The Best Way to See Uganda Gorillas
The Best Way to See Uganda Gorillas
The Best Way to See Uganda Gorillas. Have you ever dreamt of coming close to the majestic silverback mountain gorillas? If so Uganda is the place to be! Uganda, the Pearl Of Africa, is a lot less visited than its neighbors Kenya and Tanzania yet it has so much to offer.
Uganda has something for everyone, from extreme sports such as whitewater rafting on the Nile. It has a lot to offer in terms of safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, hiking the Rwenzori Mountains, to beautiful lush landscapes and stunning lakes. But obviously, the highlight is tracking the chimpanzees and mountain gorillas!
Traveling in Uganda
We offer guided small-group tours to Uganda to different places in Uganda. It is a brilliant way to explore the country, hassle-free. Being on a tour is also a great way of meeting like-minded people and having everything planned out for you. It is especially good if you are on a tight schedule.
You can however choose to travel independently with your spouse or friend for as many days as you want. If you like the outdoors you will love the idea of being able to camp wherever you go. Uganda is a safe country to travel independently. Using local transport is easy and there will always be someone to help you find your way around. English is one of Uganda’s national languages which makes it quite easy to travel.
Whether you are on a tour or not, be sure to try out the most common means of transport: Boda bodas (motorbikes). You will get a rush of adrenaline riding along those red dirt roads. It is however not for the faint-hearted!
Top Uganda Safari Destinations To Consider
Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park is one of the top Uganda safari destinations. The main activity here is chimpanzee tracking, as well as bird watching and bush walks. To track the chimpanzees you can book your permits in Kampala at the Uganda Wildlife Authority for $250 per person. There are two tracking sessions a day; morning and afternoon sessions.
You can spot your first group of chimps after about an hour’s walk or later. They’re all up in the trees messing around until they finally come down. You are merely meters away and yet they do not feel phased with our presence. You have a total of 1 hour with them. It is incredible how human-like they look and behave!
Queen Elizabeth National Park
This park offers various safaris, boat cruises, bird-watching tours, and the quest for the famous tree-climbing lions. You will need a driver to get into the park if you are traveling independently. Safari Vacations‘ offers a Primate and Wildlife of Uganda & Rwanda tour. It will take you to the park for two days to enjoy the boat cruise and abundant wildlife.
Within 10 minutes of entering the park, you are already snapping pictures of warthogs, various deer, impalas, and elephants. It seems like you had already done a game drive just by driving from the entrance to the accommodation on the Mweya Peninsula!
If you have limited time, you can opt for the 2-hour boat safari along the Kazinga Channel. It connects the two lakes within the national park. It is $30-35 per person and you can book in the park. You get to see large quantities of different animals in the space of two hours. These include elephants, hippos, buffalos, eagles, crocodiles, deer, monitor lizards, and sometimes snakes. There’s also a huge array of birds including pink pelicans. This is a trip recommendable to all.
Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Mountain Gorilla tracking
There are only roughly 1080 mountain gorillas left in the world and Uganda is one of the 3 places in the world where you can see them in their natural habitat. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we highly recommend you partake in! You should make sure you book your permits a few months in advance via the Uganda Wildlife Authority ($800 per person).
You can also have a look at this 3-day Gorilla trek which I can help you book. This tour starts and finishes in Kampala and also goes past the equator.
On the gorilla trekking day, You set off early in the morning with your group members. You then walk for over an hour until you reach a family of about 10-15 gorillas. It is such an incredible feeling to stand within 8 meters of a 220kg Silverback who feels comfortable with your close presence!
You do need to be quite fit for this. This park is appropriately named Bwindi Impenetrable as you will crawl and make your way through the thick vegetation and steep climbs. It is well worth the effort though!
Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi can be your last stop in Uganda and is a must-see. It is in the South Western part of Uganda and is a sight for sore eyes. It is a massive lake comprised of 29 small islands, some of which have accommodation. Make sure you go to the viewpoint for spectacular views over it all.
Many tourists come here to relax after the gorilla tracking or on their way to Rwanda. This is because the border is only a few miles away. It is also the only clean and hippo/crocodile-free lake in that region! Yet another example of how amazing this country is!
Realax at Lake Bunyonyi
Interested in visiting the Uganda gorillas?
Uganda is without a doubt a country we recommend that you visit. If you’re looking for a way to include it in your round-the-world trip, please feel free to contact us by filling out the form below. The experience we have generated over the years in tailoring Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and DR Congo safaris has helped us satisfy many tourists who had a thirst for adventure in East Africa.
We tailor safaris according to customer interests, budget, time available, and many other factors. Contact us today and you will become part of the clients who have enjoyed our excellent services over the years.
