Top 5 things to do in Uganda
- Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is an activity which takes place in Bwindi national park and in Mgahinga national park.
During gorilla trekking experience in Uganda, tourists get to spend time with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. These tours take place in the south western part of the country where both destinations are located.
Half the world’s population of mountain gorillas is found in Uganda and can be interacted with when visiting Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park for gorilla trekking experiences.
Another activity which involves spending time with gorillas in their natural habitat in the country is gorilla habituation. This activity involves spending time with the gorillas in the forests of Bwindi national park to get them used to the presence of humans in their habitat. In Uganda gorilla habituation experiences take place in the Rushaga sector.
Permits for gorilla trekking in Uganda cost 800 USD for foreign nonresidents, 700 USD for foreign residents and 300,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens visiting Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park.
Gorilla treks in Uganda take place in the four sectors of Bwindi national park which include Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Nkuringo sector and also the Ruhija sector. The activity takes place in groups of 8 people visiting each gorilla family.
- Chimpanzee tours
Chimpanzee tours in Uganda are done across different destinations which include Kibale forest national park, Kyambura gorge and also in the Budongo forest.
Around the different locations for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, a briefing is done by the park officials before tourists take part in the visits to the forests where they can encounter the chimpanzees.
Kibale forest national park is found in the western part of Uganda and is one of the popular destinations in the country where chimpanzee tours are done. Tourists visiting this destination can take part in chimpanzee trekking and also chimpanzee habituation experiences. Over 13 species of primates are found in the national park which is also home to numerous bird species and butterfly species.
The Kyambura gorge which is located in Queen Elizabeth national park is another destination in Uganda where tourists can take part in chimpanzee tours. The activity can be done in the morning and in the afternoon and is a guided tour during which tourists can spend time searching for the chimpanzees in their natural habitat and spend time with them.
Budongo forest is another location for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and it is located in Murchison falls national park in the north western part of the country. These tours start at Kaniyo Pabidi and can be done in the morning and in the afternoon as tourists follow different trails through the forest looking for the chimpanzees.
- Wildlife viewing
Across various destinations in Uganda, wildlife viewing can be done throughout the year and they include national parks such as Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kidepo valley national park, Lake Mburo national park.
Murchison falls national park is located in the north western part of Uganda and is home to a variety of wildlife species including giraffes, leopards, lions, buffalos, waterbucks, bushbucks, impalas, warthogs, hyenas among others. Activities done during safaris at the destination include game drives, boat safaris and also guided nature walks among others.
In Queen Elizabeth national park, tourists can search for wildlife species like tree climbing lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, hyenas, elands, Uganda kobs, impalas, kudu among others which can be seen during game drives, lion tracking, mongoose tracking, nature walks among other activities at the destination.
Kidepo valley national park is another wildlife viewing destination in Uganda and it is located in the north eastern part of the country. It is a remote destination which provides amazing wildlife viewing throughout the year combined with cultural tours. Some of the animals at the destination include elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, antelopes, zebras, lions, leopards among others.
Lake Mburo national park is one of the smallest wildlife viewing destinations in Uganda which is also home to wildlife species such as zebras, giraffes, buffalos, hippos among others. Activities to do at the destination include night and day game drives, nature walks, horse riding, cycling among others.
Apart from the mentioned destinations, Uganda has wildlife reserves and sanctuaries where animals can be seen during safaris such as the Zziwa rhino sanctuary, Pian Upe wildlife reserve among others.
- Hiking
Hiking is another activity which can be done in Uganda and the activity takes place in different parts of the country.
Some of the popular hiking destinations in Uganda include Mount Rwenzori, Mount Elgon, Mount Moroto among others. These hikes can be done for a half day or for a full day depending on the routes used for hiking.
This activity involves moving with local guides through different trails to get to the summit of the mountain. Mount Rwenzori which is located in the south western part of Uganda is the highest mountain in the country which is famous for its snow capped peak which is at an altitude of 5109 meters. Routes used to hike to the Margherita peak include the central circuit trail, Kilembe trail and the Bukurungu trail.
Mount Elgon is another popular hiking destination located in the eastern part of Uganda along the border with Kenya. The different routes used to hike on the mountain include the Sasa trail, Piswa trail, Sipi trail and Suam trail. The peak of the mountain is Wagagai peak which is at an altitude of 4321 meters.
- Cultural tours
Cultural experiences are also part of the things to do during tours in Uganda and they involve interactions with the locals and getting to know more about their way of life and culture.
Tourists visit the homesteads, try out local food and learn how to prepare it, enjoy traditional dance performances among other activities while getting to know more about the different tribes in Uganda. Local guides accompany tourists during this activity which can be done in different parts of the country.
