What other activities can I do in Uganda besides gorilla trekking? Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in two iconic destinations that is Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. Gorilla trekking involves movement on foot through the tropical rainforests looking for the mountain gorillas. Uganda is a home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and they can be seen in their natural habitat. You can track mountain gorillas in Uganda throughout the year however the best time is during dry season between June and September and December to February. This is when the trails in the park are not muddy and slippery thus making navigation simple. During these months, there is little rain or no rain drops at all.
Gorilla trekking starts with a briefing about the dos and don’ts while trekking and it is done in the early morning at the park headquarters. During briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla family to track and each gorilla family is allowed to be visited by a group of 8 people. You will also be assigned a ranger guide who will help you to locate the mountain gorillas, after you have met the mountain gorillas, you are allowed to spend 1hour in their presence. Seeing mountain gorillas do their chores is so interesting, how they behave around people, how they discipline their young ones and feed them as well. The jungle is a home to other wildlife which is so fascinating to look at for example birds, forest elephants, bush pigs, plant life and waterfalls as well. Therefore you can engage in birding in Bwindi impenetrable national park, golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga or birding in Mgahinga gorilla national park or Batwa cultural tour. The gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi and Mgahinga national park is 800 USD for foreign non-residents, 700 USD foreign residents, 500 USD rest of Africans and 300,000 Uganda Shillings for East African citizens.
Below are some of the Activities You can do in Uganda besides Gorilla Trekking
Birding Safaris in Uganda
Uganda is a home to over 1,000 bird species making it birders’ choice and a must visit destination. Uganda offers one of the best birding safaris in the world as birds are distributed throughout different destinations in the country. You will find these birds in places like swamps, rivers, lakes, national parks, forests, mountains and open savanna areas. Uganda harbors Albertine Rift endemic species for example; pallid harrier, blue swallow, swamp flycatchers, the pygmy goose, white-winged warbler, lesser jacana, palm-nut vulture, Vieillot’s weaver, grosbeak weavers, kingfishers, black-headed weaver, Carruthers’s cisticola, Rwenzori turaco, brown-throated weaver, Albertine owlet among others.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Chimpanzee trekking is another fascinating primate safari in Uganda. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is done in different destinations for example in Kalinzu forest in Queen Elizabeth national park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, in Budongo forest at the bottom of Murchison falls national park and in Kibale forest national park. Kibale is the headquarter of chimpanzees in Uganda that is why it is called The Primate Capital, it harbors about 13 primate species with an estimated number of chimpanzees to be over 1,500 individuals. Chimpanzee trekking is almost same as the gorilla trekking experience in Uganda however the species are different. The trekking involves navigating the thick tropical rainforest on foot with a help of a ranger guide and after finding the chimpanzees, you will spend 1hour in their presence as you watch them carryout their daily chores. Chimpanzee trekking starts with a briefing at the guest information center in the early morning, you will be assigned a chimpanzee troupe to track with the help of an experienced ranger guide. Chimpanzee trekking permits cost differently in Uganda for example in Kibale forest national park, the chimpanzee trekking permit is 250 USD for foreign non-residents, 200 USD foreign residents and 180,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens. In Kyambura Gorge the chimpanzee permit is 100 USD foreign non-residents, 80 USD foreign residents and 50,000 Uganda shillings for East African residents. Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale forest national park costs 300 USD for foreign non-residents, 250 USD foreign residents and 250,000 for East African citizens. The chimpanzee habituation experience takes about 4hours with the chimpanzees.
Hiking Trips in Uganda
This is another breathtaking adventure in Uganda and it is a must do for the travelers who like hiking. Uganda’s highest peak is on Mountain Rwenzori and it is Margherita peak which is about 5,109 meters. Hiking mountain Rwenzori is another fascinating adventure which will usher you into breathtaking views of the country side in western Uganda since it is where the mountain is located. You can hike other mountains in Uganda for example Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda, Mount Moroto in eastern Uganda as well and Mount Morungole in northern Uganda. These mountains offer different experiences since they are located in different parts of the country. The difference will be seen just from the culture, the vegetation that surrounding them, the wildlife and the terrain that surrounds the mountains.
Whitewater Rafting on River Nile
This is another vibrant safari activity in Uganda that takes place on River Nile the world’s longest river. Its source is on Lake Victoria in Jinja where it escapes the country stretching about 6,650 kilometers to pour its waters in Mediterranean Sea. You can engage in different activities while you visit Source of the Nile in Jinja for example bungee jumping, horseback riding, birding, tubing and quad biking among others. Do you want to test your Adrenaline? Visit Jinja and engage in above water activities.
Boat Cruises in Uganda
Uganda is a home to vast waterbodies which offer amazing launch trips. You can do a launch cruise in Murchison falls on River Nile where you will sail as you spot wildlife at the river bank. Launch cruise in Murchison falls national park will usher you an opportunity to visit top of the falls for a clear view of the falls and how the river forces its water into a narrow gorge making the thunderous sound. Murchison falls are the strongest waterfalls in the world. You can also engage on launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park on Kazinga channel. This boat cruise will expose you different wildlife in park, breathtaking views and abundant wildlife in the park. Launch cruise in Lake Mburo national park is another adventurous experience in Uganda that you should never miss.
Game Drives in Uganda
Uganda accommodates 10 national parks and they are distributed throughout the country. The national parks harbor different wildlife species including the Big 5 which are; lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos and elephants. You can only encounter these wild animals on game drives in Uganda in different national parks for example game drives in Murchison falls national, game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park, game drives in Kidepo valley national park, game drives in Lake Mburo national park among others. O the wildlife to encounter during the game drives in Uganda include; zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, impalas, hyenas, kobs, hartebeests, sitatungas, warthogs among others.
Sport Fishing
This is also another amazing activity on the Ugandan safari where you catch some fish species in Uganda’s natural waters. You need to have fishing equipment, and then contact a local tour operator to secure you a permit and book for you a boat for your exercise. Uganda has fresh waters where you can engage in sport fishing for example Sport fishing in Murchison falls national park on River Nile, sport fishing on Lake Victoria among other fresh water bodies.
Culinary Tourism in Uganda
Uganda has a vibrant natural menu with a variety of food species. Uganda being a country of 2 planting seasons, each region of the country has the best to offer at the harvest time. Uganda is known for its scrumptious organic foods fresh from the gardens to plate. The pineapple that Uganda its sweetness is just beyond imagination, other food stuffs that Uganda boasts about include; sweet potatoes, matooke, cassava, yams, millet, sorghum, rice, beans, coffee among others.
Cultural Tours in Uganda
Uganda has many cultural experiences with over 56 tribes with each tribe has its special cultural norm and customs. Engage in cultural experiences in Uganda for example in central Uganda indulge in Baganda culture through dancing, garden experience at Ewaffe cultural village, Ankole cultural experience in western Uganda, Karamajong cultural experience in northern Uganda, Bagisu in Eastern Uganda, Batwa cultural experience in southwestern Uganda to mention but a few.
