Tours Adventures in Uganda, What are the interesting activities I can Do while in Uganda?

Tours Adventures in Uganda, Gorilla Trekking Safari,  Chimpanzee tracking and the Primates of Uganda, Wildlife safaris and National Parks in Uganda, Bird watching safaris, Mountain Climbing.

There are so many activities and adventures on a Uganda safari that it is difficult to stick to the details on your plan.

Here are some of the top interesting tourist activities in Uganda that most tourists have come to love through the years.

Gorilla Trekking Safari-Tours Adventures in Uganda

This ranks as the most important part of any Uganda safari itinerary.  The once-in-a-lifetime experience takes you through the dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National park on the slopes of the Rwenzori ranges in search of the gentle giants.

Groups of 8 people launch every day into the forest canopy behind the lead of a trained and armed ranger! It is surely exciting and a challenge that may take you up to eight intense hours of trekking. Without mountain gorilla trekking expeditions, Uganda safaris are not same!

Gorilla trekking activities in Uganda are conducted in the two protected parks of Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

But due to the nomadic nature of mountain gorillas in Mgahinga which keep crossing to Rwandan side, most of the gorilla trekking permits sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority are for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

In Uganda, each and every gorilla permit is sold at US$600 during high season and during the low season from the month of April, May and November; discounted permits are sold at discounted price of US$350 per each.

On one particular day especially during the high season, around 80 individual tourists travel to Uganda’s Bwindi to trek the stunning Mountain gorillas in the ancient Impenetrable forest and only a group of 8 individual trekkers are allowed to trek a habituated gorilla family.

We strongly recommend you to book your Uganda gorilla permit with a Ugandan Tour Operator agent as early as 3-5 month in advance.

The most Common blunder which travellers make is booking a Habituated gorilla family which is located far distance from their choice of lodging facility.

What you should note is that the road network to Bwindi Impenetrable and its different gorilla trekking regions are often very awkward because this is a remote area hilly area and hence if you book a lodge located far away from the gorilla family you are going to trek, it becomes hard to catch up with trekking activity which starts very early in the morning.

For travellers who would wish to plan and do gorilla trekking safari to Uganda on their own in order to save costs, they might end up spending more on their safari compared to if they used Ugandan based safari tour operators.

Booking Gorilla permit through tour operator is best option and usually tour operators charge an extra fee of USD100 on top of US$600 and this happens when you only need a permit from them.

The extra USD100 per permit is attached to help them in administrative costs like make calls to UWA, pick the permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority where the permits are sold officially and then deliver it to you.

In case you involve the tour operators in the whole process of planning for your gorilla safari, they will not charge you the extra USD100 because they know that you will use their other services like guiding services, transfers among others.

Chimpanzee tracking and the Primates of Uganda

Uganda’s forests are home to an estimated 13 or more species of primates include the black & white colobus, red tailed monkeys, bush babies, olive baboons, gorillas and the habituated chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee tracking is a fascination in Kibale Forest National park but there are also a few of these primates in Semliki National Park and Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria.

Wildlife Safaris And National Parks in Uganda – Tours Adventures in Uganda

There are 10 National parks and 12 game reserves in Uganda gifted with a wide range of flora and fauna. The most visited include Murchison Falls Park (which is the largest) and the Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Take a game drive or a guided safari walk in the wilderness and encounter Uganda’s best kept mammals like the tree climbing Lions, zebras, Uganda kob, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, Harte beest and many more.

Unique safari experiences take you to Lake Mburo National park for a canoe ride for sights of Uganda’s birds and animals visiting the vast lake.

Lake Bunyonyi Tours

Lake Bunyonyi is found in South Western Uganda in the district of Kabale. It is Africa’s second deepest lake dotted with a few islands that are historically important to the people in this area.

The lake is named after the birds that nest on the lake’s shore and surrounding swamps such as kingfishers, malachite eagles, sun birds, bee eaters, the rare shoebill stork and a few of the Albertine endemic species.

Take a canoe ride to the island, nature walks around the lake or go swimming – Yes…the lake is Bilharzia free and good for swimming!

Bird Watching Safaris

If you are a nature enthusiast, then Uganda must have a special place in your heart. Over 3,000 species of birds are recorded to have nests in papyrus swamps, forests, lakeshores and national parks all over the country.

Some of the best birding destinations like Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi forest park, Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth Park and also in the different cities. Kampala city also has a few swamps with notable species like the stork and sun birds among others.

Mountain Climbing

Hiking is not a popular sport In Uganda but you can be among the few tourists to reach some of the peaks of Uganda’s skyline.

The ‘mountains of the moon’ popularly known as the Rwenzori mountain offer great hiking experiences often challenging but worth when you reach the glaciated peak.

Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano in Eastern Uganda is also good for hiking and at the same time discovers some unique plant species that grow on the slopes of this fertile rock.

River Nile Adventures

It is the world’s longest river with its source on Lake Victoria in south central Uganda. The river has a number of rapids and water falls on its course to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt.

Bujagali falls is particularly good for kayaking and water rafting with class I, II and IV rapids while Bungee jumping  is also done near the falls.

You can continue pursuing the river to the spectacular Murchison Falls on the Victoria Nile in the west and so on

Kampala City Tours – Tours Adventures in Uganda

Kampala is the capital city of Uganda and the busiest town in the country. It is Uganda’s largest town and an important centre for business, industry, transport and administration.

There are also many interesting things to note and tour about this friendly town such as the independence monument, Uganda Museum & art galleries, Makerere University, Kabaka’s palace, the National theatre, Uganda Martyr’s Shrine at Namugongo and the different religious centres around the capital.

Shopping in Kampala – Tours Adventures in Uganda

Kampala being the capital city of Uganda, it has plenty of modern and western style shops with a feel of western typical malls with luxury goods and fast food outlets.

You can visit numerous local and upscale shopping places like local markets for fresh foods, supermarkets, boutiques and departmental stores.

In some parts of the city there are shopping complexes offering designer labels, computer equipment and other wide range of goods available let it be specialist or luxury.

From colorful and bustling markets to newly developed shopping malls, Kampala now has it all. There are many upscale hotels that cater to the influx of tourists.

Kampala is famous for its intoxicating overcrowded markets, streets and arcades with upscale goods and services.

Very chaotic but with pretty experience, Owino market normally acknowledged as Balikuddembe market is the most admired local market in Kampala.

Sprawling around Nakivubo stadium, Owino is well stocked with everything from manufactured goods to traditional medicine.

Eminent for its second hand clothes “Ebikadde” in Luganda, new clothes can be made as well by local tailors after making a selection for a piece of cloth material.

Visitors are bound to spend much time here not because they are having much fun but once you are inside it’s really difficult to find your way out.

Apart from these local markets, Uganda is endowed with shopping centers with a feel of typical western styles and among the best places for shopping are 5 big shopping centers; if you want luxury goods especially the American and European brands.

This is your best bet because you are likely to do your shopping in one place from one of the following malls; Lugogo shopping mall, Acacia mall, Garden city, and Freedom city.

Shopping places indoors include; big supermarkets like Nakumatt, Capital shoppers, Uchumi, Game and Payless, departmental stores, fast food outlets, jewelry and book shops.

Looking out for the best rates for changing large amounts of foreign currency, Kampala is the best way to go.

Try out bureaus in Kampala for the best rates this time especially the dollar house and half east all located conveniently next to each other at king Fahad plaza along Kampala road.

There are many more bureaus and rates change from time to time but are usually printed in local papers and white boards at the entrance.

There are several sophisticated craft shops around the national theatre and Uganda crafts 2000 limited that sell locally made Arts and crafts.

Original and smart local items like bark-cloth clothing, drums, wood carvings, sandals, basketry, beaded jewelry and Muzungu t- shirts plus other items from all over Africa are sold.

Look out for many cheaper crafts at park headquarters and the nearby communities, Entebbe airport, Garden city and Lugogo mall.

Pieces of valuable handcrafts are available at relatively low prices compared to imported crafts; therefore don’t hesitate to snap a chance. Your purchase of arts, crafts, souvenirs and gifts impact the lives of ordinary Ugandans.

Look out for the best places for English language publications, with the great selection of books like novels and as well as Uganda at very reasonable and affordable prices.

The best place is Aristoc, where books are stocked up to satisfy the customers’ needs. Get a reading material before heading on to long road trip.

You can also have second hand books with a good selection of novels at a bit cheaper price down town. Bargaining is acceptable and the way to the business.

You can bargain for better prices especially on souvenirs and your bargaining power determines what you pay in the end.

Cultural Tours And Safaris

Uganda is home to many tribes and peoples who live in harmony. Almost every part of Uganda has a tribe that relates to it with a unique heritage and institution called a Kingdom.

The most popular kingdom is Buganda in central Uganda with proper institutional structures headed by the Kabaka who is the king.

Some of its significant tourist sites include Kasubi Royal tombs, the Kabaka’s palace and lake in Mengo, Sezibwa falls and a host of cultural/spiritual sites dotted around the country.

Other kingdoms worth visiting include Toro Kingdom Palace in Fort Portal and Busoga in Jinja among others.

Lake Victoria Tours

Lake Victoria is Uganda’s largest lake seen on landing at the Entebbe International Airport. Catch a ferry or hire a charter boat to the spectacular Ssese Islands for a treat of the best beaches in Uganda.

Ngamba Island is also another island to visit on the lake, synonymous with the Ngamba Chimpanzee sanctuary.

The best ways to relax on one of these islands is by taking nature walks, forest walks, go fishing or treat yourself to some of the best fish in Uganda’s waters.

It is the perfect place to relax after hectic safaris in Uganda before you take your departure flights.

Spot Fishing

Go fishing in Nile River and in Lake Victoria to explore a world of untouched, mystical beauty. Take advantage of some of the other activities on offer such as gliding along the scenic waterways of the Nile and Victoria on a dug-out canoe.

For game fisherman, the Nile River teems with Nile perch one of the biggest fish species in Uganda. Catch your biggest one yet and be amazed at the size that the fish grow to in these areas.

Houseboats offer 360 degrees of lush greenery filled with the music of chirping birds and beautiful waterways and absolutely luxurious living conditions. Glide through the Nile and Lake Victoria fringes to find fish-rich water

Horseback Riding – Tours Adventures in Uganda

Lake Mburo national park is one of fewest parks that offer horseback riding in safari Uganda, but for the adventurous this is an experience not to be missed.

Uganda is a land of immense natural beauty with diverse terrain and landscapes of which Lake Mburo national park with a lush emerald paradise of swamps and Precambrian metamorphic rocks, rich savannah grasslands is undoubtedly living proof of.

On horseback you can truly absorb the magnificence of park like unique spectrum of ecosystems that supports an unbelievable variety of bird, plant and wildlife waiting to be discovered. Venture further into the park and get much closer to the abounding wildlife.

Encounter exciting moments along the game trails as your horseback safari ride brings you upon great herds of buffalo, zebra, elands and other antelopes. Be assured that this activity is a magical and humbling experience that will touch your soul and remain in your heart for an eternity.