail in the southern section of the park, though much shorter routes are available. Trekking Rwenzoris has considerable rewards: remote trekking through a pristine wilderness of craggy peaks, glacier lakes and a lunar landscape dotted with giant groundsel plants.
5. To Cruise the Kazinga Channel – Queen Elizabeth National Park is blessed with a variety of beautiful habitats, from the open plains of the Kasenyi sector to the densely wooded scrub of the Mweya Peninsula and fig-tree-studded Ishasha sector. Apart from the already mentioned attractions,the main reason to visit the Kazinga is the boat launch on the Kazinga Channel that’s the real highlight of a visit to Uganda’s most well visited national park.
Drifting lazily past huge pods of hippos; close-up encounters with Cape Buffalos, Nile Crocodiles and Nile Monitors are virtually guaranteed; and herds of Elephants regularly come down to the river to drink and to cool off in the shallows.
6. Chimps Tracking in Kibale – A beautiful swathe of thick equatorial rainforest, Kibale National Park boasts the highest concentration of primates in all of Africa. Its thirteen species include Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys and impish Grey-cheeked Mangabeys but everyone is here for the chimpanzees. On a day-long Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, you’ll follow a troop of whooping and hollering chimps as they swing through the forest, gathering in the treetops to play, doze or feast on figs.
When the midday heat burns through the upper canopy, the chimps descend, sliding down vines and striding right past you. If such an extraordinarily close encounter doesn’t give you goosebumps, the sound of the males messaging each other will: they drum on the buttress roots of giant fig trees with such force that the ground around you shakes.
7. To track Gorillas in Bwindi
Spending a full day tracking Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is probably the most remarkable wildlife experience on earth.
On the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s new Gorilla Habituation Experience, you’ll accompany park rangers and researchers as they track and monitor these powerful yet gentle giants, first locating their overnight nests before following a trail of broken branches and tell-tale silver hairs to the gorillas themselves. What follows is 3 or 4 hours of lifelong memories, as you watch immense silverbacks tearing up and munching on huge bundles of vegetation while playful youngsters roly-poly amongst the undergrowth.
Wildlife Safari – To those looking for a traditional Uganda holiday, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best MUST visit. Ecologically sandwiched between Lake George and Lake Edwards, this nature reserve is home to almost 90 mammals including lions, leopards, elephants,s, and buffalo, and well as incredibly diverse flora well dispersed in its five distinct climatic zones within its borders and with over 500 bird species.
Available Options – Game viewing here takes place either by vehicle or by boat, usually along the traditional Kazinga Channel connecting the two lakes. It’s here, where many hippos and other wildlife can be spotted.
Mountain Gorillas – It is estimated that over 50% of the world’s population of mountain gorillas reside in Uganda’s conservation areas, making it the place to go to experience this astonishingly human-like animal in its natural habitat.
Boating and water sports
With its prime location in the African Great Lakes region, Uganda has a variety of water bodies that are popular spots for tourism. White water rafting and kayaking are popular activities on the rapids near the source of the Nile at Jinja.
Boating which is commonly done on Lake Victoria, Lake Mburo, Lake Bunyonyi, Kazinga —Channel, and River Nile is a perfect way of exploring the buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles and a wide variety of bird species that inhabit the banks of these water bodies. Sport fishing is another favorite tourist activity. Fish like the Nile perch, and tilapia can be caught in designated areas of Lake Mburo and the banks of the Nile. Canoeing can also be done at Lake Bunyonyi.
Hiking and mountain climbing
Uganda has many opportunities for mountain climbing, hiking and nature walks. The Rwenzori Mountains, which are found at the border with the DRC, include the snowcapped Margherita Peak (5109 m), the highest Mountain Range in Africa and one of the highest peaks. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park also includes three peaks, Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Muhavura, the highest peak in the national park. Mount Elgon, located in Eastern Uganda, can be used for hiking and climbing, and also has one of the largest calderas in the world.
Religious tourism
Religious tourism is a steadily growing tourism product niche in Uganda after wildlife-based tourism. However, limited research has curtailed planning and development of religious tourism in the country.
Cultural sites
Uganda has many cultural sites. The most notable one being Kasubi Tombs. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally Kabaka Muteesa I’s palace (1880-1884), the graves of Muteesa I, Mwanga II, Daudi Chwa and Muteesa II are found in the main house which was reconstructed after a fire in 2010.
