How Early Can One Book The Uganda Safari

The earliest time to book the Uganda safari is when you are comfortable but there are some activities with a timeline. You need to choose which Uganda safari activities to be part of as a wide range of activities are available. Some of the Uganda safari activities that requires advance booking include gorilla safaris, chimpanzee safaris, golden monkey safaris and others.

Uganda has peak tourism seasons when the demand for safaris is at its heights that is June to September and December to February. The demand for Uganda safari activities in this season is over the top and so are the costs of amenities that support tours including accommodations, transport and others.

For gorilla safari and chimpanzee safaris in Uganda, it is better to reserve the respective permits in advance because there supply is limited. The number of people who visit these primates is restricted for conservation reasons as mass tourism is very important. Even when you hope to go on a game drive in any Uganda safari it is best to make the reservation in advance.

Trending Uganda Safaris

5 day gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Uganda

3 day gorilla trekking in Uganda

6 day gorilla and game safari in Uganda

7 day gorilla, chimpanzee and game safari Uganda

5 day gorilla and chimpanzee trekking via Kigali

8 day gorilla , chimpanzees and Wildlife Safari in Uganda

9 day gorilla, chimpanzees and Game Safari in Uganda

3 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour

Where to go on Uganda Safari

Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee safaris in Kibale National Park available where you get the chance to see these primates which are the closest human relatives. Chimpanzee trekking is an adventure where one hour is allowed with tourists and chimpanzee habituation experience is an adventure where maximum four tourists are allowed for four hours with the chimpanzees.

To do chimpanzee safaris in Kibale National Park one needs a permit. This is a card that is required to be presented before heading for briefing at the ranger station. After briefing, the ranger guide escorts the tourists in the forest to start searching for the chimpanzees that live a free life with nothing stopping or directing them but there instincts.  

Two chimpanzee sessions are allowed in Uganda including morning and afternoon and you can secure a booking at that moment. Other than the chimpanzees, other primates are recognized as residents of Kibale National Park including over black and white colobus, vervet moneys, potos, bush babies and others. More than 325 birds species have been confirmed as residents of Kibale forest

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla safaris are the main activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that is gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience. With gorilla trekking maximum 8 tourists are allowed with a fully habituated mountain gorillas for one hour. Gorilla habituation experience is an adventure where maximum 4 tourists are allowed for maximum four hours with semi-habituated gorilla family.

At the moment 350 birds species have been recorded as residents of Bwindi forest including Albertine rift endemics. Other primates are also recognized as residents of Bwindi forest including chimpanzees, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys and others.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a diversity of wildlife and scenic to delight tourists. The game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park may be that opportunity open for you to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, leopards, warthogs and others. By using the Kasenyi track, there are more opportunities of spotting lions in action as they await to prey on the Uganda kobs that are common residents here.

For a birding safari during Uganda safari, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the rich destinations with more than 605 bird species and this bird diversity is owed to the different habitants where they thrive.  Some of the different habitants around Queen Elizabeth National Park include open savanna, acacia woodland, closed forest, wetlands and others.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge is a popular activity to choose when in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You need to have some level of fitness in order to find the chimpanzees in this gorge which is about 100 meters deep developing as a result of the erosion of River Kyambura as it makes its way towards the Kazinga channel.

The crater lakes area which us about 27 kilometers drive where you may get the chance to enjoy the view of both wet and dry craters. Some of the notable crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Include  blue copper lake, Lake Nyamunuka, Lake Katwe and others 

Murchison Falls National Park

Nestled on both banks of River Nile is vast Murchison Falls National Park and this is the lifeblood of this park. When you take a game drive via Buligi track to the Delta point where there chances of finding lions in action as they sneak to prey on the Uganda kobs that commonly spend time here. During the game drives in Murchison Falls National Park, you may get the chance to spot leopards, lions, waterbucks, bushbucks, herds of elephants, buffaloes,hartebeests, giraffe, oribi, warthogs and others.

Taking a launch trip to Murchison Falls is exciting where you get the chance to see animals that move to the shores to quench thirst and take a bath. Enjoy the stunning vegetation that shades the shores of River Nile. A number of birds flock the banks of River Nile each day and you can spot them while on the launch. Finally, you hear the sounds of thundering River Nile as it squeezes through the 6 meters wide gorge and burst out to produce a thundering sound.

Taking the chimpanzee trekking safari in Kaniyo Pabidi forest is always exceptional with chances of being a few meters from the closest human relatives in animal kingdom. These chimpanzees live in communities with an alpha male who is democratically elected as there leader. Other than the chimpanzees, Kaniyo Pabidi forest is home to other primates too including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, olive baboons, and many others. One needs a chimpanzee trekking permit.

Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking is the main Uganda safari activity to do on Mgahinga National Park. Mgahinga National Park may be the smallest National Park in Uganda but endowed with amazing inhabitants and features. Mgahinga National Park is home to golden monkeys a special monkey species with a body larger than the normal monkeys.

The three Virunga Volcanoes that for part of the topography of Mgahinga National Park that is Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo are great for excursion hiking. Birding adventure in Mgahinga forest are rewarding with chances of spotting Albertine rift endemics.

Lake Mburo National Park

Game safaris are the main activities to do in Lake Mburo National Park as this park is strategically situated on the route to and from the safari destinations western Uganda. During the game drive on the tracks of Lake Mburo National Park you may find animals including elands, herds of elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, elephants, warthogs, impalas, reedbucks and much more.

While in Lake Mburo National Park, you can do the boat trip on Lake Mburo which is the largest in the park. From the boat trip you may get the chance to see a number of animals that move to the banks to quench thirst and several birds flock the shores too.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is a game drive haven of Uganda and with better opportunities to spot carnivores include cheetahs, lions, buffaloes, elephants, caracals, stripped hyenas, bat-eared fox, Burchell’s zebras, greater and lesser kudus, aardwolf and others.

Even though Kidepo Valley National Park is isolated and situated in the fur Northeastern corner of Uganda, a game drive through its tracks are rewarding and worth the long drive.

Meeting the Masai community who are nomadic pastoralists as a way of surviving is worth the experience. Even with the interference of modernity, the Karamajong are stuck to there traditions which distinguishes them from other communities in Uganda. The Karamajongs hold cattle dearly to there hearts and the products are the main source of food.

You may participate in feeding the cattle, milking, creating bead ornaments and other activities that the Karamajongs. The Karamajongs live in Manyattas where they communally take care of there cattle to protect them from rustlers and possible predators.

Getting to Kidepo Valley National Park may be by road or fly using the daily domestic flights or charter flights from Kajjansi or Entebbe Airport to Kidepo Valley National Park. Ensure to pack the right Uganda safari gears and take note that Kidepo Valley National Park experiences semi-arid climate most of the year so expect the temperatures to be high most of the day and extremely cold in the night.

Source of River Nile

The source of River Nile is situated in Jinja and it is at this point that the longest river in the world starts its journey. River Nile crosses Uganda, South Sudan, The Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt then its delta is on Mediterranean sea.

At the source of River Nile, one needs to get on a boat to sail to this mysterious point. Water dramatically emerges from underneath then River Nile water appears to be on a rush yet Lake Victoria water also appears to be calm. Whatever happens under this point is so far hard to determine.

On the way to the source of River Nile, you may get the chance to spot a wide range of birds, lush green vegetation cover and much more.

Community visit in Uganda

The people of Uganda are friendly and welcoming so incase you wish to spend time with a community during your safari, advance arrangement is required. While in central Uganda, you can visit the Baganda community where you can get the chance to participate in preparing food, try weaving, making coffee and others.

In the western part of Uganda, you may engage in cattle milking, use local methods to make products from milk, participate in other agricultural activities and much more

Religious Pilgrimages In Uganda

Uganda is home to one of the biggest numbers of martyrs and visiting the point where they were massacred or burnt is amazing. The Namugongo Uganda martyrs Shrine is one of the outstanding religious centers in Uganda and 3^rd June of every year us recognized as the Uganda martyrs’ day when several religious people congregate to commemorate these martyrs.

There are other religious centers in Uganda including old Kampala Mosque for the Muslims, Namirembe cathedral for the Anglicans, Namungoona cathedral for orthodox and others.

Is The Uganda Safari Worth The Time And Money

The Uganda safari is worth the time as you get to see animals and other features in one boundary instead of having to apply for another visa to cross another boundary. Uganda is home to several primates, wild game, stunning features and much more. You need to make advance arrangements for some because of the limited slots open to the public including Uganda safaris like gorilla safaris, chimpanzee tours, golden monkey safaris and others.

What to Pack on Uganda Safari 

Safari attire in colors that are wilderness friendly like brown and Khaki because the wilderness is dusty or muddy sometimes and bright colors may be stained. Some colors like blue, black, white may attract insects like tsetse flies.

Foldable safari hat to cover your hair from buzzing insects that wander in this area.

Warmers as this area gets so cold early morning and late evening so you need to get warm.

Insect repellant to keep away stinging insects that may harm you as the wilderness has some stinging insects.

A torch as solar energy is the main source of power in this area yet the sun doesn’t normally sun bright all the time.

Hard cash to exchange into local currency in case you need in ground purchase. Credit cards are not commonly used in Africa because of the lengthy process of collecting money from them.

Extra clothes but a few that are relevant to your safari as over packing may be an inconvenience to you.

A pair of sneakers to use when walking through the different parts of the Uganda National Park especially if you are on activities like chimpanzees trekking.

A light waterproof backpack in which you carry some safari gears so as not to scatter them while on the walk.

The camera where to store the memories of your park

Extra fully charged batteries which you can exchange with when one runs low.

Rainproof gears as it falls any time without warning.

Toiletries as some times the lodges do not provide. First aid kit with emergency items that can be used when necessary because finding help in case of an emergency may delay.

Book Now