Tours of Uganda 2020

Tours of Uganda 2020 are those safari packages and activities one should look out for this year as they will be so interesting and fascinating. Uganda the pearl of Africa is one of Africa’s top safari destinations because of its variety of safari attractions and activities one can engage in on any safari. The attractions and activities range from primate safaris, wildlife safaris, nature and community safaris, cultural and religious tours, and recreational activity safaris among others. As you plan to travel and enjoy the beauty of Uganda this year 2020, we help you highlight the top safari attractions and activities you should not miss on your visit to Uganda.

Tours of Uganda 2020

Mountain Gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is one of the top Tours of Uganda one should look out for in 2020. Mountain gorilla trekking is an activity that gives you a chance to spend an hour interacting and enjoying the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. On these tours tourists trek forest trails to a given location where they meet the gorillas and spend an hour with them appreciating the gorillas, observing them and taking pictures of this moment. 

This adventure is one to kill for; it’s not just spending time with the gorillas, it’s the whole trekking that is challenging but fulfilling, it’s the beauty of the forest that is captivating, the birds in the forest making noises and getting to meet new people as you take on your trekking experience among other things. 

Uganda is known for its big number of mountain gorillas that live and roam around their habitats in south western Uganda; the number of mountain gorillas in Uganda exceeds any other country in the world currently; and several of these mountain gorillas have been habituated in more than 18 mountain gorilla families that can be trekked all through the year. 

The mountain gorilla habitats in Uganda are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both located in south western Uganda four hours from each other, about 9 to 10 hours from Uganda’s capital Kampala and 4 to 5 hours from Rwanda’s capital Kigali.

Bwindi National Park has the greatest number of mountain gorillas and gorilla trekking in the park is done in four sectors namely Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. Mgahinga National Park is part of the eight volcanoes that make up the Virunga Mountains that cut across Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic republic of Congo and is currently harboring two gorilla families that is Nyakagezi that is a local to the habitat and Hirwa that migrated from Rwanda in late 2019. 

Mountain gorilla trekking is done in a group of eight individuals who visit one gorilla family for an hour; each individual is required to acquire a mountain gorilla trekking permit that costs 600 USD currently but will cost 700 USD in July 2020. These permits are obtained at least three months in advance from Uganda wildlife Authority or through a tour operator.

Chimpanzee trekking

When doing Tours of Uganda, you can not forget Chimpanzee Trekking. Uganda is known as the capital of primates because on top of being the country with the highest number of gorillas, the pearl of Africa is also one of the countries with the biggest number of chimpanzees, harboring over 5000 endangered chimpanzees in several species across the country. Wildlife scholars actually state that at one time Uganda had the highest number of chimpanzees about 50000 plus chimpanzees but due to human activities the chimpanzees’ habitats were destroyed and this led to the sharp decline in the number of surviving chimpanzees. 

Chimpanzee trekking is another primate experience that gives you a chance to marvel at similarities between primates and humans as you observe and interact with them in their natural habitats. The trekking experience to the chimpanzees also gives you a memorable adventure and scenery experience. 

Chimpanzees like mountain gorillas have been habituated for chimpanzee trekking purposes in the locations below across Uganda:-

Chimpanzee trekking is done all year round in the different locations and trekking permits are acquired from the place of trekking. The chimpanzee trekking permit fees vary from location to location and for Kibale National Park trekking a permit fee is 200 USD per person per trek. Kibale National Park is the most trekked location of all the chimpanzee habitats. 

Other primates in Uganda that can be trekked include the golden monkeys in Mgahinga National park, Olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, Uganda red colobus, e.t.c in Kibaale National Park 

Wildlife safaris 

Wildlife safaris are the most done Tours of Uganda in the other years and one should look out for more in 2020. Uganda is one of the best destinations in Africa for a wildlife safaris; this country has a variety of wildlife that include the big five Lions, Elephants, Cape buffaloes, Leopards and Rhinos, the Uganda kob, impalas, zebras, hippos, bush dogs, warthog, African wild dog, cheetahs, tigers, hyenas, topi, antelopes, bush pig, wildcats and many other wild animals that have habitats spread all over the country. 

Wildlife safaris in Uganda are like no other with morning game drives, afternoon game drives, evening game drives and night game drives that take you in the animal habitats to see all these numerous animals and experience the jungle as you take in the beauty of wild. 

Uganda is also home to the unique tree-climbing lions that give you a unique lion experience on any of your game drives; these lions are mainly in Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National park. 

The places you can visit for your wildlife safari include but not limited to:-

Park fees and game drive fees vary from park to park, so you need to check with Uganda Wildlife Authority or a tour operator for clarity of fees.

Tours of Uganda 2020
Tours of Uganda 2020

Birding

Birding in Uganda has grown over the past couple of years, as new bird species have been identified living in several places in the country. Birding is one of the special Tours of Uganda to look out for in 2020. Currently reports state that Uganda has over 1000 bird species including shoe bill stork, papyrus gonolex, fox weaver, regal sunbird, francolin, black bee eater, Karamoja apalis, blue-headed coucal, western nicator among others 

The number of birders coming into the country to see the several bird species has increased over the years; making birding a must do activity while you visit the country.

Birding locations in Uganda include but not limited to:-

  • Mabira forest 
  • Mabamba Bay Wetland
  • Murchison Falls National Park 
  • Queen Elizabeth National park
  • Bwindi National Park
  • Mgahinga National Park
  • Lake Mburo National Park

More details about birding can be attained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or your tour operator.

Cultural and religious tour

Uganda is famously known for its cultural and religious diversity; the country has an array of tribes that form quite a number of traditional kingdoms and societies; and because of the country’s democratic government, Uganda has a line-up of religions that different citizens identify with. This has made a country a hub of cultural and religious sites that anyone interested in culture and religions can on their trip to Uganda. Cultural and religious happen all through the year and are at the peak when there is a religious or cultural commemoration taking place like the Uganda Martyrs day on June 3. During these tours, you appreciate the uniqueness of individuals, communities, African culture and faith among people.

Cultural and religious sites in Uganda include Kasubi tombs, Namugongo Shrine, Karambi tombs, Gadhafi mosque, Bahai temple, Sezibwa falls, Nyero rocks, Igongo Cultural Centre, and Nakayima tree.

Most of the cultural sites are in the country’s capital Kampala, so they can visit them in a day.

Other tours

Other tours in Uganda include but not limited to:-

Nature tours that allow you appreciate the topography and nature of given areas are done in also all national parks in the country. 

Community tours are some of the other Tours of Uganda you should look out for in 2020. These get you interacting with the locals and learning more about their cultures, norms, and lifestyles. The most famous community tours in Uganda are the Ike community tour in Kidepo National park and the Batwa trail experience in Mgahinga National park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. 

Recreational activities in Uganda include hiking, mountain biking, water rafting, binge jumping among others and on your visit to any of the national parks in Uganda, you can get to engage in one or more of them. Most recreational activities in Uganda are done on the Nile River in Jinja.

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