Where to visit on safari to Uganda – A guide to Making Best of your Adventure.
Uganda is blessed with almost every type of Wildlife for your game safaris while on your tour. Whether you are interested in game drives safaris in search of the big five or Primate safari in search of mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, you have it all for you.
Below are 4 of the best National Parks that you can visit for gorillas and game safaris in Uganda;
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This National Game Park is Located in south western part of Uganda; it offers memorable African safari Uganda experiences and travelers have opportunities for game viewing safari on an open savannah. This National Park has two amazing sectors where you can enjoy game drives and that includes the south and the northern sectors. The southern part which is commonly known as Ishasha sector is known for tree climbing lions and a game drive in this region is truly rewarding. Spending the minimum of Two nights in this sector will provide you a chance to look for tree climbing lions and other wild game which is in abundant here. To make your stay more memorable in Ishasha, you can enjoy sundowners and bush breakfasts.
The Northern sector also known as Mweya is where you can enjoy a real game safari in savannah plains of kasenyi or you can still go for an amazing game drive in the Crater Lake region. Your stay in this sector also include a 2-hour boat cruise on Kazinga channel that connects lake Edward and lake George which is a highlight of Queen Elizabeth National Park. There are lots of local tour operators that can help you to organize both short and long trips ranging from three days to 30 days.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is the largest of all parks in Uganda, its located in northern part of Uganda. It sits in four districts of northern Uganda namely; Buliisa, Nwoya, Kiryandogo, and Masindi districts. Murchison Falls has both beautiful savannah and forest environments and is crossed by the mighty River Nile. The boat safari to bottom of waterfalls is superb as visitors will encounter large number of hippos, crocodiles, beautiful birds etc., This gives Murchison Falls National Park an advantage over other National Parks in Uganda. You can also enjoy game drives on the northern banks of the Nile river which is Paraa, apart from boat safari, this Park has very Many wild animals such as giraffes, elephants, lions, leopards that can be seen in their natural environment during game drive and boat trip. You can plan to organize both short and long safaris to connect with the mighty Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda.
Kidepo Valley National Park
This is the only park which is located in the North Eastern part of Uganda, Kidepo valley national park sits on extreme corner of Uganda, Kidepo Valley national park provides the unique Uganda safaris such as game drive experiences, bird watching, cultural experiences etc. Game drives in this national park are punctuated with high chances of spotting pride of lions, large number of Buffaloes, elephants, giraffes etc. Kidepo also offers that feel of real African wilderness, you will really feel that you are in the wild while in Kidepo Valley. The accessibility is the only challenge with Kidepo valley National park because it is an isolated park and far away from Entebbe or Kampala. It takes the whole day to drive from Kampala or Entebbe Airport to this national Park. However, there are both chartered and scheduled flights to Kidepo valley National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the name “Bwindi” which is derived from a local kikyiga word meaning impassable, Bwindi forest is regarded as one of the oldest and has un tempered tropical that dates back as 25,000 years. Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park was recognized by UNESCO in 1994 and made its status of being a world heritage. This Tropical rain forest, Bwindi receives approximately 1,500mm of rain per year because of its location, altitude and influence of local winds.
Bwindi forest is where a half of worlds endangered mountain gorillas live. The total number of mountain gorillas is estimated to be 1063 individuals and 559 out of this found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it remains the only national park in the whole planet where mountain gorillas exist. There are nineteen (19) habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park spread in four (4) sectors of the national park. The 4 sectors are; Nkuringo sector, Rushaga sector, Ruhija sector, and Buhoma sector.
These are some of the names for habituated gorilla families in Bwindi; Mubare family, Habinyanja family and Rushegura family that live in Buhoma sector. Oruzogo family, Bitukura family and Kyaguriro family that live in Ruhija sector. Nkuringo family lives in the southern sector of Bwindi known as Nkuringo, and Mishaya family, Nshongi family, Busingye family, Bweza family and Kahungye family live in Rushaga in the southern sector as well. Bwindi has not only gorillas but also is home to over 350 bird species, chimpanzees and other primates, this makes Gorilla safari tours in Uganda an amazing and memorable African safari experience. There are many amazing Uganda safari packages from uk designed by the local tour operators that combines Bwindi and other national parks such as 7 days Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Game safari Package.
Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular tourist activities done in Bwindi impenetrable National Park, this is where you get an opportunity to trek one or more of habituated mountain gorilla families in Bwindi (impassable) forest. Gorilla permits are booked early in advance and by sector, each group has a maximum of 8 trackers who are escorted by experienced guides and trackers, the trek begins early morning into this dense rain forest on the mountain slopes, the journey which takes a minimum of two hours and maximum of up to 10 hours. Its experience you won’t easily forget also known as once in lifetime experience.