Destination

For many travellers, spotting gorillas in the wild is the most important reason for visiting East Africa. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda. The ancient rainforests date back to more than 25,000 years. The forest protects around 320 mountain gorillas – approximately half of the population in the world. In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, mountain gorillas are monitored 24 hours a day. Day and night there are 2 rangers protecting the gorillas from poachers and sharing their location. The chance of seeing mountain gorillas is therefore almost 100%. One requires to be realistically physically fit to take part in this mountain gorilla trekking adventure because it may involve climbing the steep terrain.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for its wildlife, including African elephant, African buffalo, Ugandan kob, hippopotamus, topi, waterbuck, warthog, giant forest hog, Nile crocodile, leopard and lion. It is home to 95 mammal species and over 500 bird species. The 40 km Kazinga channel offers boat trips on which you will see some rare birds and wildlife. You will also get a chance to see crocodiles, dozens of hippos, buffaloes, and elephants along the banks. In Queen Elizabeth park, it’s even possible to watch Chimpanzees. The Kyambura Gorge is home to habituated chimps which can be tracked.

The park is located in Kabarole District, Western Uganda, offering the best chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation experiences, great birding with unique birds like the Green breasted Pitta and numerous butterflies. The Park is famous for its primate diversity and therefore known as the Primate capital of the world. The primates in this park include: Blue Monkeys, Chimpanzees, Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, Red Colobus Monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkey, Black and White Colobus, Red Tailed Monkey, Olive Baboon, Bush Baby and Potto. Chimp tracking and the habituation experience are must do activities while at this site.

Kidepo Valley National Park is found in the North Eastern part of Uganda in the district of Kaabong. It has wildlife species not found in any other national park in Uganda like Maneless Zebras, the ostrich, the orx, cheetahs and wild dogs. Other species include aardwolf, buffalo, caracal, jackal, klipspringer, elephants, giraffe, hyena, bat-eared fox, leopards and lions. The antelope species include bohor reed buck, bush buck, bush duskier, defassa water buck, eland, Jackson’s hartebeest, kudu, reedbuck, Uganda kob and oribi. This isolated and remote national park consists of mainly rugged Savannah, hills and great valleys that are surrounded by the Morungole Mountains.

Kidepo valley national park is also an important Birding Safaris Area in Uganda with close to 450 bird species and a dream Uganda tour destination for bird watching expeditions. A dozen out of the 50 birds of prey species in Uganda are endemic in the Karamoja region.

The Rwenzoris are a world-class hiking and mountaineering destination. A nine- to twelve-day trek will get skilled climbers to the summit of Margherita – the highest peak – though shorter, non-technical treks are possible to scale the surrounding peaks. For those who prefer something a little less strenuous, neighbouring Bakanzo villages offer nature walks, homestead visits home cultural performances and accommodation, including home-cooked local cuisine.

Situated in the northeastern corner of Queen Elizabeth Park, the gorge lies within Kyambura Game Reserve and was created as a buffer zone, protecting the park from encroaching human activities. Kyambura has something for everyone. The adventurous can make their way through the unruly undergrowth to see the park’s only chimpanzees, while the curious can find several fascinating birds and plants with a guided nature walk. For those looking to unwind and enjoy the view, you can take a picnic at the gorge’s entrance or admire the exquisite scenery from the viewing platform high above.

Semuliki National Park in Uganda is located within the Albertine Rift. It is one of the less visited national parks in Uganda and lies within the Western arm of the famous Great Rift Valley. One can find a mixture of tropical rainforests and grassy savannah plains where chimpanzee tracking takes place. Although many people who come for a Uganda safari rarely visit Semliki National Park, it is home to 441 recorded bird species, making it a bird-watching safari haven for bird watchers. It is also home to 53 mammals including elephants and buffalos.

Popularly known as the ‘Switzerland of Africa’ because of the mountainous and hilly terrain, the Kisoro region has various top sightseeing tours. The best things to do in Kisoro include canoeing at Lake Mutanda and gorilla trekking at Bwindi National Park. Other attractions and sightseeing activities in Kisoro are golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, hiking the volcanoes of Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo, and volcano hiking at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Other popular activities in Kisoro include coffee making or visits to Mabungo and Batwa indigenous communities.