Top 10 Uganda Activities

For the ultimate experience of connecting with our primate relatives, four people per day are permitted to be in close proximity to the gorillas of Rushaga, the southern area of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The trek to their habitat is an arduous all-day affair, as you join conservationists and researchers habituating a family of gorillas to the presence of humans within their midst.

During this incredible encounter you will learn all about the habits and natures of these awesome creatures as you follow them through their forest home.

In the Kibale National Park in southwestern Uganda, 13 different species of primate. Setting off with Kibale’s researchers, you can follow troops of chimpanzees through their rainforest their home, swinging about as they do in the towering green canopy of the tropical rainforest. Hikes last 2-3 hours, and you can expect to see the animals nesting, playing, and feeding right in front of you.

The chimpanzee density here is higher than anywhere else in Africa, so you are almost guaranteed to see multiple families. Understandably, permits to trek into Kibale National Park are limited, but they’ll be arranged as part of your stay in places such as Kyaninga Lodge or Ndali Lodge.

Sitting on the equator, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s primary safari location. Against a backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains, this spectacular park flows between sprawling savannah, dense forest, wetlands and crater lakes. Given the diversity of habitats, it is no surprise that the park is home to an impressive 95 species of mammals and over 600 bird species.

There are also a superb variety of ways to explore the park, from trekking chimpanzees to fascinating day and evening game drives, and boat trips on the Kazinga Channel. There is also the opportunity to spend some time at the Kyambura Womens Coffee Co-operative at its coffee processing station.

With more than 1,000 different species of birds, Uganda is heaven for bird watchers. The best times to visit are June and July, and December to February, as then you will see both endemic and migratory species. The Queen Elizabeth National Park alone boasts 600 bird species. You can view shoebill storks, crowned cranes and herons fishing in the Ishasha River, terns and cuckoos in the Maramagambo Forest, and sand martins and vultures swooping across the savanna.

Ishasha Camp in particular attracts multiple rare bird species, including the black bee-eater and the narina trogon. From the camp it is possible to cruise along the serene Kazinga Channel, visiting the nesting and feeding sites of some of Uganda’s aquatic avian species.

Africa can be overwhelming. There’s such a diversity of sights and sounds, and an immense range of possibilities, but also a significant quantity of the unknown. Let Journeysmiths take the strain of planning from you by introducing you to the best that local knowledge and expertise can offer.

One of the most exciting ways to discover Uganda is on a privately guided safari where expert guides will show you a balance of wildlife, landscapes and culture. You will be able to relax, take the experience in properly and return home invigorated holding armfuls of memories.