Top activities to do on Uganda safari : To truly understand what it means to be the “pearl of Africa,” travelers should take the time to see Uganda, a fantastic safari destination. The top safari activities that every traveler should partake in while on a safari in Uganda are listed in this article to help you create priceless safari memories.

Gorilla trekking.

Gorilla trekking is one of the most thrilling safari activities in Uganda, and it can be done in parks like Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks.

During the gorilla trekking experience in Uganda, the activity entails searching forests for mountain gorillas, who are split into gorilla families that each group of tourists visits. Every day, one gorilla group is assigned to a group of eight tourists.

Getting a gorilla permit is essential for the gorilla trekking safari experience and the permit costs 700 USD per person for tours in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park and a limited number of gorilla permits are issued daily which makes booking the permits in advance an advantage.

The ideal period to visit the gorillas in Uganda is during the dry season within June to September and also around December, January and February when the weather is generally pleasant ensuring conditions for gorilla trekking safari favorable.

Chimpanzee trekking.

Chimpanzee trekking safari is another activity that is done during visits in Uganda. It takes place in the Budongo forests, the Kyambura Gorge, and the Kibale forest National Park.

In Uganda, chimpanzee permits cost 200 USD for excursions in the Kibale Forest National Park, 50 USD for tours in the Kyambura Gorge, and 130 USD per person for tours in Budongo Forest.

When on a safari in Uganda, you get to spend an hour with the chimpanzees in their natural environment and observe them up close. Many other primates may be experienced during the chimpanzee trek and these consist of black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys among others.

Boat safaris.

Uganda is also a country blessed with every kind of natural resource that the country is blessed with many rivers and lakes where boat safaris can take place with amazing surroundings.

Boat safaris in national parks are fantastic because they allow visitors to get up close and personal with various wildlife species. These excursions are available in the morning and afternoon at locations like Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park.

Other locations in Uganda where one may go for boat cruise safaris are the Nile River at Jinja, Lake Victoria boat excursions, and Lake Bunyonyi boat trips where one can take in views of the surrounding islands, among other places.

Guided nature walks.

Another enjoyable safari activity to do in Uganda is to go on a foot exploration of the surrounding natural settings and get closer to nature.

Ranger guides lead these guided nature hikes, which also include spotting wildlife species up close. In addition, safaris in Uganda might include walks through forests in locations like Semuliki National Park, Bwindi Forest, Mabira Forest, and Kibale Forest.

Hiking safaris.

There are distinctive places in Uganda where hiking safaris can be performed and they include the Rwenzori Mountains, Mount Elgon, Bwindi national park, Mount Morugole, Mount Moroto, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, Kyambura gorge, Sipi falls among others.

Travellers come to Uganda all year round to explore its rough landscapes and high terrain, and both novice and expert hikers can enjoy these experiences.  The walks are led by knowledgeable local guides and range in length depending on the location.

Cultural tours.

During their cultural travels across the nation, visitors can engage with over 56 tribes in Uganda, a country renowned for its rich cultural diversity.

Among other fascinating safari activities, these cultural trips include visiting homesteads, tasting local cuisine, seeing traditional dance performances, and interacting with the people to learn about their culture and way of life.

The Batwa people, Baganda tribe, and Karamojong people are a few of the tribes with which tourists contact.

Game drive safaris.

Game drives in Uganda can be done at unique times of day including the morning, afternoon and also night hours. You can spend a full day touring Uganda’s national parks or only a half-day on a wildlife safari.

Murchison Falls National Park in northwest Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Semuliki National Park are a few of the greatest locations in Uganda for wildlife drives.

Wildlife species which can be observed throughout the game drives include elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, cheetahs, hippos, hyenas, warthogs, kudu, dik dik, bushbucks, elands, topi among others. The big five including elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards can be seen during Uganda safari.

When going on game drives in Uganda’s savannah parks, you should bring things like sunscreen, bug repellant, and binoculars to see wildlife up close, and a camera to record special moments in the wild.

Adventure tours.

 Adventure tours in Uganda can be performed in distinct locations around the country including Jinja which is known to as the adventure capital of Uganda.

Adventure tours in Uganda involve various activities such as white water rafting, hiking, horseback riding, mountain climbing, bungee jumping, kayaking, quad bike, zip line, and cycling.

Bird watching.

Another year-round safari activity that may be done in Uganda at different locations is bird watching safari.

Mabamba Swamp, Lutembe Bay, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Kibale Forest National Park, Bwindi National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Semuliki National Park are a few locations in Uganda where bird species can be observed.

Among the bird species that can be observed in Uganda are Papyrus gonolek, Cisticolas, Black headed Gonolek, Pallid Harrier, Starlings, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Swamp Flycatcher, and Black headed Weavers.

Kampala city tour.

Taking a tour of Kampala city to gain an understanding of Ugandan urban life makes visiting the nation even more fascinating.

There are numerous locations that may be seen during the Kampala city tour, including historical and religious sites in addition to numerous other landmarks. The Uganda Museum,  Gadhafi Mosque, artisan stores,  Owino Market,  Taxi Park,  Kasubi Tombs, Kabaka’s Palace,  Uganda Martyrs Shrine, and Baha’i Temple are a few of the locations to explore in and around Kampala.