Things to do in Uganda; Uganda is one of Africa’s ideal travel destinations with fantastic natural scenery; captivating fauna and flora. Half of the world´s remaining mountain gorilla population is found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga national park. The climate is good in Uganda all year round – hot and wet, daytime temperatures generally hovering between 22-27 degrees Celsius. It cools down at night; enough for a jersey but woolens are not necessary. The rains come twice a year, in October/November (short rains) and Mid-march to end of May. Rainy season is no reason to postpone your travel however, as generally it rains for an hour or two and the rest of the day is clear and sunny.

The park has 10 national parks that are a home to various wildlife that range from animals, birds, waterfalls, mountains, plants, beautiful scenery, primates among many more. Below are some of the activities done while on your visit to the “pearl of Africa”.

Game drives

A game drive is an activity enjoyed by tourists while on their safaris in Uganda. This is used by a car which moves around some National parks that tourists visit. This is also with the help of the game rangers who help you to spot different animals and always tell tourists what the animals are called, where they stay, what they feed on and all information that you want to know about the animals. This will therefore help you get much information while on your Uganda safari.

Game drives are done very early in the morning where you will see animals getting out of their homes and this is the perfect time to observe many animals while on your safaris in Uganda. Game drives are also carried out in the late afternoon as the animals are constructing their homes and here you can also see many animals. This is an interesting activity that tourists enjoy as they get photographs of different animals that are unique, and some are only found in Uganda.

Queen Elizabeth National Park: For a classic African safari experience, the tracks through Kasenyi, the North Kazinga Plains and the Ishasha Sector offer virtually guaranteed buffalo, antelope and elephant sightings, along with warthogs and baboons. Taking an experienced guide in the early morning or at dusk is the most successful way to track down a pride of lions, and maybe even the odd leopard.

Murchison falls national park: A game drive around the Buligi game tracks on the northern bank with a trained ranger guide is a fantastic way to see and photograph the wide range of animals in the Nile Valley. Murchison falls is a home to different wildlife species; over 76 mammal and 451 bird species including the Buffaloes, Jackson hartebeests, Antelopes, Lions, Kobs, Giraffes, Hyenas, Bushbucks, and Warthogs among others. They are widely spread all over the Savannah grasslands, grazing or hunting for prey. This makes the park’s landscape so amazing for game viewing/game driving. Your guide will have a good idea where the lions are hiding, and you may even spot a leopard at dusk!

Lake Mburo National Park: The network of game tracks in the east of the park passes a variety of landscape features including acacia woodland, wetlands, grassy hillsides, rock outcrops and seasonally flooded valley floors. The park has more than 68 mammal species, including zebra, impala, topi, eland, bush buck, buffalo, warthog, leopard, hyena and jackal. There are no elephants and lions in the park, which makes it an ideal place for walking safaris.

Kidepo Valley National Park: A park ranger will help you spot the lions that may be sitting on the valley’s various rocks. Other wildlife includes elephants, leopard, bush duiker, jackal, bushbuck, bush pig, ostrich, buffalo and much more, in the wild Narus Valley.

Semuliki national park: Three tracks cross the savannah grassland of Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve.

Hot air balloon safaris

Balloon safaris in Uganda are a not so-common activity that has recently been introduced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Hot air ballooning can only be found at the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. Hot air ballooning is the kind of activity perfect for those on honeymoon, the adrenaline junkies and those seeking a once in a lifetime adventure. The scenes up there are spectacular and the air fresh and soothing. This for you will be an experience made of thousands of memories you will reminisce every time you think about your Safari in Uganda.

Hot air ballooning is the kind of activity perfect for those on honeymoon, the adrenaline junkies and those seeking a once in a lifetime adventure. The scenes up there are spectacular and the air fresh and soothing. This for you will be an experience made of thousands of memories you will reminisce every time you think about your Safari in Uganda. Hot air ballooning is the kind of activity perfect for those on honeymoon, the adrenaline junkies and those seeking a once in a lifetime adventure.

The scenes up there are spectacular and the air fresh and soothing. This for you will be an experience made of thousands of memories you will reminisce every time you think about your Safari in Uganda.

Bungee jumping

Bungee jumping is described as a sport where the participant free-falls from a platform, springing up and down from tension. It’s about attempting to do something that you thought you couldn’t do and also overcoming your inner most fears with an adrenaline rush!

It involves a number of techniques and set ups such as the swan dive, back dive, bat dive (hanging upside down and dropped) and lastly the water touchdown where the jump is calculated so that the jumper dips into the water without submersion. A boat is always ready for you down at the river, so that you are picked and do not have to swim after your jump.

Birding

Uganda is an equatorial country of astonishing contrasts. No other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats ranging from arid semi-deserts, rich savannahs, lowlands and montane rainforests to vast wetlands, volcanoes and an afro-alpine zone, and covering an altitude from 650 to 5000 meters.

This richness is reflected in the number of birds per square kilometer the highest than any other country in Africa! Given the small size of the country, which is approximately 235,000 square kilometers, Uganda boasts a national bird list of over 1008 species. This represents more than half the bird species that can be found in the whole of Africa.

Forests: Uganda has an area contiguous with the Great Guinea / Congo Basin rain forest on its western border. Subsequently there are a number of west and central African bird species occurring in Uganda that are not found elsewhere in East Africa.

One particular region is the Albertine Rift Endemic area (ARE), which has 38 species of birds confined to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Congo. Of these ARE’s Uganda has 25, mostly confined to the forests of Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks in the southwest.

Wetlands: Uganda has 30,000 square kilometers of wetlands. Not less than 210 species, ranging from the Shoebill and African Skimmer to the endemic Fox’s Weaver, are found in these wetlands. More to the above are four Papyrus endemics; the Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, White-winged Warbler and Papyrus Yellow warbler. And a White winged Black Tern roost of 2-3 million birds in the Entebbe area (Lutembe bay).

Savannahs: In Uganda savannahs vary from the remote, semi-dessert, dry thorn-scrub region of Karamoja in the northeast, to the richer fertile savannahs of the western rift valley. Queen Elizabeth National Park has a bird list of 604 species, the highest for any protected area in Africa.

Hiking

There are various highlands and mountains in Uganda where hiking can be easily done. Some of the commonly hiked mountains include mount Rwenzori, mount Muhabura, mount Sabyinyo, Mount Elgon, mount Moroto, mount Mgahinga among others. The hikes take you through the tropical rain forests and bamboo where you will be able to sport some of the country’s forest animals like elephants, buffaloes, duikers, various primates like monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, different rivers and waterfalls which are so beautiful to look at as well as different bird species.

Hikes will present you with beautiful scenery of the surrounding landscape. Mount Rwenzori being the highest in Uganda is the most commonly hiked. The top of this mountain is the only place in Uganda where you are able to see snow. The hike to the top of the mountain will take you 7 or more days depending on the hiker’s speed and fitness. All the above mountains have something unique to offer to hikers.

Nature walks

Uganda is endowed with beautiful forests where activities such as forest/nature walks can take place. Some of the forest include Mabira Forest, Budongo Forest, Kibale Forest, Bwindi Forest, Mpanga Forest Reserves, Mgahinga forest. Participating in the nature trails in the forest offer visitors chance to view different primate species such as Chimpanzees as well as red and black colobus monkeys, among others. Besides the primates, the interesting nature walks through the dense ever green tree species in the forest enable the visitors to have an encounter with different forest bird species such as white-thighed hornbill as well as species of puvel’s illadopsis housed in the forest.

Cultural tours

Uganda is not only a country richly blessed with lots of wildlife, birds, great weather, breath taking landscapes, but also with a rich diversity of untapped culture and heritage. With 30 plus tribes, Uganda safaris is definitely the ultimate place to experience the diverse cultural immersion. From the assorted cultural mosaic of music, art, food and hand crafts to the cultural norms, the rituals, and royal regalia the experience is unmatched. With three distinct linguistic groups namely the Bantu, Nilotics, and the central Sudanese people. Each encounter presents you with a different set of practices and beliefs.

The central region is mostly inhabited by the Bantu specifically the Baganda whose history is mostly synonymous with that of Uganda. Other Bantu tribes include the Banyankole, Bakiga, Batooro in western Uganda, Busoga, Bagisu Bagwere among others, then the northern and eastern area of the country are mostly the nilotics who include the Acholis, Itesots, Langis, Alur, Karamojongs, Iks to mention but these, they were the first cattle herding people in the area, but later relied on cultivation to supplement their livestock.

The central sudanic people most of whom live in the northwestern part of the country include the Lugbaras, Alurus, Madis, among others speak a similar language and have strong cultural similarities. All these tribes of Uganda have unique culture to know about.

Chimpanzee tracking

Uganda has various forests and national parks in which chimpanzees can be found. You can either choose to go chimpanzee tracking, or a chimpanzee habituation experience. Some parks offer one options, some offer both. Some of the national parks and forests you can visit if you want to see chimpanzees in Uganda are Kibale national park, Budongo forest- Murchison Falls national park, and Kyambura gorge-Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu forest are some of the places where you can see gorillas in Uganda.

The best places to have a chimpanzee tracking experience or a habituation experience is in the parks. Habituated chimpanzees are accustomed to human presence and will not run off when they sense or see you approach but will stay put and you can see them and take pictures, from a distance of course.

Uganda is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa. With its dense misty forests, snow-peaked mountains, glassy lakes and sprawling savannas. Mountain gorillas are the allure for many visitors, but there’s an astounding variety of attractions for tourists. To visit these different destinations and attractions, you will need to know the best time to go.

Safaris in Uganda are best done during drier months of the year because of the best weather, sightings and accessibility.

Travelling in December is one of the best times to do a safari in Uganda, and it is the busiest month of the year and lodges are usually booked in advance. In fact, if you are searching for the best time to visit gorillas in Uganda then we suggest you book your safari (plus permits) in not less than 6 months in advance to secure a good slot for December because tourists compete for good accommodation facilities several months in advance besides purchasing permits for the most visited gorilla families.

About the climate, what you should know is Uganda’s rain comes twice in a year; In other words, Uganda has only two rainy seasons. The months of March to May are usually accompanied by extremely heavy rainfall, which leaves the weather unpredictable unlike the months of October and November that have little rainfall. To contradict this, is believe Uganda is an all-year travel destination because of its location on the equator. The temperatures range between 23 – 29 degrees Celsius implicating you can still enjoy your safari during the rainy months. The only obstacle you might face is your safari vehicle getting stuck on the muddy roads of the national parks unless you are travelling in a 4×4 tour vehicle.

The best game viewing months in Uganda are during the dry seasons that range from June, July and August as well as December, January and February. Primate walks in the forest are a big part of any safari in Uganda. The habitat of rain forests is, by default, very wet and one can’t avoid rain completely. However, after heavy rains, the sky usually opens up to bright sunshine.

It’s the good time to track gorillas because these are the drier months. The skies are clear, there is less rain and more sunshine. It’s easier to spot wildlife in the Savannah reserves since vegetation is less and animals gather around water sources. Despite being a high season month, the parks don’t feel crowded. Gorilla permits need to be booked very far in advance.

During these months, wildlife is available in plenty unlike in wet months where they tend to take shelter from the rain which might cause you to see them in less numbers especially for mountain gorillas.

March up to May and September up to November (Wet Season): The vegetation is greener and its low season, resulting in lower rates. Although wildlife in the Savannah reserves is easier to spot in the dry season, you’ll still see plenty, including newborn animals in the wet season. The scenery of Savannah plains is much greener during wet months too which might prevent you from getting exceptional views from the respective national parks especially Kidepo valley National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.

However, some of the roads get very bad and cars often get stuck. Forest trails can become slippery and challenging. If it pours with rain, changes can’t be made in the expensive gorilla permit. Departures go on as scheduled.

Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Uganda, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary stands as a symbol of hope and conservation for one of Africa’s most iconic creatures – the rhinoceros. This sanctuary, situated about 176 kilometers north of the capital city Kampala, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the survival of rhinos while promoting ecotourism and community engagement.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a Haven for Rhinoceros Conservation. Established in 2005, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was born out of the collaborative efforts between the Rhino Fund Uganda, Uganda Wildlife Authority and several conservation organizations. The main objective was to reintroduce rhinoceros into the country’s natural habitats after their extinction in the 1970’s while providing a safe environment for breeding and nurturing these magnificent creatures. At the brink of extinction due to poaching and habitat loss, the sanctuary has become a beacon of hope for both the critically endangered white rhinos and the rare black rhinos. The sanctuary provides a refuge for the southern white rhinos. These species, despite their imposing size and appearance, are highly vulnerable to various threats, including poaching for their horns. The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary’s dedicated team of conservationists and rangers work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of these majestic creatures.

Conservation Efforts and Community Involvement.

The project at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary has shown the power people have to change actions and the health of ecosystems and support species survival. A project that started 18 years ago has now seen the sanctuary raise the number of Rhinos here to 42.

The sanctuary’s success can be attributed not only to its dedicated team but also to its approach in involving local communities. By creating a collaborative environment, the sanctuary has fostered a sense of ownership and responsibility among nearby residents. This engagement helps to diminish conflicts between humans and wildlife, ultimately contributing to the preservation of Uganda’s natural heritage. Ecotourism and Educational Experiences Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary offers a unique opportunity for visitors to witness rhinos up close and contribute to their conservation efforts.

Guided walking safaris allow tourists to observe these creatures in their natural habitat while learning about their behavior, ecology, and the challenges they face. This immersive experience not only raises awareness about rhino conservation but also generates funds that support ongoing conservation initiatives.

Future Prospects and Challenges.

While Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has achieved notable successes in rhino conservation, challenges remain. Continued vigilance against poaching, habitat protection, and genetic diversity management are ongoing concerns. Furthermore, striking a balance between tourism and minimizing human impact on the rhinos’ environment requires careful planning. A Testament to Conservation Triumph Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary stands as a testament to what can be achieved through dedicated conservation efforts, community engagement, and responsible ecotourism. It showcases how a collaborative approach can rescue a species from the brink of extinction and offers hope for the future of rhinoceros populations in Uganda and beyond. As visitors walk amidst the sanctuary’s scenic landscapes, they not only witness the power of preservation but also become part of a larger movement to protect Earth’s most vulnerable inhabitants.

There are plans to reintroduce Rhinos into the wilderness, case studies are going on to see how successfully bring these giants into the Ugandan wilderness again. It is rumored that either Ajai Game Reserve or Murchison Falls National park could be the first places to see the return of these species. 

It is not just Rhino tracking that takes place here, but the sanctuary is also a great birding are and the Lugogo swamp at the sanctuary is a famous spot to see the shoebill. Visitors can track the bird on the canoes. There are also other animal species here like the water bucks, warthogs, among others.

It is a great stop for those heading to Murchison Falls National Park and looking to complete the Big 5. Or you can do a day trip the sanctuary from Kampala or Entebbe or even have a night stop at the ranch. It has camping option and the budget opt at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary guesthouse and the Mid-range at Amuka Lodge. 

Tourist Attractions in Kisoro; Located in South-Western Uganda and borders Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the South and West, respectively. It also borders the Districts of Kanungu and Kabale in the North and East, respectively.

Population: About 220,000 people

Main Town: Kisoro town and has a population of about 10,700 people.

Area: 729.7 Km2

Land and Vegetation: The District is hilly and key highlands include Mt. Muhavura at 4127 meters above sea level. About 3.88 and 2.95 percent of the district area is covered by open water and wetlands, respectively. Forest reserves occupy about 0.96 percent of the area.

The following are the key tourist attractions in Kisoro district.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Situated in Kisoro district, southwestern Uganda, this park was gazetted in 1991 and is a part of the great Virunga Conservation Area, which is 434km. Although it is the smallest in the country covering about 33.7km, it is very important as it is one of the only two parks in Uganda that offer habitat for the endangered mountain gorilla. Gorilla tracking is one of the key tourist attractions in this national park.

Game viewing / primate viewing.

Besides the mountain gorillas, other animals found in the park include buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks and the threatened golden monkey among others making game viewing another key activity within this park.

Volcanoes Climbing.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers three extinct volcanoes for physically fit hikers. The three volcanoes, Mt. Sabyinya (3666m), Mt. Muhavura (4127m) offer excellent volcano climbing experiences.

Cave Exploration.

Garama cave is one of the caves where the once crafty Batwa (who were warriors) lived and fought their Neighbours, the Bantu. The cave is 3kms from the park headquarters and it takes about 4 hours. The guide will show you how the Batwa lived and fought out of the cave. The cave is 342m in length and 14m deep and is now inhabited only by bats.

Viewing platform / hills.

This is about 800m from the park gate. On top of this platform, one is able to view the magnificent scenery of the National Park and the surrounding areas. There are display panels at the hill point that give you information about what you see. The hilly nature of Kisoro caused by volcanic activity gives the visitors opportunity to hike, which is one of the rapidly developing activities.

Bird Watching

Avi-tourism is a fast-growing activity in this area. This activity is carried out along the edge of the park. A stroll along the buffalo wall towards Congo takes you through a wetland area that is rich in a variety of bird species.

Forest / Nature walks

Forest walks are carried out within the forested part of the national park. Nature walks are done within and outside the communities.

Community / market visits

Market visits are on a particular day of the week. This is usually a lifetime experience for the visitors. Community visits are also organized so the visitors can get to know more about the people of Kisoro (Bafumbira and Batwa).

Crater Lakes

Kisoro has a number of crater lakes, the most outstanding being the emerald-green lake Mutanda located 14kms north of Kisoro town. The lake offers the best experience of sundowners/sunset cruises. It is also ideal for canoeing, fishing and other recreational activities.

 Scenery Viewing

The spectacular views of the rift valley and the magnificent crater lakes offer great scenic views thus making scenery viewing one of the important tourist activities. Other spectacular sceneries include the Abbis at Muremure in Kitende parish.

 Cultural Performances

The rich and unique culture of the Bafumbira and Batwa enhance the display/performance of beautiful cultural dances and practices which would leave the visitors yearning for more. These performances are done on request by the visitors.

 Crafts and Souvenirs industry

The rich culture of the Bafumbira and Batwa people includes unique and diverse variety of crafts and souvenirs baskets and souvenirs beautifully woven to the last detail. These are a unique product that could enhance community tourism in Kisoro. The extensive papyrus swamp stretching from Kisoro to Lake Bunyonyi in Kisoro may sustainably be utilized to provide the raw materials.

 Cave exploration and Antiquities

Cave exploration and antiquities are already under exploration in the district. The lava tubes left after volcanic activity are add to the scenic attraction of the caves. The prominent caves include Ruhenju in Gigozi parish, Soko in Soko parish and Mwambike near Mutorere Secondary School. The caves were used as safe haven during the tribal wars.

 Hotel and Catering

The district has a number of outstanding tourist hotels. These include Gahinga Rest Camp, Mgahinga Safari Lodge, Volcanoes Hotel and Sky-Blue Motel. During the 2001 survey of tourism establishments, there was a total capacity of 453 beds. The hotel and catering sector in the district employed 143 people at the time.

home to the mountain Gorillas in Uganda. It holds half of the mountain gorilla in the whole world. With exception of the Covid-19 days, a day never passes without seeing any tourist vehicle entering Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which really brings a smile to the people that depend directly and indirectly on Tourism; the potters, the village guides, and the craft shop owners all put a smile on their faces after seeing the tourist vehicles enter Bwindi.

The following morning, the craft shops are opened up, the potters well dressed in their uniforms walk to the park offices to render their services to the tourists. The tourists in their preferred lodges after having their breakfast and having a short briefing from the Guides, they then move to the park offices for a briefing from the head Ranger about what to do and what not to do in the park. For example, not to look at the Gorillas straight in the eyes, not to put on the flashlight while taking pictures and more so others. After the briefing the clients then hold their walking sticks, the potters holding their bags and carrying those that do not trust themselves in hiking. Each client that hires a Potter has to pay the Potter not less than $5 so it’s the tourists’ choice to give the Potter the amount he/she wants to give according to the services offered.

Hiking then goes on in search for the gorillas, they are sometimes easily found because the rangers start tracking them from where they left them the previous day. Even though they move away, they still do not move over the night. Early in the morning the Rangers go and follow them up easing the search. When at the gorillas the tourists are given one full hour watching the mountain gorillas, the Gorillas really portray human character like breastfeeding the young ones just like the humans. During nighttime they lay down the soft tree branches and sleep, the juveniles playing around, the silverback safeguarding the family just like any father at home.

After one log hour with the Gorillas, the tourists then head back to the park offices. Here they receive certificates of Gorilla trekking and of course taking pictures of success. Payments to the potters are made at that moment after gorilla trekking. The tour Guides are there patiently waiting for the tourists in their Vans for the next step according to their itinerary whereby some are supposed to travel immediately either to another Destination or stay in Bwindi for more night(s).

To those whose itinerary says that they have to stay for one more night, they then move to their lodges and have some rest for some few hours or have hot lunch just in case they did not take packer lunch with them while going for the Gorilla Trekking. The packed lunch always contains some snacks and drinks to keep their stomach okay, because there is no guarantee that the gorillas are to be found in the estimated time so it might take long and then the tourists might feel hungry.

After the rest is when the LOCAL GUIDES start moving around waiting for the tourists that may have booked with them to go for the village or community walks around Bwindi. The craft shop boys are always at their shops ready to showcase their craft works and get some money for food and other home necessities, this is where the people who are not working in the tourism field become dependents of the field because of the local guides, craft shops owners and the potters also get some money to run their shops or even get some school fees for their children making all the people of Bwindi dependent on Tourism directly and indirectly.

When the tourists are out on village walks, they happen to visit the neighboring villages around, meet the local people, associate with them and see how best they move on with their life, chill with them and even have some taste of their food. Tourists then visit the Batwa “Pygmies” who are one of the oldest people in Africa. For centuries they roamed the forest looking for fruits and honey and hunted with bows and trained dogs. As the woods were cut down by Bantu, Batwa numbers dwindled.

After Bwindi was made a National Park, the Pygmies are managing to associate with the local Communities and moving in the same line of living with life. The Birder tourists also move around with their Guides, with the binoculars, notebooks, pens and other birding equipment looking for so many birds’ species that are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

After all the activities are done, the tourists then move back to their lodges to have their dinner, analyze how the day went, look into the itinerary and prepare for the next day or the meet Destination or do some other preferred activities.