What to do on a Uganda safari in 2024/2025

What to do on a Uganda safari in 2024/2025; Uganda also known as the Pearl of Africa is located in East Africa. Are you looking for a safari destination to visit in 2024/2025, Uganda should be one of the destinations on your bucket list in that it has a lot to offer during your safari in terms of wildlife, primates, rich culture and welcoming people, warm weather, beautiful scenery among others. Tourists planning to go on a safari in Uganda, this article will guide you on the top activities to engage in during the safari.

What to do on a Uganda safari in 2024/2025

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is one of the popular activities that you can engage in during your safari in Uganda. gorilla trekking is done in two national parks that is Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in south western part of Uganda. trekking of mountain gorillas starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the jungle which takes about 2 to 7 hours depending on where the mountain gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat.

Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking is the second popular activity in Uganda after gorilla trekking and its done in different areas including Kibale forest national park which harbours the highest number of chimpanzees, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, Kalinzu forest and Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest which takes about 2 to 5 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located and once they are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their environment which helps you to learn more about their behaviours, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities, take photos and record videos.

Wildlife viewing/game drive

Wildlife viewing/game drive is an interesting activity where you will be able to explore the national parks in a comfortable pop up safari vehicle with a professional driver guide. Game drives in Uganda can either be done very early in the morning, in the afternoon at night and they are only carries out in savannah national parks like Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park and Kidepo Valley national park. during the game drives, you will be able to view animals like elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, zebras, reedbucks, impalas, elands, oribi, duikers among others.

Golden monkey trekking

Golden monkey trekking is another adventurous activity that you can engage in during your safari in Uganda. golden monkey trekking is only done in Mgahinga gorilla national park and it starts with a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations at the park headquarters just like gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park takes about 2 to 5 hours and once the golden monkeys are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with the golden monkeys where you will be able to watch them play, jump up in tree branches, take photos and record videos.

Mountain climbing/hiking

Mountain climbing is another adventurous activity that you can engage in during your safari in Uganda. There are top places for mountain climbing/hiking in Uganda including mount Rwenzori which has the third highest mountain in Africa Mount Stanley, Mount Elgon, the three volcanic mountains that is Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo and short hikes like the sipi falls hike and the top of the Murchison falls hike.

Bird watching

Uganda is one of the top birding destinations in that it’s a home of over 1,073 recorded bird species including Albertine rift valley endemics, forest birds, water birds, savannah birds, migratory birds, water birds among others. Bird watching in Uganda can be done in different areas including Mabamba swamp, Mabira forest, Mpanga forest, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Kibale forest national park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Budongo forest, Mount Rwenzori national park, Lake Mburo National park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison falls national park, Semuliki national park among others. During bird watching, you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide who will help you to spot different bird species including the Shoebill Stork, African Green Broadbill, Rwenzori Turaco, Black Bee-eater, Karamoja Apalis, Green Breasted Pitta, Puvels Illadopsis, Nahan’s Francolin, Martial Eagle, Short-tailed Warbler, Green Pigeon, Yellow-billed Stork, African Darter, Short-tailed Warbler, Goliath Heron, African Harrier Hawk, Grey Crowned Crane, Giant Kingfisher, Mountain Greenbul, Western Green Tinkerbird, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Yellow-footed Flycather, Brown Twin Sport among others.

Cultural experiences

Uganda is one of the countries with the most diverse or rich culture and heritage with over 56 tribes. During your cultural experience, you will be able to interact with the local people, learn about their culture, tradition, way of living, homesteads, taste their local dishes, listen to their ancient stories, buy craft souvenirs, enjoy their traditional entertainment among others.

Boat cruise

Boat cruise is an amazing adventure in Uganda where you will be able to cruise on different freshwater bodies. Boat cruise in Uganda is done in different areas including boat cruise on lake Bunyonyi in Kabale, boat cruise on Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park, boat cruise to the bottom of the falls and Nile delta boat cruise in Murchison falls national park, boat cruise in Lake Mburo national park, source of the Nile boat cruise among others. During the boat cruise, you will be able to view different animals like hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, Uganda kobs, giraffes among others along the shores, view water birds like cormorants, fish eagles, hornbills, kingfishers, bee-eaters among others.

Best time to go on a Uganda safari in 2024/2025

A safari in Uganda can be done anytime throughout the year though the best period is during the dry season which is also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season, there is less or little rainfall in the national parks therefore vegetation will be thin which allow you to have clear views of different animals, access roads, trekking trails and game drive tracks will be dry and passable which makes game drives, gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking easy.

For more information about what to do on a Uganda safari in 2024/2025, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris.