Uganda Safaris and Wildlife Tours

Uganda, the land of exceptional beauty, warm people, rich flora and fauna was once described by the British politician as the pearl of Africa. True to his words, a tour around Uganda confirms this description as the animals, birds, mountains, climate and food all support the ecosystem within this equatorial country. The warmth from her peoples is what many tourists leave yearning to return to. It doesn’t matter that there are over 30 tribes and languages. Across the country, people are friendly and easily interact with visitors. At every turn, there is a tourist attraction that visitor’s throng in search of more attractions.

The Northern part of the country is picking up after its tourism activities declined due to a two-decade war led by a rebel outfit the Lord’s Resistance Army under the command of Joseph Kony. With relative peace, places like Kidepo in North Eastern Uganda are now accessible and peacefully to visitors.

Though a landlocked country, Uganda is dotted with many national parks, home to the river Nile that flows up to Egypt, fresh water lakes, mountains and lush green savanna grassland hosting the big five mammals i.e. the lions, hippopotamus, buffaloes, elephants and leopards. The chimpanzee population is the biggest in the East African region. Please check out our article about the tourism attractions in Uganda.

Added to this is the attraction of the largest number of endangered mountain gorillas in the world hence making her one of the best tourist destinations in Africa. Although this seems to sum it up, on your Uganda safari, look out for the following;

1. The Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Mgahinga Gorilla park for the best gorilla trekking experience.
2. Budongo forest, Kalinzu, Kibale and Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee tracking.
3. A tour of the city of Kampala where you will get to see the cultural and religious sites in the city as well as get to go atop of the 7 hills that make up Kampala city.  You will get to visit the Uganda Martyrs shrine, the Kasubi tombs (a burial place for Buganda Kings) among other attractions.
4. Nature walks and landscape viewing in various parts of the country.
5. Tracking and spotting the big five in any of the national parks. By these we mean buffaloes, elephants, leopards, rhinos and lions.
6. A fishing expedition to catch Nile perch, tilapia, mud and lung fish in the fresh water lakes. These lakes include Victoria that spans across the East African region, lakes Albert, Edward, Mburo and Kyoga among others
7. The Nile river in Jinja, standing at the source of the river with several river activities
8. Birdwatching in many of the national parks with over 1035 recorded species.
9. Swimming and water rafting in the various crater lakes, rivers and beaches.
10. Climbing Mountain Elgon in Eastern Uganda
11. Hiking the Rwenzori mountains – also known as mountains of the moon to see glaciers that are believed to pour into the Nile river.
12. Quad Biking at the source of the Nile.
13.  A thrilling Bungee jumping over the Nile.
14. Cultural and heritage tours around the country.

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Uganda Safari – Places To Visit

Queen Elizabeth National Park: This is the most famous and preferred tourist destination for many tourists coming to Uganda. The parks cover an area of about 2,056 sq. km and borders the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is famous for the tree climbing lions in Ishasha and the Uganda Kob. Its beautiful scenery, flora and fauna including over 500 bird species are a major attraction. Some of the bird species include the shoebill stork as well as the King fisher, flamingos, eagles and other storks.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is dotted with buffaloes, baboons, elephants, hippos and various species of antelope. Lakes Edward and George offers an opportunity to spot Nile crocodiles. For visitors who are fascinated by birding and game viewing, the Kazinga Channel is the place to go to. For those interested in nature walks, the Maramagambo forest is your place. Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge along with lion tracking are also very popular attractions. It is advisable to visit the Queen Elizabeth National park during the dry season so that you can enjoy the best of your experience. Read more from our 3 days Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari package or the shorter 2 days Queen Elizabeth tour package. For a more comprehensive safari, you might be interested in the 5 days Queen Elizabeth National Park safari package.

Murchison Falls National Park: The is the largest national park in Uganda. The  Murchison Falls national park is found in the Northwestern part of Uganda covering an area of about 3,800 km².  The Murchison falls National Park suffered a decline for two decades because of the atrocities caused by the Lords Resistance war in the Northern part of the country. After the end of the way, things are back to where and tourism is thriving. The key attraction are the Murchison Falls. The falls are formed at a point where the river Nile passes through a narrow gorge before going down about 42 meters in a mighty roar. Visitors are often treated to this beautiful sight and roar of the mighty falls.

The largest population of the now endangered Rothschild Giraffes in East Africa – numbering over 1000 reside in this park. Visitors should expect a memorable cruise on the river Nile to see the big five as well as Nile crocodiles, and birds feeding along the river banks. Within the Murchison Falls National Park lies Budongo forest, famous for its chimpanzee trekking. Apart from the Murchison Falls, travelers along the Kampala Gulu highway can also catch sight of an amazing second waterfall known as the Karuma falls. You may want to find out more about our 3 day Murchison Falls tour  or the 5 days Murchison falls safari package. We even have a shorter 2 days Murchison Falls National Park tour package.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Named by UNESCO as a World Heritage site due to its amazing biological diversity and landscape, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park has also been referred to as the Switzerland of Africa. It is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda neighboring the Virunga National Park in Congo. Half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas are found in the park’s beautiful green scenery making. The many gorillas in Bwindi has made Uganda the best place for gorilla trekking. Mountain gorilla tracking ranks high among the top five activities which are worth considering while visiting Africa. Bwindi is also home to Colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and is a birders paradise harboring birds such as bee-eaters, chap-ins flycatchers, black billed turaco and African green broadbills. Please be advised that the best time for a safari in Uganda is during the dry season. However, the wet season allows one to spot resident and migratory birds as they gather to feast on the abundant forest fruits.

Kidepo Valley National Park: Described by CNN Travel as one of the top three parks in Africa, the spectacular yet remote Kidepo valley national park is located in the north eastern corner of Uganda covering about 1,440 square kilometers. It is said to be comparable to non in its richness and sheer abundance of flora and fauna. Kidepo Valley National Park is a stunning virgin Savannah where you can view buffalo, hippopotamus, lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffe, Oryx and wild dogs. The park is also home to bush babies, elephants, ostriches, baboons and about 220 bird species. At the northern part of the park lies the Kananorok hot springs. The animals share space with nomadic Karamojong and Ik living high up the Morungole Mountain.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Located in the southwestern part of Uganda and famous for gorilla trekking, the park also has Golden monkeys. In Uganda, golden monkeys are only found in Mgahinga National Park.  Other animals in the park include Buffalos, antelopes, leopards and jackals. To maximize your travel experience, you can also climb one the three volcanoes (Sabinyo, Muhavura and Gahinga) found in the park or register for the Batwa cultural trail and cave exploration. You can find out more from our 3 days  gorilla tour in Mgahinga package.

Kibale Forest National Park: The park is arguably the best place to track chimpanzees in the East African region. What makes chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park special is the fact that it has close to 1500 individual chimps and 4 habituated groups. The chances of seeing chimps in Kibale National Park is higher than any other place on earth. A chimp trekking experience can be enriched when combined with nature walks and a visit to the Bigodi Swamp. Although mammals and primates are the top attractions, we shouldn’t forget the 100 butterfly species and 290 of birds. You might want to check out our 12 days Uganda tour package.

Lake Mburo National Park: For visitors who wish to see and interact with a large number of zebras, this park is the best. Although the smallest savanna park in Uganda, it is the most accessible from Kampala, Uganda’s capital. The park is a birders paradise with over 300 species that congregate at the lake and its swampy shores. The savanna grasslands are home to antelopes, buffaloes, leopards, jackals and hyenas. The best time to spot them is during the dry season as they gather to drink water at the lake Mburo.

Mount Elgon National Park: This extinct mountain, spanning over 42 square kilometers is found in Mbale district in the Eastern part of the country. It stretches on the border between Uganda and Kenya.  Hikers striving to reach the Wagagai summit are treated to beautiful experience with natural forests, bushes, waterfalls, caves, gorges and canyons. The park is also filled with different bird species and primates like colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and vevert monkeys among others.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary: Situated along the Kampala Gulu highway, the sanctuary is a Rhino reserve with the objective of protecting the country’s last rhinos, breeding and eventually restocking the larger parks. This sanctuary was put in place after the absurd realization that poaching had considerably reduced rhino population. The park has over 60 rangers and guards who guide the visitors to see the Rhinos up-close and interact with conservationists to gain knowledge about the project. Since it is situated on the way to Murchison Falls National Park, visitors and tour guides are encouraged to make a stopover. The sanctuary is also home to monkeys, antelopes, crocodiles, hippos and 240 species of birds.

Lake Bunyonyi: Home to 29 islands and located near the border with Rwanda, Lake Bunyonyi is widely regarded as the most beautiful lake in Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi is not only the most beautiful but the deepest in Africa. Its breathtaking beauty enables you to appreciate nature and you can wind your beautiful day by interacting with and participating in the traditional dance of the Batwa people. Alternatively, you can use a local boat and visit the many islands that dot the lake as well as schools and village settlements.  The lake is a wonderful stop over for visitors who are heading for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest.

The source of the Nile: The historic source of the Nile comes with a series of activities on the Nile. Ranging from whitewater rafting camping, fishing, rafting, kayaking and bungee jumping. It is a beautiful experience to see and take a bath in this long winding river that passes through  Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt. While in Jinja, you can also visit the Bujagali falls or go boat riding along the river Nile as you spot several large crocodiles.

Ssese Islands: A favorite vacation preference for both local and international tourists, the scenic Ssese Islands are an archipelago of 84 islands found in Lake Victoria. Filled with quiet sandy beaches, the islands have become a favorite to honeymooners and persons interested in a quiet vacation. To get to the islands, visitors have to use either Entebbe as a point of departure or Bukakata. A trip via Entebbe takes 3 hours by ferry and via Bukakata 45 minutes. Some of the notable islands to visit are Bugala which is the largest island in Kalangala town. The others include Bulago and Bukasa which all have excellent white sand beaches. Fishing and tourism are the main economic activities in the islands and all other economic activities are secondary.

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre: The UWEC is a one stop wildlife center for education and conservation purposes. It is arguably the top attraction in Entebbe town. The Centre was recently revamped and has grown considerably in recent years. Located close to the airport, the Uganda Wildlife Education centre is a good place for visitors who are stretched with time to visit other tourist sites but are interested in seeing a variety of animals, birds, plants and reptiles that Uganda has. It is recommended for those on short stay or those attending workshops and conferences.

The Rwenzori Mountains: Also known as the mountains of the moon, the Rwenzori mountain stands out due to their snow-capped Margherita peak. Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mount Rwenzori’s mountain slopes are covered with dense forests that are inhabited by primates, forest hogs, several bird and butterfly species.

Sipi Falls: The amazing Sipi falls are the most visited waterfalls in the country. Found at the foot of mount Elgon, the Sipi Falls gives you a breathtaking experience. One can view all three falls, take a bath in the cold water falls and view a rainbow image while standing near the strong force of the falls.