Uganda Safaris

A safari in Uganda offers tourists a lush destination with rolling savannah beautiful wildlife safaris of a unique destination boasting not only for its natural beauty, Uganda features diverse attractions and what is remarkable is that everyone has something to explore. Tourist attractions in Uganda fall in different categories and they are distributed across the country. Each region in Uganda has unique attractions worth exploring. Below is our check-list of top attractions in Uganda;

National Parks & Reserves

National parks and reserves are key attractions in Uganda. National Parks come with spectacular natural beauty, abundant wildlife and unique history plus abundant opportunities that guarantee visitors great fun and recreational experiences. They are among the few special places worth exploring on Uganda safaris. 10 National Parks and 12 Wildlife Reserves all exist within Uganda each featuring distinct attractions; Top national parks and reserves in Uganda;

• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park –Uganda’s premier destination where a significant section of endangered mountain gorillas live –a perfect place to meet our closest relatives. Lying in the extreme Southwestern Uganda, Bwindi expands up to 331sq.km and protects a total of 120 species of mammals. The key highlights of Bwindi safari include gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation, hiking, birding and more.
• Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) –Uganda’s biggest and oldest conservancy area. This park lies in Northwestern Uganda and occupies a vast area of 3840sq.km. It features a powerful Murchison Falls, which plunges about 45m over the remnant rift valley wall creating a powerful roar.

Murchison Falls NP houses diversity of faunal species including buffaloes, elephants, crocodiles, antelopes, lions, leopards, and over 451 species of birds including malachite kingfishers, shoebill storks, black and white casqued hornbill, Senegal thick knee, black-headed lapwings, Great blue turacos, long-toed plovers and more. On a safari in Murchison Falls NP, expect to embark on a guided game drive, launch cruise, birding, nature walks and chimpanzee tracking.

• Kibale National Park –Most popular as the Primate Capital of the World –Kibale boasts of its huge profusion of primates, accounting up to 13 species of primates. These include a total of 1500 chimpanzees living peacefully with additional 12 primates including l’hoest monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and more. The key experiences awaiting you on safari in Kibale include chimpanzee tracking, chimpanzee habituation, birding and more.

• Queen Elizabeth National Park –Located in Kasese, Queen Elizabeth NP is most famous for its distinct tree climbing lions. This is Uganda’s second largest park spanning over 1978sq.km and protects wildlife species such as leopards, spotted hyenas, giant forest hogs, Uganda kobs, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, Nile crocodiles, and others.

• Kidepo Valley National Park – a spectacular wildlife park set in isolation in the far Northeastern Uganda. This park expands up to 1442sq.km and prides itself of abundant wildlife including the lesser and greater Kudus, Beisa oryx, Klipspringers, mountain reedbucks, dik-dik, roan antelopes, zebras, Rothschild giraffes and more.

• Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve –Located in Northeastern Uganda, Pian Upe is home to a significant faunal and avifaunal species. This is one of the best tourist sites that guarantee visitors authentic wilderness experiences. It is also notably the 2^nd largest protected area just after Murchison Falls National Park and houses diversity of faunal species including Uganda Kobs, cheetahs, waterbucks, Mountain reedbucks, roan antelopes, giraffes, roan antelopes, leopards, hartebeests, topis, zebras, cheetahs, and others.

Birds

Uganda is an exceptional birding destination accounting up to 1080 bird species with 10 percent of them representing the entire world’s bird species and about 60% of the birds known to exist on the African continent. The beauty about birding tours in Uganda is that birders can spot birds almost everywhere in the country.

Uganda’s top birds include the red-fronted anti-peckers, African green broadbill, shoebill stork, Rwenzori turacos, purcell’s illadopsis, brown chested pullover, secretary bird, black bee-eaters, Nahans francolins, green breasted pittas, African barbet, Shelley’s crown wing, eastern plantain eater, grey crowned crane, ostriches, hammerkops, African darters and Karamoja apalis, etc.

The best birding sites in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Mabamba Wetland, Budongo Forest, Kibale National Park, Bigodi Wetland, Bwindi, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Lutembe wetland, Maramagambo Forest and others.

Big 5 game & other wildlife

Uganda is a complete big 5 game destination and also features other huge concentration of faunal species. The big 5 game in Uganda include African lions (plus the tree climbing lions at Ishasha Queen Elizabeth National Park), leopards, elephants, cape buffaloes, and rhinos. Other animals to encounter on Uganda safaris include topis, Uganda Kobs, elands, waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, gazelles, semi-aquatic sitatungas, Kudus; zebras, the Rothschild giraffes, roan antelopes, impalas, and many bushbucks, etc.

Rwenzori Mountains

Lying in Western Uganda, Rwenzori Mountain ranges form the highest elevation in Uganda rising up to 5109m. This mystical block mountain features glaciers on its summits and comes with myriad of attractions including waterfalls, lakes, rivers, wildlife, and birds, etc. The key highlight of Rwenzori Mountains is mountaineering where you conquer the highest peak –Margherita. A complete hike to the Margherita peak takes from 8 to 15 days. Other places to consider for mountaineering in Uganda include Gahinga, Muhabura and Sabyinyo Volcanoes; Mount Elgon.

The Source of the Nile

Uganda is one of the African countries where the Nile River passes and amazingly, its source is right here. The Source of the Nile River is undoubtedly Uganda’s iconic attraction. It attractions enthusiastic adventure seekers for kayaking, whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, boat ride, jet boating, quad biking and others.

Waterfalls

Uganda is a scenic destination with several beautiful waterfalls distributed in the different parts of the country. They include the Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa –a series of 3 waterfalls located outside the borders of Mount Elgon NP; Murchison Falls and Karuma Falls in Northwestern Uganda, Ripon falls, Ssezibwa falls, Itanda falls, Aruu waterfall, Kamdini falls, Iborogya Falls, Busowa falls and others.

Lakes

Up to about 165 lakes exist in Uganda and the best to visit on Uganda safaris include Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mutanda, Lake Victoria, Lake George, Lake Edward, Albert, Bisina and Opeta.

In conclusions, Uganda is truly the pearl of Africa –visit this charming African destination to explore plenty of attractions from breathtaking sceneries, landscapes, fauna, flora, and avifaunal species to rich tropical rainforests.