The game safari activities in Uganda are some of the best in Africa giving you untamed adventures. In Uganda game safaris happen in Kidepo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
It is safer to hire 4×4 wheel drive vehicle to use on game drives in Uganda because of the rough nature of the game parks which gets more complicated in the severe wet season and extremely hot season.
The company of an experienced and knowledgeable driver guide on a Uganda game drive gives you an over the top experience as you get to learn in-depth information about the park inhabitants
While on game drive in Uganda, you may find lions, herds of elephants, zebras, cheetahs, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, Rothschild giraffes, aardwolf, cape buffaloes, reed bucks, hyenas, mongoose and more. There is more to game viewing in Uganda Safari destinations than the game drives. Where launch trips are available in a Uganda game park, you get to enjoy a variety of waterside game viewing.
Note that not all these wild animals are found in every Uganda game park some are living in specific game park. In case your reason for travelling to do a Uganda safari is to see a particular wild animal, do communicate this as early as you can to be advised on possible alternatives.
Where To Do Game Safaris In Uganda
Murchison Falls National Park
A plethora of game is livings in Murchison Falls National Park especially the Paraa area. An early morning game drive on the tracks of Murchison Falls National Park especially the grassland area of Buligi may be an opportunity to watch lions that normally prey on Uganda kobs that are common in this area.
While on game drive in Murchison Falls national Park, you may come across leopards, hartebeests, waterbucks, bushbucks, Oribi, herds of elephants, giraffes, reedbucks and more. Birding in Murchison falls National Park never disappoints as the park hosts over 450 bird species. Indeed, Murchison falls National Park is a kew garden and zoo on unlimited scale as described by Winston Churchill in 1907.
The launch trip to Murchison Falls on River Nile which dissects Murchison Falls National Park is the highlight of safari activities in the park as you get to enjoy an array of wild animals from the comfort of your launch. Imagine watching a herds of elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, schools of hippos and more from the safety of your boat while cruising to the splendid Murchison Falls.
Taking a chimpanzee trekking adventure in Kaniyo Pabidi forest is an opportunity to see these primates in their natural habitat.
Sports fishing for anglers in Murchison Falls National Park is open too, hike to the top of the falls, boat trip to the delta area in Murchison Falls National Park and more are additional safari activities to do in the park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Sitting on the floor of the rift valley is Queen Elizabeth National Park with a stunning backdrop of Rwenzori massif that stretches from the base then tower over the park. A game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park driving through the different tracks especially the Kasenyi grassland area is never a disappointment. Chances of spotting lions sneaking on the ungulates that are regulars of the Kasenyi area are more open.
A game drive in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park also called the Ishasha sector opens more chances to spotting tree climbing lions that love the sheds of figs as these are their watch towers for prey. The Edward flats in Ishasha area are common gathering spots for topis, cape buffaloes and more.
A launch trip on Kazinga channel is a magnet to a range of birds including foreign migrants that fly from as far as Europe. A variety of animals normally visit the banks of Kazinga channel to quench thirst, take a bath, enjoy freebies in the marshes and more. On a bright sunny day, you may watch the sun cast its rays over the Kazinga channel as day time gives way to night fall.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a birder’s haven as keen birders on Uganda safari have chances of spotting some of the over 605 bird species recorded as residents of this park. Some resident birds of Queen Elizabeth National Park include martial eagles, pink backed pelican, lesser and greater flamingos, African skimmers, black-rumped buttonquail and more.
Additional Uganda safari activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge, guided forests walks in rain forest Maramagambo forest, crater area visit, Katwa salt ancient salt mining industry visit and more.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Even though isolated with semi arid conditions in the far Northeastern point of Uganda, Kidepo valley National park is the prime game viewing destination of Uganda. A number of carnivores are residents of Kidepo Valley national park some include striped hyenas, aardwolf, lions, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas, side striped jackals, bat-eared fox, caracals and others.
The Narus valley which never lacks water all year is a congregation spot to most wild animals in Kidepo Valley National Park with chances of spotting a wide range of wild animals. During the game drives in Kidepo valley National Park, you may come across Burchells zebras, Guenther’s dikdik, mountain reedbucks, Defassa waterbucks and more.
During birding in Uganda, a birding safari in Kidepo Valley National Park you may get to see kori bustards, Ostriches, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Karamajong Apalis, secretary birds, Ostriches and more.
Karamojong community visit to see the Karamonjongs who value their traditional life style of cattle keeping, living in Mayattas and more. Even with the influx of modernity, the Karamajongs are stuck in their culture to date. While on a cultural visit to the Karamanjongs, you may participate in milking, beading, crafts making and more.
Lake Mburo National Park
Strategically positioned enroute to Uganda National Parks in western Uganda is Lake Mburo National Park where one can do a detour before proceeding. A number of herbivores are living in Lake Mburo National Park like zebras, elands, reedbucks, herds of elephants, waterbucks, cape buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Impalas and others.
Getting on a boat ride on Lake Mburo is relaxing and stunning with chances of spotting serried crocodiles, hippos, waterbucks, and more from the comfort of your boat. Lake Mburo National Park is a welcome break from gorilla trekking in Bwindi to Kampala.
Birding in Lake Mburo National Park is exciting as a variety of water birds can be spotted around the lake collecting some freebies from the marshes at the shoreline
Best Time To Do Game Safari On Uganda Safari
The dry season is the best time for game safaris in Uganda when grass in the pride land thinner creating better visibility of park inhabitants. Generally, the dry season in Uganda is normally June to September and December to January with high temperatures experienced in most part of the country.
Tracks on which to drive during game drives on Uganda game safari are quicker to navigate in the dry season although expect the environment to be dusty as dust is lifted by the vehicle tyres into the air.
Most of the wild animals in different parts of Uganda game parks move freely searching for a meal to take them throughout the day giving you access to spot these animals.
The wet season is also fine for a game drive on Uganda safari with high chances of encountering infants and raw births because of the thick grass that acts at a protection shield to the vulnerable babies. Teh wet season in Uganda is normally March to may and December to January.
Guide To Planning Game Safaris In Uganda
Choose suitable Uganda game safari destinations and incase you have particular interests seek in assistance from your Tours assistant so that the right destination is chosen.
Adhere to rules of each game safari destination in Uganda like no stepping out of your safari vehicle during game drive, feeding the wild animals is forbidden, no provoking the wild animals as this may trigger them and more.
Pack right for the Uganda game safari basing on the season of travel including safari hat, insect repellent, warmers, foldable water bottle, first aid kit, safari attires in wilderness friendly colours and more.
Book a vehicle to use for the game drive with atleast a window seat for each tourist and a pop up roof to create more space for other tourists to spot the wild animals.
Secure accommodation to use during Uganda safari in advance and it is best to make reservation in advance when a variety of options of your budget are still available. This is to avoid disturbance at the last minute especially in the peak season that is June to September and December to January.
Check out for other Uganda safari activities to combine with game drive in Uganda those within the parks of your choice and beyond. These Uganda safari activities have to fit within you holiday plan and can be within the booked destination or elsewhere per your choice.
Additional Uganda Safari Activities To Combine With Game Safaris
Uganda Gorilla Trekking And Gorilla Habituation Experience
The primary Uganda safari activity is gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience where tourists have some restricted time amongst the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Mountain gorillas are only living in three countries in the world of which Uganda is among.
In Uganda, Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the only destinations of these gorilla safari activities.
Tourists must obtain a gorilla permit to participate in gorilla habituation experience or gorilla trekking but these are limited to maximum 8 trekkers per day. Advance gorilla permit booking is advised.
Chimpanzee Trekking And Chimpanzee Habituation Experience In Uganda
Time with the chimpanzees to do chimpanzee habituation experience or chimpanzee trekking gets you up-close with the human cousins. In Uganda, several destinations have chimpanzees with Kibale National Park as the prime destination, Kyambura gorge, Kaniyo Pabidi forest, Budongo forests, Kalinzu forest and more.
The cost of chimpanzee permits in Uganda vary with destination.
For chimpanzee habituation experience, four hours with these primates are allowed including semi-habituated chimpanzees.
Birding in Uganda
For birding experience in Africa, Uganda has you covered as there are over 1000 bird species identified in Uganda a position that is unrivalled. Different Uganda safari destinations are open for birding experience including Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mabira forest, Mabamba Island, Bwindi forest, Musambwa Island and others.
The company of a professional and experienced birding guide in Uganda gives you more informed results.
Mountaineering in Uganda
Challenge your fitness by embarking on a mountaineering adventure on Uganda safari. Some of the destinations where you can hike in Uganda include Mountain Rwenzori, Elgon, Muhavura, Elgon, Sabyinyo and others.
Maintain some level of fitness to enable you embark on a Mountaineering safari in Uganda.
Cultural Experience in Uganda
Uganda is a multicultural country so you need to choose what you wish to include in your Uganda safari. In central Uganda, the Ganda culture is the most known, Eastern Uganda the Basoga culture, Northern Uganda Acholi, Western Uganda Ankole, Tooro, Rwenzururu and Banyoro culture are outstanding.
Having a local guide and a visit to the central information centres gives you more reliable information about the cultures of the people in Uganda.
The traditional kingdoms of Uganda hold an upper hand in the cultural experience in the country.
Water Activities on Uganda safari
Uganda has a variety of water activities even though it is a land locked country with no see port. You can do white water rafting where tourists peddle on an inflated boat through tough tides, launch trips, sports fishing, beach activities, boat cruise and more.
Religious Tours in Uganda
Uganda holds some internationally recognised religious destinations like the Uganda martyrs’ shrine in Namugongo where over 50 young men where burnt to death alive because of the religious beliefs. It is interesting to listen to the history of their lives while on round.
Uganda has freedom of worship and different religious denominations have outstanding headquarters like the Roman Catholics at Rubaga Basilica, Protestants at Namirembe, Muslims at Kibuli and others.