Top 10 activities to do on safari in Uganda : There are various activities which can be done during a safari in Uganda and the top 10 things to do include the following;
- Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and also in Mgahinga national park in the south western part of the country.
During the gorilla trekking experience, tourists get to search for the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and also spend time with them in the forests. Ranger guides move with the tourists as they search for the gorillas.
Many tourists visit Uganda for an encounter with the gorillas of Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park which can be seen throughout the year although the best time to see them is during the dry season in June to September.
In Bwindi national park, the gorillas can be seen in the different sectors which include Buhoma sector, Nkuringo sector, Rushaga sector and Ruhija sector where different habituated gorilla families can be encountered during gorilla trekking experiences. Mgahinga national park on the other hand is home to one habituated gorilla family called the Nyakagezi gorilla group.
Gorilla permits in Uganda for the gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and they cost 800 USD for foreign nonresidents, 700 USD for foreign residents and 300,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
- Chimpanzee trekking
Uganda has different locations where tourists can engage in chimpanzee trekking experiences during their safaris.
Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is done in destinations like Kibale forest national park, Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park and also in the Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park.
During the chimpanzee trekking experience in Uganda, tourists visit the chimpanzees in the morning or afternoon and spend time with them in their natural habitat and watch them closely. Ranger guides move with the chimpanzees in the forests as they look out for the chimpanzees.
Many other primates can also be seen in the forests during the chimpanzee trekking experience and they include vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys among others. Variety of bird species can also be seen during the chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda.
- Game drives
Another popular activity done in Uganda during safaris is game drives which can be done in different safari parks around the country.
Game drives in Uganda take place in the morning, afternoon and night in destinations like Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Lake Mburo national park among others. Wildlife species can also be seen around the wildlife reserves found in the country.
A variety of wildlife species can be seen during the game drives in Uganda and they include lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, buffalos, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, hyenas, warthogs, elands, bushbucks, topi, kudu, hartebeests among others.
- Boat safari
Boat safaris in Uganda can also be done across different destinations in the country in the morning and in the afternoon.
In national parks such as Murchison falls national park, tourists can enjoy boat ride son the Victoria Nile to the bottom of the falls. In Queen Elizabeth national park, boat tours are done on the Kazinga channel which connects Lake Edward and Lake George.
Wildlife species like hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffalos among others can also be seen during the boat safaris in Uganda. Other popular locations for boat tours include the source of the Nile, Lake Victoria, Lake Bunyonyi among others.
- Community tour
Community tours or cultural tours are also popularly done during safaris in Uganda and they involve visiting the local communities.
Some of the community tours include Batwa community experience, Karamojong cultural experience among others which involve interactions with the different tribes and getting to know more about their culture and traditions and also their way of life.
Activities done during the community tours include food preparation, traditional dance performances, local craft making, visiting the homesteads among others.
- Bird watching
Bird watching also takes place across various destinations in Uganda where numerous bird species can be seen.
Some of the bird species which tourists look out for during their safaris in Uganda include the shoebill Stork which can be seen around the Mabamba wetlands among other locations. There are over 1000 bird species found in the country.
- Hiking
Tourists on safari in Uganda can also enjoy hiking experiences in destinations such as the Rwenzori mountains, Mount Elgon, Mount Moroto among others.
Hiking can be done as a day tour and tourists can also spend many days hiking depending on the location of the activity which can be done by both experienced hikers and also non experienced ones. Children can also enjoy short hikes during safaris in Uganda.
- Nature walks
Nature walks around different parts of Uganda are exciting safari experiences which involve exploring the wilderness on foot.
During nature walks, tourists get closer to their natural surroundings and learn more about the different attractions in the destinations and also see different wildlife and bird species. The activity can be done in the morning and also in the afternoon or evening hours with a ranger guide.
- Adventure activities on River Nile
There are different adventure activities which tourists can engage in along the River Nile as they visit Uganda.
Some of the activities which take place on the River Nile in Uganda include white water rafting, bungee jumping, quad biking, Source of the Nile boat rides, horse riding, kayaking among other activities.
- Kampala city tour
Tourists on safari in Uganda can also engage in city tours around Kampala city an experience the urban life.
Different places can be visited during the Kampala city tours and they include cultural and historical sites, landmarks and monuments among others.
City tours in Kampala can be done around the Uganda museum, Kabaka’s palace, Bahai temple, Gadhafi mosque, Namirembe cathedral, Rubaga cathedral, art galleries and craft shops, Kasubi tombs among others.