Uganda Safaris

Where to Go in Uganda

Of course, there are very many places to visit while on a safari to Uganda, but we have listed some of the popular destinations with the different activities that can be done there. The destinations are mainly national parks which are found in almost every region of the country, and each national park stands out with its unique features and experiences.

For those interested in Gorilla trekking, Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks are the destinations to visit, they are located in the southwestern region of the country. In order to trek the mountain gorillas, trekkers need a trekking permit which costs $700 for foreign non-resident tourists. With the permit, there is an opportunity to spend at least an hour with the gorillas and also receive a certificate which shows that you trekked. You can check out our packages for Gorilla trekking experiences. Around these parks are communities with the indigenous Batwa people who have an amazing culture, their culture is thrilling. 

For more primates, especially the Chimpanzees, tourists visit Kibale Forest National Park. This park is found in the western region providing the best chimpanzee tracking experiences plus other primates like the baboons, black and white colobus monkeys among others. A permit to enable you track chimpanzees costs $200 per person. Also note that there are other places where you can track chimpanzees and they include; the Semuliki Valley, Budongo forest, Ngamba Island, Kalinzu forest and Kyambura gorge. 

From Kibale Forest, tourists can easily access other neighboring destinations like the Crater lakes, Rwenzori Mountains, the Bigodi wetland, Semuliki National park (the birder’s haven) and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth is famous for its big numbers of wildlife including the tree climbing lions found in Ishasha sector. A boat cruise through this park on the Kazinga channel is also an added experience. From this park, one can easily connect to Bwindi and then to Lake Bunyonyi. 

Is it your desire to simply relax after many days of travel around Uganda? Or you want to take your team for team building experiences? Lake Bunyonyi is the destination to visit. Lake Bunyonyi is Uganda’s deepest lake, with various islands. It is a very spectacular destination known for its tranquility and nice lodges. The activities that can be done on and near the lake are canoeing, cultural tours, birding, and community biking among others.

Tourists with an interest for Game viewing and sightseeing can choose Murchison Falls National Park. It being the biggest park in the country also means it has a lot to offer. That statement is true because the park has big numbers of wildlife species such as the Nile crocodiles, buffaloes, warthogs, elephants, hartebeests, antelopes, lions, giraffes and leopards as well as several bird species. The park also hosts a very strong water fall which makes its way through the 7m wide hole and plunges at 43m before it continues with its course with the Victoria Nile. 

Murchison water falls are very spectacular and thrilling, tourists take a boat cruise along the Nile to the bottom of these falls, they watch them fall beautifully and also opt to hike for about 45 minutes and get to the top of the waterfalls, to have both experiences of the top and the bottom. Other tourists who can’t hike, opt for a drive with their tour guide directly to the top to see the eye catching falls. Other activities to do in Murchison falls are Sport fishing, hot air balloon safaris, nature walks, private cruises and game drives.

A visit to Murchison is usually not counted complete without a stop for Rhino tracking at the Rhino sanctuary called Ziwa especially for the tourists coming from Kampala. The sanctuary is not located far from the park, it is approximately 3hours and a half journey time between these two destinations. 

For more wildlife viewing and cultural experiences; Kidepo Valley National Park is the destination for you. The park lies a bit far from Kampala which is about 10 hours while driving on the road but what it has to offer is very remarkable. Many say that it offers the true savannah experience, since it is situated in the North eastern part of the country which is mainly dry throughout the year, hence making it easy for wildlife viewing, since the grass is short and the land is flat for easy game viewing. 

Wildlife species that can be seen in Kidepo include the spotted hyenas, jackals, lions, zebras, cheetahs, buffaloes, elephants, bush pigs, oribis and leopards. Activities done in Kidepo include; nature walks, game drives, bird watching and cultural tours. Kidepo also has over 470 species of birds hence is also a good place for birding, the birds that can easily be spotted include, the ostriches, red and yellow barbets, dark chanting goshawks, little bee-eaters and kori bustards.

Other destinations include; Mount Elgon, Mount Rwenzori, Sipi water falls, Semuliki National Park, Sese Islands, Ngamba Island, Lake Mburo National Park, other amazing cultural and historical sites found in districts like Entebbe, Jinja, Fort Portal, Mbale and other areas.