Where To Go For A Gorilla and Game safari in Uganda

The Uganda safari destinations where to go for gorilla and game tours are distributed in different parts of the country giving you better insight into Uganda. For Gorilla safaris in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the only destinations. Game safaris in Uganda happen in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park.

For gorilla safaris in Uganda, one can choose to do gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience but you must secure either gorilla permits first which are limited. Securing accommodations to use for both gorilla and game safari in Uganda is key when planning this adventure as most activities are best enjoyed with an early start.

As you plan the gorilla and game safari in Uganda, below are some of the destinations you can include in the itinerary.

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Gorilla Safari Destination in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a primeval luxuriant tropical rain forest situated in southwestern corner of Uganda. Gorilla safari are the main safari activity in this park that is gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience. During gorilla trekking tourist are allowed 1 hour with fully habituated gorilla family while gorilla habituation experience maximum four tourist accompany a team of researchers to be with a semi-habituated gorilla family for four hours.

A number of primates are also residents of Bwindi forest with about 10 primate species present in the park including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, l’hoest and others.

Bwindi forest is a prime birding Uganda tour destination. Over 350 bird species including 7 species on the red list of IUCN and 90% of Albertine Rift endemics which are quite hard to tress in any other parts of East Africa.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park being a vast forest with an area of 327 square kilometers was divided in to four areas for better administration that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.

Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is placed in the southwestern corner of Uganda but even though it is the smallest amongst Uganda National Parks, mountain gorillas call it home. At the moment, one gorilla family is open for public viewing in this park that is Nyakagezi. This gorilla trekking family used to wander into Rwanda but is now steadily living in Uganda.

Other primates are also registered as members of Mgahinga National Park including golden monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, Dent Mona Monkeys to mention but a few. all

Mgahinga forest is one of the few still intact forests in Africa which offer authentic wilderness experience when you visit since it is one of the less traveled destinations. Even the list of birds in Mgahinga forest is still quite small with about 115 bird species so far registered but it keeps burgeoning

The highlands Mgahinga National Park that for its topography area such great features in the park. Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo overlook the park and can be hike with an escorting ranger guide for a day. When on top of Sabyinyo Mountain, you get to see the border of three countries Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo from the same point.

Game Safari Destinations in Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is a prime game safari destinations in Uganda situated astride the River Nile which is its life blood. During the game drive in the tracks especially Buligi track of  Murchison Falls National Park, you have chance to spot a wide range of animals that call this park home including lions, waterbucks, bushbucks, hartebeests, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and others.

The launch trip on River Nile below Murchison Falls is the highlight of safari activities in Murchison Falls National Park. River Nile sustains a number of plants, animals, birds that often find there way to the banks. You cannot miss to spot schools of hippos, Nile crocodiles that are obvious residents in the waters of River Nile in this park.

Murchison Falls National Park offers chance to see the chimpanzees in Kaniyo Pabidi forest, hike to the top of the falls, a major birding Uganda destination, white water rafting, sports fishing destination and much more.

How to get to Murchison Falls National Park

The distance from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park is about 305 and drive time is approximately 5 to 6 hours. From Masindi town the distance to Murchison Falls National Park Paraa area is 85 kilometers.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park as a Uganda game safari destination is the most scenic and diverse park situated on the floor of the Albertine rift valley. The park has a diversity of wildlife to delight any visitor and these can be seen during a game drive on the network of tracks connected throughout the park. The most exciting track of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the Kasenyi track where chances of finding lions in action are more possible.

While on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot animals like lions, leopards, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, buffaloes, topis and others. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to more than 602 bird species including foreign migrants that fly from as far as Europe. Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park is never a disappointment

The launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park is the highlight of the safari activities in this park. This is the most astounding moment in Queen Elizabeth National Park starting from Mweya peninsula along the Kazinga channel to Lake Edward. The shoreline of Kazinga Channel is a magnet to an array of birds, crocodiles, multitude of hippos and regular visiting wild animals from the rift valley plains and beyond.

Chimpanzee trekking safari in Kyambura gorge is worth trying as you hike the 100 meters deep gorge on the floor of the Rift Valley.

Taking a Nature walk into Maramagambo forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a unique experience of this park away from the savanna grassland which is often characterized by hot temperatures. The forest is home to several primates species including grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys and others.

Exploring the Volcanic crater area of Queen Elizabeth National Park offers an opportunity to see the dry and wet craters including the unique lakes like lake Katwe the salt mining lake which has been existing since time immemorial, blue copper lake, Lake Nyamusingire which is  wild animal magnet and others.

The Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park is a spot where you may get the chance to see the tree climbing lions that have adopted to spending time in the fig branches. The Edward flats in this park are often flocked by different birds and chances of spotting the saddle billed stork are more possible, topis, wallowing buffaloes and other animals

While at the floor of the rift valley in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you enjoy the beautiful scenery of the park especially the towering blue Rwenzori that explode from the plains forming a composite mass of mountains.

How to get to Queen Elizabeth National Park

From Kampala or Entebbe the distance to drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 420 kilometers via Masaka Mbarara route. An alternative route from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park is via Mubende Fort Portal at a distance of 410 kilometers.

Daily domestic flights area available from Kajjansi or Entebbe airport but advance booking is required. Charter flight services are available too but all necessary clearances need to be done in advance.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is the closest game park to Kampala or Entebbe and is the smallest savanna park to the western side of Uganda. During a game drive on the tracks within Lake Mburo National Park, you my spot animals especially ungulates such as Zebras, giraffes, impalas, elands, reedbucks, waterbucks, buffaloes and may others. The water of lake Mburo are home to hippos and crocodiles.

Lake Mburo National Park is a great birding Uganda destination too hosting over 315 bird species. The long bird list on Lake Mburo National Park is attributed to several habitats where these bird thrive including acacia woodland where chances of seeing savanna bird species are more possible. Some of the birds in Lake Mburo National Park include Black collared Barbets, Brown chested plover, African Scops owl, White tailed and Pennant winged nightjars and others.

A boat ride on lake Mburo is relaxing especially after a tiring game drive throughout the park under the scotching sun. Lake Mburo is the largest lake in the middle of a Nation Park in Uganda the amongst the five lakes found this Park. The shore of lake Mburo are often flocked by a plethora of birds. A

The nature walks in Lake Mburo National Park is always exciting especially when you take a guided walk in Rubanga Forest. By moving on the trails that are networked in the forest, you may spot a variety of forest birds species.

How To Get To Lake Mburo National Park

From Kampala the distance to Lake Mburo National Park is about 220 kilometers at a time of about 3 hours and a half. To enter lake Mburo National Park you use gates like Nshara gate, Sanga gate and others. lake Mburo National Park is the

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is home is the furthest but game rich safari destination in North Eastern corner of Uganda. This parks hosts some of the big game that the country prides in such as herds of elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, hartebeests, lions, leopards, cheetahs, aardwolf, striped hyenas, bat eared fox, Klipspringer, Bohor reedbucks, Kudus, Defassa waterbucks, Rothschild’d giraffes, Guether’s Dikdik and others.

The rich culture of the Karamojongo people who have conserved there culture to date even with the influence of modernization, they are still stuck in their culture. Karamojongs are cattle keepers by nature a life they have lived since the olden days. They live in homestead called Manyattas similar to the life lived by the Masai in Kenya.

Kidepo Valley National Park is inhabited by game species that are absent in Other Uganda protected areas. The Park hosts more than 463 bird species a number which is second to those existing in Queen Elizabeth in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Some of the birds in Kidepo Valley National Park include Ostriches, Abyssinian  Ground hornbill, Yellow billed and Jackson’s hornbillas, red throated bee eaters, Egyptian Vulture, Verreaux’s Eagle, Pygmy Falcon and others.

When is the best time to book the Gorilla and Game safari in Uganda

Uganda is open for gorilla and game safaris throughout the year however the dry season is most preferred. The dry season which is June to October and December to Mid-January is normally characterized by high demand for tourists destination in the country. To be on the safe side, it is best to reserve all necessary logistics that support tours in Uganda in advance.

Get ready to share some of the safari activities in Uganda with other tourists including gorilla trekking, game safari destinations and others.

The wet season that is the normally the low tourism season in Uganda that is March to May should not be ignored as you plan the gorilla and game safari in Uganda. No matter when you travel to the country, be sure to see the mountain gorillas. Finding specific game in the wilderness is always a probability no matter the season but open your mind to seeing other things within the destinations

Why Book A Uganda Gorilla And Game Safari With Us

At Arch safaris and Tours, we are professional safari company in Africa that aims at making people’s dreams of Adventure travel a reality. We pride in carefully organizing Gorilla safaris in Uganda and Rwanda, Game tours in African, chimpanzee safari experiences, birding safaris, water activities in Africa and other safari destination.

Our over 10 years in existence as a tour and safari company has fetched us experience and created business relationships with several service providers including accommodations, transport, destinations managers and other.

At Arch Safaris And Tours, we understand the hassle people go through to save their hard earned money for a trip holiday in Africa so we look forward to offering value for money and customer certification.

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