Best Of Uganda Trips You Can Do This Year

Uganda is home to a variety of tourists attraction and thus offers a variety of trips. In this article, let us focus on the best of Uganda safaris.

Ngamba island chimpanzee viewing tour

Ngamba island is located in Lake Victoria and situated approximately 23 Km from water Front beach Entebbe.   The island can only be reached by water or Air transport means and the major attraction is chimpanzees. Ngamba Island hosts orphaned chimps that were rescued by conservationists from different locations where they had turned into domestic primates.

While at Ngamba, you will witness chimps being fed vegetables and fruits among others. The guests just need to stand on the wooden platform to clearly see the amazing chimpanzee.  Ngamba island is one of the places where you can see chimps in captivity.

Batwa cultural tours

The Batwa pygmies are believed to be the original inhabitants of Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga forest.  The two forests are found in western Uganda where tourists can meet the Batwa people. In 1991, the Batwa pygmies were chased from the forest to facilitate the conservation of Mountain Gorillas and their habitats.

Today, the Batwa people are found at the boundaries of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.  If you meet with Batwa, expect lots of entertainment through music, dance, and drama. Due to intermarriages with the Bakiga and Bafumbira, some of the Batwa people are now taller.

The tree climbing lions Tour

The rare species is found in the Ishasha sector and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The amazing tree-climbing lions can be seen during experiential expeditions and you can meet them swinging on the fig trees.

As we all know it is very rare for lions to climb trees, the ones found in Queen Elizabeth Park are a rare case as it is hard to find climbing lions anywhere else as evident as it is here.

Golden Monkey trekking safaris

Official Golden Monkey trekking is done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is part of the Virunga region.  Virunga region is composed of Virunga National Park in DRC and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is less strenuous than Mountain Gorilla trekking however, lucky visitors can also meet Gorillas on the way to meeting Golden monkeys.

Golden Monkeys starts with briefing or orientation at 7:30 am and at 8 am, travelers set off for the actual trek which takes between 3-5 hours. Golden monkey colonizes the Bamboo zones of the park to feed on the delicious bamboo shoot.

Chimpanzee trekking trips

Uganda offers one of the cheapest Golden monkey trekking with the highest amount being US$200 (FNR).  Visitors can find chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Kalinzu Forest, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest, and Toro-semuliki Game Reserve. May travelers note that Kibale National Park offers the best chimpanzee trekking experience and it’s true because the park protects many chimps and is easy to find.

KNP also offers two chimpanzee trekking sessions every day based on availability (Morning and afternoon shifts). Kibale still offers a chimpanzee Habituation experience which allows a visitor to spend a full day with chimps in their natural habitat.

The cost of chimpanzee habituation goes to US$250 per person. Another chimpanzee habituation experience can be enjoyed in the Budongo forest game reserve in Murchison Falls National Park.

Gorilla Trekking Safaris

It’s the top tourist trip in Uganda which is done all year round though the dry season is the best. Gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National park- both parks are situated in southwestern Uganda. Uganda Gorilla permits cost US$700 per person (Foreign non- Residents fees), US$600 per person (Foreign residents fees), or UGX250000 for East African citizens.

Apart from the top six trips mentioned above, Uganda offers other trips like white water rafting tours on River Nile, Boat trips, Birding Tours, Cultural safaris, and religious trips among others.