Located in East Africa and straddling the Equator, Uganda offers diverse safari tours including gorilla safaris, bird watching, cultural tours, adventure safaris, and wildlife tours.
Uganda, known as the 'Pearl of Africa,' is a prime destination for authentic African wilderness experiences. Located in East Africa and straddling the Equator, Uganda offers diverse safari tours including gorilla safaris, bird watching, cultural tours, adventure safaris, and wildlife tours. The country's stunning landscapes feature mountains, water bodies, and unique flora and fauna.
Key attractions include trekking rare mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, exploring the source of the Nile with activities like bungee jumping and white-water rafting, and visiting national parks such as Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley, and Lake Mburo. Uganda is also renowned for its rich cultural heritage, friendly people, and a variety of ethnic groups.
Ideal for year-round travel, the best time for safaris is during the dry months of June-September and December-March. Wet months are also favorable for bird watching.
Uganda is a magical travel destination worthy visiting for authentic African wilderness experiences, Uganda safaris, tours, adventures and generally for African safari holidays. Uganda safaris offer travelers opportunity to discover the untapped Pearl of Africa on various activities, adventures.
Our Uganda safaris cover a number of thrilling experiences or safari tours ranging from gorilla safaris, bird watching safaris, cultural tours, adventure safaris, wildlife tours, hiking safaris among others.
About Uganda.
Uganda, also famously called the ‘Pearl of Africa’ is found in East Africa and it is located astride the Equator. Uganda is a landlocked country and its neighboring countries include Tanzania to the south, Rwanda in the Southwest, Kenya to the East, D.R. Congo in the West and South Sudan to the North. Its southern section covers the part of Lake Victoria which is shared by Tanzania and Kenya, East African states. It is strategically located within the Nile basic and has a distinct equatorial type of climate.
Uganda is generally a beautiful and unique country and a lovely destination with lots of amazing attractions. This makes it one of the best destinations to enjoy African safari holidays. Compared to most East African countries, Uganda, the pearl of Africa is blessed by beauty with landscape characterized by mesmerizing sceneries, scenic vegetation, mountains, water bodies and unique floral and faunal species making it a must-visit on Uganda safaris. Uganda’s tourism industry is largely nature-based with majority of tourists traveling to explore its magnificent national parks in the remotest part of the country.
Uniqueness.
Uganda is of no doubt a unique destination worthy undertaking African safari holiday tour. It is a magical place to explore and experience distinct attractions including the world’s rare mountain gorillas. Trekking to see mountain gorillas in the wild is the one reason majority embark on Uganda safaris. The largest population of these rare apes are confined in the rain-forests of Uganda.
Also, the mighty River Nile has its source in Uganda which makes it a unique destination to experience adrenaline adventures especially bungee jumping, kayaking, white water rafting, boat cruise to mention but a few. These are enjoyable on the source of the Nile in Jinja. This landlocked country is also rich with unique cultures and shelters one of the tallest mountains in Africa ‘Rwenzori Mountain ranges’ also famously known as the Mountains of the Moon with its highest peak ‘Margherita’ on Mt Stanley rising up to 5111m. Uganda also features as one of the 2 places in East Africa with the tree climbing lions and protects a huge profusion of chimpanzees plus several primates compared to other East African countries.
Gorilla safaris in Uganda.
Our Uganda safaris include gorilla safaris, gorilla trekking tours and we offer a world-class of gorilla safari experiences. All gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are carried out in only 2 places; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-the only place where visitors can engage in gorilla habituation experience and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is the only home to golden monkeys in Uganda.
Half of all the 1063 mountain gorillas that are left today on earth call Uganda their home and only thrive in the jungles of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks. The 2 parks comprise of 21 habituated gorilla families which can be trekked in the 5 regions of Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga in Bwindi and Ntebeko area in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Gorilla permits in Uganda.
Gorilla trekking permits are essential tools/documents every holidaymaker who is interested in a trek to see mountain gorillas in Uganda must have. Interestingly, Uganda is a budget-friendly destination with gorilla permits issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) at $700 if you are traveling as a foreign non-resident, $600 foreign resident and Shs. 250,000 for holidaymakers who are East Africa community citizens.
Wildlife.
Uganda is amazingly one of the leading wildlife safari destinations in East Africa offering typical wildlife safaris in its finest national parks and reserves. Wildlife viewing tours in Uganda are conducted in its popular savanna parks especially;
Murchison Falls National Park; this is Uganda’s largest park extending up to 3840sq.kms of land area. It is an incredible wildlife safari destination given its biodiversity, unique and powerful Murchison Falls. A Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park is all about immersing yourself into its magical wilderness savannas to see the big game especially the African bush elephants, buffaloes, lions and leopard. The park also protects other species including the endangered Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, plenty of antelope families, over 451 bird species, primates among others.
Queen Elizabeth National Park; Uganda’s second largest park extending up to 1978sq.kms and takes its name from Queen Elizabeth the second. This is a big game safari destination and also a remarkable place to engage in boat tours in Uganda the pearl of Africa.
Kidepo Valley National Park; known for its authentic African wilderness experiences, Kidepo is Uganda’s 3rd vast park, expanding up to 1442sq.kms of land area. It is the best destination to experience something unique in the unspoiled wilderness teemed with wildlife species ranging from elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, cheetahs, antelopes to bird species.
Lake Mburo National Park; the only park that can easily be reached from Kampala city centre. It takes holidaymakers on Uganda safaris about 4 hours to get here to enjoy a game drive, horseback riding experiences, boat cruise, nature walk, birding and a lot more.
Wildlife safaris in Uganda savanna parks can also be incorporated with primate safaris, mountain adventures in other destinations. Other magical destination not to miss to visit on Uganda safaris include;
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; perched in Southwestern Uganda and remarkably the leading gorilla trekking destination in the pearl of Africa. Bwindi is a designated UNESCO Heritage Site and also one of the smallest parks extending up to 331sq.kms consisting largely of an ancient tropical rain-forest. This park is a host to some of the remaining mountain gorilla population with about half of the world’s 1063 individual mountain gorillas sheltered in its rainforest. On a gorilla safari, you can trek any of the 20 habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi at $700 per person for a gorilla permit.
Other than Bwindi, gorilla trekking in Uganda is also possible in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park still in Southwestern Uganda. This is the smallest park of the 10 that Uganda boasts of and expands for 33.7sq.kms of land area. It also accommodates fewer trekkers making the best destination to enjoy gorilla trek less of crowds. The park currently has one gorilla group which is open for trekking and that is Nyakagezi gorilla family. Amazingly, a visit to Mgahinga rewards more than just the magical encounters with mountain gorilla but also you can strike your imagination with golden monkeys.
Kibale Forest National Park; set in Kabarole district, Kibale is famously known as the primate capital of the world. It boasts of 13 species of primates which include an estimated population of about 1500 chimpanzees which makes it the country’s leading chimpanzee tracking destination.
Semuliki National Park; located in western Uganda, this park is a popular home to one of the world’s powerful hot springs ‘Sempaya’. But it is also a stunning destination to explore on a game drive, chimpanzee tracking, nature walks, and birding.
For enthusiastic adventure travelers, our Uganda safaris still have you covered at Mt. Elgon National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park. These are the best places to visit when it comes to mountaineering experiences. Other interesting places to expect to explore on Uganda safaris include historical sites, cultural sites, lakes, waterfalls especially Sipi Falls, Ssezibwa falls, Kisizi falls, Aruu falls, Murchison Falls, Karuma falls; beautiful rainforest such as Budongo Forest which is known for birding and chimpanzee tracking, Mabira forest.
People/Culture.
Uganda hosts variety of ethnic groups which makes it an exceptional destination to explore and experience distinct cultures, cultural experiences, traditions, lifestyles, dances, norms, values. Best known as a boiling pot of cultures, Uganda is comprised of 63 distinct tribal groups all living harmoniously in this small landlocked country.
On the other hand, Ugandans are generally warm welcoming, you can testify about remarkable hospitality you will get on Uganda safaris. Recently, Uganda was ranked as the friendliest destination.
What to do?
Booking your Uganda safari with us is a great chance for you to participate in diverse activities. We take you through amazing experiences and some of the best activities to expect to engage in on Uganda safaris include mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey tracking, wildlife/game viewing/game drives, boat cruise.
We also include hot air balloon safaris conducted only in Murchison falls National Park, a home to the mesmerizing waterfalls. Other activities include horseback riding, kayaking, white water rafting, birding, cultural experiences, hiking, mountain climbing, city tours, golden monkey tracking, mountain gorilla habituation experience, chimpanzee habituation experience, jet boating and zip lining.
Best time to visit Uganda for a holiday.
Uganda safaris are possible to undertake at any time of the year considering the favorable weather and climatic conditions Uganda enjoys. But the dry months are the best to get the pearl of Africa for a game drive/mountaineering/gorilla trekking/chimpanzee tracking. In your calendar, mark June, July, August to September and December to Mid-March.
As an all-year-round destination, the wet/rainy months are also amazing for Uganda safaris especially for birders and rains begin from Mid-March to May and October to November.
