Top 10 activities to do in Uganda
Top 10 activities to do in Uganda : Gorilla trekking is at the top of the top safari activities to do in Uganda. Mountain gorillas can be seen in two gorilla trekking areas in Uganda that is Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National park
- Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is among the top exciting activities to do during a safari in Uganda and it can be done in destinations such as Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park.
The activity involves exploring forests in search of mountain gorillas which are divided into gorilla families that each group of tourists visit during the gorilla trekking experience in Uganda. A group of 8 tourists are allocated a gorilla group per day.
Obtaining a gorilla permit is an important for the gorilla trekking experience and the permit costs 700 USD per person for tours in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park and a limited number of gorilla permits are issued daily which makes booking the permits in advance an advantage.
The best time to visit the gorillas in Uganda is during the dry season around June to September and also around December, January and February when the weather is good making conditions for gorilla trekking favorable.
- Chimpanzee trekking
Another activity which is done during tours in Uganda is chimpanzee trekking which takes place in Kibale forest national park, the Kyambura gorge and also in the Budongo forest.
Chimpanzee permits in Uganda cost 200 USD for tours in Kibale forest national park, 50 USD for tours in the Kyambura gorge and the cost of chimpanzee permits in Budongo forest is 130 USD per person.
Visiting the chimpanzees during tours in Uganda involves closely observing the chimpanzees and spending 1 hour with them in their natural habitat. Many other primates can also be encountered during the chimpanzee trek and these include black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys among others.
- Boat safaris
Uganda is also a country with many rivers and lakes where boat safaris can take place with amazing surroundings.
Boat safaris in national parks are amazing as tourist get to see the different wildlife species closely and this activity can be done in the morning and afternoon in destinations such as Murchison falls national park, the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park.
Other places for boat rides in Uganda include the source of the Nile in Jinja, boat cruises on Lake Victoria, boat tours on Lake Bunyonyi while enjoying views of the islands among others.
- Guided nature walks
Exploring the natural surroundings on foot and getting closer to nature around Uganda is another exciting activity to do in Uganda.
These guided nature walks also involve seeing wildlife species on foot and are led by ranger guides. Forest walks can also be done during tours in Uganda in places such as the Mabira forest, Bwindi forest, Kibale forest, Semuliki national park among others.
- Hiking
There are different places in Uganda where hiking can be done and they include the Rwenzori mountains, Mount Elgon, Bwindi national park, Mount Morugole, Mount Moroto, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, Kyambura gorge, Sipi falls among others.
The steep terrain of Uganda and rugged landscapes around the country are visited by tourists during the year and hiking can be done by both experienced and non experienced hikers. Duration of the hikes varies from one destination to another and are led by the experienced local guides.
- Cultural tours
Uganda is known for its diverse culture and there are over 56 tribes that tourists can interact with during their cultural tours around the country.
These cultural tours involve interactions with the locals and getting to know about their culture and way of life, visiting their homesteads, trying out local food, enjoying traditional dance performances among other exciting experiences.
Some of the tribes that tourists interact with include the Batwa people, the Baganda tribe, the Karamojong people among others.
- Game drives
Game drives in Uganda can be done at different times of day including the morning, afternoon and also night hours. They can be done as half day wildlife safari experiences or for a full day around the national parks in Uganda.
Some of the best places for game drives in Uganda include Murchison falls national park in north western Uganda, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kidepo valley national park, Lake Mburo national park, Semuliki national park.
Wildlife species which can be seen during the game drives include elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, cheetahs, hippos, hyenas, warthogs, kudu, dik dik, bushbucks, elands, topi among others. The big five including elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards can be seen during tours in Uganda.
Some of the items to pack for the game drives around the savannah parks of Uganda include sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars for wildlife viewing, and a camera to capture memorable moments in the wild.
- Adventure tours
Adventure tours in Uganda can be done in different locations around the country including Jinja which is referred to as the adventure capital of Uganda.
Activities which are done during adventure tours in Uganda include white water rafting, hiking, mountain climbing, bungee jumping, kayaking, quad biking, zip lining, horse riding, cycling among others.
- Bird watching
Bird watching in Uganda is another activity which can be done during the year across the various destinations.
Some of the places where the bird species in Uganda can be seen include the Mabamba swamp, Lutembe bay, Entebbe botanical gardens, Kibale forest national park, Bwindi national park, Murchsion falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Semuliki national park among others.
Bird species which can be seen around Uganda include Papyrus gonolek, Starlings, Black headed Gonolek, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Cisticolas, Papyrus Gonolek, Swamp Flycatcher, Pallid Harrier, Black headed Weavers among others.
- Kampala city tour
Visiting Uganda gets more interesting with a tour around Kampala city for an insight into the urban life in the country.
During the Kampala city tour, there are different places which can be visited including historical sites, religious sites as well as many other landmarks. Places to visit around Kampala include the Uganda museum, Gadhaffi mosque, craft shops, Owino market, taxi park, Kasubi tombs, Kabaka’s palace, Uganda martyrs shrine, Bahai temple among others.
