The best Uganda safari activities to do include gorilla safaris which is synonymous with the safari activities in the country, chimpanzee safaris, game safaris, birding in Uganda, mountaineering and more. Uganda is a land gifted by nature an environment which is getting rarer to find. The weather of Uganda is one of the best in the world with a great balance of two seasons the wet and dry extreme weather conditions are rare in the country.
To experience the best safari adventures in Uganda, you need to have sufficient time on holiday, select the Uganda safari activities you prefer to include in your itinerary and seek assistance from a professional safari consultant. Request A quotation
Arch Safaris And Tours has a big team of professional and experienced safari consultants read to work with you to customize your African safari inclusive of your input. We offer prepackaged Uganda safari too from which you can choose.
Brief details About Uganda
Uganda is Part of East Africa with abut 240,000 square kilometers area. Uganda is a landlocked country neighbored by Kenya to the East, Tanzania to the south, D.R.Congo to the west, South Sudan in the North and Rwanda in south western part.
As a multicultural country, Uganda is composed of Kingdoms and tribes each with its own history and culture. By nature the people of Uganda are hospitable and friendly even to strangers because this is taught from childhood so do not be shocked when some stranger smiles or waves at you as this is normal.
Uganda is one of the best birding destinations in African with more than 1040 bird species a record that is unmatched in Africa, over 18 primate species with mountain gorillas on the top. Amazing landscapes inclusive of part of the western rift valley, the all year around glacier topped Rwenzori ranges and more.
The vegetation of Uganda where most wild animals are residents include forest, woodland, wetland, moorland, savanna, rivers, lakes and more. The source of River Nile is situated on Lake Victoria in Jinja Despite that Uganda is a land locked country but a fifth of the country is cov ered by water dotted in various parts of the country.
Best Uganda safari Activities To do And cost
Gorilla safaris in Uganda
For gorilla safaris in Uganda, you may choose to do gorilla trekking where you take an hour with a fully habituated gorilla family and gorilla habituation experience where four hours are allowed with semi-habituated mountain gorilla family.
Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the only homes to these endangered primates.
One must book a gorilla safari permit first before being accepted to participate in this African safari adventure. A few gorilla permits are open to the public open day that is maximum 8 gorilla trekking permits and 4 gorilla habituation experience permits per day.
Uganda Gorilla Safari Permit Cost
Currently the cost of gorilla trekking permit is $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for Foreign resident, $500 for other Africans and 300,000shs for East Africans
Current cost of Uganda gorilla habituation Experience safari is $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents, 750000shs for East Africans.
Game safaris in Uganda
Taking a game drive in Uganda gives you chance to enjoy wildlife from the comfort of your vehicle. Some of the wild animals in Uganda include elephants, Rhinos, lions, leopards, water bucks, bush bucks, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and more.
Taking an early morning or late afternoon game drive is a better time to see more wild animals before they disperse to face the day or as they return from their day hangouts. The game drive destinations in Uganda are not crowded which gives you chance to enjoy the presence of these amazing wild animals.
The major game parks in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park.
Park entrance fees cost During Uganda safari
The cost of Uganda park entrance fees vary with destination that is $40 to $45 every tourists is expected to make this payment as a conservation fee.
Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda
Get up close to the closest human relatives the chimpanzees by choosing to do chimpanzee trekking which takes an hour and chimpanzee habituation experience for four hours with semi-habituated chimpanzee community.
Some of the chimpanzee safari destinations in Uganda include Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary and more.
One must obtain a chimpanzee permit to be allowed to visit the chimpanzees in the day choosing to do the morning or afternoon session. The cost of the chimpanzee permits for Uganda vary with destination.
Cost of Kibale Chimpanzee permits
Currently the chimpanzee trekking permit for Kibale National Park is $250 for foreign nonresidents, $200 for foreign residents and 180,000shs for East Africans.
Current cost of chimpanzee habituation permits for Kibale National Park is $300 for foreign nonresidents, $250 for Foreign residents 300,000shs for East Africans.
Cultural Experience safari In Uganda
The cultural experience in Uganda is amazing with opportunities of learning about the rich differences that each tribe has. The kingdoms, chiefdoms and more cultural institutions in Uganda have attributes that differ from the other yet they can all co-exist.
The cultures in Uganda are distinguished from one another through languages, beliefs, stable food, disciplining, cultural ceremonies, dance moves and more.
For cultural institutions in Uganda, they have amazing cultural representations where you can visit like the royal palaces, tombs, functions, dances and folk dances and more.
Water activities in Uganda
Eve though Uganda has no coastline, the water bodies within its boundaries play an almost equal role like the larger water bodies. Some of the water safari activities to enjoy during Uganda safari include:
Launch trip during Uganda adventures
A launch trip on River Nile towards Murchison falls is mesmerizing with chances of spotting several wild animals that gather at the river banks, a plethora of birds, lush green cover and more. The sight of River Nile as it squeezes its entire course through the 6 meters wide canyon to burst out vigorously leaving a cloudy appearance is amazing. A hike to the top of the falls gives you chance to watch River Nile water stagger over a bed of rocks
Kazinga channel launch trip is the prime wild game viewing spot in Queen Elizabeth National Park. From the comfort of your boat you watch animals get down the Kazinga channel shoreline to quench thirst or take a bath, Schools of hippos cannot be missed and more.
While in lake Mburo National park, the boat ride on Lake Mburo is an opportunity to enjoy watching multiple birds flock the shoreline and enjoy the amazing surroundings.
White water rafting Uganda
Visiting the source of River Nile in Jinja where it separates from Lake Victoria water. You need to take a boat to the spot where River Nile dramatically separates from Lake Victoria water.
White water rafting on Uganda safari where tourists get to peddle through the rapids on a gas filled boat. No need to have prior experience because on ground there are instructors to takes you through all necessary procedures. In Uganda white water rafting is done at Itanda Falls and Murchison Falls National Park.
Beach safaris in Uganda
Uganda has beaches especially along Lake Victoria Entebbe area. You can choose to visit some of the beaches in Uganda to engage in sun bathing, take a beach walk, participate in swimming, kayaking and more.
For tranquility while on safari, a visit to Islands like Ssese Islands, Lake Bunyonyi Islands, Bulago Islands, Koome Islands in Lake Victoria and more provide that suitable environment away from the chaotic towns.
Sports fishing on Uganda safari
Anglers can take the opportunity to do sports fishing while on safari but you need to book a fishing permits from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Carry your own fishing equipment to avoid having to pay penalties if you break the hired one.
Some of the common Uganda fish species you may catch include Nile Perch, tilapia, cat fish, lung fish and more.
Birding in Uganda
Uganda is the birding haven in Africa with a population of over 1000 bird species recorded. With the help of a professional birding guide, and a birding guide book, you get 5eh best from your Uganda birding safari. Choosing the right birding itinerary gets you to the best destinations where you can spot a variety of birds.
Some of the Uganda birding destinations include Mabamba Swamp, Queen Elizabeth National park, Murchison Falls National park, Mabira forest, Mpanga forest, Botanical gardens and more.
While on a birding Uganda safari, you may find ostriches, Handsome Francolin, Flamingos, Saddle Billed stork, shoe bill and more.
Hiking on Uganda safari
While on Uganda safari, you can do mountaineering that may last some days or excursion hiking. Climbing mountain Rwenzori to its highest peak called Mageritah t over 5000 meters above sea level. Excursion mountaineering can be arranged too on highlands dotted throughout Uganda.
Having some level of fitness helps you complete the excursion mountaineering.
Golden Monkey Safari In Uganda
Golden monkey safaris in Uganda take you to see some of the rarest monkey species that are endangered. At the moment about 4000 golden monkeys are living in the world and these primates are some of the unique species with golden brown hairs on the lower bottom and body larger than normal. In Uganda, the golden monkey safaris are happening in Mgahinga National park
You can choose to do golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience. One needs to book a golden monkey safari permit from Uganda wildlife Authority.
Currently the cost of golden monkey trekking permit in Uganda is $60 for foreign nonresidents , $40 for foreign residents and 40,000shs for east Africans.
Currently the golden monkey habituation permit cost in Uganda is $ 100 for international nonresidents, $30 for foreign residents and 20,000 shs for East Africans.
Do not forget to pay park entrance fees because this is excluded in the golden monkey safari permit cost in Uganda which is about $45 to $40
Best Time To Do Uganda Safari
The dry season that is June, July, August, September, December, January and February provides thebest time to book Uganda safari. Uganda is open for safaris all year with no extreme climate expected to stop most safari activities.
It is best to book the Uganda safari for the dry season in advance because more tourists are expected in the country during this season. Demand for majority of the safari logistics is over the tops leaving less or no options for last minute bookings. It is better to do advance bookings on Uganda safari accommodations to use before options sell out. Uganda safari activities that require having a permit it is best to buy them in advance because their supply is limited.
Most outdoor Uganda safari activities start early morning which necessitates spending the night before within or closer to the safari destination. For Uganda gorilla trekking, chimpanzee safaris or golden monkey safaris, you must attend briefing which is compulsory to every tourist.
Why choose to do A Uganda Safari
Unique African Safaris in Uganda
Uganda has safari activities and features not unique to the country or found in a few others. The presence of mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys which are endangered primates in the world put Uganda on the list of unique destination to visit in Africa.
World over some wild animals are kept in the zoos or exhibits or other confinements but during Uganda safari, you get to see these animals in their natural setting. No human interference so the wild animals have full control over their day today activities.
Support Wildlife conservation in Uganda
When you book a Uganda safari inclusive of wildlife, you contribute to the conservation fraternity of this country. More funds are still required by the Uganda Wildlife authority to support the sustainable existence of these wild animals. You can be a philanthropist on Uganda safari to save the dying out wildlife conservation centers in the world.
Contribute to community conservation sensitization in Uganda More community sensitization is required in Uganda to support conservation around areas closer to these destinations. Overtime the communities closer to the wildlife destinations have been reported to encroach on the wild animal habitants Book Now