Top 10 tourist activities to do in Uganda
Uganda, a landlocked country in East Africa’s middle belt, is a joy for African travelers. Well known as a pearl of Africa, it is gifted by nature. Your safari in Uganda is a life time experience from the time you jet into Entebbe international airport; you will be warmly welcomed by ever-happy hospitality people. Uganda boasts great incredible wildlife in abundance and scenic lush green landscapes with warm tropical climatic conditions. If you have been in other parts of Africa, Uganda is unique and different from many of the African countries.
Oh, and if you want to go on a fantastic trip to Uganda, visiting all of the must-see sights, including the gorillas, the Peaks of the Mountains of the moon, cultural sites, wildlife viewing and many more. Book your trip with a well-established local safari company with experienced guides that will make you enjoy every step of it.
The top 10 tourist activities in Uganda
- Gorilla tracking
Only three nations in the world provide this wonderful wildlife experience and Uganda is among them; the others include Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Among all the Countries that host the rare mountain Gorillas, Uganda is the cheapest. So I was a huge fan! However, despite the high cost, this trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Even the trek alone through the clouds and deep rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is an adventure in itself.
Gorilla tracking is done in two national parks in Uganda: Bwindi Impenetarble national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park. Gorilla trekking is the highlight of a Uganda safari and a Uganda safari without tracking Gorillas in considered incomplete. The tracking begins with a briefing by the park rangers before guests are subdivided into groups of 8 people and allocated one Gorilla family. Trackers travel ahead of each small group, ensuring that gorilla sightings are nearly assured. Although you only spend an hour with these close relatives, it’s pleasing to see that the creatures are treated with respect despite the tourist money.
In Uganda one can do either Gorilla tracking or gorilla habituation. The difference between the two is that the guest spends 4 hours with the gorilla if doing gorilla habituation, while in gorilla tracking, the guest spends only one hour with gorillas. The other difference is that for Gorilla habituation the guests are only four in a group, while for tracking the guests are 8 in a group.
- Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee tracking is one of the most popular activities in Uganda. There are two alternatives for this: an hour with them (chimpanzee tracking) or a whole day with them (chimpanzee habituation). Both options are fantastic, but if you have the time, spend the entire day with the chimps. You will get a lot more out of it because the chimps are wild (though habituated to humans) and often up in the trees, so you can spend the entire day with them. You will be much more likely to see them on the ground, which usually results in a better experience (and photos).
Uganda is one of the few countries in East Africa that hosts a wide number of primate species. In fact, it has over 14 species of primates, including the rare mountain Gorillas, Golden monkey, Chimpanzees and others. Chimpanzee trekking is done in four tourist destinations of Uganda: those are Kibale Forest national park, Budongo forest found in Murchison falls National park conservation area, Kyambura gorge and Kalunzu in Queen Elizabeth national park and finally Semuliki national game reserve. One can also visit the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, where chimpanzees are taken care of.
Chimpanzee tracking is the second most popular activity in Uganda that should not be missed during your safari in Uganda. The good news is that Chimpanzee trekking points are distributed across the major key tourism protected areas, hence making it easy to kill two birds using one stone.
- Game viewing and birding
Take a wildlife drive in one of Uganda Wildlife Authority’s ten national parks. Savannah drives, boat excursions, woodland hikes, and animal studies are just a few of the activities available in the parks. Spot a tree-climbing lion in Queen Elizabeth National park, enjoy the marvelous hike to the top of the powerful waterfalls in Africa at Murchison Falls National Park. Visit Kidepo National Park, which CNN rated the third greatest national park in Africa. Please keep in mind the open savannahs of Lake Mburo National park.
Get close to nature with our open-roof safari cars with experienced driver guides. You will catch live action, especially with morning game drives. See the hunters (predators) look for the meal of the day. The shy leopards are expanding with seek-and-hide hunting skills that make it easy to time the Antelopes. The parks of Uganda can be visited any time of the year, hosting a large population of animals that are permanent residents. Do not forget the over 1000 bird species found across Uganda. That is why Uganda is regarded as a birding paradise with rare species like the shoebill stork, The Fox weaver bird and others.
- Enjoy cultural tours
Uganda is one of the most hospitable countries in the world; it has been ranked several times as the most friendly country in Africa. The countries’ diversified cultures have contributed to the great diversified cultural experience for the guests. From the central at the capital of Uganda, you will be in the land of the Kabaka, which is Buganda. They are the largest cultural tribe in Uganda; the city tours are mostly dominated by Baganda cultural sites. Go to the far northeastern Uganda, and you will visit the unique IKE land. The only tribe that still moves naked in Uganda, an unchanged culture amidst the wave of modernization. Other tribes include the Batwa, found in Bwindi Impentrable forest areas; the Iteso in the East; the Bagisu, also from the East; and many others.
- Visit Ziwa
Visit to Ziwa is the only way to make your dream of the African big 5 come true. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where one can do Rhino tracking in the wilderness. Since the time poaching made Rhinos extinct in Uganda, there has been no national park hosting these animals again. Thanks to Rhino Fund Uganda, which managed to reintroduce Rhinos to Uganda.
- Get Adventurous in Jinja
Jinja is a city of adventure, the host of the world’s longest River that is River Nile. Jinja is one of the places noted to be unmissable if one likes water adventure. It hosts a large number of water activities in different grades. Some of the done activities include whitewater rafting done in different grades, Bungee jumping, Quad biking, Horse riding, and boat cruises with both sunset and sunrise boat rides.
- Visit the source of River Nile
Visiting the Source of the Nile is one among Jinja’s many wonderful experiences. So, it’s the beginning of the White Nile, which flows into Sudan’s Khartoum, where it meets the Blue Nile, which starts in Ethiopia. Regardless, going to visit this global wonder is a wonderful thing to do, not least for the boat trip. Taking a sunset boat cruise to the source of the Nile while partying in the middle of the water. Enjoy bites and drinks accompanied by music and fun.
- Have Kampala city tour – Top 10 tourist activities to do in Uganda
Kampala, Uganda’s capital, is recognized for being one of Africa’s most vibrant party capitals. Ugandans know how to party, and the city attracts a sizable contingent of expats who are eager to join in. But, in addition to hitting the clubs, you can immerse yourself in Ugandan culture by visiting some incredible restaurants, museums, art galleries, and shopping malls, where you can stock up on everything you require. Are you interested in Culture, religion or African freestyle fresh markets? Kampala city tours make you enjoy it all with one-day or two-day city tours. Visit key religious destinations like Namugongo martyrs, Bahia Temple, Hindu temples, Gadaffi Mosques, Namirembe Cathedral and many others
- Hike Rwenzori Mountains (the mountain of the moon) – Top 10 tourist activities to do in Uganda
The Rwenzori Mountains, often known as the ‘Mountains of the Moon,’ are located on Uganda’s border with Congo and are home to Uganda’s tallest summit, Mount Stanley. At 5,109 meters, the snow-capped peak is Africa’s third highest.
Hiking to the summit of this mountain is not an ordinary experience. It’s one of the greatest challenges most hikers have ever experienced. Try your hiking skills with this mountain and enjoy.
- Boat cruises – Top 10 tourist activities to do in Uganda
Last but not least is the Boat cruse done in Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth national park and at the bottom of Murchison falls in Murchison falls national park. The ride to the bottom of the thunderous falls is one of the most thought-provoking experiences. Get close to the hundreds of water birds in Kazinga Channel, large schools of hippos and many other water animals.
