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Uganda Safari: Things to Do on Self Drive Uganda
Uganda, in the heart of East Africa, is a country that offers a breathtaking blend of natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and a rich cultural heritage. Known as the “Pearl of Africa” for its stunning landscapes, Uganda is a paradise for adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike. Here are 10 must-do activities that will help you make the most of your visit to this enchanting nation:
- Go Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park:
Uganda is home to over half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. A trek through the lush rain forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. The park is home to 20 gorilla families and four gorilla trekking sectors: Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma and Nkuringo from which you can choose between a 4 hour gorilla habituation or a one-hour gorilla trek. Gorilla habituation is only done in Rushaga sector.
The trekking process involves walking through the forest with a lead guide until you find the gorillas. This activity requires you to book a permit with the Uganda Wildlife Authority days before the actual day of the trek. You can also get help from a local tour operator to ease your trip. You can also check the Uganda Wildlife Authority tariff guide for the current year for price updates, rules and regulations to observe during the activity.
Your gorilla trekking activity can be topped up with a nature walk or a Batwa community Visit.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in Southwestern Uganda 494.8km from Kampala via Mbarara- Masaka road and Kabale- Mbarara road. It could take you about 9 hours to get there depending on the road conditions.
- Visit Murchison Falls National Park
Experience the power and beauty of Murchison Falls, where the Nile River squeezes through a narrow gorge, creating a spectacular waterfall. Take a safari to witness the park’s diverse wildlife.
Murchison falls national park is home to the world’s most powerful waterfall; Murchison Falls where The Nile emits large volumes of water about 300 cubic meters per second through a 7-meter-wide gorge at a very powerful pressure that causes its surrounding to tremble. At the falls, you witness water falling off different rocks making such beautiful and breathtaking view. As you stand at the rail, some of the water from the falls can splash on you.
Besides the falls, there is plenty of animals and birds to see. 4 of the big five animals can be spotted here while the rhino can be seen at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary that is about 168km away from this park. Several bird species, rhinos and buffaloes can be well spotted during a launch trip at the Nile.
Popular activities at the park include game drives, launch trips, top of the falls visit, trip to bottom of the falls and birding. Although considered to be an all-year-round destination, the best time to visit is in December to mid-February and June to July when it’s dry and for bird watching its best in the wet season when migrant birds have arrived.
Accommodation options range from luxury to budget. Some of these include Paraa, Pakuba and Chobe safari Lodges.
The park is located in Western Uganda, 282km about 4 hours and 30 minutes via Kampala- Masindi route and can also be accessed by air, domestic flight operators such as Bar Aviation run flights to this destination.
- Take a Boat Safari on the Kazinga Channel:
The Kazinga Channel is a 32-kilometre (20 mi) long natural channel that links Lake Edward and Lake George and is a dominant feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The channel attracts a varied range of animals and birds, boasting one of the world’s largest concentration of hippos and numerous Nile crocodiles.
A boat cruise on the channel is one of the best activities because it offers you a good wildlife viewing point while enjoying the cruise on the calm waters. It could take at least 3 hours and with the professional guides telling you more about it, the surroundings and different animals, you will surely have a memorable experience. This cruise will give you a close up view of the crocodiles, hippos and buffaloes that are usually settled in the water or sunbathing at the banks. Elephants can also be seen sometimes grazing on the banks of the channel. On a good hot day, the banks will have several animals drinking and cooling off the heat which is a good time for to feed your eyes.
Cruises are done in the morning and in the afternoon usually 11am-1pm and 2pm -5pm .The channel is home to about 612 bird species hence defined as an important birding area (IBA) by the Birding International. You will be thrilled to see different kinds of birds in all colors and sizes living in harmony. Imagine going through a space of over 100 birds, all singing their beautiful songs, it is truly amazing. Expect to see birds like the African fish eagle, the Goliath heron and many others.
After your cruise, you can spend the night at Mweya safari lodge or any other of your choice.
From Kampala, queen Elizabeth national park, where the channel is found is 401.8 km via the Masaka road, Mbarara- Masaka road and Mbarara- Kasese road. You can also opt for a fly in and this can be offered by eagle air or bar aviation.
- Go Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park:
Kibale Forest National park, also known as the primate capital of the world is one of the best places to track chimpanzees. It is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees and also supports a wide array of other wildlife, including 13 species of primates, over 300 bird species, and various mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
Chimpanzee trekkers are allowed only one hour while those who opt for the Chimpanzee habituation are allowed 4 hours. A chimpanzee trek could take up to 2-5 hours depending on their location that day. A guide will lead you through the walk and you can hire a porter to carry for you your luggage. You could also carry some snacks to have along the way since it could take you a while in the forest. Chimpanzees are interesting animals. They contain 99% of the human DNA and therefore behave a lot like humans. You will be amazed and happy to see human behaviors in a chimp.
For you to engage in this activity, you need to have booked a permit with the respective authorities. Your tour operator can help you with this. There are also a number of rules that you will be briefed about before the trek. Be sure to follow them lest you are fined.
Other activities such as guided nature walks, painting and art work can be done after your chimpanzee trek.
The park is 408.7km via Kampala – Hoima road, Kyenjojo – Hoima road.
- Visit the Source of the Nile River:
Jinja, the “Adventure Capital of East Africa,” is home to the source of the Nile River, the longest river in the world. Driving to Jinja is a great adventure and one of Uganda’s best road trips because there are a number of attractions you can visit before getting to the Nile. Some of these include Sezibwa falls in Lugazi district and Griffin falls camp in Mabira forest.
During your 78.6 km to Jinja, the urban sprawl will slowly fade into nature landscapes and you will start to see big sugarcane plantations and Mabira forest which is Uganda’s biggest. There are some stop overs where you can buy snacks from street vendors.
How will you know that you have reached Jinja district? that’s easy! The River is one of the first things you will see when you are entering Jinja. There are even better views on the new suspension bridge where you can look at the river from both the right and the left. You cannot wait to see where this beauty starts flowing from.
When you finally reach the source, you will be welcomed by lush green vegetation and a good view of the river valley as you slop down for a boat cruise. The boat men will drive you to the point where the river starts flowing and you can even see for your self that at that point the circular water body turns into a river. He will also give you more details about the different histories, cultures and anything else you need to know. There are craft shops, restaurants which you can visit after or take a walk around.
- Hike to Sipi Falls:
Sipi Falls is a hidden gem in Uganda’s northeast in Kapchorwa district 287.4 km from Kampala. They are found on the foothills of Mount Elgon at the edge of Mount Elgon National Park. On your way to the falls, you will enjoy beautiful landscapes of Mount Elgon. The falls are made up of 3 falls each flowing from a different altitude.
The hikes can be difficult and muddy, but they’re deserving of your energy. When you stop to look at the beauty of the falls, you’ll forget about your aching feet and muddy trousers.
To hike all three falls, it’ll take you roughly 3 hours. The second-highest of the waterfalls comes first. It plunges 85 meters before concluding in a spectacular splash. The next fall is the smallest, at 65 meters. When it’s dry, you should be able to stand under it. If it’s been raining, you can stand in the cave behind the falls, and watch as the water crashes in front of you. The last fall is the tallest at 100 meters. Make sure to pack a swimming costume, as the plunge at the bottom is large enough to swim in.
Expect to see farmlands, some local communities, different birds chirping happily and some small animals like monkeys. The falls can be visited throughout the year.
You can also go for abseiling, bird watching, excursion to meet the local sabiny people, rock climb or spend time learning about the coffee grown here.
- Explore the City of Kampala:
Kampala is the capital and largest city in Uganda. It is divided into five political divisions namely: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Rubaga Division. It covers a total area of 189sqkm (68sqm). Kampala, is a melting pot of cultures
The city can be explored through a car ride, a walk or a boda boda (motorcycle) ride. It has variety of attractions to explore that range from historical places, administrative buildings, markets, schools, places of worship, hotels and many more.
Some of the popular places to visit include: Uganda National Mosque, Uganda Museum, Kabaka’s palace, Ndere cultural Center, Uganda Martyr’s Shrine, independence monument, Nakasero market, Kabaka’s lake, Makerere University, Baha’i temple, Rubaga Cathedral, Namirembe Cathedral, Kasubi tombs, restaurants like Cafe Javas, Serena hotel, The old taxi park. There are many other places you can see as you drive or take a walk in the city.
You should that the city has at least 1 million people so be ready to face congestion in some parts especially down town areas like kisenyi.
- Go White-Water Rafting on the White Nile:
For adrenaline junkies, white-water rafting on the White Nile is an exhilarating experience. White-water rafting is done by the lakeside town of Jinja, where the Nile flows upland out of Lake Victoria. It’s a popular activity at the start or end of a safari. the rapids cover a 20km stretch of river, some sections are wilder than others, but all are surrounded by beautiful scenery and the sounds of birds, and there is the chance to swim in some of the calmer section
White water rafting on the Nile in Uganda is considered to be amongst the best in the world, with routes full of variety, from quiet pools and forested islands to thunderous rapids and drops. The Nile includes several grade IV and V rapids to navigate, with names such as Hypoxia, Super hole, Real Deal and Jaws.
You raft with highly trained guides who know the river intimately, and the rafting companies used on organized tours have excellent safety records and use well maintained rafting equipment. The river water is warm, which is a bonus, as you’ll definitely get wet and you’ll probably fall out, too. Grade V rapids can flip rafts over, sending you into the river,
Safety kayakers will stay close to the raft at all times and can quickly paddle over to fetch you if you do fall in.Despite there being lots of long, frightening rapids, no experience in white-water rafting is required.
There is also a family float option for larger groups and families. These boats are larger, which makes them more robust against the waves, and these routes will also skip the most intense rapids.
You can choose to stay at Jinja Nile Resort or Wild waters lodge.
- Climb Rwenzori Mountains:
The Rwenzori Mountains, often called the “Mountains of the Moon,” offer a challenging trekking experience. Rwenzori, standing at a height of 5,109m ( 16,762ft) is the highest point in Uganda and the third highest in Africa.
Climbing to the summit of the mountain takes a minimum of 7 days. It is very challenging and requires some professional skills. The foot hills of the mountain alone could make you think that the summit is not far yet it is. One must be prepared to walk for at least 8 hours a day more over with the increasing altitude, one needs to have had altitude acclimatization.
There are two hiking routes namely: The central circuit and the Kilembe trail.
The central circuit, a 7-8 day route is the oldest and most popular route operated by the Bakonjo people. The major reason why it is considered an ideal route to the peak is because it is easy and less challenging for hikers that are not fit. It also has numerous things to offer to hikers like views of the portal peaks like baker, speke. The ascend and descend of the mountain along thus route is remarkable due to the fact that hikers can transfer along various paths which offer opportunity to discover more of the mountain.
The kilembe trail on the other hand is a 7-8 day route managed by Rwenzori trekking services. It is also known as the southern circuit and was opened in 2009 after the construction on new huts in the park. The trail begins at kilembe at 1,450m. It is rough and complicated, very steep and requires you to use a lot of energy in the hiking process. It was opened as an alternative route to be used by Rwenzori mountaineers to reach the peak, although it was first followed by Professor Scott Elliott in 1895, he didn’t succeed to the Peak.
When planning to climb, it is important to carry all the essential items as you are told by the told operator. Leaving out some things can ruin your trip. Do not worry about carrying them, porters are available for hire. Only those above the age of 10 can be allowed to climb.
The distance from Kampala to Kasese is approximately 350 kilometers (217 miles), and the drive takes around 6-7 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. The park entrance is located in the Nyakalengija area, which is about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) north of Kasese town. The mountain can also be accessed via Kasese Airstrip. Domestic flight operators like Eagle air run such flights.
- Relax on the Shores of Lake Victoria:
Lake Victoria, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, provides an ideal setting for relaxation. Enjoy water sports, fishing, or simply unwind on the sandy shores while taking in the serene beauty of Africa’s largest lake.
You can enjoy the shores from the different beaches in Entebbe which include Imperial Resort beach, Aero beach, White sand beach and some others outside Entebbe like Ggaba beach are also a great deal. Alternatively, visiting sese islands or Kalangala Islands can also give you a good time relaxing on the lake’s shores. Different dishes especially tilapia are served on most or all of the beaches.
Activities such as swimming, boat cruises or beach games like volleyball are available on most of the establishments.
