SAFARI GUIDE TO UGANDA

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is over 25,000 years old and is home to approximately 18 gorilla groups for trekking.  The 330 sq. km rainforest is also worth visiting for its incredible biodiversity: there are 11 types of primates, 350 bird species, 200 butterfly species, and an incredible array of hardwood trees, ferns, and other plant life.  Gorilla permits are required for gorilla trekking and are in limited availability (only 8 travelers per group); park fees go towards the conservation of the species.  Other activities in and around the park include nature walks & cultural experiences.

Home to Uganda’s international airport, Entebbe is often skipped over in favor of the bustle of Kampala or the lure of wildlife in Western Uganda. But there’s something to be said for the quiet charm of Entebbe, and travelers might want to consider a visit before they head elsewhere on safari or catch their flight home. Set out on a birding safari by boat in the Mabamba Wetlands, stroll through the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, enjoy a round of gold at one of the two golf courses in town, or take a sunset boat cruise on Lake Victoria. Or, if you’d prefer, take a boat ride out to Ngamba Island, where you can visit the chimpanzee sanctuary that provides the rehabilitation of rescued chimps. The low level of development and prime location along the shores of Lake Victoria make Entebbe a pleasant stop along your trip, and the activity of Kampala is just an hour away.

Located in eastern Uganda, Jinja is a large town nestled along the Nile River. It’s home to the source of the Nile, and offers a number of adventures on the famed river, including boat trips, whitewater rafting, and kayaking. The area also offers horseback riding, mountain biking, and bungee jumping, making it an excellent spot for those looking to add a little extra adventure to their trip. Along the way, stop at Mabira Forest for nature walk, birdwatching, or ziplining (for an added dose of adventure).

Kidepo Valley National Park is the northernmost park in Uganda and is also Uganda’s second largest national park at 1,442 sq. km. Best reached by scheduled or charter flights, this remote park offers incredible game viewing and bird watching opportunities. Wildlife includes giraffe, elephants, zebra, buffalo, and warthog, as well as spotted hyena, lion, leopard, caracal, and cheetah. A number of antelope species and predators are found in no other national park in Uganda. Kidepo also offers roughly 475 bird species, including a sizable raptor population. A number of bird species in Kidepo are not found anywhere else in Uganda.

Bunyonyi means “place of many little birds,” and Lake Bunyonyi lives up to the name. One of the deepest crater lakes in Africa, Lake Bunyonyi is home to over 200 birds species, including the African Harrier Hawk, the Red-Billed Firefinch, and the Weyn’s Weaver. The lake also contains 29 different islands, many of which have their own histories and are worth a visit by boat. Paddle around in a dugout canoe, take a guided boat tour, visit the local Batwa tribe, enjoy a birding walk, or relax at one of the small lakeside resorts and take in the view. Given its location, Lake Bunyonyi is also a popular stop before or after gorilla trekking.

​At 260 sq. km, Lake Mburo is among Uganda’s smaller national parks, yet it holds five lakes within its borders and possesses exquisite wetland habitats. Approximately 315 species of birds have been observed in Lake Mburo National Park. Additionally, Lake Mburo is the only protected area in which the impala (a species of antelope) occurs, and is the most accessible of the reserves for zebra sightings. Other wildlife includes oribi, leopard, bushbuck, hippo, and reedbuck. Bush walks are a popular option here, as Lake Mburo is absent the major predators found in many other park of Uganda.

One of the African Great Lakes, Lake Victoria is the largest on the continent. In addition to being a critical water source for many in East Africa, the lake offers a number of sightseeing opportunities in Uganda. Visit the chimpanzee sanctuary on Ngamba Island, explore Ngamba Island, or relax on the shores at one of the lake’s resorts. While swimming in the lake is not recommended, there are plenty of ways to explore the region’s famed lake while in Uganda. Our personal favorite is a sunset cruise out on the lake–just ask about it when planning your safari.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of two parks offering gorilla trekking in Uganda. The park is found in southwestern Uganda, and is spread across three inactive volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. Mgahinga offers one habituated gorilla family for trekking, as well as golden monkey trekking, cultural visits, coffee farm experiences, and hikes on the slopes of the region’s inactive volcanoes. It’s an off-the-beaten path destination with stunning views and rich safari experiences.

Split down the middle by the Uganda-Kenya border, Mt. Elgon is actually an extinct volcano. It has the second highest peak in Uganda and the eighth highest across the African continent. Day hikes are available, departing near Sipi Falls. Full treks to the top of the mountain are also available, taking six days total. With its lower elevation and milder climate, Mt. Elgon offers an excellent alternative to trekking the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda or Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Murchison Falls National Park is the country’s largest protected area, at 3,840 sq. km, and is also one of the Uganda’s most popular national parks. The Victoria Nile runs through the park, and visitors can take boat trips along the river, where wildlife is often prolific, to the falls. Murchison Falls National Park is also home to 76 species of mammals, including giraffes, elephants, hippo, bushbuck, waterbuck, hartebeest, buffalo, Uganda kob, vervet monkeys, and baboons.  Chimp trekking is also available in the Budongo Forest.  The park is a birdwatcher’s paradise with approximately 460 species of birds, including the shoebill. 

The Rwenzori Mountains comprise the highest mountain range in Africa, and the park itself is 996 sq. km, guarding the upper reaches of the mountain range. The most commonly seen mammals in the forest are black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys, although there are also elephants, chimpanzees, and other large mammals.  Hikes on the Loop Trail are available, with most visitors choosing between a range of three to seven days of hiking. The trails can be challenging and are recommended for visitors with above-average fitness levels.​

Both located in the Semliki Valley, the national park and the wildlife reserve offer exquisite scenery and birdwatching opportunities. Semliki Wildlife Reserve, 545 sq. km large, is Uganda’s oldest wildlife reserve and suffered from heavy poaching during Uganda’s civil war, although the wildlife has been recovering since the late 1990s. The wildlife reserve offers an estimated 350-400 species of birds, as well as various primates, Uganda Kob, chimpanzees, and the occasional leopard, lion, and hyena. Boat trips on Lake Albert, Chimpanzee trekking, and game drives are typically available.

At 1,995 sq. km, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s most popular parks and is well-known for its open savannah, although the park also boasts forests, swamp, lakes, and the Kyambura Gorge, where visitors often go on chimpanzee tracking excursions. The park contains approximately 95 mammal species–the highest of any Ugandan national park–and around 600 bird species, a figure that competes for the highest number of any park in Africa. There are elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, topi, lions, and waterbuck, as well as over 50 species of raptors and nearly every species of waterbird known to Uganda.

Home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was founded with the goal of protecting, breeding, and eventually reintroducing the white rhino back into Uganda’s national parks. By 1982, both the black and white rhino species were extinct in Uganda, largely due to armed human conflict and poaching. The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has successfully grown its rhino population, and is also home to at least 40 other mammal species. The sanctuary offers on-foot rhino trekking, as well as birding walks, canoe rides, and nature walks. It makes an excellent stop en route to Murchison Falls National Park.