Uganda safaris offer an ultimate opportunity for you to explore and experience the Pearl of Africa. Uganda is an outstanding destination with plenty to explore from unmatched natural beauty, favorable weather and climatic conditions, diverse wildlife to unique cultures. The main safari highlights in Uganda include birding, gorilla trekking, wildlife/big game safaris, chimpanzee tracking, cultural tours, and others.

Reasons to visit Uganda

Almost all safaris in Uganda include gorilla trekking –making it undoubtedly the leading attraction and experience. The world’s largest mountain gorilla population survives within Uganda and interestingly, 2 parks are open to tourists to encounter these large apes in the wild.

Uganda is also a preferred African destination because it offers first class mountaineering adventures. The main mountaineering destinations in the Pearl of Africa include Mount Rwenzori, Mount Gahinga, Muhabura, Sabyinyo and Mount Elgon.

Murchison Falls –the world’s powerful waterfalls & sightseeing spot lies right in Uganda’s biggest National Park- Murchison Falls National Park. Besides exploring this scenic waterfall, tourists also have abundant wildlife to keep an eye on including African bush elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, 451 species of birds, antelope families, and more.

Visit Uganda and explore the Source of the Nile River in Jinja, a destination with plenty of adventures that can spark your travel spirit. Special adrenaline experiences that await you to enjoy on Jinja tour include kayaking, white water rafting, boat cruise, jet boating, bungee jumping, tubing and many others.

Where to visit on a safari in Uganda?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (for mountain gorillas)                                                       

Bwindi is the most visited park in Uganda for primate encounters, especially mountain gorillas. This park was founded in 1991, with the main reason of sheltering these endangered species and today, it hosts 20 habituated gorilla groups that are all open to trekking. Located in Southwestern Uganda, Bwindi holds an estimate of 459 mountain gorillas and these survive within the four sectors –Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Buhoma. Gorilla trekking permits for foreign nonresidents costs USD 700 per person, USD 600 per person for foreign residents while East Africa citizen are charged Uganda shs. 250,000 per person.

Chimpanzee tracking destinations in Uganda worth exploring on just 3 days safari include Kibale National Park (KNP), Budongo Forest (Northwestern circuit), Toro-Semuliki Reserve, Kalinzu Wildlife Reserve and Kyambura Gorge.

Game viewing (savanna dominated parks in Uganda): Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park & Kidepo Valley National Park. The likely wildlife species to be spotted while on a tour in most of these parks include African elephants, leopards, lions, antelopes, birds, zebras, giraffes, and several other mammal and reptile species.

Birding destinations –the 10 Parks offer excellent birding safaris in Uganda. Other than parks, the must-visit birding destinations in Uganda include Echuya Forest Reserve, Mabamba Wetland, Lutembe Bay, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Royal Mile Budongo Forest, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Bisina & Opeta, etc.

Where to stay?

Choose from myriad of budget to luxury accommodation facilities for your overnight stay. At Bwindi National Park, the popular places to book include Sanctuary Gorilla Camp, Mahogany Springs, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Silverback Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp and so much more.

Kibale accommodation options include Crater Safari Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, Kibale Forest Camp, Primate Lodge, Ndali Lodge, & Isunga Lodge, etc.

When to visit Uganda?

Uganda’s destinations are open to visitors all year round. But the most preferred time is the dry season and this is experienced twice a year. That is between June to early September, & December, to February with temperature record ranging from 24 to 30 degrees celsius. Important things to carry: long sleeved shirts, trousers, comfortable walking shoes, a sweater, rain jacket, safari hat, insect repellent, first aid kit, and many others.

How to get around the Pearl of Africa

Possible options of getting around Uganda: take a private/rental car which can be hired through the reliable tour operator on ground. Considering the landscape of Uganda, preferably a 4×4 safari vehicle should be hired for a road trip.

By air travel, domestic flights can be arranged and you can easily connect to your destination in a shortest time,

Domestic flights are operated by Aero Link, Bar Aviation, Air Uganda and other local airlines.