Uganda is a popular holiday safari destination known for its wide range and diversity of attractions and adventure options ranging from white water rafting on the Nile, epic African Big 5 wildlife experiences, to cultural immersion expereince to “once-in-a lifetime” trek experiences up-close the mountain gorilla and chimpanzee in their rainforest homes. These family friendly activities and abundant adventure options are tailored to create a Holistic African Experience.
Uganda’s all-year-round equatorial weather, excellent security record, warm and friendliest population, great infrastructure connecting the country and a wide range accommodation plans makes exploring here much easy and quick.
Let us explore highlights to do on a classic safari in this Pearl of Africa.
Things to do on a Classic Uganda Holiday Safari
-
Trek along the Mountain Gorilla and the Chimpanzee
Uganda’s top bucket activity and adventure is a rewarding trek experience along the big apes; the mountain gorillas and chimpanzee in their native rainforest home here. The trek experience is a rare adventure where you trek through the dense ancient rainforests to come up-close to families of mountain gorillas and chimpanzee as they forage. A face to face encounter with these two of the largest apes is often dubbed the most humbling experience not because of their massive (and indeed intimidating) size alone but similar human-like attributes, social structure and intelligence these apes display but above else; the unexplainable feeling of connection one feels while in their presence.
Uganda offers the most affordable and accessible trek expereince to these giants where half of the global population of the endangered Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla. g. beringei) is protected in two pristine montane forests of Mgahinga Gorilla NP and the UNESCO heritage site of Bwindi Forest N. Of this large population, only 22 gorilla families are available for daily trek expereince across these rainforests in these montane rainforest.
Chimpanzee trekking expereince on the other hand occurs across Uganda’s rainforests with Kibale Forest NP offering the best and excellent experience.
-
Trek along the Golden Monkey while on Uganda Classic Holiday Safari
The next exciting adventure after the gorilla and chimp expereince, is a trek to encounter the golden monkey in the Mgahinga Gorilla NP. The Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus. n. kandti) is a near endemic and bamboo specialist that occur in large alpha-male led troops up to 100 individuals across the Virunga Mountain ranges with the largest population occurring in Uganda’s Mgahinga NP. Distinctive with golden cheeks and black limbs, the golden monkey is very active primate feeding largely on bamboo shoots and leaves. At Mgahinga NP, it’s the only monkey occurring near its bigger distant relative the Mountain Gorilla.
The guided trek expereince involves a moderate hike to the feeding range of the golden monkey, where upon encounter one is allowed one-full hour viewing and photography time.
-
Take a Big-5 Wildlife Safari Experience
Uganda offers a rewarding classic African wildlife experience to encounter the iconic Big-5 game across the country’s savanna and wooded national parks. Uganda stands out for its diversity of game-rich habitats and combining with less-crowds of tourists; a wildlife experience here is almost exclusive and personal. Uganda’s national parks protects a diversity of habitats characterized by savanna grasslands and woodlands, wetlands, open water and forests, providing an-all-round rewarding wildlife experience.
Activity highlights while in Uganda national parks include; game drives experiences, guided nature-walks, cycling in the wild, wilderness camping, birding and boat cruises.
Here to go for a wildlife safari in Uganda
Ranking on top as Uganda’s best wildlife safari parks is undoubtedly the remote Kidepo Valley National Park set in the country’s north-eastern corner, an unspoilt African wilderness boasting an incredible diversity of game and stunning panoramic landscape. The diversity of wildlife include a-thousand-strong herds of Cape buffalo, Cheater, Leopard, Lions and more.
Coming second is Murchison Falls NP, Uganda’s biggest park popular for its iconic boat cruise on the river Nile to behold the fierce Murchison Falls that occur here. The borassus palm-dotted park is hosts the largest population of the endangered Nubian Giraffe and Uganda Kob but Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Lelwel Hartebeest and more.
Heading along the western region of Uganda, Queen Elizabeth NP a biosphere park set along the rift valley overlooking the towering Rwenzori Mountain ranges offers a rewarding wildlife safari. A Wildlife highlights while in Queen Elizabeth NP include the popular tree-climbing lion prides in Ishasha grasslands that habitually lounge in fig trees during the heat of the day, but large herds of Savanna Elephants, buffalo, leopard and others occur. The underground forest of Kyambura offers chimpanzee trekking expereince while a boat safaris along the Kazinga Channel known for the densest population of hippos and nile crocodile offers a rewarding game viewing expereince.
Wrap up your classic Uganda wildlife safari in the country’s smallest savanna park of Lake Mbulo with a guided walking safari to come close to herds of Plains Zebra, Eland, thousands of Impalas, Topi and Giraffe. While here, extend the game viewing expereince on a 2hr scheduled boat safari to view Nile crocodile, schools of hippo and rare birds on the quite waters of Lake Mburo to which the park derives its name.
Lastly crown off your Big 5 list with a guided walk along the endangered Rhinos at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary in their natural home.
-
Go for a White Water Rafting Adventure on the River Nile
For adventure thrill seekers, the world-class white-water Nile rapids at Jinja present the ultimate challenge – white water rafting experience. Near its source, the Nile negotiates several rocks creating world class rapids internationally graded from Grade 1 all the way to Grade 5. Several extra grades exist but are considered beyond adventure and considered professional extreme. Daring these rapids include rafting and kayaking all in a company of well-trained safety guides stretching from half a day (4hrs) to full day (7 hrs) with lunch break action. No swimming experience or fitness levels is required.
-
Explore Uganda’s Untamed Culture
A better way to learn about a destination, is to interact with the its people. Experience the authentic Ugandan hospitality and diversity by exploring its various cultures and traditions.
Uganda is the most diverse country on the continent with over 50 tribes, each with its culture, traditions and speaking over 30 local languages in between them with Luganda widely spoken along with Swahili and English being the official language. Combine your Uganda safari with an immersive cultural experience to learn of ancient cultural and historical heritage of the local people. A cultural tour is an interactive experience where you connect with ordinary folks giving you a chance to participate in their day-to-day lifestyle whether on a dance, testing a variety of cuisines or art.
-
Go Birding in Uganda – Meet the Shoebill
Uganda is a prime birding top destination with a 1080 specie checklist (this is 50% of Africa checklist) for its size that includes regional endemics and the prehistoric Shoebill. The diversity of bird species is due to Uganda’s geographic location at the confluence of Africa’s bird-rich habitat that converge here. These habitats include montane and rainforests that lie within the Albertine Rift known for the 25 Albertine Endemics and a wide biodiversity of flora and fauna. Uganda protects extensive tropical and lowland forests that are stocked with Congo-Guinea biome specialists on their eastern range limit while semi-arid scrub and thorny country of north-east of Uganda host several of Somali biome restricted specialists come to the edge of their range limit. Other bird-rich habitats include swamps, extensive wetlands and open water that host a plethora of bird species.
-
Go Adventurous on Hiking and Mountaineering
Uganda offers a wide range of rewarding hiking options on its various mountain ranges to adventurers seeking an ultimate test of adrenaline. Hiking in Uganda is a personal expereince owing to relatively low numbers making the expereince more exciting. Uganda’s best hiking option is of course Mount Rwenzori, the highest mountain ranges in Africa whose snow peak towers up to 5109m. Here hiking options range from 3-11 days plans tailored to your interests, adventure appetite and also fitness levels. Read in this detailed hiking guide to Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
Another excellent hiking option is multi day treks to the 4321m peak on Mount Elgon in the eastern part of Uganda. Here, you will come to different montane eco-zones to arrive into the biggest caldera on the continent. Here is the detailed guide here.
Shorter hikes plans include volcano hiking at Mgahinga Gorilla NP, where its three extinct volcano peaks of Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura offer some of the best panoramic landscape views. The vegetation zones on these mountain ranges host several regional endemic birds, butterflies and primates.
Other exciting hiking plans along Uganda holiday safari include Lake Bunyonyi hikes, Fort portal crater lakes hike, Sipi Falls Hikes, Mt. Kadama, Mount Moroto, Mt Morungole and more.
-
Explore the Vibrant Kampala City
The bustling city of Kampala is Uganda’s business, political and cultural capital, a melting pot of ancient and modernity where on a normal week day up to 4m people are busy transacting business. From the extra business down-town, to fresh fruit and food filled markets, towering arcades, to narrow busy streets, Kampala is as diverse as its people and suburbs.
The equatorial climate favors average daily temps of up to 27-290C offering options to explore on foot. Eat out from its numerous eating points and taste the fresh produce from across the country. Practice your bargaining skills as you go shopping in the busy downtown, visit colorful food markets and exchange smiles with locals on their daily lifestyle. Learn about Kampala’s century old history ranging from its political, cultural and religious heritage as you visit the king’s palace, national Museum and other places of interest.
In the evening join up the local Kampalans to chill away the evening in several street nightlife spots and learn why Kampala is celebrated as East Africa’s best nightlife city.
-
Take a Scenic Road Trip across Uganda
Uganda’s geological location between the two Africa’s rift valley arms and along the equator makes it an-year-round holiday destination for its conducive weather shaped and dictated by various topographic features from highest mountain ranges on the continent to Africa’s biggest inland sea, Lake Victoria also the source of the Nile. On a guided road-trip across this beautiful land, you will enjoy the scenic features from crater lakes hemmed in by towering terraced mountain ranges, rolling hills, mountain ranges, tropical rainforests, rocky outcrops and tea hill sides. Stop to admire, interact and shop in bustling small upcountry towns, learn of ancient local traditions, sit out and exchange smiles and taste the local delicacies of Uganda’s diverse cultural heritage.