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Things To Do On A Uganda Tour

Uganda is one of the continent’s most rewarding travel destinations. From mountain gorilla encounters to cultural interactions and breathtaking landscapes, a Uganda Tour offers experiences that appeal to all travelers.

Uganda’s diverse attractions make it one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations. The best Uganda safari destinations offer opportunities for both Uganda group tours and Uganda private tours, ensuring everyone enjoys a personalized experience.

Below are the top Uganda safari tour experiences we recommend adding to your bucket list.

Track Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi

Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most sought-after activities on a Uganda safari adventure. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and remains a highlight of a Uganda safari tour.

Consider choosing Uganda private tours for gorilla trekking because they offer flexibility and exclusive experiences. Meanwhile, Uganda group tours provide a cost-effective way to enjoy this unforgettable wildlife encounter while meeting fellow travelers.

Explore Murchison Falls National Park

A visit to Murchison Falls National Park is another highlight of a Uganda Safari Tour. The park is famous for the dramatic waterfall where the Nile River squeezes through a narrow gorge before plunging into the river below. On a visit to the park, you get to enjoy game drives, boat cruises, and hiking excursions.

If you are a wildlife enthusiast and a photographer, this is an ideal location for a Uganda photography tour. The park’s abundance of elephants, giraffes, lions, buffaloes, and numerous bird species makes it one of the most rewarding Uganda safari destinations.

Experience Chimpanzee Tracking

Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park is a must-do activity on a Uganda safari. The forest is known as the primate capital of the world and offers exceptional opportunities to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

Customized Uganda group tours and Uganda private tours frequently include chimpanzee tracking. You can also combine this experience with other Uganda safari destinations for a comprehensive safari adventure.

Wildlife Safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is among the most popular Uganda safari destinations due to its remarkable biodiversity. Enjoy game drives, boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel, and the chance to spot the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha.

The park is a favorite stop on both Uganda group tours and Uganda private tours. Wildlife photographers particularly appreciate this destination, making it a key highlight of any Uganda photography tour.

Take a Uganda Photography Tour

A dedicated Uganda photography tour allows you to capture the country’s stunning landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage. Uganda provides endless photographic opportunities, from mist-covered mountains and lush forests to vast savannahs and vibrant communities.

Popular locations for a Uganda photography tour include Bwindi, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest, and Lake Bunyonyi. Whether you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist, a Uganda photography tour offers unforgettable moments behind the lens.

Visit Lake Bunyonyi

Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most scenic Uganda safari destinations. Surrounded by terraced hills and dotted with numerous islands, the lake offers a peaceful retreat after adventurous safari activities.

Uganda private tours include Lake Bunyonyi as a relaxation stop, while Uganda group tours often feature canoeing, nature walks, and cultural visits around the lake.

Hike the Rwenzori Mountains

If you are an avid mountain climber, include the Rwenzori Mountains on your Uganda safari. Known as the Mountains of the Moon, the Rwenzoris offer challenging hikes, stunning alpine scenery, and unique ecosystems.

The Rwenzori mountain range is one of the most exciting Uganda safari destinations for trekkers and nature lovers. It also provides spectacular opportunities for a Uganda photography tour, especially for landscape enthusiasts.

Explore Jinja and the Source of the Nile

Jinja is Uganda’s adventure capital and one of the country’s most exciting tour destinations. Located near the source of the Nile River, the town offers white-water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping, and boat cruises.

Whether included in Uganda group tours or Uganda private tours, Jinja offers a thrilling contrast to traditional wildlife safaris and is a popular addition to any Uganda Safari Tour.

Participate in a Uganda Cultural Tour

No Uganda Safari Tour is complete without engaging in a Uganda cultural tour. You can visit the Buganda Kingdom, explore traditional homesteads, attend cultural festivals, and learn about local customs.

A Uganda cultural tour will enrich your travel experience by showcasing the people behind the country’s famous wildlife attractions. You will find that a Uganda cultural tour is one of the most memorable parts of your journey.

A Uganda safari Tour offers an incredible variety of experiences, from gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking to wildlife safaris, mountain adventures, and cultural encounters. The country’s diverse Uganda safari destinations cater to every traveler, whether they prefer Uganda group tours or exclusive Uganda private tours.

Embarking on a Uganda photography tour will provide endless opportunities to capture stunning moments, while a Uganda cultural tour reveals the rich traditions and heritage of the Pearl of Africa. With so much to see and do, Uganda continues to rank among East Africa’s most rewarding travel destinations.

5 Memorable Uganda Wildlife Safari Discoveries

A post COVID-19 Lock-down safari to the Pearl of Africa offers Memorable Uganda wildlife discoveries. Uganda opened up for tourists on 1st October and is among the Must Visit wildlife safari destinations in East Africa.

Arriving tourists are expected to have tested negative for COVID 19 within 72 hours prior to arrival. On departure one is again required to test 72 hours before departure to ensure that he/she left the country safe. All these tests must be done from a credible health facilities and will be required at the airport.

Below are some of Uganda wildlife discoveries you will enjoy while on a safari to this beautiful country.

1. Mountain Gorillas

These rare apes inhabit the forested mountains of Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla parks in southwestern Uganda. The total mountain gorilla population on the entire planet is estimated at 1063 and Uganda has half in Bwindi. Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga offers finest Uganda wildlife discoveries as you meet the gorillas in the wild.

A gorilla trek starts in the morning taking 1 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. As you hike the forested mountains you encounter other wildlife species in the park especially birds.

When on a visit to Uganda ensure to have a mountain gorilla trek on your bucket list. Gorilla tracking can be done anytime of the year and permits for international tourists cost USD 700 per person.

2. Shoe-bill Storks at Mabamba Swamp

Mabamba swamp is located in Entebbe on the northern shores of lake Vitoria. The swamp is one of the best birding spots in Uganda with over 300 bird species. The swamp is home to the rare shoe-bill storks that are incredible Uganda wildlife discoveries while on birding excursions.

Mabamba is one of the best places in Uganda for spotting the shoe-bill stork often attracted by the lungfish. Lungfish is the Shoe-bill storks favorite food and shoe-bill storks are often seen on the lookout for fish.

There are over 12 shoe-bill storks here and the best time for a shoe-bill stork excursion is 7:00 am. You can as well try out late evening like from 5:00 pm and also get to enjoy the African sunset. Other notable bird species at Mabamba swamp include African Fish eagles, African Jacanas, Black-headed herons, blue swallow Egrets and others.

3. Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park

Uganda is no doubt East Africa’s primates haven with the largest chimpanzee population in the world in Kibale National Park. There are several chimpanzee families with over 30 individuals that are often encountered here.

Chimpanzees are mans’ closest primate species with over 95% DNA similar to humans. They live in a setup of families just like human beings headed by dominant male chimpanzees. These determine the days routine and spend most of the day feeding and looking for fresh feeding areas.

Trek with the chimpanzees of Kibale forest national park for memorable Uganda wildlife discoveries of the primate world. A chimpanzee permit for international tourists cost USD 200 but they are on high demand. Ensure to have your chimpanzee permit booked on advance in order to be part of this wildlife adventure.

4. Snow capped Rwenzori Mountains

These are located in western Uganda in Rwenzori mountains National park a habitat to unusual wildlife species. Rwenzori mountain ranges stretch along the Uganda DRC border with the highest peak Margherita at 5,109 meters above sea level.

The Mountains are very unique as the upper parts are snow capped and with glaciers forming incredible wildlife features. A number of adventurous mountain climbers often take on the Rwenzori challenge to have fun and explore the snow.

The slower slopes of the Rwenzori mountains are covered with various vegetation types from tropical rainforests. These act as homes to wildlife including the rare three horned chameleon. A hike to the snow capped Rwenzori mountains no doubt presents unique Uganda wildlife discoveries.

5. The Nile River at Murchison Falls National Park

The Nile River is Africa’s longest river that start its journey north through Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean sea. The River is one of Africa’s hopes of life as it supports a number of wildlife species.

In Uganda the Nile river forms the great Murchison falls as its squeezed in a 10 meters gorge. With this pressure, the falls form a thunderous sound and a permanent rain-ball; quite a spectacular sight to watch.

As the Nile river leaves the gorge, it gives a breath of life with incredible wildlife species often seen here. These include Nile Crocodiles, Africa’s giants like Elephants usually seen at the river banks feeding. All these can be well explored while on the Murchison falls bottom of the falls boat cruise.

Murchison falls is Uganda’s finest Savanna national park with wildlife like Buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs, antelopes usually explore on game drives. The park is a 5 to 6 hours drive from Kampala Uganda’s Capital City and can be accessed by road. In-case you don’t want this drive then you can fly from Entebbe to Pakuba airstrip located within the park.

Uganda Opens Entebbe International Airport and borders For Tourists After 7 months Closure

H.E Yoweri Museveni on 20th September 2020 announced the opening up of Entebbe International Airport and land borders for tourists. This is after a 7 months closure in March that was aimed at restricting the spread of COVID-19.

The Ugandan President was holding a Presidential address on latest updates on matters regarding COVID 19.

Tourists will be required to show COVID 19 negative results at the airport tested 72 hours before arrival in Uganda.

The local tour operators have also been mandated to ensure that the tourists don’t mix with the local Ugandans. They will be directly driven to their Hotels on arrival or to the wildlife destinations like national parks.

There are airlines that will resume flights to and from Entebbe International Airport now that it is finally open. They include Uganda’s national carrier; Uganda Airlines, RwandAir, Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Brussels Airlines and others.

Earlier this month, Uganda Wildlife Authority opened primates national parks for chimpanzees and mountain gorillas that had remained closed since March. This was because primates have over 95% DNA similar to humans with high chances of contracting human disease like COVID-19.

After several consultations with the Ministry of health and local tour operators, the parks were finally opened. These will however be run basing on standard operating procedures of social distancing and sanitising.

Entebbe International airport and land borders are now fully open, tourism business in Uganda will resume slowly. Tourism depends a lot on air travel and international border crossings as tourists easily connect to their intended destinations easily.

Uganda’s Main Tourist Attractions

Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla parks in south western Uganda tops this list. Mountain gorillas are apes that prefer to live in forested mountains and mostly feed on plant vegetation.

All the gorilla parks are now fully open to tourists and can be accessed by road or air by flying to the nearby airstrips. Ensure to buy gorilla permits in advance as they get fully booked because gorilla tours are on high demand.

Savanna wildlife species are other key attractions of tourists to the Pearl of Africa. They include lions, elephants, buffaloes, Rhinos, birds, hippos, zebras and are evenly distributed in the different national parks in Uganda.

Savanna wildlife species are enjoyed on game drives, nature walks and on boat cruises in Parks with Lake and Rivers.

Given that Entebbe International airport and all borders are open, one can visit Uganda for a wildlife safari. There are many tour operators who tailor make Itineraries featuring the various destinations.

Uganda’s COVID-19 cases are stand at 6,017 with 2544 recoveries and 63 deaths. Much as tourism is now fully open there is need to be careful for our own safety.