Luxury Uganda Safari
Uganda is home to half the world’s remaining population of endangered mountain gorilla. While tracking these gentle giants is a true highlight of any Uganda adventure, the country is one of immense natural beauty.
More than 60 protected areas comprise Uganda’s varied geography. From the rich rainforests adorning the slopes of the Bwindi and Machinga volcanoes to the enormous Lake Victoria, Great Rift Valley and Murchison Falls, Uganda is a nature lover’s dream. Get close to wildlife by tracking mountain gorilla through the mists of the Virunga Mountains, then go birdwatching and enjoy more than 1,100 different species of birds.
Uganda may not be top of mind for a conventional safari, which we think is an excellent reason to visit for exactly that. Let Journeysmiths show you the remarkable wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park – teeming with lion, giraffe, elephant, antelope, buffalo, crocodile and hippo. This lesser-known safari destination is filled with forests, open plains and tiny lakes set in volcanic craters. And speaking of lakes, few places are more idyllic for a boating excursion. Lake Kyoga, Lake Albert and Lake Victoria are splendid for birdwatching and relaxation alike.
- Incredible natural beauty from north to south.
- Mountains, lakes, rainforest and waterfalls.
- Birdwatching with more than 1,100 species.
- Track endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
- Exclusive safari experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Boating on Lake Victoria and beyond.
- Drift down the Victoria Nile to Murchison Falls.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Nothing gets your heart racing more than being face to face with a Silverback mountain gorilla. In my opinion, this is the best wildlife encounter you can have in the world. Exhilarating and captivating in equal measure - a memory to last a lifetime!"
Sometimes called the ‘Pearl of Africa,’ Uganda radiates natural beauty with exquisite greenery, deep tranquil lakes, soaring mountains, and perhaps the greatest natural treasure of all — half of the world's last remaining mountain gorilla population. Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences that you might consider whilst you are in Uganda:Sometimes called the ‘Pearl of Africa,’ Uganda radiates natural beauty with exquisite greenery, deep tranquil lakes, soaring mountains, and perhaps the greatest natural treasure of all — half of the world's last remaining mountain gorilla population.
Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences that you might consider whilst you are in Uganda:
Resting on the edge of the Rift Valley in south-western Uganda is one of the country’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests – the dense, misty slopes of Bwindi ‘impenetrable forest’ National Park.
This is the natural environment of the roaming forest elephant, of rare giant forest hogs, and of many primate species, including troops of chimpanzees, monkeys, and baboons. 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.
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.
The Murchison Falls National Park is one of Uganda’s greatest highlights. The largest national park in Uganda, this land of dramatic waterfalls is home not only to 76 species of mammals but also 450 species of birds.
Your eyes will continually be pulled from one sighting to the next - first a crocodile, then a shoe billed stork, then an East African lion! 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.
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.
From the luxurious setting of Kyaninga Lodge, you can take guided hikes through the beautiful majesty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rwenzori Mountains, a range that includes the third highest peak in Africa.
You will have a first-hand experience of the altitudinal zones as you trek upwards through dripping rainforest to afro-alpine moorland, to glaciers and the snow-covered peaks. 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.
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.
The wild semi-desert frontier region of Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park. Being largely unknown, it’s a real gem, and you can visit to see the 75 species of mammals and 470 species of birds whilst feeling that you are on a journey of discovery rather than being a cosseted tourist.
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.
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 savannah. 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.
John Hanning Speke was the first European to lay eyes on the outlet from Lake Victoria which is the source of the mighty River Nile. About 25km downstream beyond the town of Jinja sits Wildwaters Lodge, perched on granite boulders in the six hectares of Kalagala Island.
In the midst of crashing rapids, the lodge is only accessible by boat and provides its guests with elevated spacious suites connected by raised wooden walkways to its various luxury facilities, always accompanied by the roar of the Nile. 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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
Surrounded by rainforest on an island in the River Nile, Wild Waters Lodge is one of the most idyllically situated properties in Africa.
Mount Gahinga Lodge is a rustic luxury lodge inspired by Ugandan tradition but with modern comfort at heart.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Mountain Gorilla of Bwindi
Golden Monkey
Chimpanzee in Kibale Forest
Batwa Dancing in Mgahinga
The Victoria Nile, Ugndaa
Great Blue Turaco, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kyambura Gorge, Uganda
Herd of elephants in the Kidepo Valley National Park
We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. 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 crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.
An experienced team of well-travelled individuals, passionate about crafting journeys that are as exceptional as they are personal, while maximising our positive impact on the places in which we work.
While the evolution of travel and technology has seen much change at Journeysmiths over the years, our fundamental beliefs about the perfect holiday have not.
Journeysmiths mission is to inspire and expand peoples horizons through exceptional travel experiences, while preserving the natural world for future generations.
We highlight the top ten Tanzania family safari adventures.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the first person to call South Africa “the rainbow nation”. It’s a reflection on the fascinating diversity of this country, not only in the identities of its people but in the landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and activities it offers. South Africa is a country which, because of its variety, can be all things to all people, truly a rainbow of varied opportunities and experiences.
in South Africa
Without a shadow of a doubt, South Africa is one of the very best places to watch wildlife in the world. The Kruger National Park — a protected area the size of Wales — is certainly the most famous and popular safari destination, but with Journeysmiths you’ll escape the crowds to explore vast, wildlife-filled private reserves, in the company of the best guides.
Cape Town is one of the world’s great cities with a unique setting beneath Table Mountain.
To experience a little bit of everything that South Africa has to offer, you can hardly do better than to drive along the coastal road of the Garden Route between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It’s an extraordinary journey, and there’s wildlife on both land and shore, endless beaches, historic battlefields, and the vineyards are never far away. One day you might be whale spotting at Hermanus — renowned as one of the best whale watching locations in the world — and the next you could be learning about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, handling antique weapons and scrambling over the British and Zulu positions.
Formerly the Zulu Kingdom, the province of KwaZulu Natal runs along South Africa’s dramatic Indian Ocean coastline. The Drakensberg Mountains create a natural border between Lesotho and the Eastern Cape, and offer some excellent hiking routes.
Three of Africa’s great rivers set the scene for your Zambia safari. The Zambezi, the Luangwa and the Kafue rivers are all of different character and have national parks named for them.
Not sure where to start? We have answered frequently asked questions we’ve received over the past decades about our bespoke safaris. Here we discuss everything from pre-planning information to responsible travel. We hope you will find this useful, but if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Slowing down and staying longer is the new way of travelling and there are huge benefits to this approach. People, wildlife and the environment directly benefit from you staying a little longer; but in equal measures, so do you.
For families of all ages there is so much to see and do in South Africa, making it an excellent and diverse travel destination. We’ve chosen 20 of the best experiences to immerse you in the culture, wildlife and beautiful places of this remarkable country.
7 Secret Places to Spot Leopards in Southern and East Africa
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite leopard viewing destinations for the best chances of guaranteed sightings.
We highlight some of the places filmed in Planet Earth Three’s Deserts and Grasslands episode; view elephants in Zakouma National Park and Arabian camels roaming the Ennedi plateau in Chad, ostriches and chacma baboons in Namibia.
Namibia has a diverse cultural heritage and is home to one of the most distinct African tribes — the Himba — a group of semi-nomads who live in the Kunene region.
What To Do In Kenya With Children? We’ve chosen our best experiences for a luxury family safari to Kenya.
Booking your family safari to Botswana opens a door to a world of exciting adventure. From the minute your Cessna touches the bush strip, your family will be in the wilds with expert guides. We curated the top 10 family experiences in Botswana to whet your appetite.
When one of TV’s best-known wildlife enthusiast, Steve Backshall, tasked us with crafting an unforgettable father-son safari in celebration of his son’s 5th birthday, we knew exactly how to create a trip that would excite and inspire both in equal measures.
Botswana is one of the best places for a family holiday of a lifetime! There are millions of animals across plains, deserts and deltas.
South Africa is an excellent choice for family travel with children of all ages. Its wildlife is abundant, with a great diversity of species, including the Big Five: rhino, leopard, lion, elephant and buffalo. There are vast malaria-free reserves and it’s easy to get from safari regions to Cape Town and the beach.
A safari holiday gives your family a wonderful chance to meet local communities and experience their culture.
The only travel company to have access to a huge moment in conservation history, our Kenya Conservation safari group got to watch a rhino release!
An Exploration of Unforgettable Experiences at My Favourite Camps in Kenya
The Kalahari is a fascinating place for a family safari. The children can sit by a meerkat den watching these curious little creatures foraging and playing as one stands guard on its hind legs looking out for eagles. They can watch enthralled as a San Bushman reveals hidden secrets that have enabled them to survive here for thousands of years.
Are you celebrating a big birthday, a retirement or special anniversary? Maybe you have a plan to take your whole family, children and grandchildren on a trip that will delight and inspire them. Any reason will do!
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
Working in partnership with globally recognised conservation organisation; Care for Wild, the world’s largest rhino orphanage, we have curated a truly unique and exclusive experience giving a privileged few behind-the-scenes access to this otherwise incredibly private sanctuary.
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are truly spectacular settings filled with great herds and big cats. We take you far from the crowds and minibuses with your own private guide, staying in exclusive accommodation. Families with older teenagers will love the wildly remote Selous, Ruaha and Mahale, where you can walk, canoe and even track chimpanzees. Round it off on exotic Zanzibar.
Imagine gliding silently along an Okavango waterway in a mokoro canoe as zebra and impala graze the grasslands. Or cantering on horseback with your guide alongside giraffe. In the Kalahari, take an early morning walk with a San Bushman as he explains the ancestral secrets of survival.
Here’s something you might not expect. The people looking after you on safari might create some of your happiest safari memories. You’ll remember laughter and those after dinner stories and jokes around the campfire. During a three-night stay in a luxury camp, you’ll get to make friends with your guide, the chef, the vegetable gardener and the other people who love their work.
Botswana is a great choice for an exclusive family safari. Roaming the spectacular deserts, deltas and savannahs are literally millions of animals. The fertility and abundant water of the Okavango and Linyanti Deltas supports an incredible 200 different mammal species. The Government’s high value, low volume tourism policy helps conservation and enables you to enjoy a top quality private safari.
Between safaris there is plenty for children to do in camp while the adults relax. Safari lodges may be small and in remote locations, but they have excellent facilities and your hosts’ purpose is to give you the best possible time. In this section we also suggest a couple of places that combine easily to complement your Botswana safari.
With opportunities to see the Big Five of both land and sea, along with incredible scenery, enormous national parks, world-class vineyards, a fascinating history and vibrant, friendly people, South Africa frequently tops the lists of the world’s best holiday destinations. Even so, less than 1% of the world's travellers make it here, so it’s a place where you’ll find yourself with a few select, like-minded and discerning adventurers who have discovered this gem of a country. It’s a place you could return to for the whole of your life and never tire of it.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
We will ensure you can enjoy the best of Africa in the exclusivity of Kenya’s private conservancies where walking, riding and other expertly guided activities enable the richest safari experience.
Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences to consider including in your Namibia safari:
Botswana is Africa’s most exclusive safari destination. Each enormous private reserve has just one or two luxury lodges guaranteeing a series of private experiences as you travel from one exquisite location to the next. Expert guides will take your family on safari among big cats and vast elephant herds in beautiful deltas and deserts.
Young children delight to see wild animals in their natural environment. With Journeysmiths your safari will be expertly designed to match your family’s needs and interests. We use the best guides and arrange superb accommodation in the wilds of Africa.
We’ve collated a list of our ten favourite Tanzanian experiences to show you what’s possible in this incredible country.
Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences that you might consider having whilst you are in Uganda:
The best way to give your family the facilities it seeks may be to book out an entire camp or lodge. Perhaps you are planning a multi-generation safari. Or you may want to fulfil a dream of walking, mokoroing and camping out in the Okavango. You may simply crave an extra degree of privacy. Most lodges we use take fewer than 16 guests, some take only eight, so booking a whole lodge is a viable option.
Kenya has the ingredients for an amazing family safari. Your children will love seeing vast numbers of animals in iconic African settings. Stay in amazing and exclusive accommodation on private reserves. Enjoy adventures on foot, horseback and by open vehicle with Africa’s finest guides. Your children can see pioneering conservation work in action and meet remote tribal communities. Maybe end with a few days by the coast.
If you’re looking for a country that’s got everything, choose South Africa. Renowned for the spectacular views of the Garden Route, vibrant Cape Town, malaria free safaris, fascinating history and outstanding wildlife, the whole family will fall under the alluring spell of this diverse country.
Are you feeling inspired to travel after watching Planet Earth Three?
Coasts offer the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife both at sea and on shore and are excellent destinations for wildlife enthusiasts. Follow in the footsteps of the Planet Earth crew and journey along the picturesque Garden Route coast to see Cape fur seals gathered in their thousands in South Africa. Head to the eerie Skeleton Coast of Namibia to find the desert-adapted lions that laze on its sand dunes. Or hop on a boat in Chile and watch the enormous barnacled body of southern right whales emerge from the water as they breach a matter of metres from your eyes.
Without freshwater, life on land wouldn't exist.
Freshwater is the most precious resource on our planet, but it's finite. Vital to life, only 2.5% of all Earth’s water is fresh and less than 1% of that is accessible. Planet Earth Three’s episode on freshwater documents its importance for selection of species.
Mountain gorilla can be found in Rwanda and Uganda, both superb destinations but each offering something slightly different. Read on to find out which is best for you.
The school holiday cycle is full of opportunity; there is a safari for every season, whether it’s during the Christmas, Easter or Summer holiday period.