Visitors to Uganda are often surprised and taken aback by the shear natural beauty of Uganda’s diverse landscapes and the genuine friendly welcome from the people.
From the mountainous rain-forests in the south, to the northern savannahs, to picture-perfect crater lakes Uganda is truly one of the most geographically remarkable countries in Africa.
Uganda also has a range of National Parks to visit on safari. Animal numbers are on a steady increase after a drop during the lawless years of Amin’s regime. You won’t find the teeming herds of the Masai Mara, but you are more likely to have a safari experience where you are the only people viewing animals at one time. Uganda’s profusion of lakes and rivers also means there are many chances to experience safaris from a boat. On The Nile in Murchison Falls, the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Albert in Semliki and Lake Mburo.
For those with a more active outlook there is Jinja – East Africa’s adventure sports capital with white water rafting, kayaking, quad biking and bungee jumping. Sipi Falls on the slopes of Mount Elgon offers great Mountain Biking and Rock Climbing excursions. The Rwenzori Mountain range can be climbed in 3-14 day expeditions, the unique experience of being above the snow-line on the equator.
Uganda Safaris FAQs
A resounding yes! What makes Uganda unique is that you can do a mix of traditional safaris like game drives in the savannah and also hike through the jungle while trekking gorillas, chimpanzees and other primates. You can visit the Big Five parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls and with fewer tourist numbers it makes this a great safari destination. For those discerning bird lovers you can even catch a glimpse of the highly sought-after Shoebill.
There isn't really any one specific month that is best, as gorilla and chimpanzee trekking take place throughout the year. It rains the most in April and May so its best to avoid these if at all possible. We do, however, recommend visiting during the two drier periods between December and February and also June to August. The shoulder months of February and March are also good for spotting game in the national parks and visitor numbers to be be lower.
What makes Uganda even more attractive as a safari destination is that it is very well priced for what you receive in terms of quality and luxury. Generally, safaris start from around $700 per person per night sharing (full board). Typically we suggest spending between 7 to 12 nights to get the full experience of Uganda.
This is honestly a difficult question and we are not partial to either as it all depends on the person we are building an itinerary for. Rwanda is a smaller country than Uganda, which lends itself to shorter trips in combination with a safari and beach stay. Rwanda has more than twice the number of habituated gorilla groups than Uganda, so permits are more readily available. The most important thing to consider is the cost, with Uganda's gorilla permit only costing $600-$700 per person and Rwanda's is $1500 per person.
CHOOSE FROM EIGHTSAFARI PARKS & HIGHLIGHTS
Uganda is unique, as it is situated where the eastern savannah and western jungle ecosystem merges, which means it has a great terrain for a variety of different safaris from traditional game drives through the grasslands to trekking the forests for gorillas & other primates.
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Experience Uganda
Uganda’s star attractions are the mountain gorillas, with just under half of the world’s remaining population found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. While access has improved over recent years with better roads and the introduction of affordable internal flights, the forest still lives up to its “Impenetrable” tag offering a real jungle adventure. Gorilla trekking is a true bucket list adventure, journeying through the dense jungle to spend an hour with the completely wild and imposing giants of the forest.
Chimpanzee trekking, often overshadowed by their more glamourous gorilla cousins, is a different and fascinating experience. Chimpanzees live in large communities of up to 100 individuals (gorillas remain in family units of 8-20), so visitors to one of Uganda’s four different chimpanzee trekking sites can witness a variety of antics from feeding and grooming to clashes for ranking seniority.