14 Great Uganda Destinations For A Cheap Safari Travel

Uganda is known for its Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees, but it is also home to the Nile River, the world’s longest river in your charming Uganda destinations. Murchison Falls is the world’s most powerful waterfall, and Lake Victoria is the world’s third-biggest lake. These natural treasures, together with the Ruwenzori Mountains in western Uganda and Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda, form an unrivaled wildlife and bird habitat in East Africa. Despite all of these stunning features, we realize that it is the Ugandan people who make this country the fantastic destination that it is. Uganda destinations are amazing for travel lovers. You can go for Uganda Travel alone or with family or friends. Uganda itinerary in two weeks travels inspiration is here.

This safari begins with a stop in Entebbe for an overnight stay to recover from your travels. The next day, travel west for a night at Lake Mburo National Park, a hidden treasure that you will discover through activities, including a boat excursion on the lake in your mind-blowing Uganda destinations. After Lake Mburo, it’s on to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where you’ll stay two nights in a luxury lodge and participate in a full day of Gorilla Trekking. There are also a variety of other creatures to see, such as antelopes and unique monkeys, not to mention the natural beauty of the forest.

Uganda is known for its Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees, but it is also home to the Nile River, the world’s longest river. Murchison Falls is the world’s most powerful waterfall, and Lake Victoria is the world’s third-biggest lake in your notable Uganda destinations. These natural treasures, together with the Ruwenzori Mountains in western Uganda and Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda, form an unrivaled wildlife and bird habitat in East Africa. Despite all of these stunning features, we realize that it is the Ugandan people who make this country the fantastic destination that it is.

The next morning, you’ll head to the Kibale Forest in search of resident habituated Chimpanzee populations, which will be yet another spectacular highlight of your Ugandan adventure. Following your Chimp tracking adventure, you’ll return to Entebbe for a covid test and an overnight stay while you wait for the findings in your mindblowing Uganda destinations.

Uganda destinations

After those two nights, we’ll drive north from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the environment transforms as you leave the dense forest and enter the vast savannah regions. Game drives will take you into the Ishasha region in search of tree-climbing lions, as well as the Kasenyi Plains in the park’s northeast part. An afternoon boat tour of the Kazinga Channel, which is rich in wildlife, will be a highlight. Following your visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will travel to Kibale, where you will spend your first day exploring the Bigodi Swamp with excellent local guides in search of rare monkeys and bird species.

It is fully possible – and less expensive – to get around Uganda by public transport. Plenty of people have backpacked around Africa. But in the event you solely have two weeks, you won’t have the ability to squeeze practically as a lot in.

Public transport in Uganda continues to be fairly unreliable and sluggish, and a few locations should not very well-linked in any respect. So by far the best choice, in the event you can afford it, is to rent a personal car and driver.

Without having to schlep to bus stations and watch for buses, you’ll have the ability to see and accomplish that a lot more, and in the event, you’re in a gaggle and might cut up the prices, it actually doesn’t work out too horrifyingly costly Uganda destinations.

Uganda Destination: The Route

Greetings from Uganda! You will be welcomed at the airport by a representative who will accompany you to your safari vehicle and introduce you to your Driver, who will also be your Guide, and drive you to your hotel, which is around 8 kilometers and 15 minutes away.

Uganda’s itinerary took us north from Kampala after which out to the west in an enormous loop. You’ll instantly discover that we’ve missed the whole lot to the north and east, however, this route takes in all the most important highlights together with the well-known gorilla and chimpanzee monitoring, and 5 national parks.

We additionally took a short detour into the Democratic Republic of Congo to climb Nyiragongo volcano, which I’ve added on the map but not included on this route since at the time of writing it was deemed too unsafe to go there.

Hopefully, by the point, you learn this that can have been modified – and do verify, as a result of it was an unbelievable experience that it is best to positively attempt to do in the event you probably can.

1. Lake Mburo

A picturesque boat trip on Lake Mburo is one of the nicest things to do in the area. This is one of the greatest ways to observe the Park’s rich animals. Depending on your safari schedule, the boat excursion may be done at dawn or dusk and lasts around 2 hours. All of the rides start at the Rwonyo jetty, and it won’t be long until you witness big herds of hippos in the water, as well as crocodiles and buffalo, grazing along the lake’s shores. The lake is also known for its abundant birdlife, which includes magnificent fish eagles, colorful kingfishers, and hammerkops with their massive nests.

But if not, hop back in the car for the drive to Lake Mburo. There aren’t any lions right here, so that is the place you may get energetic without concern of being eaten. Go mountain biking or horseback using, and in case your budget can stretch to it, spend the night at considered one of Uganda’s top locations to remain, the gorgeous Mihingo Lodge.

Although Lake Mburo National Park is one of Uganda’s smaller parks, it boasts enough attractions to earn it a prominent spot on the Uganda safari circuit. Lake Mburo National Park is in southwest Uganda and serves as a gateway to the western Ugandan national parks. In 1933, it was designated as a regulated hunting area, then a game reserve in 1963, and eventually a national park in 1983. The acacia woodland at Lake Mburo National Park is the most widespread of any Ugandan park. Lake Mburo, the largest of the park’s five lakes, is part of a 50-kilometer-long wetland system connected by marshes.

The availability of both horseback and quad bike safaris in Lake Mburo National Park is unique, allowing visitors closer observation and superb images of the plentiful plains animals.

The only park in Uganda where you may observe Eland and Impala, as well as the highest concentration of Zebras, is Lake Mburo, National Park. Topi, oribi, reedbuck, warthog, and the enormous buffalo are among the other notable creatures. The park’s variety is enhanced with the introduction of 15 Rothschild’s Giraffes from Murchison Falls National Park in 2015, as well as leopards, of which Lake Mburo has the greatest number in Uganda.

The park is particularly known for boat tours on Lake Mburo, where visitors may observe a variety of animals including hippos, kingfishers, fish eagles, crocodiles, and uncommon birds like the African Finfoot in your awesome Uganda destinations.

2. Bwindi National Park

A game drive in Uganda’s Lake Mburo National Park is an excellent way to start or end a safari. The park offers a diverse range of species that nearly belies its tiny size in contrast to other Ugandan parks. Apart from leopards, which are usually only seen at night, the park does not have other huge cats. The antelopes of Lake Mburo are diverse, and Rothschild’s giraffes have just been reintroduced. The park’s attractions, however, have to be Burchell’s zebra and eland, which are only found in two Ugandan National Parks.

Transfer from Lake Mburo National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the Kigezi Kingdom, home of the awe-inspiring mountain gorillas! Your journey will be around 280 kilometers long and take 6 hours to complete. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Uganda’s most popular tourist destinations since it is home to half of the world’s surviving mountain gorillas in your economical Uganda destinations.

The park is a dense primeval forest in Uganda’s distant southwest, on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Africa’s oldest and most ecologically diversified rainforest, is a well-preserved slice of nature that has remained mostly untouched to date.

The Batwa, Uganda’s original people, are thought to have lived in this forest for 400,000 years, and many still do. In 1932, the park was established as Crown Forest Reserves; in 1964, it was renamed Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve; and in 1991, it was classified as a national park and called Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The dense ground cover of ferns and vines, as well as vast bamboo and forest hardwoods, make direct entry to the forest on foot difficult. Bwindi means impenetrable.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a complex ecology within the forest, home to 120 animal species, including 10 primates, 346 bird species, and more than 200 butterfly species. Under the heavy canopy of trees, forest pigs, forest elephants, and a variety of primates may be found. The park’s Afro-montane forest is home to approximately 200 tree species, 1,000 blooming plants, and 100 fern species, many of which are unique to East Africa. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is still best renowned for its gorillas, gorilla trekking, and gorilla habituation activities, which have been available since 2016.

A gorilla encounter in Bwindi, home to roughly 400 gorillas and half of the world’s total gorilla population is unquestionably the highlight of any vacation to Uganda. The Uganda Wildlife Authority manages the park, which is divided into four sections.

3. Buhoma

Your Gorilla Trekking adventure has arrived; hopefully, your camera is charged and you are prepared for the adventure ahead. You’ll be transferred to the Park Headquarters for a briefing with Uganda Wildlife Authority guides if you get up early. An advanced group of guides will have gone into the jungle the night before to determine where the gorillas spent the night before and begin tracking their movements in your momentous Uganda destinations. The excursion into the jungle will commence when these guides connect with your crew through a walkie-talkie. Depending on how far the gorillas have migrated from where they spent the night before, finding them might take a few hours or a whole day.

The time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour for conservation reasons. As you walk through the forest, you’ll understand why it’s considered impenetrable. There are also a variety of other creatures to see, such as antelopes and unique monkeys, not to mention the natural beauty of the forest. You will return to the lodge after completing the trip for well-deserved relaxation and time to reflect on a very amazing experience. After your hike, you’ll have plenty of time to unwind at your lodge or go for a light exploring walk if you’re feeling up to it.

4. Kampala

The Buganda Kingdom’s rulers and the royal family are buried at the Kasubi Tombs. Kasubi Tombs were classified by UNESCO because of their historical value to the monarchy. With its beautiful grass-thatched house, which was initially erected for Kabaka Mutesa I as a palace in 1882 and was repurposed into a burial place following his death two years later, a visit to the tombs gives tourists the sense of being in a rural community.

Colorful crafts markets, also known as crafts villages, dot Kampala, selling a diverse range of colorful items including prints, baskets, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and more. While some are permanent, such as the Crafts Village outside the National Theatre and the Crafts Centre on Buganda Road, others, such as one in Makindye and one in front of the Railway Station, are weekly and monthly. Interact with the artists and even request that they create something specifically for you.

The Uganda Museum, which opened in 1908, is East Africa’s oldest museum. The museum celebrates Uganda’s cultural history, with ethnological and natural-historical exhibits that serve as a vivid reminder of the country’s colorful past. It also includes a free-to-play assortment of traditional musical instruments.

The art gallery scene in Kampala is thriving, with a plethora of skilled artists displaying remarkable and unusual works of art, including paintings, crafts, prints, and more. As you shop for anything for your house or a loved one, consider supporting an artist. Asante Art Gallery is a great venue for artists and art enthusiasts to promote and show their work.

A boda boda is the most genuine method to destinations about the metropolis. A boda boda is a motorbike taxi that will drive you around every nook and cranny of the city, sparing you the trouble of climbing the numerous hills and allowing you to explore the city from various vantage points quickly and easily.

Wandegeya Market is located in Kampala’s school district. This market, which has a young air, offers stores, salons, fresh fruit, and offices. It’s also home to the renowned Rolex and TV Chicken, two iconic Kampala street dishes that include an omelet, raw tomatoes, grilled chicken with fries, and a variety of veggies including cabbages, tomatoes, carrots, and green pepper. If you go to Wandegeya for anything, you should go for the Rolex or the TV Chicken, or both in your awesome Uganda travel.

5. Entebbe

The time has finally come for you to go Chimpanzee Trekking! After a briefing at the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters at Kayanchu Gate, your trekking party will travel into the bush with a guide. An advance party of guides will have entered the forest about an hour before your group departs to find where the Chimpanzees spent the night in your adventurous Uganda destinations. When the advance party has been discovered, they will send a radio message to your trekking group so that you can navigate through the jungle.

Throughout the trip, you will encounter a variety of birds, animals, and plant species that live in the forest. You can only spend one hour with the Chimpanzees after you’ve found them. This guarantees that the Chimpanzees don’t develop acclimated to human contact. You’ll begin your journey back to Entebbe after a thrilling adventure with the chimps. The journey will take you from the Kibale Forest National Park in the Tooro Kingdom to the Buganda Kingdom, covering around 350 kilometers and taking 6 hours.

6. Murchison Falls

You’ll pass via Luwero and then stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking; you’ll see both black and white rhinos here.

After tracking, stop at Masindi for lunch, then head to the park, where you will pay for park admission, and drive to the top of the falls, where you will witness numerous species such as warthogs and baboons.

The view from the top of the falls is breathtaking, with the spectacular falls squeezing through the rocks in an 8-meter valley. Take as many pictures as possible. Later, drive to the resort, unwind for the evening, have dinner, and retire for the night.

7. Kibale National Park

Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park, where you will leave the Rwenzururu Kingdom and go through the Tooro Kingdom, stopping in the capital city of Fort Portal before arriving at Kibale, the Primate Capital! Your journey will be around 150 kilometers long and take 3 hours to complete.

The Magombe Swamp, immediately south of Kibale National Park, contains the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Rare creatures and birds, such as the webbed feet sitatunga and the great blue turaco, can be seen during a visit to the refuge. If you don’t spot them, there are still plenty of other creatures to view in the swamp, including bush pigs, black and white colobus monkeys, and over 200 kinds of birds. The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a community-based initiative that helps local inhabitants and promotes a positive relationship between tourism and the communities it impacts.

Kibale Forest National Park is unique in two ways, making it an excellent safari location in Uganda. First, with a record 13 species of primates, the park boasts one of the largest varieties and concentrations of monkeys in any ecosystem in Africa. Second, it is home to 320 bird species, four of which have never been documented in any other Ugandan park. Chimpanzee trekking and bird watching are, unsurprisingly, the two most popular activities in Kibale Forest National Park. In 1932, Kibale Forest National Park was designated as a forest reserve, and in 1993, it was designated as a national park.

It is now one of Africa’s most important research centers. Kibale Forest National Park, in southwestern Uganda, covers 795 square kilometers of lush tropical rainforest mixed with grassland and wetland. It borders Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south, creating a 180-kilometer animal movement corridor between Ishasha in the park’s extreme southern corner and Sebitoli in Kibale’s north.

8. Queen Elizabeth Park

As you travel north from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park, the terrain transforms as you leave the dense forest and enter the wide savannah regions. The traditional homesteads and farms that characterize this area will become apparent. The park’s southern part, also known as the Ishasha sector, will be your entry point; the journey will take around 70 kilometers and 2 hours in your memorable Uganda destinations.

Soak up the gorgeous landscapes, and there’s a superb opportunity you’ll see wonderful wildlife together with lots of elephants, and probably, in the event, you’re fortunate, a leopard like this one.

A game drive in the Ishasha district will allow you to observe the famed tree-climbing lions that hang out of enormous fig trees. No one knows for sure why lions in this area climb trees, although there are a number of possibilities. The park is home to a variety of animals, including lions. This region of the park is also home to large herds of Uganda Kob, Hippos, Elephants, and Antelope, making it a perfect spot to see the park’s wildlife at its best.

The equator passes through Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s only one. The Ruwenzori and Virunga mountain ranges, to its north and south, provide a magnificent background. The Kazinga Channel runs through the park, linking two Great Lakes, Edward and George, and the park’s northern half is filled with tranquil crater lakes and bubbling hot springs sculpted into rolling green hills in your unforgettable Uganda destinations. There are three sections to Queen Elizabeth National Park: The Mweya Peninsula is the center of tourist activity, with Kyambura Gorge to the east and Ishasha to the south.

The tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha plains in the southwest are legendary, while habituated chimpanzees steal the show in the spectacular Kyambura Gorge. Visitors have the best chance of spotting wildlife on the Mweya peninsula and the Kasenyi plains. The park was first gazetted as a reserve called Kazinga National Park in 1964, in honor of the reigning Queen Elizabeth of England’s coronation. It is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which is a protected area that exemplifies the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature.

9. Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is located in northern Uganda, northwest of Kampala, and encompasses a variety of districts both inside and beyond the Bunyoro escarpment, including Nwoya, Masindi, Kiryandongo, and Buyisa. It is located in the northernmost portions of the Albertine Rift Valley, with the Victoria Nile cutting through its landscape.

Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 73 animal species, including four of the ‘Big Five’: buffaloes, leopards, lions, and elephants (except rhinos), as well as three-quarters of the world’s population of Rothschild giraffes and a healthy population of herbivores that has recently doubled, including Uganda Kobs, all of which can be easily seen on Wildlife Safari Tours here. Its lush woods are home to a variety of primates, including the Budongo, one of over 610 chimps, and 451 bird species, including 23 Albertine rift endemics.

The park’s rich plant cover, which includes woods, savannah, and riverine forests, supports a large variety of animals that may be easily observed on several safari itineraries, such as the 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari. The Uganda Kobs, Hartebeests, Lions, Elephants, Leopards, Rothschild Giraffes, Buffaloes, Cheetahs, and Hyenas are only a few examples. Birders will enjoy the park’s diversity of species, which includes the uncommon shoebill stork, Goliath heron, yellow-footed flycatcher, African jacana, Abyssinian ground hornbill, pitta, pied giant, and malachite kingfisher, among others.

Cultural Visits: Sit by a campfire and enjoy thrilling lively cultural dances by the Mubako, village tours to view the villagers’ traditional lifestyle and the Boomu Women’s Group’s crafts shop.

Chimpanzee Tracking: The beautiful woodland of Budongo is home to some of Uganda’s top Chimpanzee Tracking Tours. You’ll get up and personal with these magnificent animals.

At daybreak, take a hot air balloon ride over the park’s stunning terrain and a vast number of animals.

Birding: There are a variety of species to see, including Albertine Rift endemics, water birds, and savanna woodland birds. Birders will undoubtedly be rewarded. During the launch cruise and wildlife drives, you may go bird viewing.

10. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

This private non-profit organization was founded in 2005 to help Uganda’s white rhino population recover after decades of poaching decimated the species in the Murchison Falls and Kidepo National Parks, where they formerly thrived. At this refuge, there are now twenty-two southern white rhinos.

11. Kazinga Channel

The Kazinga Channel shoreline in Queen Elizabeth National Park attracts a variety of wildlife since it is the park’s closest and most accessible water feature. Kazinga Waterway is located in the Kasese district, within Queen Elizabeth National Park, approximately 420 kilometers from Kampala. Its terrain is estimated to be 914 meters above sea level.

It is a 32-kilometer (20-mile) long natural canal that connects two freshwater lakes, Lake George and Lake Edward. The Kazinga Channel is the most prominent feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park. North Kazinga and the Kasenyi Plains are the two portions of the Kazinga waterway. Both portions of the Kazinga Canal are excellent places to see wildlife, and the Kasenyi Plains are perfect for lion tracking in your charming Uganda destinations.

On its northern coast, beneath Mweya Peninsular, the Kazinga Canal is bordered by a wetland. The Kazinga Channel Wetland is registered and protected under the Ramsar Convention on Wetland Conservation in Africa. Crocodiles, various bird species, water, and land Statunga antelopes, and waterbucks, among others, call the wetland home.

When chased from their herds, the aged buffaloes seek refuge on the Kazinga Channel’s beach. Several individual buffaloes may be seen bathing in mad during the Mweya Boat Cruise. Wallowing is the term for “mad bathing.” Buffaloes and other wild animals wallow in a rage to clear themselves of ticks and other biting insects.

Most animals quench their thirst on the Kazinga channel in the afternoon lunchtime, and you may see elephants, buffaloes, monitor lizards, and the world’s largest reptile, the huge monitor lizard. On the eastern side, the Kazinga channel is surrounded by Lake George; Lake George is one of Uganda’s largest freshwater lakes, with several tributaries flowing from Mount Rwenzori, and it encompasses over 2000 square kilometers. The drainage of Kazinga Channel and the neighboring Lake Edward is handled by Lake George.

During the boat ride, you will get the opportunity to view fishing communities such as Kasenyi Plains, which are located on the banks of the stream. Fishermen cleaning their fishing nets in the river may be seen from the boat. Small boys can also be seen catching fish using a more primitive and traditional method: hook fishing. When you look across the stream to the fishing villages, you’ll see fishermen fixing their boats and women repairing fishing nets so they can be used again.

12. Gorilla Tracking

In Uganda, gorilla trekking is possible all year. The months of June, July, August, September, and December are the finest for gorilla trekking. This is due to the fact that there are fewer rains and the parks are drier, making hiking and viewing gorillas easier. Throughout the year, the average temperature in Bwindi is 11°C/52°F in the morning and 23°C/73°F in the afternoon.

Lowland gorillas are smaller, with brownish-gray fur and a pronounced forehead ridge, whereas mountain gorillas are bigger, with deeper black fur and a distinct brow ridge. Mountain gorillas are the rarest primates on the planet, with only around 800 remaining in the wild in Africa.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are the two parts of Uganda that provide gorilla safaris. There are 18 gorilla groups or families in all, and you can only follow one of them every day.

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to 17 gorilla groups, making it the ideal spot to watch gorillas in the wild. The ancient forest of Bwindi is home to 90 animal species, including 11 primates, notably the black and white colobus monkey.

13. Batwa Pygmy Community

The last members of the endangered Batwa Pygmy tribe, which previously thrived in the area, live on the outskirts of the national park. A visit to their village is not only an opportunity to learn more about this hunter-gatherer culture’s traditional forest customs but also a way to show support for a people whose old way of life has been nearly wiped out by civilization.

Only about 3000 Batwa remain now, living in abject poverty in temporary grass-hut settlements and constantly fearing eviction. They’ve struggled to adjust to changing circumstances as a marginalized minority cut off from mainstream culture, with restricted access to jobs, education, and healthcare. Other Ugandans see them as outsiders, and they are frequently ostracized, bullied, or worse. Tourists pay at least $600 to see gorillas in the adjacent Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, but the Batwa, who were evicted from this area to make space for their protection, receive no money.

The Batwa have never been personally involved in the management of their own tourist ventures. Previously, they were considered as little more than tourist traps by unscrupulous foreigners who profited from bringing visitors in while giving nothing back to the locals they exploited. They are, however, regaining control today.

14. Lake Bunyony

Lake Bunyonyi is one of my favorite bodies of water. This location has something special about it, surrounded by limitless hills and tens of little green islands! It appears to be an alien location, and the lush vegetation gives the impression that you are not in Africa. It might potentially be Asia, with its rice fields, but the pine trees would appear out of place. North America is also an option, but given that you are only 200 kilometers from the equator, it will be far too hot.

Overall, this location is very unique, a major highlight in Uganda that you should not miss! We’ll be here for three days and two nights, spending most of our time reading, kayaking, and doing nothing. Our first trip after picking up our rental car in Kampala is Lake Bunyonyi in your adventurous Uganda destinations. We’ve leased camping equipment in addition to the car, so we’ll be sleeping in a tent and cooking our own food on a gas stove. We sip red wine from metal camping cups after supper and then go into our tent early.

The water of Lake Bunyonyi is noted for its purity. There are no hippos (life-threatening animals) here, as there are in many other Ugandan lakes. The water is extremely clean, and swimming is possible. Because of the numerous islands, kayaking is an excellent way to explore the lake.

Viewing Lake Bunyonyi from a higher vantage point is a necessity. There are hills everywhere around the lake, and if you climb high enough, you can see the water, little islands, and infinite hills. Because Hotel Arcadia Lodges is so high, it’s the ideal spot to view the sunset over the lake while sipping a drink.

A tiny island near the town of Rutinda offers zip lining, kayaking, and a High Ropes Parcour. You may also stay the night here; for more information, go here to your thrilling Uganda destinations. However, the most important thing to do here is to relax and do nothing. Read a book or drift away on a hammock while taking in nature and the calm and quiet around you. Lake Bunyonyi is the ideal spot to get away from the throng and simply relax!