The Ultimate Guide To A Uganda Safari: Major Attractions, Top Destinations, Things To Do, And More

Uganda seems to have a little bit of everything that Africa has to offer. From the classic savannas that Africa is famous for to dense tropical rainforest, open woodlands, snow-capped mountains, enormous lakes, mighty rivers, and extensive swamps, the country has it all.

This varied landscape and scenic beauty, along with its rich biodiversity and diverse cultures, led Sir Winston Churchill to refer to Uganda as "the Pearl of Africa" in his 1908 book My Africa Journey.

Uganda is the place where the great lowland rainforests of Central Africa meet the vast open savannas of East Africa. It is the only country in East Africa where the African forest elephant and forest buffalo can be seen, as these are species of the Central African forests. Their more common cousins, the African savanna elephant and Cape buffalo, are also present in the country.

Here we have provided an overview of Uganda as a safari destination in order to give you some insights that will help you plan your trip.

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Major Attractions In Uganda

Some of the biggest attractions for safari-goers in Uganda include:

  • Great apes & other primates - Uganda's montane forests are home to the world's largest population of the critically endangered mountain gorilla and visitors have the chance to encounter them up close on gorilla trekking tours. There is also a healthy chimpanzee population in the country and these can be seen at several places on chimpanzee trekking tours. Uganda's lush forests are also home to a very wide variety of other interesting primates.
  • Diverse wildlife - Uganda is home to an incredibly wide variety of animals, including both savanna species and tropical rainforest species. It boasts over 330 mammal species, over 1060 bird species, and a lot more! Four of the Big Five can be seen in the national parks - lion, leopard, buffalo, and elephant (both savanna and forest elephants). Hundreds of rhino (both black rhino and northern white rhino) used to roam Uganda as well but unfortunately they were eradicated by poachers in the 1980s. A few southern white rhino were introduced into the country at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in 2001-2006, with plans to use the sanctuary's growing population to re-introduce white rhinos to some of Uganda's parks in the near future. Ziwa is the only place where one can see rhinos in Uganda at the moment, with a current population of about 50 individuals.
  • Stunning birdlife - The country has one of the highest levels of bird species diversity in Africa, with a rich mix of birds found in savannas, wetlands, montane forest, and lowland rainforest. This makes Uganda an incredible birding safari destination.
  • Beautiful landscapes - The country's lush forest, large lakes and wetlands, snow-capped mountains, green hills, and rolling savannas provide beautiful scenery and are a haven for those who love landscape photography. Some of the highlights include the tallest mountain range in Africa (Rwenzori Mountains, shared with the DRC), Africa's largest lake (Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania), the source of the Nile River (the world's longest river), and the world's most powerful waterfall (Murchison Falls).
  • Unique cultures - Uganda is home to a range of communities with varied cultures and traditions. Cultural tours allow visitors to interact with the local people and experience their way of life. One of the most unique of these communities are the Batwa Pygmy tribe that traditionally inhabited the Central African forests.

Top Safari Destinations In Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park

Uganda's largest and oldest national park. Here, the mighty Nile River squeezes through an 8-meter wide gorge before plummeting over a 45-meter drop into the Devil's Cauldron, creating the world's most powerful waterfall. It is a spectacular sight that will leave you breathless. Hot air balloon rides are available to enjoy the park's scenic beauty from above. You can also do a boat cruise on the Nile.

Some of the park's wildlife include lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, Rothschild's giraffe, hippo, Jackson's hartebeest, Uganda kob, and several primates including chimpanzee, patas monkey, red-tailed monkey, and black-and-white colobus.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Famous for its tree-climbing lions and generally rich in several of Africa's charismatic wildlife species, including the highest concentration of hippos in East Africa. Chimpanzees are also present in the park. Boat cruises are available on the Kazinga Channel.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Located in the arid Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda, this park is much hotter and drier than the other Ugandan parks.

Wildlife in the park include lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, African wild dog, bat-eared fox, patas monkey, African savanna elephant, Cape buffalo, plains zebra, and Rothschild's giraffe. Visitors can also go on a walking safari.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

This ancient forest is home to the largest mountain gorilla population in the world and is a top gorilla trekking safari destination. Visitors to Bwindi also have the opportunity to visit various villages near the forest to see the local people's traditional way of life.

Kibale Forest National Park

This dense forest is renowned as the best place for chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda. It also has a high diversity of other primate species and rich birdlife.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Apart from Bwindi, the other place where you can go gorilla trekking in Uganda is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. There are fewer gorillas here but that does not reduce the thrill of encountering them face to face on foot after an adventurous trek through the jungle.

Lake Mburo National Park

This fairly small park offers a nice stop-over on your way from Kampala to the national parks of the west such as Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth.

It is mostly inhabited by herbivores, including eland, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, bushbuck, warthog, and impala, with leopard and spotted hyena being the only large carnivores. Walking safaris are allowed here.

Mabamba Swamp

This vast swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, is a popular birding safari destination due to its healthy population of shoebill (a large and impressive predatory bird).

Semliki National Park

This park is classic lowland Guinea-Congolian rainforest and provides visitors with a great taste of Central African biodiversity. It is excellent for birding, with numerous bird species that are only found in the lowland rainforest.

It is the only place in East Africa where the dwarf antelope and mona monkey can be seen. Other interesting wildlife here that are more typical of Central rather than East Africa include African forest elephant, forest buffalo, chimpanzee, water chevrotain (fanged deer), pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel, and bay duiker.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori Mountains are Africa's tallest mountain range, with several of the peaks being covered in glaciers and snow. For those who love the challenge of mountain climbing, Rwenzori Mountains National Park should definitely be on your bucket list. The park is also fantastic for birding, as several birds here are endemic to these mountains.

    Things To Do On Safari In Uganda

    The following are just some of the activities available to safari-goers in Uganda. The list is not exhaustive. Availability of specific activities depends on the destination you visit and/or the tour operator you travel with.

    • Gorilla trekking
    • Chimpanzee trekking
    • Standard game drives - includes morning game drives, afternoon game drives, and full-day game drives
    • Night game drives
    • Walking safaris
    • Birding safaris
    • Boat rides and cruises
    • Hot air balloon rides
    • Horse riding along the Nile
    • Cultural tours
    • Hiking
    • Sundowners

    Best Times Of Year To Visit Uganda

    The ideal time to visit Uganda is from June to August and mid-December to February, which are typically the dry months. This is when wildlife viewing is at its finest and trekking through the dense jungles to see the great apes is most comfortable. Keep in mind though that there is always a bit of rain in the rainforests, so that can never be completely avoided.

    If cost is your primary concern and you are keen on getting the lowest rates, then the rainiest months (April-May and November) are the best times to visit as these are the low-season months.

    The savannas are also full of color at this time and many of the animals are breeding, so you will definitely still have a great safari. Just keep in mind that roads are typically harder to navigate at this time, and jungle treks are more challenging. Gorilla trekking permits can also not be rescheduled if you are unable to do it on your planned day due to heavy rain.

    What To Carry On Your Uganda Safari

    Here are some of the key things to pack for your Uganda safari.

    • Sunscreen is often useful to carry, especially in the summer months
    • A hat and sunglasses also come in handy.
    • Wear comfortable clothing and anticipate mostly warm weather, but it can get cold in the evenings and early mornings so don't forget to pack some warm clothing. For jungle treks, long pants are ideal.
    • Comfortable walking shoes and open shoes. Carry hiking boots if you plan to do a jungle trek, a walking safari, or a challenging hike.
    • If you plan to go gorilla or chimpanzee trekking, a raincoat will come in handy as it rains on most days in the rainforests.
    • Make sure to purchase your gorilla or chimpanzee trekking permit in advance.
    • Insect repellent
    • Some people also like to take anti-malaria drugs too (please consult your doctor).
    • Any other medication you may need depending on your specific medical situation (please consult your doctor)
    • You'll have plenty of great photographic opportunities so a camera is always great to have.
    • Binoculars can help spot distant wildlife, and if you're a birder you already know these are a must-have for you.

    Other Basic Facts About Uganda

    • Size - 241,559 sq. km (93,266 sq. mi)
    • National/Official Languages - English and Swahili
    • Official Currency - Ugandan Shilling (USh/UGX)
    • Capital City - Kampala
    • No. of Ethnic Groups - 56
    • Rainy Seasons - March-May and September-December

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