Uganda is one of East Africa's fastest-growing and most exciting safari destinations throughout the year. The country offers unique opportunities to experience a lifetime safari, such as Mountain Gorilla Tracking in Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks and chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Parks.

Nature and Wildlife in Uganda

Uganda is a stunning country with diverse landscapes and unique wildlife. Top tourist attractions include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking, Queen Elizabeth National Park for a diverse range of wildlife, Murchison Falls National Park for the incredible waterfall and Kibale National Park for chimpanzee trekking. Uganda is a nature lover's paradise that offers a thrilling adventure and unforgettable experience.

Top Places to Visit in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a remote and beautiful destination in Uganda. It’s famous for its mountain gorilla population and offers excellent gorilla tracking experiences, including the Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija, and Nkuringo sectors. Gorilla trekking is a daily activity, and visitors are limited to 8 per day per group of gorillas. The trekking time varies, and visitors are allocated a maximum of 60 minutes with the gorillas. The park also offers Gorilla Habituation Experience, a 4-hour experience with the mountain gorillas. Another highlight is the Batwa Cultural Experience, which includes a forest walk, hunting, cooking, and traditional healing. Birding is also popular in the park, with up to 360 bird species to be identified.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a must-visit destination in Uganda, known for its abundant wildlife and birdlife. It’s the country’s second-largest national park, covering 1978 sq. km and home to over 95 mammal species and 620 bird species. The park offers activities like game drives, boat cruises, bird watching, and chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura Gorge.

Kibale National Park is a primate destination in Western Uganda, with over 13 primate species and the highest chimp population. It also boasts a diverse landscape, including grassland patches, tropical forests, swamps/wetlands, and over 350 tree species. The park has 70 mammal species, including buffaloes, elephants, sitatungas, mongooses, bush pigs, golden cats, and more. It also houses over 375 bird species, including endemic and forest species. The park offers various activities such as chimpanzee tracking, birding, forest walks, cultural tours, and crater lake exploration. The best time to visit is during the dry season, from June to September and December to February.

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s biggest park, covering about 3840 sq. km. It is located in Northwestern Uganda and hosts the world’s most powerful waterfalls, along with over 76 mammal species and more than 451 bird species. The park is divided into two sectors by the Victoria Nile. It offers various activities like game drives, boat cruises, birding, visiting the top of the falls, sport fishing, chimpanzee tracking, and hot air balloon excursions.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a beautiful park in Uganda, featuring Margherita's third highest peak in Africa. The park is located in southwestern Uganda and is home to several unique flora and fauna species. The park offers exciting activities such as mountaineering, bird watching, nature walks, and cultural community visits. The best time to visit is during the dry season, from June to August and December.

Jinja is a newly created city in Uganda known for its location on the northern shores of Lake Victoria and proximity to the Source of the Nile River. It’s also one of the country’s most significant towns and offers tourism opportunities, including adrenaline adventures like white water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, horseback riding, and quad biking. Jinja is also an industrial city with factories like Kakira Sugar Works, Bidco International Oil Refining Company, Nile Breweries Ltd, and Kiira Motors Corporation.

Kidepo Valley National Park is a true wilderness located in northeast Uganda. It is home to unique fauna, including the greater and lesser kudu, eland, cheetah, lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas. The park also has an extensive bird list with around 475 species. Kidepo River runs through the park, and the Kanangorok Hot Springs lie 11km beyond the river on the Sudan border. Cultural tours are also available to experience the traditional African society of the Karamojong tribe. The park can be reached by road or air, and the best time to visit for game viewing is during the dry season in July and August.

Mountain Gorillas in Uganda

Uganda is home to over half of the world's population of endangered mountain gorillas, making it the ideal destination for gorilla tracking. Experienced guides lead visitors through the forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to see these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. Gorilla tracking is regulated, and visitors get to observe the gorillas' daily lives, feeding, playing, and interacting with each other - a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Gorilla Tracking in Uganda

Gorilla tracking in Uganda is an incredible experience that should be on everyone's bucket list. The gorillas are a rare and beautiful sight in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The trek to find the gorillas in their natural habitat can be challenging, but it is worth the effort.

As you begin your journey, you will be accompanied by experienced guides who will lead you through the forest and help you spot the gorillas. The forest is dense and lush, and the sounds of exotic birds and other wildlife will surround you. It is truly a unique experience to be so close to these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.

Once you find the gorillas, you can observe the gorillas as they go about their daily lives once you find them. You may see them playing, eating, or lounging in the sun. Witnessing these amazing creatures up close is truly a humbling experience.

It is important to note that gorilla tracking in Uganda is strictly regulated to protect the gorillas and their habitat. Only a limited number of permits are issued each day, and visitors are required to follow strict guidelines to ensure the safety of the gorillas.

Overall, gorilla tracking in Uganda is an unforgettable experience that will stay with you forever. Witnessing these incredible creatures in their natural habitat is a true privilege, an experience that should not be missed.

Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda

Gorilla habituation is a unique and thrilling experience that takes place in the dense forests of Uganda. It involves spending extended periods with wild gorillas to familiarise them with human presence without altering their natural behaviour. The process can take up to two years, during which researchers, guides, and tourists observe and document the gorillas' behaviour, feeding habits, and social interactions. Habituation aims to promote conservation efforts by encouraging eco-tourism and scientific research. Visitors to Uganda can participate in gorilla habituation experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where they can witness these magnificent primates up close and personal while also contributing to the protection of their habitat.

Birding in Uganda

Uganda is a birding paradise with over 1,000 bird species, making it one of the top birding destinations in Africa. From the shoebill stork, only found in a few African countries, to the African green broadbill, Uganda offers birdwatchers a unique and exciting experience.

The country's diverse landscape, including forests, swamps, and savannahs, provides habitats for various birds. Birding hotspots include national parks such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to over 350 bird species, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, which has a bird list of over 600 species.

Aside from the parks, there are also other birding sites such as Mabamba Bay Wetland, which is a great place to spot the elusive shoebill stork, and the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is famous for its primate and bird watching.

Uganda's friendly people and welcoming culture make it an ideal destination for birdwatchers. With experienced local guides, visitors can easily navigate the country's birding hotspots and get the most out of their birding experience.

Uganda Visa Information

• Tourist visas to Uganda MUST be applied for online before travel. Visitors are advised to upload all required documentation. Online visa applications are made at https://visas.immigration.go.ug/
  Please click this link to see visa-exempt countries in Uganda.
• Visitors should not overstay their visa validity; otherwise, they will be subjected to a fine of U$ 30 per day and other appropriate legal action.
• For visitors who seek to stay longer than the period granted on arrival, an extension of the period should be sought from the Immigration Headquarters in Kampala before the initial visitor’s pass expires. All visitors must comply with immigration legislation and other national laws during their stay in Uganda. For further information on immigration, go to mia.go.ug

Reminders

• Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
• A photocopy of your passport (including the visa page),
• Torch, malaria prophylaxis, insect repellent, sunblock, towel, jungle walking shoes, and long trousers for the walks; any other personal effects, light-coloured clothing.
• Allow time between the scheduled return trip and any ongoing travel connections. We do not take responsibility for any missed connections due to late return.