The People & their cultures

Uganda is comprised of mixed ethnic groups and it is without a doubt, a boiling pot of cultures. There are 3 major ethnic groups in Uganda; the Nilo-Hamatic, Nilotic, and Bantu. These are represented in their kingdoms or chiefdoms. More than 65 indigenous communities exist in Uganda making it a culturally diverse destination. The country’s diverse cultures make it a perfect destination to experience authentic African cultures.

There are Bantu-speaking groups including Basoga, Bagisu, Banyankole, and Baganda. The Eastern Nilotic-speaking tribes include Iteso, Kakwa, and Karamojong. The Western Nilotic consists of Acholi, Alur, and Langi. Each tribal/cultural group has something unique to offer the world- the dances, traditions, cultural practices, music performances, and more.

What makes Uganda a unique destination?

Uganda is one African destination with abundant features. On Uganda safaris, guests have a lot to explore or experience. Uganda is a unique destination with 10 National Parks, 12 Wildlife Reserves, lush forests, mountains, and water bodies including the source of the Nile River. Wildlife encounters in the National Parks can be blended with authentic cultural experiences in the nearby local communities, especially the Batwa cultural encounter, visit the Kasubi tomb site, Ndere cultural center, and others.

Mountain gorillas are on the top list of Uganda’s tourist attractions which makes it an exceptional destination. These unique apes reside in the 2 parks, thus presenting more opportunities for guests to track them unlike Rwanda and Congo each with single mountain gorilla trekking destinations. In Uganda, gorillas occupy the Southwestern part of the country and these apes share about 98.8% of their DNA with humans making them our closest relatives in the wild.

Murchison Falls -the Murchison Falls is one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls with its rapids often observed squeezing into a narrow rock of 7m. This magical waterfall lies in Northwestern Uganda within Murchison Falls National Park.

Rwenzori Mountain ranges- located in Western Uganda, the Rwenzori Mountains are the highest in the Pearl of Africa. Rising up to 5109m, the Rwenzori Mountain ranges comprise Mt. Stanley where the Margherita peak is found at 5109m, Gessi (4715m), Speke (4890m), Emin (4791m), and Alexandria (5083m).

National Parks- 10 National Parks make Uganda a complete destination. Each of these parks offers unique wildlife experiences and for primate safaris, the ideal places to consider a must-visit on Uganda safaris or Uganda tours include Kibale National Park (for chimpanzees), Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (for mountain gorilla encounters). The lush forests to consider visiting for primate tracking or chimpanzee tracking include Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, and Kyambura Gorge.

Plenty of wildlife/game viewing opportunities. Wildlife viewing locations in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Wildlife in Uganda includes elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, lions (including the unique tree-climbing lions), leopards, giraffes, zebras, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribis, topis, elands, and others.

Birder’s paradise. Birding tours are ideal in Semuliki National Park while mountaineering adventures are perfectly done in Mount Elgon National Park or Rwenzori Mountain National Park. Distinct birds to identify on bird-watching safari in Uganda include African green-breasted pitta, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, shoebill stork, great blue turacos, Doherty’s bush shrike, bar-tailed trogon, standard winged nightjar, African green broadbill, etc.

Adrenaline adventures, for enthusiastic adrenaline adventure seekers on a safari tour in Uganda, Jinja should be a must-visit destination. The adrenaline adventures to try out while on the Jinja tour include whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, boat cruising, tubing, kayaking, jet-boating, and more.

Top Destinations/National Parks in Uganda to Inspire You

• Murchison Falls National Park
• Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
• Lake Mburo National Park
• Rwenzori Mountains National Park
• Mount Elgon National Park
• Kidepo Valley National Park
• Kibale National Park
• Semuliki National Park
• Sipi Falls
• Mabira Forest
• Jinja -Source of the Nile River
• Lake Victoria
• Kampala
• Entebbe
• Lake Bunyonyi

Wildlife safari destinations in Uganda include 10 National Parks, 12 Wildlife Reserves, and other destinations. These are the key areas of interest for guests visiting Uganda for a safari holiday.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Located in Western Uganda is the scenic Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to over 97 mammal species. This is Uganda’s 2nd biggest park with a land area measuring 1978sq.km and supports a variety of wildlife to be spotted while on a wildlife/game viewing tour.

The wildlife species to see on the Uganda tour include lions -tree climbing lions, buffaloes, leopards, elephants, antelopes, hyenas, warthogs, hippos, crocodiles, and more than 620 bird species. Primates in Queen Elizabeth National Game Park reside within Kyambura Gorge including olive baboons, and black and white colobus monkeys.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is comprised of regions/sectors, each with special attractions to explore. The Ishasha sector is an ideal spot to find the tree climbing lions; Kasenyi Plains, Kyambura Gorge, Kazinga Channel, Maramagambo Forest, Mweya Peninsular, Katwe Crater Lake, and others.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park –BINP Uganda destinations

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a favorite gorilla tour destination in Uganda, home to 459 mountain gorillas and 20 habituated gorilla family groups. This was gazetted as a park in 1991 and occupies 331sq.km of land area, hosting 120 mammal species.

Bwindi is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It supports 11 species of primates including DeBrazza’s monkeys, blue monkeys, mountain gorillas, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, baboons, Galagos, black and white colobus monkeys. Other mammals include golden cats, elephants, black-fronted duikers, civets, buffaloes, duikers, side-striped jackals, bats, rodents, and more.

Birds- 350 bird species live in Bwindi NP including 23 Albertine rift endemic species. These include black-billed turacos, regal sunbird, mountain-masked apalis, collared apalis, grauer’s broadbill, chapin’s flycatchers, purple-breasted sunbird, western bronze-napped pigeon, white-bellied robin chat, etc.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a splendid protected area located in Southwestern Uganda, a 9-10 hours’ drive from Kampala/Entebbe city center. This was founded in 1991, occupying a land area of only 33.7sq.km. Mgahinga sits within the Virunga Conservation Area together with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in D.R. Congo.

Mgahinga is home to 3 Virunga Volcanoes – Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura volcanoes. 39 mammal species including golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, duikers, bushbucks, elephants, and buffaloes plus 115 bird species reside within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The main tourism activities to do while in Mgahinga include gorilla trekking, volcano hiking, golden monkeys, birding (birds include the Rwenzori batis, regal sunbird, blue-headed sunbird, double collared sunbird, crowned hornbill, red-faced woodlands, cape robin chat, brown crowned tchagra), nature/hiking tours, Batwa cultural encounter/trail experience.

Murchison Falls National Park

Located in Northwestern Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s biggest park, home to one of the world’s powerful waterfall- Murchison Falls. This park is 3840sq.km and supports a variety of mammals and birdlife. 76 mammal species and 451 bird species are supported in Murchison Falls National Park.

The different animals/wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park include cape buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos, leopards, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, oribis, Jackson’s hartebeest, Uganda kobs,

Birds in Murchison Falls National Park include black-headed lapwing, goliath heron, shoebill stork, Senegal thick-knee, swamp flycatchers, silver bird, saddle-billed stork, martial eagle, white-thighed ground hornbills, black-billed barbets, long-tailed nightjar, shoebill stork, and more. Visiting Murchison Falls NP for game viewing also allows you to pay a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (ZRS) to see rhinos.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Lying in far Northeastern Uganda, Kidepo is the 3rd largest park and the only park to find cheetahs and caracals. It is an ideal place to enjoy game drives to see zebras, giraffes, lions, elephants, antelopes, and over 475 species of birds.

Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park lies in Kabarole district, Western Uganda. This is 795 sq. km protected area, home to 13 species of primates, 375 species of birds, and several butterflies, reptiles as well as floral species. Created in 1993, Kibale is a significant primate safari destination where chimpanzee trekking is done.

Over 1500 chimpanzees reside within Kibale NP and these share the same habitat with other primates including l’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red colobus monkeys, bush babies, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. Other wildlife species in Kibale include elephants, bush babies, bush pigs, duikers, buffaloes, and more.

Birds in Kibale include the blue-breasted kingfishers, African green pittas, little greenbul, yellow-rumped tinker bird, yellow-spotted nicators, and others. Visiting Kibale NP for primate viewing also allows you to combine your Uganda safari with the Bigodi wetland tour. At Bigodi, there are 138 species of birds to be identified and several primates like black and white colobus monkeys.

Other National Parks in Uganda include Lake Mburo National Park, Semuliki National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, and Mount Elgon National Park. Wildlife Reserves in Uganda include Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Katonga Wildlife Reserve, Semliki, Ajai, Matheniko, Kabwoya, Bokora, Karuma Wildlife Reserves, Kigezi Wildlife Reserve, Kyambura, and more.

Kampala city

For memorable city tours, Kampala should be a must to explore. Located in central Uganda, Kampala is a capital city with plenty of cultural and historical sites to be visited on Uganda safaris. A Uganda tour in Kampala is an incredible opportunity to visit sites such as Kasubi tombs, Gadhafi Mosque, Rubaga Cathedral, Namirembe Cathedral, Ndere Cultural Center, Uganda Museum/National Museum, Buganda Palace, Kabaka’s Lake, and others.

Jinja is another important city in Uganda. This is found in the Eastern side of Uganda and it is where you can experience the rich Basoga cultures and also engage in numerous adrenaline adventures such as whitewater rafting, jet boating, kayaking, bungee jumping, quad biking, cycling, and others.

Entebbe

Entebbe city is one of the newly created cities and it is one of the best places to start your tour in Uganda. Places to consider visiting in and around Entebbe include the reptile village, Mabamba swamp (ideal birding spot to see shoebill storks), Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Uganda Wildlife Conservation Center/Entebbe Zoo, Ngamba Island, and Ssese Islands, etc.

Water bodies

Uganda is endowed with water bodies and they offer refuge to most of the aquatic life. These include Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in East Africa shared by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya; Lake Kyoga, Lake Albert, Lake Edward, Lake George, Source of the Nile, Kafu River, and more.

Waterfalls of Uganda- these include the Sipi Falls, Sezibwa waterfalls, Karuma, Murchison Falls, Aruu Waterfalls, Munyaga river Falls, Kisizi Falls, Itanda Waterfalls, Ripon Falls, Bujagali Falls, Mpanga Falls, others.

Discover what Uganda has to offer the world

Gorilla safaris in Uganda

Gorilla safaris in Uganda offer a long-day search for the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild with the lead of an experienced park guide. Each of the two gorilla trekking parks has well-trained park guides. Mountain gorillas are unique to only 4 places and in Uganda, they reside in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a tropical forest-dominated protected area with over 459 mountain gorillas. Four gorilla trekking regions are all open for tracking in Bwindi and one sector is found in Mgahinga National Park. In Bwindi, the 4 regions include the Nkuringo, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Ruhija sectors. The 4 regions host 20 habituated families of mountain gorillas;

• Buhoma sector gorilla groups to trek- Rushegura, Katwe, Mubare, and Habinyanja group.
• Nkuringo gorilla trek- Nkuringo, Bushaho and Christmas.
• Rushaga gorilla trek- Bweza, Mucunguzi, Rwigi, Kahungye, Busingye, Mishaya, Bikingi, Kutu, and Nshongi.
• Ruhija gorilla trek- Mukiza, Bitukura, Kyaguriro and Oruzongo gorilla family.

The Mgahinga gorilla trek is done in the Nyakagezi gorilla family. This park lies in Kisoro, Southwestern Uganda. This is the smallest park in Uganda, occupying only 33.7 sq. km, and features 3 of the 8 Virunga Volcanoes- Mount Gahinga (3474m), Mount Muhabura (4127m) and Mt. Sabyinyo (3645m).

Luxury gorilla safaris

Tracking mountain gorillas is a dream come true. Luxury gorilla safaris in Uganda guarantee you something extraordinary. You spend a night in one of the comfortable luxurious places including Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, and Chameleon Hill Lodge.

Mid-range lodges in and around Bwindi include Bwindi Engagi Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, and Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge. Luxury lodges in and around Mgahinga National Park include Mount Gahinga Lodge. Midrange lodges/accommodation include Mucha Hotel Kisoro, Travelers Rest Hotel, and Lake Chahafi Resort.

Gorilla trekking permits

The gorilla permits for Uganda are issued at USD 800 for foreign nonresidents, USD 700 for foreign residents, USD 500 for the rest of Africa -ROA 500 for and shs. 300,000 for East African citizens. Gorilla habituation experience permits cost USD 1500 for foreign nonresidents and USD 1000 for foreign residents while shs. 750,000 for East African citizens visiting Bwindi to explore gorillas.

Wildlife in Uganda

Wildlife species to expect to encounter on an African safari holiday in Uganda are enormous. These live in the savanna, forest, and wetland areas. Primates in Uganda include the grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, bush babies, pottos, and more.

Herbivores -rhinos, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, elephants, Jackson’s hartebeest, elands, and others. Carnivores- cheetahs, lions, hyenas, leopards, and African wildcats. Reptiles in Uganda include chameleons, pythons, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and more.

Birds -1080 bird species live in the different habitats in Uganda -terrestrial, aquatic, and forest birds. Uganda is a rich birding spot, inhabiting over 1080 species of birds. The birds to identify on Uganda safaris include the African crowned cranes, shoebill storks, ostriches, Abyssinian ground hornbill, goliath heron, great blue turacos, African finfoot, black and white casqued hornbill, long-crested eagle, secretary bird,

Karamoja apalis, African jacana, Doherty’s bush shrike, standard winged nightjars, African green broadbill, yellow-billed oxpeckers, handsome francolins, Shelley’s crimson wing, marabou stork, spurfowl, pelicans, African darter, saddle-billed stork, flamingoes, palm nut vultures, kingfishers, and more.

Top tourism activities to do while on a Uganda safari tour

Incredible experiences/activities to do while on a safari tour in Uganda include gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, boat cruise, jet boating, white water rafting, mountaineering in Mount Elgon, Rwenzori Mountains, and Mgahinga Virunga Volcanoes; birding, nature walks, cultural encounters, zip lining, and more.

Best time to visit -weather & climate of Uganda

Uganda safaris can be carried out at any time of the month or day of the year. But the dry seasons offer favorable conditions for nature lovers to explore and experience what this country has to offer the world. The 2 dry seasons to mark on your travel calendar are; December, January, February, June, July, and August. These are the best months of the year to visit Uganda for game spotting/viewing, chimpanzee, and mountain gorilla trekking.

Birding tours- the best time to visit Uganda for bird-watching is around May to September, November & April. These are the best months to enjoy the sight of migratory birds and also resident bird species.

What to pack for a Uganda safari

The packing list for your Uganda safari tour includes essential travel documents, gorilla permits, chimpanzee permits, long-sleeved shirts, trousers, daypack, gardening gloves, first aid kit, cameras, safari hat, comfortable shoes, pair of socks, money belt, rain jacket, sweater, insect repellents, pair of binoculars, torch, and others.

Hotels and lodges in Uganda

Luxury hotels in Kampala

• Sheraton Kampala Hotel
• Kampala Serena Hotel
• Pearl of Africa Hotel
• Speke Resort
• Le Petit Village Boutique Hotel & Spa
• Golf Course Hotel

Luxury Hotels in Entebbe

• Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe
• Best Western Premier Garden Hotel Entebbe
• Frontiers Hotel

Luxury lodges in Uganda

• Chobe Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Bakers Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge -Murchison Falls National Park
• Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Elephant Plains Lodge, Katara Lodge -Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Buhoma Lodge, The Retreat, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, -Bwindi.