Top 10 Uganda Activities
Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences that you might consider having whilst you are in Uganda:
- Trekking Through Gorilla Territory
- A Gorilla Habituation Experience
- Glorious Murchison Falls
- The Chimps of Kibale
- Rwenzori Hiking
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Escape the Crowds in Kidepo Valley
- A Birder’s Paradise
- The Source of the Nile
- Safari with a Private Guide
All those things, however, are a sideshow to the magnificent and endangered mountain gorilla. Trekking through the rainforest to spend an hour with these great apes is one of the world’s most exceptional wildlife encounters.
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.
Other popular activities here include taking a three hour launch ride along the river to the base of the falls, hiking along the forest trails, and even tracking chimpanzees at Kaniyo Pabidi.
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.
Such African mountains are like islands peaking out of their lowland surroundings, and consequently they have curious and often gigantic plants such as the magnificent Giant Lobelia. Sometimes called the Mountains of the Moon, the Rwenzori range is certainly other-worldly.
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.
You’ll get superb views of the savannah grasslands from Apoka Safari Lodge, and be able to walk amongst the scenic Borassus palm trees from which Kidepo (meaning “to pick from under”) takes its name: the fruit of the tree is a delicacy to humans and elephants.
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.
The river provides numerous wildlife opportunities including sightings of giant otters and monitor lizards. Adventurous activities, including world-class whitewater rafting, are easily accessed through the hub of Jinja.
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.
We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been creating luxury tailor-made safaris to the timeless savannahs of Africa. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you, every time.We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been creating luxury tailor-made safaris to the timeless savannahs of Africa. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you, every time.
The only camp within the boundaries of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Gorilla Forest Camp is the ideal base for gorilla tracking, primate viewing, and birding.
Honey Bear Bush Camp is a traditional camp offering a classic safari experience. It’s entirely unique, though, in that you can track chimps here too. This waterside camp is also the only one in the entirety of the Kyambura Game Reserve, so we really do mean it when we say you’ll have the wilderness all to yourselves!
Kibale Lodge is a beautifully designed and elegant lodge set high up on a ridge in the Fort Portal area. Surrounded by lush greenery, undulating hills, and impressive mountains, the landscape here is nothing short of spectacular. Having spent the day trekking through the depths of the forest tracking chimp, this peaceful retreat is the perfect place to rest.
Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences that you might consider having whilst you are in Uganda:
The eco-friendly Mihingo Lodge has been designed with its natural surroundings in mind; its owners wanted to protect the local landscape and the rare wildlife that calls it home.
Semliki Safari Lodge is an award-winning natural escape and the only accommodation in Uganda’s verdant Semliki Valley.
Surrounded by rainforest on an island in the River Nile, Wild Waters Lodge is one of the most idyllically situated properties in Africa.
Apoka Lodge is your chance to escape it all. Here you can spot the Big Five from the comfort of your own private sitting room.
Mount Gahinga Lodge is a rustic luxury lodge inspired by Ugandan tradition but with modern comfort at heart.
Primate Lodge is situated in the Kibale forest National Park, surrounded by lush tropical forest and right on the doorstep of the starting point for chimp tracking. The lodge features nine luxury cottages, seven comfortable standard cottages and an adventurous Tree House.
Kyaninga Lodge is in a spectacular location, hugging an extinct volcano crater at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, and surrounded by virgin forests. This dramatic landscape, the sense of peace, and the abundance of wildlife are truly what African dreams are made of.
Baker’s Lodge takes its name from the English explorer Samuel Baker, but it is as far removed from England as possible.
Paraa Safari Lodge is one of Uganda’s longest established lodges, founded in 1954 in the wildlife-rich Murchison Falls National Park. The River Nile cascades some 43m into a 6m wide gorge nearby, which is a natural phenomenon like no other.
Treat yourself to a luxurious stay at Mahogany Springs Lodge for panoramic views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, its primeval rainforest, and breathtaking mountain scenes.
Stay in the clouds at 2,000m above sea level: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge boasts fabulous views and is within walking distance of the start-point for gorilla treks.
Lake Mburo National Park has been a protected area since the 1930s. It’s one of Uganda’s smallest savannah areas, but it has a robust wildlife population and over 300 species of birds.
Established in 1993, Semuliki National Park is Uganda’s newest. It’s also the only true tract of lowland tropical rainforest in eastern Africa, rife with bubbling hot springs and biodiversity.
It sounds like a bold claim, but Jinja is known as the adventure capital of east Africa for good reason – it’s a stone’s throw from the source of the Nile River, where whitewater rafting and bungee jumping await.
In Uganda’s northeast sits the Kidepo Valley National Park. It’s a relatively untouched savannah landscape with vast herds of zebra, buffalo, giraffe and hartebeest. It’s also home to exciting big cats.
Uganda’s smallest park is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. As the name suggests, it’s an important habitat for mountain gorilla, as well as the endangered golden monkey and Batwa hunter-gatherer culture.
There are 13 primate species in Kibale National Park, climbing between the branches of the mountainous forests here in southern Uganda. Large troops of primate have been habituated by researchers, enabling close encounters for visitors.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s most popular, but it’s large enough to avoid crowds and enjoy a personalised experience. It’s one of only two places where you can see tree-climbing lions.
On the shore of Lake Albert, Murchison Falls National Park is part of the larger Murchison Falls Conservation Area, which includes two neighbouring wildlife reserves. The region is phenomenal for birding, hiking, and game drives.
Shrouded in mist and home to half the continent’s population of endangered mountain gorilla, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a paradise of biodiversity. This ‘impenetrable forest’ is among Uganda’s oldest rainforests.