Uganda Safaris, Destinations, Itineraries & Safari Cost.
Which safaris in Uganda are the most well-liked? Which regions of Uganda are a must-see, and which tourist attractions are a must-do?
The fact that Uganda is home to mountain gorillas is the main reason you should travel there. This area is home to half of the endangered ape population. The world’s greatest concentration of chimpanzees is found in Uganda. The big five—elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino, and leopard—will be visible. Visit the Rwenzori Mountains, Mount Elgon, Sipi Falls, and learn about the cultures of 52 different tribes. The people are really kind and friendly.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park are some of the most visited Ugandan vacation locations.
Ugandan safaris – Trekking with Gorillas in Uganda
See the mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; a permit to trek with the Ugandan gorillas costs $800 per person. You should be able to view these monsters on a three-day Bwindi mountain gorilla excursion.
Located on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in western Uganda, Bwindi National Park is a striking national park that spans 330 square kilometers and rises from 1100 to 2400 meters. It is made up of an old and sizable tract of verdant tropical rain forest. Numerous birds, primates, and butterflies, to name a few, call the lush trees and plants home. They also drip with wetness.
The chance to see the peaceful mountain gorillas, who number around 400 and live in this forest, up close is the high point of every Uganda Safari trip to Bwindi National Park. The hike is rather strenuous and entails climbing and descending muddy, wet paths.
However, since 97% of their DNA is shared with humans, you will be amazed by this amazing experience when you finally get to meet these endangered mountain gorillas. In addition to the mountain gorillas, you will also witness 120 animals and chimpanzees.
What is the price of gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Each Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $800 per person per hour. Going to Rwanda will cost you $1500, and starting in 2024, a gorilla trekking permit in the Congo will cost you $400.
Ugandan gorilla safaris – Go to Murchison Falls National Park.
The powerful falls are the most thrilling feature of Murchison Falls National Park. Trek to the summit of the falls.
Any season is a good time to explore Murchison Falls. Game drives in the park, where you may view lions, giraffes, water bucks, elephants, heart creatures, antelopes, and warthogs, are one of the activities. Seeing Nile crocodiles, hippos, and elephants along the riverbanks during a three-hour boat journey on the Nile is an exciting experience.
Numerous lodging options are available, such as Pakuba Lodge, Heritage Lodge, Red Chill Lodge, and Parra Safari Lodge. A solo trip of the Murchison Falls Safari costs over $500 per person, while a group safari costs roughly $400 per person.
For international non-residents, the park admission charge is $40 USD.
20000 UGX for East Africans and 30 for international residents.
By road, the trip takes six hours.
Uganda Safari’s Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda’s Tree-Climbing Lions
The subject of whether lions can climb trees is a common one. The response is in the affirmative! In Uganda, lions climb trees! Queen Elizabeth National Park is the setting for this. Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park is the only other location on Earth where you may witness this. Lions don’t climb trees anywhere else.
One of the most well-known tourist destinations is Ishasha, mostly because of its lions that climb trees. Lions spend the entire day sleeping or scaling trees. You won’t find a more breathtaking scene in Africa than Ishasha.
The majority of them will be found in acacia and sycamore fig trees. Particularly during the rainy season, these trees are large enough to provide the tree climbing lions with the necessary amount of support and cover. Enjoy a game watching drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park as you capture special moments on camera and observe other local wildlife, such as buffalos, antelopes, and elephants. The fact that the male lions’ manes are black is probably one of the most striking features of Ishasha.
Tracking and Habituation of Kibale Chimpanzees
Savor the walking and acclimatization of chimpanzees on a Ugandan safari to Kibale. You will get the chance to see Kibale researchers and chimpanzees as they go about their everyday lives. Starting from the Kanyachu tourist center, you will go on hikes to monitor chimpanzees for two to three hours.
The price of Kibale’s chimpanzee permits.
During peak season, chimpanzee permits cost $150 USD per person (for non-foreign residents).
The low-season price is $100 USD. April, May, and November
Residents of East Africa Pay 100,000 UGX
Costs of Full-Day Tracking: $200 USD
Safari in Kibale National Park, Uganda
Mount Rwenzori climb
Trek the tallest mountain range in Africa, Mount Rwenzori. Mount Elgon in Uganda’s eastern region is the other. See Africa’s third-highest, which is 16,700 feet above sea level. The highest mountain is Margherita, which is followed by Mount Baker, Speke, and Stanley. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is Rwenzori. It will take you six hours to reach the Rwenzori Mountains. In addition to hiking the peaks, you may visit the Ruboni Cultural Village and go birdwatching. Rwenzori cannot be trekked without a guide.
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park entrance fee is $35 USD.
The cost of a one-day trek is $40 USD per.
Mount Rwenzori climbing on a safari in Uganda
Visit Bigodi, Lake Mburo, and Bwindi National Parks to enjoy bird watching.
With more than 1000 bird species, Uganda is a great place to go bird watching. The shoe bill is one that should not be overlooked. For a genuine Ugandan birding safari experience, both seasoned and novice birders in Africa should visit the Mabamba Bay, Bwindi Forest, Murchison Falls, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, and many more locations. We suggest a 7-day or longer Uganda safari trip.
Only three and a half hours’ drive from Kampala, the capital, lies Lake Mburo National Park, but it’s worth the exhilarating journey when you take into account the Shoebill stork and the White-winged warbler, which are common and live in the region. If this isn’t enough to captivate you, consider that Lake Mburo National Park is home to about 313 distinct bird species, including the well-known big five, among many others!
Safari Tours in Kampala City
With 1.2 million residents, Kampala may have the largest population in Uganda. It has a unique charm that is uncommon in other capital cities. Kampala has less of a bustling atmosphere than other African cities, so you can always find time to unwind.
There is a lot of excitement and a lot of commotion as you go through Kampala’s streets, which are lined with vibrant and appealing marketplaces that sell a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and animals. There are several theaters, restaurants, retail centers, pubs, and nightclubs. With so many residents wandering from one club to another and dancing all night long, the nightlife is really lively. A better way to wrap out your safari trip experience in Uganda.
It is quite feasible to spend a night in the city at the beginning or conclusion of any Ugandan journey because it is only 34 kilometers north from the Entebbe International Airport. While some choose to remain in the outskirts, others would rather be close to Entebbe by the shores of the fabled Lake Victoria, while yet others want to stay in the city center and enjoy its sights and sounds. An alternative is to travel to Jinja, 90 kilometers east of Kampala, to go white water rafting on the Nile. Kampala has a lot to offer, therefore it shouldn’t merely be considered a place to halt.
As an agricultural nation, Uganda is a veritable food basket, with a wide variety of food available for purchase at local markets that are frequently overrun by both consumers and sellers. Nakasero Market, located in the center of Kampala, is renowned for carrying every type of food item. You will love purchasing fresh food items for yourself and even seeing some food for the first time at the many local markets located around the nation.
Safari Tours at Sipi Falls
Sipi Falls is a stunning cascade with a deep green hue that is both strong and lovely. The three falls that make up Sipi Falls are 328, 278 and 246 feet high. Your guide will assist you in meeting the locals who live around the falls, who have interesting stories to share about them. After that, you will start your hike, which will be difficult due to the high terrain, which will cause you to break out in perspiration and shake your knees.
However, you will be so taken aback by the breathtaking view that you won’t even remember the rush and bustle you endured up there. Take as many photos as you can to preserve a face of this lovely God-made feature and to remember this day. Enjoy the cold air and the sprays of water on your face.
Take a Nile water rafting trip.
This might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of traveling to Uganda, but once you’ve done it, it’s a must-do experience. You will have a comfortable two-and-a-half-hour journey to the rafting base on the banks of the Nile in Jinja after landing at Entebbe International Airport, which is located just outside the city.
Since the sun is bright and the sky are clear during the dry season, January and February or June through September are the best times to go rafting. Savor the White Nile’s raging energy while clinging tenaciously to the paddles. In certain areas with swift currents, you risk falling from boats. Your excitement will be at its highest and the journey will be rewarding at the end of the day thanks to the loud roar of the Nile and the guide’s shouting to mind rocks as you slide down the Nile.
Tours of Lake Victoria & Beach Vacations on Ssese Island
The continent’s biggest lake and the world’s second-largest freshwater body is Lake Victoria. Numerous beaches have been established along its borders, and you are welcome to visit one of them to eat a freshly prepared fish while relaxing in the sun. The Ssese islands, an archipelago of 84 islands in Lake Victoria, are a popular destination for Uganda safaris.
Ugandan agrotourism and farm vacations
The country’s western region, especially Fort Portal, is well-known for its verdant tea plantations. This is the first thing you see as you enter the town of Fort portal. The hillsides are dotted with tea plantation fields, giving that region of the nation a distinctive and lovely curve. These tea farms are always open for visits, and you can even observe the labor that is done in the fields—that is, watch the workers harvest the leaves—and the industrial process of making the tea leaves. More about agrotourism and farming in Uganda
Explore Uganda’s Cultural Villages
One of the areas in East Africa with the greatest number of manyatas (villages) is Karamoja in northern Uganda. These were nomads in the past, but times are changing that. Many people avoided going there out of dread for their lives since they were thought to be unfriendly. Karamojongs are more kind and welcoming these days.
The greatest walking safari experience in Uganda may be found in this region. Many are happy to have visitors and are open to accepting changes. Taking a cultural safari tour there is worthwhile not just to view the manyatas but also to learn about their rich culture, which is still quite strong and not going to be diluted, even though getting there might be a bit challenging if you don’t have your own transportation.
At Lake Bunyonyi, canoeing
With over 29 little islands strewn around the sea, this large volcanic lake has a mystical look. It is located between Kisoro and Kabale in the southwest of the country, and its unfathomable beauty, which stretches for miles, makes it a true natural marvel. Savor the sight of the Lake Bunyonyi islands weaving through the confectionary streams of mist in the early morning or the island’s warm light in the afternoon.
Additionally, you may rent a boat and have a canoe trip on the naturally windswept lake. Enjoy a supper that will delight your taste buds when you take in the scenery of Uganda while unwinding in one of the most luxurious lodgings around the lake, such as Arcadia Lodge.
Explore Amabeere Ga Nyina Mwiru’s Caves
On the way to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one may spot this distinctive landmark. The caverns are situated in the western region of the nation, at Fort Portal. As you enter the caverns, it is best to have a powerful flashlight and, ideally, boots.
When you follow the Think Jungle Path with a local guide, you will be met by a waterfall that cascades down from the rock and is beautiful in its most basic form. The name is approximately translated as the “breasts of Nyina Mwiru.” You must learn more about the background of this.
Ziwa Sanctuary for Rhinos
One excellent location to witness a significant number of rhinos that are not seen in other national parks around the nation is Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. More than fifteen white rhinos reside in a secure, large, walled enclosure designed to keep the animals safe from poachers, who caused their extinction in 1982. A male and female rhino that were brought from Kenya marked the commencement of the reintroduction of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
In order to recover the lost wealth, the Uganda Wildlife Authority then started a breeding program. You will get the chance to get up close and personal with these cute animals on this wildlife trip. You will enjoy them in their enclosure for the time being, but once they reach a comfortable number, they will be released back into the wild.
Seeing the Big Five Through Game Drives
You may view the big five fauna in Uganda, which gives a genuine wildlife experience. The buffalo, lion, elephant, rhino, and leopard. Go to Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park.
Go on late-night safaris or early-morning wildlife drives. You may take primate safaris, birding excursions, and much more in the African wilderness at other Ugandan wildlife reserves including Pian Upe and Semiliki.
Valley of Kidepo National Park
Kidepo boasts a diverse range of approximately 470 bird species and 75 animal species. See giraffes, buffaloes, lions, and Jackson hartebeests at the Apoka visitor center in the Narus Valley.
The Mabamba Swamp Shoebill
The shoebill makes the Mabamba Bay Swamp in Uganda a famous wetland birding destination. With its 2424 hectares of dense papyrus wetlands on Lake Victoria’s northern side, Mabamba Swamp is a birdwatcher’s dream come true.
Mabamba Swamp is an Important Bird Area and a Ramsar site. The marsh is home to more than 300 bird species, many of which are endangered worldwide, including the Papyrys gonolek.
Scale Mount Elgon
Hiking the Sasa, Piswa, and Sipi trails is one of the activities offered at Mount Elgon, which is situated in Eastern Uganda. Elephants, blue monkeys, baboons, spotted hyen, and waterbucks are among the park’s fauna. In Uganda, this region is excellent for mountain riding, community treks, and coffee agro-tours. Camp on the Elgon caldera or spend the night at Sipi River Lodge.
Safari by Boat in the Kazinga Channel
Visit a school of hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and a variety of birds while on a boat trip at Queen Elizabeth National Park. The best way to experience Africa’s animals from a new angle is to cruise this section of the lake between Lake George and Lake Edward.
See the Chimpanzees at Ngamba Island
The orphaned chimpanzee on Ngamba Island is located in Lake Victoria. For a day excursion in Uganda, Ngamba is perfect. Of all the chimpanzee sanctuaries outside of Africa, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee has the biggest population and is the only one in Uganda. The 100-acre refuge is located on Lake Victoria.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
With a wide variety of African wildlife and easy access in the western portion of Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is arguably the best. Since it is actually close to the Virunga Volcanoes, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Kibale Forest National Park, it may be included in chimp tracking and gorilla trekking safaris.
Tours of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda
Located at the base of the Mountain Rwenzori ranges, Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts breathtaking views from several of its nearby visitor sites. From Kampala, it is about a five-hour drive away.
Elephants, lions, leopards, and antelopes like the national Ugandan kob are among the many species that Queen Elizabeth National Park is proud to have. More than 600 bird species call the park home, accounting for 25% of Africa’s total birdlife!
With rolling hills, savannah plains, verdant rainforest, the Kazinga Channel, and crater lakes, it spans an area of over 2000 square kilometers. This 32-kilometer body of water, which stretches between Lake Edward and Lake George, is teeming with crocodiles and hippos. It’s an amazing and unforgettable experience to see these creatures from a sundowner boat tour on the waterway.
National Park near Murchison Falls
Uganda’s second-most visited park is Murchison Falls National Park. See chimpanzees and other primates in Budongo Forest, take a boat ride on the Nile, see hippos, waterbucks, crocs, and elephants, and enjoy nature walks, birdwatching, and animal game drives on a safari in Uganda. Visit the summit of Murchison Falls for excellent vistas.
Kibale National Park
Visit the crater lakes of Fort Portal, the Bigodi marsh for birdwatching, Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru for sightseeing, and follow the 1500 chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
One of the most popular parks in Uganda is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, where visitors may go on gorilla safaris, witness gorilla habituation, go birding, and go bicycling.
Lake Mburo National Park
You may see zebras, hogs, lions, giraffes, and much more on a game drive. Birdwatching, horseback riding, sport fishing, launch cruises, and nature-guided walks are other activities available in Lake Mburo National Park during your safari in Uganda.
FAQs Regarding Safaris in Uganda
There are a lot of things to do in Uganda that are also extremely different from other places. Even Uganda’s inhabitants frequently aren’t aware of the abundance of animals and diverse natural elements that the nation is endowed with. An additional benefit is Ugandans’ friendliness. Some of the things you can do in Uganda are listed below.
How Can I Reserve a Safari in Uganda?
Since it’s usually advised, most travelers reserve their trip through a tour operator or Uganda Safari Company. There is too much to plan, and since lodges in Uganda are located in national parks and must be reserved in advance, it is always a great idea to arrange your vacation with a reputable travel agency.
Consider the dirt roads, some of which lack signage, etc. Will it be easier for you to monitor those creatures if you use the GPS to travel to the safari destinations? 97% of visitors to Uganda always make use of a tour operator. We respectfully advise against going alone.
What Is The Price Of A Safari In Uganda?
The selection of lodging is the primary factor influencing the cost of a safari in Uganda. Inquire with your representative about the hotel or housing alternatives available while making your wildlife safari reservation. Budget, mid-range, and luxury are the three categories. Some lodges cost up to $900 a night, while the average is around $150.
When traveling on a tight budget, be prepared for a plain room with a simple bed! With practically all the greatest amenities accessible for your gorilla excursions or safaris in Uganda, luxury is always the best option.