Best Guide to Travel in Uganda with Explore Rwanda Tours: Uganda Wildlife Safaris guarantee amazing excursions filled with stunning scenery, unusual wildlife, and exhilarating activities. Uganda is a nature lover’s and adventurer’s dream, with its vast range of landscapes and species. However, arranging a safari may be daunting, especially if it is your first trip.
That’s why we’ve put up the definitive guide to organizing your ideal Uganda adventure trip. We’ll give you with all the knowledge you need to make your safari experience exceptional, from picking the ideal time to come to selecting the perfect safari package.
Whether you want to follow mountain gorillas, see the Big Five, or explore Uganda’s breathtaking landscapes, our Uganda Wildlife Safaris guide will help you organize the perfect safari journey. So, let’s begin making your goals a reality!
Why you should travel to Uganda?
Many first-time safari travelers go to Uganda to discover the country’s remarkable wildlife attractions;
Top gorilla and chimpanzee encounters: Trek into the highlands and meet face-to-face with a 400-pound silverback mountain gorilla in the Virunga mountains’ dense forests and bamboo-clumped slopes. Trek into the dense mist to meet gorillas, the world’s biggest living primates, on their own habitat. The silverback’s immense size and enticing humanlike behaviors will captivate you.
On a chimpanzee trekking safari, awkwardly walk a narrow rainforest route listening for a heart-pounding pant-hoot chorus of chimpanzees and spend amazing minutes seeing them in their native home.
Excellent Boat Cruise safaris: Cruise the Kazinga Channel or the Victoria Nile to get up close and personal with elephants, hippos, buffalo, and other big wildlife. One of Uganda’s most popular safari activities is viewing animal behavior from the luxury of a houseboat. You’ll get up close and personal with creatures like hippos and Nile crocodiles.
Uncrowded safari drives: Join an expert local guide on a morning or evening game drive to find the Big Five and other interesting creatures in the savannah parks. Sit in the back of a four-wheel-drive vehicle with wide windows and open roofs designed specifically for vintage game viewing. Drive deep into the jungle to see your favorite creatures up close, such as lions and elephants.
Excellent birding locations: Marvel at over 1000 colorful bird species located in the continent’s best accessible birding settings. For birding enthusiasts, Uganda has some of the most accessible bird habitats, with over 1000 bird species recorded. Discover the best birdwatching places in Uganda, including ecologically rich national parks and other protected regions.
Incredible activities include bungee jumping and rafting grade-five Nile rapids, hiking dead volcanoes, and summiting the snow-capped Mountains of the Moon.
Immersive cultural experiences and ecotourism: On a cultural path, go through local rural villages, meet Uganda’s secret cultures and communities, and experience evocative customs. As a first-time tourist, you may see more of Uganda than just gorillas and wildlife. Watch a traditional dance, visit secret communities, wander through isolated villages, and learn about Uganda’s many cultures.
Top Destinations to visit in Uganda on a wildlife safari.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an ancient rainforest scattered across high peaks and valleys that protects about half of the remaining mountain gorillas. It is included on the majority of Uganda gorilla safaris and provides the greatest hikes to observe silverback gorillas and engage in local traditions.
Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale Forest and the adjacent crater lakes are a nature lover’s dream. With 15 monkey species leaping the forest canopy, the rainforest park boasts the densest number of primates. You may get up close and personal with wild chimpanzees in Kibale Forest.
Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the finest in Uganda for family safaris and big game watching trips. Game drives get you up close to elephants, tree-climbing lions, and leopards, but boat safaris on the Kazinga channel can provide fantastic interactions with thirsty animals.
Lake Mburo National Park.
Lake Mburo National Park, located 230 kilometers outside of Kampala, is the smallest and nearest wildlife park to the city. This little park, which serves as a buffer between Kampala and Bwindi, is generally included on Uganda safari excursions and provides good animal viewing.
Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park is located in the northwestern area, a little away from the famed western safari circuit, yet it is worth a visit for the first time. You’ll marvel at the magnificent cascade, cruise the Nile, and go on a wildlife drive to get up close and personal.
Explore Kampala City.
Kampala is a must-see cultural attraction in Uganda, with lively marketplaces, national museums, restaurants, nightclubs, and traditional music and dance events at the Ndere Cultural Centre.
Best Time to visit Uganda on a wildlife safari.
Safaris in Uganda are ideal during the dry season, which lasts from December to February and June to September. The weather is dry and bright at this time of year, and wildlife is more visible as it congregates around water sources. The dry season is especially ideal for gorilla trekking in Uganda since the paths are dryer and simpler to maneuver.
Birdwatching is best from December to February and June to July, when migrating birds converge to Uganda’s national parks. The rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November, may provide fewer visitors and reduced rates, but the roads in some locations can be difficult to manage. It is crucial to remember, however, that Uganda’s national parks are open all year, and each season offers a distinct experience.
How to choose the best destination for your safari in Uganda with Explore Rwanda Tours?
Choose between guided group excursions or private tours when organizing a safari in Uganda for a one-of-a-kind experience that blends wildlife, culture, and adventure. Elephants, lions, giraffes, and other animals may be seen on game drives in national parks like as Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Kidepo Valley.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest and Budongo Forest allows you to see these monkeys in their natural environment. Furthermore, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park allows visitors to get up close and personal with endangered mountain gorillas. Visitors may also go on a boat safari along the Nile River and the Kazinga Channel, or participate in cultural interactions in rural settlements to learn about traditional ways of life.
The majority of Uganda safaris relate to an all-inclusive (full-board) per-person fee, which includes taxes and is based on double occupancy. Except for downtown hotels, a few lodges provide half-board and a few offer bed and breakfast.
Make a detailed schedule and budget for your Uganda wildlife safari. A night in the city, a day going to the national park, trekking with gorillas, and visiting other national parks for animal watching and monkey jungles should all be on your schedule. Keep in mind that traveling between places might take a whole day and should be budgeted for. Your budget should include airfare, lodging, food, and activities.
Consider going during the low season, when there are less visitors and rates are lower, to optimize your money. You may also save money by arranging Uganda wildlife safaris through a licensed local tour operator, who can deliver a more authentic experience and is frequently less expensive. To safeguard visitors, these operators are now verified by trade organizations.
Safari visitors to Uganda have a variety of lodging alternatives. Luxury lodges provide individual accommodations, gourmet food, and great service, whilst campsites on a budget offer a more rustic experience with fewer facilities and a deeper connection to nature. Consider the location and accessibility to national parks and animal reserves, as well as the degree of luxury and your budget, while choosing lodging. Some resorts provide all-inclusive packages, while others charge for each service separately.
Is there Phone and Internet Connection in Uganda?
There are several phone networks that cover Entebbe, Kampala, significant cities, and tourist regions, however services might be intermittent. Local SIM cards are inexpensive, and international calling packages make it simple to phone home. It is advisable to unlock your phone before coming, which can be done in Kampala but may cause your Uganda wildlife trip to be delayed. Almost all countryside lodges have free Wi-Fi of variable quality.
What Vaccines do I need to get when travelling to Uganda?
When visiting Uganda, it is necessary to present confirmation of yellow fever vaccine upon arrival at the airport. Hepatitis A and B vaccines are recommended by the Ministry of Health, and individuals traveling to rural regions should also consider the typhoid vaccine. Malaria is a danger in Uganda, so talk to your doctor about antimalarial medications. Sleep under a mosquito net at night and use insect repellent throughout the day, at the absolute least. It is also advised to consume bottled or filtered water.
Is it Safe to Travel to Uganda?
Uganda is typically secure for travelers, however it is not advisable to go alone at night, particularly in metropolitan areas. Ugandans are kind people with traditional beliefs, therefore public demonstrations of affection are frowned upon. Because Ugandans do not discriminate based on race or sexual orientation, LGBTQ+ visitors can travel freely across the country.
What money/currency is accepted in Uganda?
When traveling in Uganda, pay with shillings at local businesses and eateries. Larger hotels and tour operators may take US dollars as well as credit cards. ATMs may be used to withdraw local money, and you can convert dollars, euros, and pounds at airports, forex offices, and local banks. Bills printed before to 2009 may be rejected.
Do I need a Visa to travel to Uganda?
A three-month tourist visa costs $50 USD and is available only online at visas.immigration.go.ug. Applicants must submit a completed form, two passport-sized pictures, and their application at least three days before departure. You will not be able to get on arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of travel and have at least one blank page.
Are there flights to Uganda?
Yes, Uganda has international flights that connect it to the rest of the globe via Entebbe International Airport. Entebbe International Airport (IATA: EBB, ICAO: HUEN) is Uganda’s major airport, servicing the Entebbe region. It provides nonstop flights to 27 destinations in 15 countries, as well as 5 local trips.
There are no direct flights to Uganda from the United States, Canada, Southern America, Central America, the Caribbean, Southern Asia, China, Japan, Eastern Asia, South-Eastern Asia, Central Asia, or Oceania. Entebbe International Airport (EBB) operates the only intercontinental flights between Entebbe and Europe and Entebbe and the Middle East.
However, there are connecting flights from major cities across the world, including Kenya Airways flying from Nairobi, RwandAir flying from Kigali, Ethiopia Airlines flying from Addis Ababa, and South African Airways flying from Johannesburg.
What wildlife animals can I expect to see on Safari in Uganda?
Expect to encounter the “Big Five” (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalos), primates such as chimps and gorillas, as well as giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and antelopes, on safari in Uganda. Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Kidepo Valley National Parks provide some of the greatest wildlife watching safaris in Africa, with breathtaking scenery. Boat trips along the Nile River and the Kazinga Channel are ideal for watching Uganda’s diverse birdlife, which includes over 1,000 species.
Are Ugandans Friendly to Foreigners?
Ugandans are known for their warm hospitality and unique cultural history, which includes more than 56 ethnic groups. Their strong loyalty to traditions, vivid song and dance, and great regard for community relationships and familial ties represent this variety.
Religion, particularly Christianity and Islam, is important in their lives, and tenacity and a strong work ethic motivate them to overcome obstacles. Their identity is emphasized through traditional attire, linguistic variety, and a strong connection to the environment. Despite the country’s economic and historical challenges, Ugandans have a welcoming, community-oriented ethos that makes relationships with them culturally rich and significant.
