Top destinations to go when on Uganda Safari Adventure
With its small size, Uganda has 10 national parks with various adventure activities proving the genuine African experience. The national parks are managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority and stand to be the main motive for a grander percentage of tourist influx into the country.
Deciding to reach one of the parks is applauded for the incredible weather, landscapes, eco-biodiversity, and the world’s praised hospitable people. Thought of Uganda safari adventure! You can either have a guided tour or self-drive. A guided tour involves exploring Uganda under the leadership of a driver guide whereas a Self-drive safari consists of booking a car rental in Uganda to explore the different tourist attractions on your own without a local guide.
There are lots of destinations to visit on a Uganda safari adventure but the following has a cutting edge over the others.
Murchison Falls National Park
Famously known for its magnificent roaring Murchison Falls, which are arguably called to be the world’s most powerful falls and abundance of wildlife species. Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest protected area covering an area of 3840sq.km.
The park hosts the lowest spot of elevation in Uganda 621m above sea level at the summit junction of Victoria Nile River and Lake Albert at the delta point which forms the further Albert Nile that continues northwards.
At Murchison, delta point is known for being the spot for the highest concentration of wildlife within the park. Murchison Falls National Park is located in the northern region of the country, it’s currently the most visited park in Uganda due to its untamed displays.
Among which the most catching reflections include visiting the top of the falls to marvel at how these rapids form thunderous roars as they force into the described “dead point,” the narrow gorge.
And also, a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls rewards with sights of the rapids proceeding through the rough alienated rocks, taking a game drive brings about watching various wildlife which includes some of the listed Big Five.
Watch the largest numbers of Rothschild Giraffes in Uganda, Zebras, herds of elephants, buffalos, antelope species, pride of lions, leopards, hyenas, and over 400 bird species are counted here with the marabou stork.
Hippos, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and several aquatic life among many others are mainly encountered along either a game drive tour through various adventure tracks made in the park or along the boat scenic boat cruise that lead to the bottom of the falls.
An adventure to Murchison Falls National Park continues to Budongo tropical forest stretching the conservation area’s southern section. The forest is also another famous destination for incredible chimpanzee tracking and nature walks in the country.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
In far southwestern Uganda, in the Kigezi region Kisoro district, is this backdrop undulating tropics of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that is mainly famous for the incredible gorilla trekking adventures.
When on a safari to Uganda, the tropical volcanos of Bwindi Impenetrable might be your next adventure destination. The park is mainly named for being the world’s best center to trace the biological antique claims of man originating from the apes.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts about half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. This was the first forest to offer a gorilla trekking experience after the first group of gorillas was fully habituated and opened for trekking by 1999. Today, there are more than 17 habituated gorilla families ready for trekking.
The park has four trekking sectors of Buhoma which also hosts the headquarters of the park on the northern end, the Rujia sector on the Northeast, the Rushaga sector southwest, and the Nkuringo sector in the southern section. It’s in most cases upon trekkers to dictate the sector they would be interested to trek the gorillas from.
The biodiversity and unique landscape, Bwindi Impenetrable was named a UNESCO world heritage site. Besides the gorillas, this volcanic tropic is home to some primate species, several birds, and a rich cultural center for the Batwa pygmy people who were once evicted from the forest for the sake of gorilla conservation.
Among the adventure activities done at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include; gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation, the only place where this is offered, bird watching, Batwa cultural trail experience, and mountain biking. Community visits, nature walks, and many others.
Kidepo Valley National Park
CNN named the park to be the ‘remotest park in Africa’, indeed it’s the remotest in Uganda when considered using a road network. It’s termed by UWA as “the true African wildness,” the real sounds of nature, the primitive African people, and wider landscape views describe the treasures behind taking a safari adventure to Kidepo Valley National Park.
The park is the farthest tourist destination reach in Uganda, and a drive here means about 10 hours on the road.
It’s currently becoming one of the famous parks to visit in Uganda, but for distance and insecurity reasons many tourists would not bother taking adventure to the far end of the Pearl of Africa.
Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the northeast sharing bounds with Uganda and South Sudan. The park is bisected by the Narus Valley and the Kidepo Valley which host huge concentrations of wildlife.
Kidepo valley displays a unique wildlife scale viewing that continues through the endless landscape. Main adventures at Kidepo include; game drive being the major rewarding safari adventure with various wildlife views among which include herds of elephants, buffalos, several antelopes, zebras towers of giraffes, warthogs, foxes, wild dogs, pride of lions, and leopards.
For special wild encounters, there is a night game drive which often comes with chances of spotting pride actively hunting, expect also to watch the special number of bird species of about 400 species including ostrich, and secretary birds among others.
Kidepo Valley National Park is surrounded by communities of local people who have vowed against civilization letting the lousily said statement among other regions in Uganda “we shall not wait for the Karamajongs to develop.” The people are Karamoja have various clans and every community you visit have varying ways of life.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
The most famous national park in Uganda, the park was named Queen Elizabeth commemorating the visit of the UK Queen Elizabeth’s first visit to Uganda on 23rd April 1954.
The park is located in western Uganda, stretching through districts of Kamwenge, Rubirizi, Kasese, and Rukingiri, it’s likely a 400km road drive from Kampala Uganda’s capital.
Queen Elizabeth is famous for abundant wildlife, including elephants, buffalos, Uganda Kobs, hippos, topis, waterbucks, warthogs, forest giant hogs, mongoose, lions, leopards spotted hyenas, and chimpanzees among others, the park in a unique way hosts the largest concentration of bird species about 600 species are recorded only at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth is one park is the longest list of adventure activities in which one can engage. These activities include the game drive which is done at Kasenyi for a variety of wildlife viewing, the boat cruise done along the Kazinga channel, tree climbing lions done at Ishasha sector, chimpanzee tracking at Kyambura gorge, bird watching, community visits, visiting Lake Katwe salt mine, Mongoose tracking, lion experiential demands for an enough of your time to exhaust the park.
Kibale National Park
Interminably held in the impeccable forest to track chimpanzees! Or even watching the highest number of primate species! Well, Kibale National Park is the answer to fill your safari gapes particularly concerning primates.
The tropical forest is described as the world’s world capital with about 13 primate species which are recorded and chimpanzees are the premier. Though there are various forests to watch chimpanzees from in Uganda and East Africa at large, a load of about 1500 stature the forest boasts and guarantee a special encounter with the species.
Chimpanzees at Kibale National Park are fully habituated to ensure a close-up encounter, and only here where tourists have a chance to take part in the special chimpanzee habituation process which proceeds for not less than 2 years on a particular chimpanzee community, also tourist can have a full day of following up the chimpanzees and have about 4 hours after finding these human closest relatives.
While at Kibale alongside chimps tracking, there is visiting Bigodi village and sanctuary, nature walks, primate tracking, and other primates including Mangebay, red-tailed colobus, L’Hoest’s Grey-cheeked monkeys, and white and black colobus among others, other encounters are the forest elephants, forest buffalos, bushbucks, and about 300 bird species.
Lake Mburo National Park
This is the closest park from Kampala spread to around 180km about 4 hour’s drive. Lake Mburo National Park is the second smallest savannah park in the country that hold the whispers of wonders.
With a variety of bird species, the morning melodies are guaranteed to enjoy. The golden savannah park is formed with chains of Lakes where Lake Mburo is the main plus the other 12 basins.
This small park is an incredible park for adventure, taking a safari here expect to do a game drive, boat rides, bird watching, mountain biking, and nature walks due to the lack of the largest animals the elephants, night game drives are perfect here for spotting leopards actively hunting, wild horse riding, quad biking, and wild camping.
The golden savannahs are decorated with herds of zebra highest number in Uganda, impalas, giraffes, buffalos, Uganda kobs, leopards, hyenas, and warthogs among others.
Mount Rwenzori National Park
Once determined to trudge the highest heights of the Pearl of Africa, you got to trek Mount Rwenzori, Africa’s third highest peak. Rwenzori has proved to avail the most exciting and challenging hiking trail for hiking challengers which is far better than the experience of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Mount Rwenzori is located in western Uganda in the Kasese district and extends to share borders with the Virunga Conservation Areas of DR Congo. Trekking trails here range from hours to a day 6-7 for the long trail leading to Margarita peak.
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Top 10 Places to Visit in Uganda
Sometimes you have to spend a little more and experience the best in the world on your vacation and Uganda is one of the great places that have it all when it comes to wonderful tour holidays in the world. Why just read it in novels, travel journals, news tweets, travel blogs and watch it in videos without experiencing it in reality. Uganda doesn’t only offer incredible gorilla tours across the globe but it has variety of beautiful attractions as well as amazing places that you must visits once you travel to Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The home of mountain gorillas in Africa, Bwindi National Park is a reason for many visitor to Uganda especially the natural lovers and those seeking for sustainable tourism. Being a center of many interesting eco adventures and the local friendly people including the Batwa also known as the pygmies (forest people), Bwindi forest National Park is place you can’t miss to visit on your trip to Uganda. The park can be explored all year, make sure you watch mountain gorillas a prime tourist attraction of the country. However, the best time to visit is January-March, June-October and December which is considered to be the peak season.
Above all the beautiful landscape blows your mind away and reveals the true meaning of “The Pearl of Africa”. Taking a nature walk around the forest looking at various forest habitats and vegetation give you a million reasons to support nature and conservation. To sum it up Uganda has two mountain gorillas park including Mgahinga National park another perfect place for gorilla trekking, volcano hike and golden monkey trekking.
Lake Bunyonyi Islands
Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most stunning places in Uganda for leisure and relaxation found in south western Uganda just a few kilometers from Kabale town. The Lake surrounded by 29 islands and hilly landscape offers many activities such as swimming, boating, hiking, fishing, and bird watching. On your safari in Uganda, Lake Bunyonyi is one of the top places you should include in your itinerary.
Kampala
A superb place in Uganda is definitely Kampala its capital. Though it’s just a city, it’s one of the places for visitors and travelers. Delicious food, great shopping malls, beautiful attractions, modern restaurants and bars, hotels and lodges, exceptional life, events and various adventurous activities is all you find in Kampala. If you like culture traditions, don’t forget to visit Ndere cultural center for outstanding cultural performances. This is probably the famous place that presents Uganda culture in form of performances.
Mountain Rwenzori
Rwenzori Mountain is one of the stunning places at the boarder of Uganda and Congo that attract hundreds for mountain climbing safari experience. To go on the top you can take a 10 day mountain trekking and climbing safari which involve hiking to the highest peak-Margherita. It’s not costly though you have to pay for the trekking permit and park entrance for each day. However, if you have time it’s good to explore it with other interesting attractions of the country. As a trend of all mountaineering safaris, going to the top is tough but ascending down becomes more adorable.
Murchison Falls
This amazing falls with a narrow gorge that presents drama of rocks and waters offers unforgettable experience in nature and it’s something you can’t take your eyes off during your trip to Uganda. The fight of water and rocks through the gorge is one of the nicest moments that you can ever have on your vacation with your loved ones. Hiking to the top of the falls and watching wildlife roam around the river as well as hippos, crocodiles and birds is another fantastic experience that Uganda offers. While at Murchison falls national park, visitors have a chance to track chimpanzees and view variety of wildlife and also feed eyes on the most scenic views of the landscape and the mighty falls. Surely Murchison falls is worth your time.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Lying in the rugged semi-arid valley of Karamoja province on the far north just near Masai Mara game reserve of Kenya, Kidepo Valley National Park one of those outstanding places in East Africa that you can think of for a wonderful wildlife safaris tour at any time of year. Being a special location, Kidepo has all you need to see for a great trip .Don’t forget to take a glimpse at the beautiful ancient culture and life style of Karamajongs.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
One of the favorite wild conservation areas for wildlife viewing, boating, bird watching, chimpanzee trekking, and nature walk. All park activities come with a touch of the community, so your trip will certainly support many lives and families in the country. A part from tree climbing lions, many crocodiles, hippos, birds, chimps, baboons there is much more to see in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Besides it’s the most convenient place to visit on any Uganda gorilla trekking tour.
Ngamba Island
This is a nice place to visit if you want to spend time with the orphanage chimpanzees in Uganda. Visitors take part in the feeding and viewing chimps at the viewing platform a daily activity that is worth if you have 1-2 days in the country. Find this island on Lake Victoria one of the largest fresh water Lakes in Africa. If you want to spend a full day with the chimpanzees, don’t forget to get the required immunizations.
Source of the Nile
This is a stunning place in Uganda which you shouldn’t miss at all found in the famous adventure capital Jinja. Visitors get a chance to stand at the point where the Nile begins –the longest river in Africa. Be ready to enjoy various water adventure activities.