Best places to visit in 2023

best places to visit in 2023

Best Places to Visit in 2023|Uganda

Thinking of where to travel to in 2023 could be a hard puzzle to solve but here are some of the best places to visit in 2023 on a Uganda safari. East Africa is well known in terms of safaris and for most travelers visiting here would like to know which kind of a safari woud they wnt to immerse themselves into.

Uganda inparticular has immerged as one of those finest safari destinations anyone would love to lookout to and with welcoming locals as well, that adds value to every tourist visiting this country.

CNN Travel have listed Uganda as one of the places to visist in 2023 inthe world and you just can’t underestimate that statement because, for primates lovers, Uganda has no other match to be compared to. The country is home to half of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas and it actually has two dofferent destinations or parks where you can meet these gentle giants in their natural habitat.

With almost 53 different tribal groups living in this small hidden paradise, it is positive for those seeking for a cultural exploration. The biggest is Kampala and of course it’s the country’s capital which will make it a highlight for you if you decide to visit.

As almost the highlight for every traveler visiting Uganda is “gorilla trek” it is a good idea to know how expensive or cheap to see them in the tropics. A gorilla trekking permit goes for US$700 per person and it is actually cheaper compared to the neighbours in Rwanda.

Best Places to Visit in 2023 |What to Expect on a Uganda Safari?

Depending on what your interests of travel are in to, there’s alot to choose from on a Uganda safari trip.  Gorillas are the highlight here but you can opt to go for other tourist activities. For example you can a safari to Murchison Falls National located north-west from Kampala and the least you can do it are 2 days. Most travelers combine this safari with a stop to see the endangered ssouthern white rhinos at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.

Another option for primate lovers is to see the gentle chimpanzees in the tropical rain forest of Kibale. Kibale National Park is famously known as the world’s primate capital because of it’s high potential in protecting primates.

The park is home to 13 different primate species and the most popular are the Chimps. Trekking to see them in their natural habitat here will see you paying US$200 per person, but they’re still other cheaper alternatives even though chances of seeing them are not as high as those in Kibale National Park.

Kalinzu forest, Budongo forest, Kyambura gorge are some of the other options of seeing the chimpanzees in Uganda and here it goes for a slightly US$150 per person.

Safari parks are one of the most visited and the Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park are the ones you can visit for a wildlife safari. All of those safari parks can be visited in just 3 days however you can combine them with a primate trip for those with longer days.

Uganda|Rwanda Safaris

Kigali city

Combining Uganda|Rwanda Safaris 2023-2024

The Uganda|Rwanda safaris are one East Africa’s most done combined safari packages. Taking the fact that these two destinations favors travelers who basically want to do primate tracking related tours.

Even though Uganda and Rwanda are most known for its diversity when it comes to primates, they actually also offer some of the best bits for a wildlife safari.

Uganda|Rwanda safaris

RWANDA IN PARTICULAR

Rwanda is most referred to as the “Land of a thousand hills” because of its unique terraced hills landscapes all over the region. The scenery itself gives tourists who visit this beautiful small country something not to forget while in East Africa. The highlight for almost everyone visiting Rwanda, is to trek deep into the thick bamboo forests to seethe world’s remaining population of Mountain Gorillas in the famous Volcanoes National Park located just along the Virunga mountain ranges.

Unlike Uganda where one can track gorillas in two different destinations, that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga gorilla National parks, in Rwanda it’s a different case where by all tourists interested in gorilla trekking must by any means slope down into the Volcanoes National Park.

What else to see in Rwanda besides gorilla tracking?

As said earlier that gorilla tracking is the highlight in Rwanda, there are actually a lot of other unique activities to do or see when in to this beautiful country and some of them are as follows.

Lake Kivu– For tourists who would want to change the scene of their eyes, there’s none other than a visit to Lake Kivu. The shores of this awesome and great to see lake, conceal some of the best beaches known on the African continent.

Nyungwe Forest National Park– Known to be among the oldest rain-forests that call the African continent home, this thick montane tracked rain forest is one of Rwanda’s most famous tourist attractions.  Together with Uganda’s Kibale National Park, Nyungwe forest National Park is also home to 13 primate species and to visit Rwanda without a step into this home of primates is indeed a regret for many travelers.

Akagera National Park– Located just in the middle of the Akagera River, this miracle renowned park is the only destination where one can do a wildlife viewing safari in Rwanda. Once considered one of Africa’s most sought after wildlife reserves because it used to protect almost 10% of Rwanda. Truthfully most client’s who visit Akagera expecting huge concentration of wildlife like those in Kenya or Tanzania got disappointed, but in case you want to feed your eyes and immerse yourself with a quite and a unique environmental setting, then a visit to Akagera National Park is something recommended.

Kigali City– Who visit Rwanda and doesn’t take on a Kigali city tour?, with a span of several ridges and enchanting valleys, rolling hillsides, green sceneries, flowering trees, plus thrills of winding boulevards, Kigali is without doubt one of Africa’s most attractive capital cities. For many it’s said to be the most cleanest and safe in the whole of the region.

THE UGANDA YOU DON’T KNOW

The country located East of the African continent, is calling for tourists and travelers across earth to come and witness its virgin beauty and thrilling landscapes that call this country home. Imagine a country where food grows with less effort, with free flowing rivers across the region plus a unique setting of the true Africa’s life style, where almost everyone has been known for quite some time! Welcome to the “Pearl of Africa” as sir Winston Churchill called it on his last visit to Africa.

The country is home to almost everything you would think of when planning a safari to Africa. Just like Rwanda, gorilla tracking is also the highlight for many tourists visiting Uganda but of course there’s a lot to think about besides trekking the the thick forests to see gorillas.

For adventure lovers, Uganda is a perfect destination to immerse yourself into, Rafting on the Nile River is the adventure headliner even though several adventure activities are in place to choose from.

Most tourists combine different tourism destinations while on a Uganda safari just to encounter different sights on their exploration. For starters, one can do a short 3 days Uganda safari to any of he’s/her favorite destination. And a long Uganda safari can at least last for 10 days or even more depending on customization.

How to combine a Uganda|Rwanda Safaris?

Uganda|Rwanda safaris combination are famously chosen from those travelers who wants to see gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Taking the fact that, there’s actually less wildlife viewing opportunities in Rwanda, most tourists opt to do wildlife safaris in Uganda and track gorillas in Rwanda.

A combined Uganda and Rwanda safari can last from 6-10 days or even longer depending on customization. But of course there are travelers who at times want to arrive in Kigali and track gorillas in Uganda which is also an option and actually cheaper alternative.

EBS Tours & Safaris always customize tour packages in all those destinations depending on a travelers interest and must do activities, that’s why we always advise tourists to check on our website for authentic travel packages and content.

Explore Uganda

gamedrive safari

Explore Uganda|Best Time to Visit Uganda 2022-2023

The country located East of the African continent is among those worth a phrase Explore Uganda.  Blessed with effortless virgin beauty with almost everything a traveler would wish to have on the bucket list. It’s one of the unknown destinations in terms of a safari but with almost the same potential as those most known destinations even though in Uganda its different in its own way.

Exploring Uganda| Diversity of The Country

The country so green with its vast abundance of lush flora and fauna,rolling hills and mountains found all over the country’s wide-sides, Uganda remains among those destinations one needs to explore on an Africa safari.

The country has over 20 National parks and wildlife reserves which you can combine for a safari. Most tourists who visit Uganda opt to do gorilla trekking which is the highlight of a Uganda tour but the country has a lot to offer besides seeing only gorillas in their natural habitat. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga gorilla National parks are the only destinations where gorilla tracking can be done in Uganda.

SAFARI IN UGANDA | Explore Uganda

For safari kind of people, Uganda’s wide range of Savannah parks is an opportunity for many tourists visiting the country because they have a wide range to choose from. Most travelers combine these National parks to get broad and wide experience of wildlife viewing and some of them choose to do short safari tours for example, a safari to Uganda’s Murchison Falls National park for starters can be done in 3 short days just if you combine it with Rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

The Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most famous parks in Uganda and it’s not often left out for Uganda’s visitors. Wildlife viewing here is in plenty because the park is home to about 354 birds species which makes it a popular destinations for ornithology and besides that it is also home to 79 mammals with 4 members of the African Big five animals.

The Murchison Falls National park is where the world’s most powerful waterfalls are found and it is here where the mighty River Nile forces itself into a narrow 7 meters gorge and drops down 45 meters into the Albert Nile. A trip to this world wonder is one of the many life changing scenes you can ever have on a Uganda safari.

Besides wildlife viewing in a safari vehicle here, most often tourists who visit Murchison Falls National Park, their highlight is a boat trip to the bottom of the falls. This is 17 km cruise down on the mighty River Nile to the point where the Murchison falls drops down.

Explore Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park | Explore Uganda

Often known as the “medley of wonders” the beautiful Queen Elizabeth National Park is actually the most visited of all parks found in Uganda. The park located south of Kampala city, about 410 km which makes it about 6-7 hours of driving through the scenic landscapes of the country.

Queen Elizabeth National Park wasn’t actually the park’s name not until the former Queen Elizabeth of the great Britain visited Uganda in 1954 and this park formerly known as Kazinga National Park and they decided to name it Queen Elizabeth. The park is home to about 600 of all Uganda’s bird species, 97 mammals with 4 members of the African big five animals and among them are the rare “Tree Climbing Lions” in the southern section of the park (Ishasha).

Most tourists visit this park because of it’s scenic potential especially for wildlife photography. The Rwenzori mountains borders this park in every corner so tourists can enjoy the spectacular beauty of the so called mountains of the moon even without a single step into them.

The park is also dotted with beautiful crater lakes which makes the destination even worth a visit.

Best Time To Visit Uganda.

Uganda can be visited all year round because of its stable climate which often favors travelers to travel any time of the year but besides all that, there’s of course that specific time of the year which is better for almost anyone.

First of all, from March-May and September-December its rainy seasons in Uganda and East Africa and from June-August and December-February are dry seasons. Most tourists visit Uganda in high/dry seasons and the parks are almost crowded everyday. During the low seasons that is wet season when it’s raining in East Africa, most of the tourism activities are discounted and its actually the best time to view the wildlife in their natural habitat.

Even though the wet seasons ain’t recommended, there are actually the best time of the year for adventure kind of tourists to visit Uganda. A lot of experiences can be seen during these hard times when on a Uganda safari.

 

Preparing for a trip to Uganda

preparing for a trip to Uganda

Preparing for a trip to Uganda

You are preparing for a trip to Uganda the pearl of Africa. But you are looking for someone who can arrange a customized itinerary with an opportunity to view as much wildlife as possible.

Yes, you need a genuine tour operator who can assist you. How can you do it?

Briefly, let’s ponder on the days of Christopher Columbus.

What does Christopher Columbus has to do with planning your future trip to Uganda?

Well, imagine you are a sailor hundreds of years ago. And like Christopher Columbus, you wanted to travel to a new destination you have never been to. Let’s say from Europe to Africa.

How would you travel there?

You can’t draw a map of the sea. It all looks the same.

You can’t rely on GPS, only the compass was around.

And you can’t really see where you’re going, because the trip would take months.

So, back in those days, the only real way you could get anywhere safely, and on time, was by being able to navigate with the stars…

You’d wait for the stars to come out, and then you’d look for the North Star (Polaris).

And that’s what humans did for centuries…

If you wanted to travel a long distance, you’d need to read the stars and use the North Star as your guide.

But those that didn’t know how to read the stars – often got themselves and their crew lost. Or worse – they got shipwrecked.

And it’s the same today.

If you want to travel to a new destination…

If you want to go to Africa for the first time…

You need to use the North Star as your guide.

Learn To Use The North Star For your travel plans

Do you want to visit Uganda one day?

Do you want to see rare wildlife such as mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, chimpanzees, lions, leopards…..

Whatever it is that you want to do – you’ll need your North Star to get there.

And when it comes to planning an African safari, I believe the best ‘North Star’ you can have: is to deal with a genuine tour operator, tour guide, tour consultant or recommendation from a friend.

There are so many travelers who have visited Uganda, so you can always find helpful reviews on TripAdvisor.

You just want to see gorillas, but have no idea of other things to do. It’s the tour operator/ consultant who will put together a compelling itinerary that is also priced competitively. You will be glad to have followed their advice regarding the lodges and things to do. It will be a memorable trip. It would still be a good safari even without the gorillas, but of course the gorillas are always the icing on the cake.

Taking the above into consideration will get you ready for a trip to Uganda.

Here are simple steps to prepare for your trip to Uganda

 Make your travel reservations/ bookings ahead of time

Booking your activities and accommodation can easily be done online with a tour operator. If you want to visit Uganda for gorilla tracking or any other activity, try to book your trip in advance. Let’s say you are looking for a customized itinerary. And would love to try out different things such as hiking, wildlife viewing, rafting, chimp trekking, and boat trip to see hippos and crocodiles. These are different things that need to be put together.Therefore, contact a genuine tour operator for ideas to help plan your next vacation at least 3-5 months or even a year in advance. It’s possible to book gorilla permits, accommodation for that period and know how much does it cost.

Visas for Uganda travelers

Apply for a visa to Uganda and there are 3 ways to do so. You can fill and submit an application online at Ugandan immigration website, go to the country’s embassies and high commissions abroad or get it on arrival at Entebbe airport or other entry points.

Vaccinations

For any trip to Uganda, an International certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required. This document verifies that you have

Take a pocket Wi-Fi device with you

A Wi-Fi device is an essential item because in Uganda free Wi-Fi is limited. Although there are tour guides who offer free Wi-Fi to their clients, there are times you will need your own. Especially if you are self-driving, it can be difficult navigating routes and finding specific locations. Google maps can be helpful and saves time.

Read travel guide books, blogs for inspiration

There several Uganda travel experts on the internet for instance the Ugandan tourist, Uganda uncovered, Diary of Muzungu. I encourage you to always read more on Uganda forum on TripAdvisor to look at opinions of people who have traveled to Uganda before.

Top attractions

 Weather, seasons and when to visit Uganda

Uganda lies across the equator with warm tropical climate and can be visited any time of the year. However, the country experiences two seasons, the dry and the wet season. The dry season occurs between December to February and June to September. This is the peak season and attracts many tourists. There are fewer rains and so you will find it easier to do gorilla tracking and chimp trekking into forests.

What to pack

Take an extra bag

When and where to go, map and itineraries

Exchanging local currency in Uganda

Even though Uganda is still a cash-based society, exchanging money now days is easier due to much acceptance of international ATM cards and credit cards.Plan to exchange your cash at Entebbe airport when you arrive or in Kampala city where there are several forex bureaus such as at lugogo Shoprite mall and grand imperial hotel. Exchanging cash at forex bureaus does not incur costs and you get better rates than in banks. Be sure to exchange enough cashto cover up your expenses.

Book recommendations

Brandt Travel Guides for Uganda

Lonely Planet – essential travel guide to Uganda

The culture smart series Uganda

Public transportation

If you want to use public transportation from one place to another, you can book tickets for buses online. Ugabus app can be helpful once you arrive in Uganda.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

5 days Rwenzori Mountains Trek

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori Mountains are one of Africa’s most iconic tourist destinations most especially for adventure kind of people.  Located in far south-west of the country Uganda about 335km from the capital.

These beautiful ranges of mountains are the highest of all Africa’s mountain range and 3rd of Africa’s highest peak after Mountain Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Mountain Kenya.

It was recognized as a world heritage site in 1994 because of its standout scenic views and the all around natural beauty.

Flora & Fauna

About 1000sqkm (386 sq mi) Rwenzori mountains National Park is home to 217 recorded species of birds of which 19 of them are endemics of the Albertine rift and 70 mammals. Among them are the Chimpanzees, Forest Elephants, The Rwenzori Leopard, Monkeys, etc

ACTIVITIES IN THE RWENZORI MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

The park has several activities to do depending on what the traveler interest is but the highlight is a trek to the third highest peak in Africa. (The Margherita 5,109m ASL) which can take about 6-7 days of hiking and down.

But besides that tourists visiting the Rwenzori’s can also opt to do a day trek to either Lake Mahoma which is 3300 meters above sea level and it can take about 8-10 hours of hiking and down.

For group travelers, this mountain is a challenge as its tagline says (The Mystical Challenge) for older people who cannot do the hiking for a day, tour operators EBS Tours & Safaris can organize some optional activities like visiting the local communities around the park and experience their local ways of living or opt to do some other activities as advised by your tour operator.

BIRDING IN THE RWENZORI MOUNTAINS

For bird watchers, Rwenzori Mountains is one of the best birding destinations in the whole of Africa. With about 217 bird species which can be spotted here and the best part of it is that 19 of them can only be found here in the whole of the world. Some of the spectacular species you can spot are the Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Shelley’s crimson wing, Batis diops, Malachite sunbird, Bamboo warbler etc.

EBS Tours & Safaris can organize an extended Albertine rift endemics bird watching safari tailor-made for any kind of travel groups or solo travelers.

ACCOMMODATION IN RWENZORI NATIONAL PARK

Just like most of the National Parks in Uganda, they’re various types of accommodations at Rwenzori National Park ranging from Budget to Luxury travelers. Even though these accommodations are just outside the park, but it is just a close distance to the parks main entrance just about 30 minutes of driving and you’re at your favorite destination.

You can either book for yourself or be helped by a tour operator to book the accommodation which suits your budget.

GETTING THERE.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park can be reached by either Air or Road Transports.

Tourists can board chartered flights from Entebbe to Kasese Airstrip which takes about 30 minutes only which allows visitors to move a shorter journey to the park.

By road, there are two routes from Entebbe/Kampala which can take you to the Rwenzori Mountains. From Kampala via Mubende to Fort portal it takes about 5 hours of driving which is 301 km. And from Kampala to Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi to Kasese can take about 7-8 hours of driving which is 355km and with views of the famous Queen Elizabeth National Park this is one of the most recommended routes by most Tour Operators.

Safari Lodges in Rushaga Sector

safari lodges

Safari Lodges in Rushaga Sector (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park)

See our recommended mid-range and luxury safari lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for your choice of stay when you shall be visiting to track mountain gorillas. With more than half of the world’s mountain gorillas in the world, Bwindi forest is one of the few places on earth where you can see habituated gorilla families in their natural habitat.

This park has four gorilla tracking sectors which include Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo. Each of the four sectors offers unique gorilla tracking experience. Besides the gorillas, these sectors have something to offer. For instance, Nkuringo is best for landscape photography, Ruhija for birds, Buhoma for waterfalls, birds as well butterflies. So, you might need to do more activities than just seeing the gorillas.

Gorilla Safari Lodge

Gorilla safari lodge is one of the best safari lodges which is perfect for families or small groups of people traveling together, Gorilla safari lodge is a luxury lodge located in Rushaga gorilla sector. Perched on of the edge of the forest, the lodge is just a short walk away from the Rushaga gorilla tracking point. The lodge features 18 luxury cottages which join the main lodge with bar-lounge, restaurant and a fire place.

All cottages have the following amenities;

  • Private en-suit bathroom with cold and hot water
  • Solar powered lighting
  • Flush toilets
  • Private balcony
  • Breakfast in bed can be provided for your comfort.

The bar is fully stocked and the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Gorilla Safari Lodge also has spa where you can have massage after a tiresome gorilla tracking experience.

There are five special cottages each with double rooms with nice of view of the forest. These rooms have a fireplace inside which provide warmth during cold nights and are spacious for families and smalls groups of travelers. There’s a fireplace for those who don’t have fireplaces inside their rooms to wind down in the evening by gathering around for storytelling and local music performances.

Ichumbi Lodge

One of the new luxury lodges in Rushaga sector, Ichumbi includes 9 double rooms which are elegant and incredibly comfortable.The lodge also has a restaurant, mini bar, free Wi-Fi, standby generator and parking space.

Built on the edge of Bwindi, all rooms have amazing and direct views of both the forest and terraced hills. There are rooms which can host up to 4 people and offer king size beds, private balconies, en-suit bathroom, hot and cold showers. It is a favorite for couples.

The staff at Ichumbi offer great service and hospitality such as free laundry service after gorilla tracking.

The lodge is close to the gorilla tracking center only 10-minutes walk which means that you don’t have to stress alarm clock to wake up early.

Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge

The location of this lodge along with comfortable rooms on the shores of the lake Mulehe, offers luxury accommodation. Its an area for relaxation in the midst of nature. Lake Mulehe Gorilla Safari Lodge contains spacious cottages. These include double/twin, single and triple rooms which can accommodate couples and parents with children. These rooms include hot and cold showers, private balcony and fantastic views of the lake. The family cottage includes a private tub and extra spacious rooms.

In addition to the comfortable cottages, the lodge offers restaurant for delicious food and a bar for cocktails, juices, cold beer, wines, spirits and soft drinks.

Boat and canoe rides are available to explore Lake Mulehe, giving you great views and birding. Try out community walks to visit BaTwa pygmies.

Accessibility of this lodge may be a disadvantage or disadvantage in one way or the other. Because it is located in between Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga gorilla national park giving you a chance to explore both parks. The southern Bwindi Rushaga gorilla center is 20km away while Ntebeko center in Mgahinga is 25km away from the lodge.

Lake Mutanda Resort/ Chameleon Hill Lodge

This is one of the chalet styled safari lodges which offers luxury accommodation and is situated on the shores of Lake Mutanda at 1,800 meters above sea level. It is just 14 km away from Rushaga gorilla tracking and 20 km from Mgahinga gorilla national park. Thus, it offers guests a chance to explore both parks for gorilla tracking and golden monkey tracking. The roads leading to the parks are not in good condition thus require 4WD vehicle.

This is one of the luxury safari lodges in Bwindi which contains 20 rooms including single, double/twin and triple.The rooms are equipped with en suit bathrooms, hot and cold, mosquito nets, safe and veranda overlooking lake mutanda.

Some of the rooms are about 50 meters away from the main lodge building. Concrete walk ways connect rooms to the main lodge building which features a bar and lounge, fireside dining area and mini library.

The lodge offers a cool atmosphere for relaxation because of the lake and a backdrop of Virunga volcanoes. Guests can explore lake Mutanda for boat and canoe rides, hiking and birding, visiting the local school on the island.

The Vegetarian visitors are catered for with a range of fruits and vegetable dishes such as fresh mushroom soup, egg plants because the lodge has a backyard garden.

Gorilla Valley Lodge

Powerful waterfall in the world

3 day Murchison falls national park

Murchison Falls National Park- The world’s most powerful waterfalls

Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by the River Nile which form Murchison falls, the world’s most powerful waterfall. The River Nile waters support an astonishing wildlife found in Murchison falls include 79 mammals and 451 species of birds.

For your adventure in Uganda, visit Murchison Falls National park and experience big 5 safaris. Game drive safaris in the park provide visitors with sightings of large mammals and antelopes including elephants, lion, leopard, buffaloes, Uganda kob, Jackson’s hartebeest, topi, eland, and warthogs.

Boat cruises on the River Nile offer a relaxed way to view wildlife such as hippos, Nile crocodiles, and water birds.

Birding excursions are conducted on the Albert-Nile delta wetland in search for the rare bird species such as shoebill stork and papyrus gonolek.

Murchison falls is located in western Uganda about 4-5 hours’ drive from Kampala/ Entebbe. Ziwa rhino sanctuary is situated in Nakasongora along the route to the park. Ziwa is home to 23 rhinos. Visitors are allowed to track rhinos on foot with ranger.

How’s Murchison Falls the most powerful waterfall?

Who visits Uganda and doesn’t visit the world’s most powerful waterfalls in the north-western side of Uganda. About 5-6 hours driving through the famous Luweero triangle, Murchison Falls National park is found in Masindi district. With the waterfalls as the highlight of every traveler visiting this Uganda’s largest park.

Every second, Murchison falls powers water equivalent to 3000 cubic meters from the Victoria Nile just a wide gorge of about 7 meters powering down a 45 meters deep to the albert Nile.

But besides the waterfalls, this park is home to about 79 other mammal species with 4 of the African Big 5 inclusive. Also it a protects a vast number of birdlife of a bout 345 bird species.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

queen elizabeth national park

Tree Climbing Lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park (ishasha sector)

Uganda wildlife authority identify about 5 prides of Lions that have a behavior of climbing fig trees in Ishasha wilderness of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This park receives the highest number of visitors in Uganda because of its combination of activities such as game drive safari, boat cruise on Kazinga channel and chimp trekking.

Among the big cats, only leopard and jaguar can climb trees efficiently. So why do Ishasha lions climb trees? National geographic explorer Alexander Braczkowski visited Uganda in 2018 to prove why Ishasha lions climb trees. Firstly, hefound that there are stinging insects in Ishasha that fly close to the ground. As a result, lions learn to climb trees where its comfortable to relax especially after a kill. Secondary, the lions also climb to the tree branches to get a good view of prey.

These lions climb trees at different times of the day.Between 9am, 11pm, 1pm to 3pm most visitor going through Ishasha spot the lions. However, it’s also true that a number of visitors miss to see them as well.

Lions with a behavior of climbing tree have also been reported in two Uganda national parks – Kidepo Valley National Park and Murchison falls national park. Around East Africa, tree climbing lions are also reported in Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania. It’s not clear if the reasons for Ishasha lions to climb trees are same for lions else in East Africa.

Best chance to see Ishasha tree climbing lions?

Queen Elizabeth national park is divided into two sectors. They include; Kasenyi area in the north includes Kazinga channel, Mweya peninsular, kyambura gorge, several crater lakes including Lake Katwe where salt mining takes place.

Ishasha lies in the south west of the park. most visitors drive through Ishasha from Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi forest or from Bwindi to coming Queen. If just driving through, you may or may see tree climbing lions. However, if you overnight in Ishasha it gives enough time for game drive and high chance to see tree climbing lions. Likewise, when you leave Kasenyi early morning, it gives you enough time for game drives in Ishasha before you continue further southwest.

Lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kasenyi pains has lions that do not climb trees. Although it’s no guarantee to see lions, the Experiential Lion tracking does. Paying for lion tracking allows to go off road (what other visitors are not allowed to do) to look for lions and get close to them for 2 good hours.

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Over 79 mammals live in Queen Elizabeth National park. Large mammals include African elephant, cape buffalo, hippo, leopard. Antelopes include Uganda kob, waterbuck, topi (found only in Ishasha). There over 600 bird species including flamingos.

Do not expect to see large herds of animals such as those in Masai Mara kenya or Serengeti Tanzania. However, on game drives in you will be able to spot wildlife such as buffalo, elephant, Uganda kobs, buffalo, leopard, hyena and lion. Better option to see wildlife is to book a boat cruise on Kazinga channel to see hippos, crocodiles, water birds and mammals that come to drink on the shores.Kazinga channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George.

The scenery of the park is beautiful particularly the crater lakes, Ishasha, rift valley and a backdrop of Rwenzori mountains.

Activities in Queen Elizabeth national park

Besides game drives and boat cruise, there are a number of activities. Experiential tours include lion tracking, mongoose tracking, bird counts and hippos census. These are booked in advance.

You can visit lake Katwe to see the process of salt mining.

Chimpanzee trekking can be done in Kalinzu forest reserve. Nature walks are available in Kyambura gorge.

Community and cultural tours are available as well mostly outside the park. Kasoga community experience is found in Hamukungu landing site on the shores of Lake George. The experience offers several activities such as canoe rides, village walks and fishing tours.

How you can help save the tree climbing lions of Ishasha

It’s unfortunate one pride of 11 lions was poisoned in 2018 after attacking livestock in the community. Along with the Uganda Wildlife Authority community conservation programs, National geographic explorer Alexander Braczkowski who had been filming the lions started GoFundMe, a charity that is raising money to compensate local people that loose livestock from predator attack.

 

 

 

Safari in Uganda

safari in uganda

 

Guide to planning a safari in Uganda 2022

We share our specially prepared itineraries and look at the most popular Uganda wildlife national parks for safaris to help you plan your adventure safari in Uganda.

When visiting for a safari in Uganda, the pearl of Africa many will emphasize that your itinerary wouldn’t be complete without a trip to see mountain gorillas. that’s because, gorilla tracking is Uganda’s main tourism activity and the best things to do on any African safari. However, when it comes to deciding what safari in Uganda, a lot of things for your choice.

So, you are considering traveling to Uganda, there are various factors that you need to understand. For instance, what kind of tour you are going to be on, for how long to spend in each place and what it shall include.

This guide is for those who would like to their first African wildlife safari to Uganda.

So, what are wildlife safaris destination in Uganda?

A Uganda wildlife safari is all about covering a lot of ground as you drive from one place to another doing activities like early morning game drive with afternoon boat safari, treks through the jungles in search of gorillas or chimpanzees, hiking, nature walk, bird watching, sightseeing, community tours…. You can do all this by opting for a safari in vehicle which is the most popular, walking safari, hot air balloon safari or safari of other kind.

Of course, there are many adventurous activities such as white-water rafting and kayaking on the Nile river, canoeing, horseback rides, spot fishing. Its better to have a trip that allow you to try as many activities and view wildlife as possible.

There are many options for different types of travelers regardless of budget. What differentiates one itinerary from the other is the choice of accommodation and whether you fly in.

Yes, you will be glad to follow advise regarding the lodges and things to do.There are many posts by bloggers, tour operators and travelers on various forums discussing their experiences in Uganda.

For instance, a solo traveler who spent 8 days on safari Uganda reviewed like this “It was a memorable trip. It would have been a very good journey even without the gorillas, but of course gorillas were the icing on cake”.

Some overall thoughts:

Wildlife viewing in Uganda may not be as good as a traditional Kenya or Tanzania safari. Though, the ability to combine that primate trekking safaris and other activities like boat safaris in Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth and lake Mburo national parks is great. If you have been to Africa before, you can attest to that. But if you have never been to Africa before, you will be happy with what you see in Uganda.

As for the best time to visit, Uganda can be visited all year round. Though, this depends on the activities you wish to do. The high / dry season (December to February and June to September) are considered the best time for primate trekking like gorilla tracking and chimpanzee trekking as well game viewing. However, visiting off season (March to May and October to November)shouldn’t be overlooked. Because the number of visitors is low, you are able to get discounts for value and the landscape is green.

Getting around, Uganda has improved its road network which is good even for the self-drive enthusiast. However, expect to cover a lot ground with some drives involving long distances such as over 400 km sq about 8-9 hour-drive. This is dependent on how your itinerary is scheduled and variable road conditions.

 

Going on safari in Uganda, the most popular national parks

There are 10 Uganda wildlife national parks wherein you can go for a safari. Take some time to research which itinerary best suits your budget and other needs and go for it.Make sure that you find a registered tour operator. Here we look at 6 most popular for safari.

Safari in Murchison falls National Park

Most famous for the Murchison falls, arguably the world’s strongest waterfall. Murchison falls is formed as the waters of the Nile river squeezes through a narrow gorge and plunges over a 45-meter cliff with a thunderous roar. The mist around creates a trade mark rainbow. The view from the hike to the top of the falls is beautiful.

Murchison falls is the largest conservation area in Uganda and covers a diverse habitat with tracts of woodlands, open grasslands dotted with borrosous palm trees, Nile-delta swamps.

Wildlife to see in Murchison falls

There are 79 mammals including leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, hartebeest, hippos, giraffe, oribi, waterbuck, bushbuck, Uganda kob, bush pig and many more. 415 bird species including the pre-historic looking shoebill stork. Reptiles include Nile crocodiles

The park offers a wonderful Uganda safari experience, activities you can do include game drive, boat cruise on the Nile, night game drive, top of the falls hike, day nature walk, hot air balloon safaris, spot fishing, rafting and community tours.

When visited on its own, the minimum number of days is (3) with an option to visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary or add an extra night in Budongo forest reserve for chimpanzee trekking.

Several accommodation options are available in the south and north side of the Nile. Murchison falls is located 5-6 hours drive from Kampala.

 

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Uganda’s most visited park, Queen Elizabeth lies in the shadow of the Rwenzori mountains on the rift valley floor. Its diverse habitats include tropical forests, kazinga channel, grasslands, wetlands, crater lakesprovide home to 95 mammals and over 612 bird species. Big 4 mammals including tree climbing lions which are found in Ishasha the area where you pass driving from QENP to Bwindi southwestern Uganda.

What makes this park popular is its ability to offer travelers a variety of activities, one can do in a single day. For instance, in the morning you can do chimpanzee tracking in Kalinzu forest or kyambura gorge. In the afternoon take a boat cruise along Kazinga channel and end with evening or night game drive.

There are experiential tourism activities such as lion tracking, hippo census, bird counts and mongoose tracking.

Kibale forest National Park

This park is known as the primates capital of the world because its home to 13 primates species including man. Therefore, Kibale forest national park has the highest concentration of primates in Africa. The primary activity is chimpanzee tracking which can be done in the morning and afternoon. Chimpanzee habituation experience gives a full day encounter with chimps. There’s also Kibale forest walk which can be done during day and at night. Its enjoyable but you may not see as much as you expect, just go for it if you love nature. Outside the park, you can as well visit Bigodi wetland for a community walk usually done in the afternoon.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park

Lake Mburo National Park

Kidepo valley National Park

Off the tourist radar

Semuliki national park

Rwenzori mountains national park

Sample Itineraries

Days 1-4 visit Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with game drive in Lake Mburo national park. Activities you can undertake include gorilla tracking, walking safari or game drive in Lake Mburo.

Days 5 – 7 visit Kibale forest national park, queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and lake Bunyonyi. Activities include gorilla tracking, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest, game drive and boat cruise on Kazinga channel which teem with birds, hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffalos. From Queen Elizabeth NP to Bwindi via Ishasha wilderness offer potential sighting of tree climbing lions.

8 days Uganda visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison falls, Kibale forest national park, Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi forest/ Lake Bunyonyi. Activities you can undertake include rhino tracking, top of the falls hike which boasts breathtaking view of river Nile, game drive and river Nile boat cruise, exclusive boat ride, hot air balloon safari, chimpanzee tracking, Bigodi swamp walk, second boat cruise Kazinga channel, gorilla tracking, canoe or boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi.

One thing to note for trips starting at Entebbe going to Murchison falls and ending in southwestern Uganda. You should choose one leg of your flights to/from Kigali instead of driving long distance from south west to go through Entebbe both times. It might save you some time.

 

Days 9 – 15 You can include Kidepo valley national park far in the north, Murchison falls, Kibale forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Mgahinga. Possible sightings in Kidepo include cheetah and ostrich which are not found in other parks. Also unique is golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Other activities not included here can be added into any of the above itineraries. For instance, white water rafting and kayaking can be done for 1-day visit t Jinja which is 2 hour-drive east of Kampala city.

Gorilla Trekking Tips

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla Trekking Tips

Gorilla trekking can be done in Uganda, Rwanda or Democratic republic of Congo. in Uganda, gorillas are found in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. In Rwanda gorillas are found in Volcanoes national park Rwanda and Virunga national park in eastern democratic republic of Congo.

Trekking gorillas in their natural habitat is a wonderful wildlife experience. Visitors are accompanied by guides and rangers into the forest hiking on foot in search of the habituated gorilla families. The chance to see gorillas in the wild is 99%. However it can be challenging due to a number of factors such as terrain, season thus it requires thorough preparation and planning.

Assess your fitness levels for gorilla trekking

The chances are 99.9 % seeing gorillas in their natural habitat in Uganda or Rwanda. But on the flip side, believe that hiking on foot through the tropical forests in search of the habituated gorillas is not easy; it requires physical strength and good health condition. How long does it take to see gorillas is the number one question asked by so many elderly visitors.

Mountain gorillas live in dense and steep forested mountains and move wherever they want looking for food.  Thus it’s difficult to predict how easy, short or longer a gorilla trek will be. It can range anywhere between 30 minutes to more than 8 hours when the trek gets longer. However you can still track gorillas regardless of your fitness level. Mental preparation is important too.

There are some visitors who get problems along the way and end up being airlifted to and from the gorillas on emergency, though that incurs extra high cost paid to the porters. Visitors who feel are not fit enough can hire porters to assist carrying backpack and giving you a push where necessary.

Take not of the altitude and terrain. Bwindi forest is divided into four sections which are located at varying altitudes. Basing on your fitness level, getting to know the gorilla tracking sectors it can help determine which sector to book for a gorilla permit. For instance Buhoma Sector north of Bwindi forest lies at lower altitudes of 1100 meters and the trekking can be relatively easy. While the southern sectors including Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga lies at higher altitudes 2200 meters thus treks can be difficult.

In Rwanda, volcanoes national park is dominated by steep virunga volcanoes but the vegetation cover is not thick as it is in Bwindi. Trekking in Rwanda isn’t strenuous as it can be in Bwindi.

 

Generally, you don’t have to be in a shape of an athlete. Anyone including visitors of 70 years old age plus can have a successful and memorable gorilla trekking experience.

Book a gorilla permit in advance

Plan your gorilla tracking adventure well in advance at least 3-5 months in advance. No limit you can even book a year in advance. The reason for that is to have first choice of the gorilla permit at a preferred destination. Due to many travelers planning for gorilla tracking, often times gorilla permits are sold out and one can’t find out availability during the peak season for gorilla tracking between December to February and June to September. That’s true for those planning to track gorillas in Bwindi; you have to book in advance to secure a gorilla permit at one of the park’s gorilla centers as well as accommodation of choice.

If you are planning for Rwanda, gorilla permits may be available all year round but advance booking for accommodation is required. So check with your operator.

What else to do besides gorilla trekking?

Once you select your destination and secure gorilla trekking permits, it’s time to look to other activities you can whether its game viewing or cultural tour. It takes an itinerary tailored to your needs, budget and time by a safari expert. One day gorilla tracking is only possible in Rwanda due to the short drive time from Kigali to volcanoes national park. While it’s impossible to have such in Uganda, It’s possible to have 2 days gorilla trekking in Uganda only if you arrive at Kigali Rwanda. But if you arrive at Entebbe airport Uganda, the shortest itinerary is 3 days gorilla trekking safari. If you have more time, when visiting Uganda for gorilla tracking, it’s recommended to add Queen Elizabeth national park for game drives and boat rides to view elephants, tree climbing lions, hippos, and lots of game which can take 5 days itinerary. There are many options for those extending their gorilla safari in Uganda up to 7 days and it can include chimpanzee tracking in kibale forest national park.

When is the best time to track gorillas?

The months of December to February and June to September mark the peak/ dry season, which is the best time to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo. During the dry season, the tropical forest trails are drier and easier to navigate on foot while searching for gorillas. Nevertheless, make sure to bring a rain jacket because rainfall is unpredictable. It can rain any time of the day in Bwindi. The dry season is great for wildlife safari if you’re combining gorilla trekking with other activities such as game drives, birding, and hot air balloon safaris.

On the other hand, the wet/ rainy season from April to May and October to November are characterized by short and heavy rains. This season has its own advantages, despite the rains; gorilla trekking can be spectacular too. Visitors should expect and prepare for drizzles, heavy rains, muddy forest trails and a lot of plant foliage.

Special Credit for the featured picture: @Rod Waddington

1
2
3