TOP TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN UGANDA
Top tourism activities in Uganda: Uganda the pearl of Africa one of the top tourist destination in Africa situated in the East African region bordering with Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, DRCongo, Burundi, and South Sudan. In tourism sector, Uganda thrives with over 10 protected national parks, reserves and Sanctuaries without forgetting the stunning waterbodies, beautiful cities, and many more that all make tourism in Uganda so rewarding as you enjoy a country with the best weather all year round. Obviously wildlife viewing remains the top tourism activities to enjoy while on a Uganda safari with an opportunity to encounter and watch plenty of fauna and flora species in different parks.
Well the major tourism activities done in Uganda include, Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla National park and gorilla habituation experience done only in Bwindi impenetrable national park , Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park, Kyambura gorge, Kalinzu forest, and Budongo forest and Chimpanzee habituation experience CHEX only done in Kibale forest national park, game drives, boat cruise, walking safari n several savanna parks in the Uganda including Kidepo valley national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park, Murchison falls national park, mountain climbing in Mount elgon national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Rwenzori mountain national park, white water rafting and Source of the Nile Boat cruise in Jinja, birding in different destination across the country, cultural tours, sport fishing, Rhino tracking in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Zip Lining in Mabira forest and Lake Bunyonyi and many more.
GORILLA TREKKING & GORILLA HABITUATION
Gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation: Without any doubt, gorilla trekking is the leading tourism activity done in Uganda by several tourists all year round. This activity enables tourist to spend maximum of 1 hour with gorilla that have been habituated and used to humans. In Uganda, Gorilla trekking is done in only 2 destinations including Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. Each gorilla trekking permit costs $700 for Nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents and UgX.250, 000 for East African Citizens. On the other hand, Gorilla habituation costs $1,500 per permit and it enables tourists to spend 4 hours in presence of gorillas training them on how to get used to humans. Similar gorillas can be trekked in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park, Congo’s Virunga national park.
CHIMPANZEE TREKKING & CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION EXPERIENCE
Chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation experience: Chimpanzee trekking is such a breath taking tourism activity enjoyed while on a Uganda safari. In Uganda, chimpanzee trekking is done in Kibale forest national park the most stunning primate destination in Uganda that harbors the largest population of primates with over 13 primate species thriving in the forest. However, chimpanzee trekking and habitation remains the major tourist activities enjoyed in this park. A permit to trek chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park costs $200 for foreign Nonresidents, $150 for Foreign Residents and UgX.150, 000 for Ugandan Citizens. On the other hand, a Chimpanzee habituation experience permit costs $250. Other destination for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda include Budongo forest which is an extension of Murchison falls national park, Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu forest in Queen Elizabeth national park, Kaniyo Pabidi and Semliki national park.
RHINO TREKKING
Rhino trekking: Rhino trekking in Uganda is such a breath taking tourism activity conducted in only one destination in Uganda, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary which harbors the endangered Rhinos in a protected sanctuary situated in Masindi. Rhino tracking is usually combined with a tour to kidepo valley national park or to Murchison falls national park since Masindi is along the way to Murchison falls national park or to Kidepo valley national park.
GAME DRIVES
Game drives: As mentioned earlier, Uganda has over 10 gazette national parks of which most of these arks are savanna parks thus game drives are amongst the top tourism activities enjoyed in Uganda as the best way to watch abundant of wildlife in the parks. The top savanna parks to visit in Uganda for game drive safaris include Kidepo Valley national park, Murchison falls national park, Lake Mburo national park, Queen Elizabeth national park. During the game drive, you will enjoy stunning views of beautiful fauna and flora species including primates, animals, birds, butterflies and lots of stunning flora species among others.
BOAT CRUISE
Boat cruise: Uganda has abundant of waterbodies thus boat cruise can never miss out on the top tourism activities done in Uganda. In Most cases, boat cruise is combined with game drives to maximize sightings in the park. In Uganda, the top destinations for boat cruise include; Murchison falls national park where tourists are rewarded with a thrilling boat trip upstream to the bottom of world’s most powerful waterfall and downstream to the Albert delta that is suitable for birders with an opportunity to spot the rare shoebill stork. More boat cruise safaris are enjoyed in Queen Elizabeth national park along the Kazinga channel to watch a huge school of Hippos, Crocodiles and weaverbirds. Taking a boat ride in Lake Mburo national park is as well a rewarding experience enabling you to watch aquatic wildlife and plenty of animals along the water shores. There is also Lake Bunyonyi suitable for both boat cruise as well as canoe ride to explore different islands and finally taking a boat cruise along the Nile River in Jinja rewards tourists an opportunity to spot the exact source of the Nile River as confirmed by explorer Speke.
BIRDING & BIRD WATCHING
Birding in Uganda: Uganda is a famous destination for birding and bird watching with more than 1000 bird species calling it home. Some of the rich Important Birding Areas include most of the forested areas such as Mgahinga gorilla national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, mabira forest, Mabamba swamp, budongo forest and many more. You can even spot birds along the roads in the swamp, tree branches to mention but a few so all you need is to pack a pair of binoculars, a birding guide book and enjoy the best of birding safaris in Uganda.
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING/ MOUNTAINEERING
Mountain climbing: Uganda is rewarded by lots of fascinating and breath taking mountains some of which can be hiked by tourists who cherish tremendous and fascinating hikes. One may choose to hike up mount Rwenzori with in Rwenzori mountains national park in Western part of Uganda, Mount Elgon in Mount Elgon National park that borders Uganda and Kenya. Other mountains to hike during mountain hiking safari in Uganda include; Mount Muhavura, Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga all thriving in Mgahinga gorilla national park with in Virunga Massif that harbors over 8 volcanoes some distributed in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park such as Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo and Congo’s Virunga national park such as Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Nyamulagira, Mount Mikeno and Mount Nyiragongo. During Mountain Climbing, tourists are rewarded with stunning encounters with plenty of wildlife that call these different destinations their homes.
NATURE WALKS
Nature walks: There are various parks that offers memorable walking adventures in Uganda. This enables tourists to get closer into nature and experience the unbeaten and true definition of African wilderness. Most of the nature walks are guided by armed rangers for security purposes. Some of the parks that offer the best nature walks include Lake Mburo national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Semliki national park, Queen Elizabeth national park to mention but a few.
CULTURAL TOURS
Cultural tours: Uganda the pearl of Africa has different cultures but the most visited cultures during the Cultural tour include the Batwa, the Ik and the Karamojong.
KAMPALA CITY TOUR
Kampala city tour: You obviously need to spend some time and explore the beauty of Kampala on a city tour. You will enjoy a breath taking encounter with the people in Kampala, visit different attractions in the city including the religious sites, market places, shopping malls, visit the cinema halls, and as well take over a night club if you enjoy clubbing to meet, mix and mingle with Ugandans at night.
RELAXATION
Relaxation: Uganda has lots of destinations to visit for relaxation. Some people can decide to come to Uganda strictly for relaxation though others choose to enjoy other tourism activities like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, mountain climbing, game drives and many more then close their safari with relaxation and unwinding activities. You have a lot of activities to enjoy at ease including Bungee jumping, white water rafting, quad biking, zip lining, sport fishing, Kayaking, and beach relaxation.
“Get in touch for such breath taking activities on your next Uganda safaris.”
