Wildlife Safaris in Uganda: Uganda should be on your bucket list of African vacation locations for unique animal encounters. Not only does Uganda have natural beauties such as the River Nile Source, but it also provides a haven for the world’s most sought-after species, the bulk of which cannot be seen anywhere else.

Mountain gorillas, tree climbing lions, chimps, golden monkeys, elusive birds like shoebill storks, and other endangered and unique species call Uganda home. The terrain, on the other hand, is breathtaking—all of this and more makes Uganda really the Pearl of Africa.

Wildlife safaris in Uganda are routinely carried out at any of the country’s ten national parks, twelve wildlife reserves, sanctuaries, and other locations. With so many areas, tourist exploring options abound, making a wildlife tours in Uganda worthwhile while on any African wildlife safari. If you want to try something new on your Uganda safari, the following 5 animal encounters are worth a shot.

Wildlife Safaris in Uganda
Nile Source

What wildlife safaris in Uganda entail.

Gorilla Trekking

With just 1063 mountain gorillas left in the wild and none in zoos, tracking to see them in their native environment is a valuable nature experience. Only three nations provide this life-changing opportunity: Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. You may join the adventurous mountain gorilla trekking trip for USD700 for a gorilla permit.

There are two sites in Uganda where you may go gorilla trekking to view mountain gorillas: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Tourists can monitor any of the 21 habituated gorilla groups, which safeguard half of the surviving 1063 mountain gorillas.

A typical gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi or Mgahinga promises one hour face to face meeting with the enormous mountain gorillas, but you can also spend a lot of time getting up close and personal with these unusual animals while on a mountain gorilla habituation trip.

This is feasible while on a gorilla safari in Bwindi National Park, and licences for habituation are available for USD1500 per person, with a guarantee of 4 hours of face-to-face time with gorillas.

Chimpanzee Trekking

Chimpanzee trekking is the second most popular primate experience in Uganda, behind mountain gorilla tracking. A total of over 5050 chimps dwell in various sites throughout Uganda- The Pearl of Africa, with some of them habituated, making it an ideal chimp monitoring destination in Africa.

The best areas to see chimps in the wild include Kalinzu Forest, Kibale National Park (home to 1500 chimps and recognised as the Primate Capital of the World), Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, and Semuliki National Park.

Wildlife Safaris in Uganda
Chimpanzee Safaris in Kibale

Tracking Golden Monkeys in Uganda

Golden monkey tracking in Uganda is only done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the country’s smallest park with a land size of 33.7 square kilometres. The park preserves both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in the same habitat, making it an ideal location for a close encounter with two distinct primates in the wild. Golden monkeys are an endangered species that can only be found in the Virunga Mountains of Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda.

Game Drive Safaris in Uganda

Game drives in Uganda provide an excellent opportunity for wildlife enthusiasts to see large game, small mammals, birds, and other animals in the wild. Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park (also famed for tree climbing lion spotting), and Murchison Falls National Park are the greatest sites to visit in Uganda for guided game drives.

Wildlife Safaris in Uganda
lake mburo national park

Rhino Trekking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located in Nakasongola district, some 180 kilometres from Kampala, and is the only spot in Uganda where you may observe rhinos in their native environment. The 70-square-kilometer wildlife refuge is a popular stopover for visitors on Uganda safaris to Murchison Falls National Park or Kidepo through the Northern route. The main activity that draws the majority of people to this location is rhino tracking, however other activities such as bird watching, nature walks, and so on are also available.

Wildlife safaris in Uganda offer tourists on of the best travel experiences during your visit to the country and Africa at large. If you are looking to book a wildlife safari in Uganda, contact a trusted tour operator company like Explore Rwanda Tours.

book a gorilla trip