There a thousand reasons that contribute remarkable trip to the African continent. One of them is Uganda, a country that delights travelers with its countless natural wonders, welcoming locals, stable security and favorable climatic conditions.
Do you need adrenaline or relaxing leisurely trips in Uganda? Well either way we have something in our directories here to excite and delight your senses. We have small guided gorilla tours, sightseeing trips, white water rafting trips, sunset cruises, mountaineering holidays, bungee jumping, chimpanzee tracking, bird watching tours, mountain tours, city tours, fishing and a whole lot more fun and excitement in our tours and adventures of Uganda. There are lots of places and things to do on your visit to Uganda but every traveler has his own interests. Here are some of the top things to do in Uganda;
Gorilla Trekking:
Highlighted as the world’s second best travel experience by Wanderlust, gorilla tracking is the most popular adventure attracting travelers to the pearl of Africa. For many visitors, the highlight of a visit to Uganda is the opportunity to track mountain gorillas and consequently, most formal itineraries follow an established circuit between Kampala and the gorilla parks in the extreme southwest of the country. Uganda is blessed to host almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas, critically endangered great apes only found in three African countries. These endangered giants are protected in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Wildlife Safaris
This is, fortunately, the area with the greatest density of natural attractions and associated infrastructure. A typical Uganda safari heads west from Kampala or the international airport at nearby Entebbe to the scenic Fort Portal area where the main attraction is chimpanzee tracking in the forested Kibale National Park, followed by a 2-3 night visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains. South of QENP is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which offers no less than four separate gorilla tracking locations.
It’s a long haul from Bwindi back to Kampala/Entebbe and many tour operators now offer their clients an overnight break at the lovely, if slightly low key, Lake Mburo National Park. It is possible to cover this itinerary in seven days (ten would be better) and many people do.
However, those with time and flexibility to delay and detour will discover much more. Days can be spent exploring the Fort Portal and Rwenzori area, while Lake Bunyonyi and the Virunga volcanoes are worthwhile diversions near Bwindi. Visitors intent on reaching true East African wilderness (a rare commodity in the densely populated south of Uganda) will want to head north to the Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley national parks. These experiences do, however, incur a cost of increased travel time and expenditure. Visitors with time for a day trip at the end of their visit invariably head east from Kampala to visit the famed Source of the Nile at Jinja.
If this event represents a tick on a list rather than a life–affirming experience, the same cannot be said for Jinja’s other main attraction: the menu of adventure sports offered along the Nile corridor north of the town.
Adventure Activities
Activities such as whitewater rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping and quad biking attract a steady flow of the young and young at heart.
Go gorilla tracking
You’ll need to buy a permit which must be booked long time ahead due to limited availability (only few tourists are taken near the gorillas a day, in order not to disturb them). With a permit in hand, you are allowed 1 hour on very close hand of a group of the highly endangered mountain gorilla in their natural habitat. Uganda Wildlife Authority handles the sale of permits which cost several hundreds US dollars each
Rafting on the Nile
Uganda is a world class rafting destination and several companies arrange trips down the Nile – from half a day to 3-day trips, from peaceful family trips to very adventurous grade 5 rafting. 75 US$ will buy you a rafting adventure with transport from Kampala and food and drink included. Nalubale Rafting comes highly recommended. Nile River Explorers is also a great company, they are the best price around, have great guides, and you get the standard host of a huge free breakfast, floating lunch, and an amazing bbq (veggies are well accommodated)
Quad biking
Near the Spring of the Nile you can rent quad bikes (a 4-wheeled motorbike – also known as All Terrain Bike) for a speedy (and dusty) sightseeing trip with a local guide.
Go to Sipi, about 1 hour from Mbale. It’s a beautiful little town on top of a hill, sporting fantastic views on and hikes to waterfalls. If you don’t feel like having a guide, tell them that you’d like to do it yourself and eventually they will leave you alone. Great place to stay over night in Sipi is the Crow’s nest with amazing views onto the waterfalls. Crows nest is alright but do not expect hotel quality service and if you are smart, you will bring your own food because their food comes even slower than any local restaurant and is absolutely terrible.