Uganda Safaris

Uganda Safaris, Uganda was called the “Pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill because of its beautiful scenery and wide range of plants and animals. The temperature is great for the ecosystem because she is close to the equator. There are 56 groups in Uganda, and all of them are friendly and open to tourists. Since Uganda became independent, the tourism business has had some problems. Because of the fighting in Northern Uganda, which was led by Joseph Kony, fewer adventure tourists went to some parts of the country.

Peace has been restored to the country, and the tourism business is doing very well. More and more people are choosing to go on safari in Uganda. Uganda doesn’t have any land borders, but it has a lot of national parks, mountains, lakes, and rivers where many birds, animals, and plants live.

It is one of the best places to visit because it has the most threatened Mountain Gorillas of any country in the world. Uganda is the best place to see tree-climbing lions on a wildlife safari game drive. It also has the largest number of chimpanzees in East Africa and is home to the “big five” animals: leopards, hippopotamus, lions, buffalo, and elephants.

Adventure vacations in Uganda on safari are thrilling, fulfilling, and life-changing. This is mostly because you can do many different things. While you are making plans for your Uganda trips, here are some things you can do.

Things to do on safaris in Uganda

Going on a Gorilla Trek
The most exciting part of any Uganda tour is looking for the rare mountain gorillas in the dense forests of Bwindi or on the slopes of Mgahinga. It’s possible to go on a trek with any of the 22 habituated gorilla groups at any time of the year.

Because these gorilla groups are made up of different types of animals, you can watch the big silverbacks and the fuzzy babies eat, groom, and play with each other. Follow your ranger’s directions, make sure you’re physically ready for a lot of walking, and only go if you’re healthy enough to avoid getting sick. Trekking with gorillas is a thrilling journey that is well worth your time.

Trekking with chimpanzees
It is home to over 13 different kinds of primates, including chimps. Uganda is a primate center. In the wild, you can go chimpanzee hiking in places like Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth in the Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest, and Budongo Forest.

The chimp habituation experience lasts longer than the chimp hiking experience, so you can spend more time with chimps in the wild. You can see chimps that have been abandoned or saved at the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and the Uganda Wildlife Education Center. Chimpanzees eat food, watch each other, and groom each other as they go about their daily lives.

Seeing games
While on a game drive, you should bring binoculars, a good camera, your eyes, the fresh air of the woods, and wildlife. It’s the easiest way to get a look at wildlife. The tour or ranger guide will show you where to find lions that climb trees, warthogs, elephants, giraffes, buffalo groups, ostriches, hyenas, zebras, birds, and more.

This thing to do can be done in Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park. You can go on a game drive in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Going on a nature walk is another real way to experience the African Wilderness. There are wonderful smells and sounds outside, like the wind moving the grass.

Seeing birds
There are birds in Uganda that sing by Lake Victoria, fly over the Nile, and walk through the swamps on Mabamba Island. With more than 1050 kinds of birds known to live in Uganda, a safari would not be complete without bird watching. Grasslands, swamps, lakes, and tropical rain forests are all home to many birds.

One of the most interesting birds to see is the shoebill, which you can find on Mabamba Island. The Albertine Rift Endemics can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You might see a Great Blue Turaco in the Bigodi Wetlands. In Murchison Falls National Park, you can see grassland endemics like the Denham’s Bustard. In Semuliki National Park, you can see species that live in central Africa.

Meetings between cultures
Uganda has a lot of different kinds of plants, animals, and birds. Our society has a lot of different tastes, smells, sights, and sounds. Each tribe and community will give you a different recipe, way of dressing or styling, language, native music and dance, and so on.

If you want to learn more about Ugandan culture and traditional foods, try the popular Luwombo from Buganda, Eshabwe from Ankole, Atapa from Teso, and Malakwang from Acholi. You can also get a feel for Ugandan culture by visiting the Igongo Cultural Center, the Ndere Center, the national theater, and souvenir shops in and around Kampala.

Using a canoe on Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi winds its way through a beautiful landscape with 29 islands and lavishly terraced food fields all around it. When you canoe on Lake Bunyonyi, you can paddle up and down the hills and as far into the water as your eyes can see. As you watch the birds on the Lake’s shore, listen to old Lake Bunyonyi stories.

Listen to the sounds of people in the area bouncing off the nearby hills. Your way of getting from one island to the next will be in a traditional dugout boat. Lake Bunyonyi canoeing is a “bucket list” activity because it is so peaceful and gives you a deep look into the Bunyonyi Region.

Rafting on white water
White water rafting is a must-do activity on your Uganda trips because of the strong current, eerie breeze, and heart-pounding waves of the River Nile. Along a 25-kilometer stretch of the Nile River, this thrilling activity lasts for about 6 hours.

If you want to see the Nile, one quick plunge at a time, water rafting is not for the faint of heart. It’s for people with wild hearts. Choose from different types of rafting, such as Grade 5 Extreme Rafting, Raft River Board, Grade 3 Full Day Rafting, and 2-day water rafting. After this exciting action, you can drink in some local music, enjoy a barbecue, and dance on the banks of the Nile.

Going up mountains
Hiking up the mountains is more than just a steep climb. It’s a journey through the lush woods that grow on the fertile slopes of the mountains, a chance to see the gorillas that walk on the bamboo in the Virunga Ranges, and a look at the strange birds that live in these highlands.

Hiking up a mountain tests your character and strength, and when you reach the top, you feel better about your abilities than you did before the walk. The Rwenzori Mountains (5,109 m) have difficult walks, while Mt. Elgon (4,321 m) is easier. Hiking to the top of any of the three Virunga hills takes a full day and gives you stunning views of Rwanda and the DR Congo.

Cruises on boats
The swish-swash of light waves is nature’s music for people on a boat safari on Uganda’s best boat safari spot, the Kazinga Channel. A boat tour at Murchison Falls lets you see a lot of different animals and birds. You might see hippos soaking in fresh water at noon, or animals walking along the shore to quench their thirst. A boat safari is one of the most relaxing and peaceful ways to see Uganda. It should be on your list of things to do while you are there on safari.

Tour of Kampala City
Uganda’s main city, Kampala, is on top of 22 hills. It would not be fair to your Uganda safari to explore the country without visiting Kampala, the city. You can get there by bike, car, or on foot. Kampala is beautiful because of places like the Uganda Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo, Rubaga Cathedral, Namirembe Cathedral, the Bahai Temple, the Hindu Temple, the Independence Monument, and the Kasubi Tombs. Even though the sights are amazing, don’t forget to eat a Rolex on your tour of Kampala. It will seal the deal.

When is the best time to go on a safari in Uganda?

Uganda, along with Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and a few other countries, lies on the equator. This means that the weather changes only slightly from year to year. The usual high temperature in Kampala and the surrounding areas doesn’t get above 29° Celsius (84° Fahrenheit) very often. As you go north, though, the daytime temps get warmer.

They usually range from 22 to 33° Celsius (52 to 91° Fahrenheit), and they can get as high as 40° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit) in the far north, near Kidepo National Park. January and February are the best months for this. Uganda has a warm climate, and there are two seasons: dry and wet.

From December to February, it doesn’t rain in northern Uganda. From March to November, it does rain. Kidepo National Park, Pian Upe Game Reserve, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and Murchison Falls National Park are all open during this time.

There are two wet seasons in the southwestern part of the country, which is surrounded by the Rwenzori Mountains, the Virunga Massif, and the huge Lake Victoria. The first season runs from the middle of September to the end of November. The second season runs from March to May. If you go to this place, remember that it can rain at any time of the day.

From June to August and from December to February is the dry season.

That time of year in Uganda is called the dry season. The morning temperature is 16° Celsius (61° Fahrenheit), and the afternoon temperature is 27° Celsius (81° Fahrenheit). As you go up higher, like to 1,300 m, where the gorillas live (4,265 ft), it gets very cold. In the southwest, June and July are the driest months, but you can still expect some rain because the area is mostly made up of jungles. These months are part of the northern Wet season, not the southwest Wet season.

But if you go far north, to Pian Upe or Kidepo Valley, the land is semi-arid and there may be droughts at this time. Most of the southwest gets a little more rain in December, January, and February than in June and July. On the other hand, it is very dry in the north, with little to no rain.

A list of places to see in Uganda while on safari

Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda’s biggest protected area is Murchison Falls National Park, which is in the northwest of the country. With an area of more than 3,800 square kilometers, the park is named after the Murchison Falls, which are one of its most famous sights. The Murchison Falls are made when the Nile River runs through a narrow gorge and then roars 42 meters down. Because of past unrest in the country and free poaching, the park is not what it used to be.

But the park has grown again thanks to more recent attempts to protect it. Many people come to see the falls, but the park is also full of animals. With about 1,000 animals, the park is home to the largest group of the now-endangered Rothschild Giraffes in East Africa. On a Uganda Wildlife tour, people may see birds, elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos, cows, antelopes, and Nile crocodiles as they float up and down the Nile. People like to go chimp trekking in the park’s Budongo woodland, which you can see in our Uganda tour packages.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park is in the southwestern part of Uganda. UNESCO has named Bwindi a World Heritage Site because of its beauty and wide range of plants and animals. About half of the world’s mountain gorillas live in the beautiful, lush woods of Bwindi National Park. The last two kinds can only be found in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Tracking mountain gorillas is thought to be one of the three best things to do in Africa. It is impossible to find a better chance than gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest to see the critically threatened mountain gorillas. Bwindi is a great place to see birds as well as gorillas. There are many kinds of birds in the forest, such as bee-eaters, chap-ins flycatchers, black-billed turacos, and African green broadbills. During the rainy season, all the birds, both local and migrant, gather to eat the forest’s many fruits and bugs.

Queen Elizabeth National Park
There are 2,056 square kilometers of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. It is right next to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The most popular park in Uganda is known for the tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and the Uganda Kob. People who go on safari in Uganda enjoy the park’s lush green surroundings and wide range of plant, animal, and bird types.

There are about 500 kinds of birds that live in the park, such as flamingos, eagles, storks, and Kingfishers. You can also see the rare Shoebill Stork in the park. There are many kinds of trees, craters, savanna grasslands, marshes, lakes, and other volcanic features in the park.

On a Uganda wildlife tour, the best way to see four of the “big five” is on a three-day trek to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Buffalo, hippos, baboons, elephants, and other types of game live in the park. Nile crocodiles can be seen in Lake Edward and Lake George. The Kazinga Channel is a good place to see birds and other animals, and the Kyambura pass is a good place to track chimpanzees. There is no better time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park than when it is dry.

Kidepo Valley national park
The beautiful Kidepo Valley National Park is in the farthest northeast tip of Uganda. It covers an area of about 1,440 km2. Because it is so far away, the park doesn’t get many guests on Uganda safaris, but it has the widest range and richest collection of plants and animals. This secret gem is a beautiful example of how Africa used to be before people started to change it more. News Corp. named it one of the top three parks in Africa.

In Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park is a beautiful place with mountains and a Savannah that hasn’t been touched by people. People who go on safaris in Uganda can see lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, elands, cows, antelopes, bush babies, elephants, ostriches, baboons, and more than 220 different kinds of birds.

You can also find the Kananorok hot springs in the northern part of the park. Nomadic herders from the Karamajong and Ik tribes, who live high on Morungole Mountain, live with the animals. On your Uganda safaris with Monumental Expeditions and Safaris, learn about these fascinating countries.

Kibale Forest national park
The Kibale Forest National Park is in the southwestern part of Uganda. It is close to Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Rwenzori Mountains. It is possible to track chimpanzees in the wild, which is the best place in Africa to do so. Chimpanzees live all over Uganda and Africa, but the huge number (1500) in Kibale forest makes it almost certain that you will get to see one up close on a Uganda safari.

You can go chimp climbing along with nature walks and a trip to the Bigodi wetland. The park is home to 12 different kinds of monkeys, such as red colobus, L’Hoest’s, and grey-checked mangabeys. There are over 100 kinds of butterflies and huge forest hogs in the park. Uganda’s Kibale National Park has both wetland and grassland areas. It’s a great place to watch birds because it has over 290 kinds.

Mgahinga Gorillas National Park
People come from all over to go gorilla climbing in Mgahinga, a town in the southwestern part of Uganda. Mgahinga gorilla hiking lets you see the park’s only family of habituated mountain gorillas. Only in Mgahinga, Uganda, can you find a golden monkey. In Rwanda, more groups of golden monkeys would need to be found.

There are more animals in the park than just gorillas and monkeys. Wolf dogs, forest elephants, buffalo, leopards, and a few types of antelope live in the park. Africa safaris that go to Mgahinga can also hike up one of the park’s three volcanoes (Mount Sabinyo, Mt. Muhavura, or Mt. Gahinga) or follow the Batwa road to explore caves. It’s only 19 km to the lovely Lake Mutanda. After your walk or gorilla trek, a boat cruise would be a nice way to unwind.

Lake Mburo national park 
Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest grassland park in Uganda, but it is also the easiest to get to from Kampala. The park has 12 sources of water, with Lake Mburo being the biggest. The Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda is a good place to see zebras.

Birders will love the park because it has over 300 kinds of birds that gather around the lake and in the swamps that surround it. The park’s large forests are better off without elephants. In the park’s Savannah grass, there are lots of antelopes, buffaloes, cats, jackals, and hyenas. In Uganda, the best time to see wildlife is during the dry season, when animals gather at Lake Mburo to drink.

Mount Elgon national park
Mount Elgon National Park is in the east of Uganda, on the border with Kenya. The most important thing in the park is Mount Elgon. The volcano has a 42-kilometer-wide crater and is no longer active. People who like to hike love the Wagagai peak, the hot springs, and other things that make Mount Elgon National Park so appealing.

The sides of mountains are covered with woods, bushes, waterfalls, caves, gorges, and canyons. Several kinds of birds and primates, like Colobus Monkeys and blue monkeys, can also be found in the park. These animals are easy to see on safaris in Uganda.

Ziwa Rhino sanctuary

The Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is on the way to Murchison Falls National Park. Its goal is to protect the country’s rhinos and eventually bring them back to the bigger parks. Rhinos have been poached for their valuable horns in many Ugandan parks. The sanctuary protects rhinos from poachers and humans, so they can reproduce in a safe environment.

The park has over 60 rangers and guards, and visitors can talk to conservationists to learn more about the sanctuary and the rhinos. When booking Uganda safaris to Murchison Falls, most tour operators include a stop at the sanctuary. Rangers can help visitors see monkeys, antelopes, crocodiles, and hippos. The sanctuary is a great place to relax and watch over 240 bird species.

The Bunyonyi Lake
With its 29 islands, Lake Bunyonyi is widely thought to be Uganda’s most beautiful lake. It is close to the Rwandan border and the towns of Kabale and Kisoro. The lake is one of the deepest in Africa, but its stunning scenery is what makes it stand out and draws both tourists and locals. It’s a great place to relax and watch the day go by while planning your next adventure while on safari in Uganda.

You can also watch the Batwa Pygmies perform traditional dances or hop from island to island by boat, noticing the different villages, schools, and settlements. The lake is close to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and tourists who are going on gorilla treks often use this beautiful lake to recover from their hike.

Jinja Source of the Nile

A Uganda safari should include a two-day trip to Jinja, where the Nile starts, which includes whitewater rafting. The Nile is one of the world’s three longest lakes and flows through many countries after leaving Uganda, such as Sudan, Ethiopia, and Egypt. Jinja is a small, peaceful, and well-planned former industrial city with beautiful scenery. You can go boat cruising on the Nile and see different kinds of birds along the shores. You can also go camping, fishing, rafting, kayaking, and bungee jumping, which is becoming more and more popular.

The Sesse Islands
The Ssese Islands are a group of 84 islands in Lake Victoria. Both locals and tourists on Uganda safaris enjoy relaxing on the islands’ quiet sandy beaches. The ferry route through Entebbe goes through beautiful Lake Victoria and fishing communities. The largest island is Bugala, which is in Kalangala town. Other islands that are worth seeing on a safari in Uganda are Bulago and Bukasa, both of which have beautiful white sand beaches. Fishing and tourism are the main industries on the islands. Visitors on the Ssese Islands excursion will have the chance to see a wide range of bird species and monkeys.

Sipi Falls
The Sipi Falls are one of Uganda’s most popular tourist spots. They are at the base of Mount Elgon and have three levels, with the highest level getting the most visitors. Visitors can hike to the base of the falls and abseil from the tallest waterfall. The evening sundowner offers amazing views of the African setting sun and the vast, flat lands of the Karamoja region. You can combine a trip to the Sipi Falls with a trip to Kidepo, Pain Upe, and Mount Elgon national parks.