Top Things to Do in Uganda
1.GORILLA TRACKING IN BWINDI IMPENETRATABLE RAIN FOREST
Gorilla tracking ranks among one of the absolute highlights of a trip to Africa for most travelers, and the terrifying feeling that you get being so near to one of our closest relatives is hard to describe though some people say its wonderful and amazing. Mountain Gorillas are one of the world’s most endangered apes. It is expected that there are only about 880 left throughout the world. But half of them can be found in Uganda, and populations can also be found in neighbouring Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sharing over 98% of their DNA with Humans, Gorillas display uncanny human characteristics. The close-knit family groups are headed by the Silverback- a mature male who selects places for the group to eat and sleep, and has many previlege including the right to feed first. He is the group defender when threatened where he can defend them to Death if necessary. They are also gentle, highly intelligent and have been observed using tools like other great apes and communicate using a variety of vocal sounds.
Best time to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking is during the country’s two dry seasons: January and February and from June to September. However game viewing in Uganda’s savannah parks is best at the end of the dry seasons – February and March and September/early October – when wildlife is concentrated around water sources. Bird watching is fantastic all year round but is at its peak between November and April when migrant species are present. We’d recommend avoiding a Uganda safari entirely during the heavy rains of April and May.
Best time to visit Rwanda: The best time to visit Rwanda for a gorilla trek is during the short dry season from mid-December to early February or over the long dry season months of June to September. These periods offer by far the easiest hiking conditions and the lowest malaria risk. The best time to go to Rwanda for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest is during the two rainy seasons – mid-February to early June and mid-September to mid-December – as the apes are easier to locate. Food is harder to find in the dry seasons and the chimp families often range far into the forest interior.
- MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
Covering an area of over 3,840 km², Murchison Falls comprises of Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserves. Spot the BIG FIVE Wonders of the wild. This is where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge and cascades down to become a unruffled river whose banks are thronged with hippos and crocodiles, waterbucks and buffaloes. The vegetation is characterised by savannah, riverine forest and woodland. Wildlife includes lions, leopards, elephants, Buffalos, giraffes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and many bird species with Rhinocerous in the ZIWA Sanctuary just enrout to the park. Morning game drive & afternoon boat cruise are main activities which tourists enjoy during there visit to the park.
- QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
After entering the park we saw lioness climbing a tree, kobs fighting, hippos rafting, zebras passing single file past a group of ostriches, a cheetah by the side of the road and baby elephants nursing and rolling in the dirt. What a treat! No wonder Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most visited game reserve and certainly the most scenic. The park has a big variety of habitats including savanna grassland mixed with various kinds of trees and grassy plains, but also tropical rainforest, different swamps and volcanic features, comprising volcanic cones and deep craters.
Besides while in Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda, a Boat/Launch cruise on the kazinga Channel is not worth missing. The cruise is a thrilling one sighting a blend of mammals and various bird species on the shores while Hippos and crocodile patrol the water. Also you will enjoy spectacular scenery at the Mweya peninsular. For bird Lovers, it’s an excellent place to capture a good number of Bird species using your strong camera and binoculars.
Never miss out an excellent place to sight large game, track the chimpanzees in the Kyambura Gorge, go bird watching on the Kazinga Channel, and see the famous tree climbing lions in Ishasha.
Do not forget to visit the salt lake within the park and see especially women working hard to make ends meet as they search for solified salt crystals, cleaning it and bagging for salt to already waiting truck traders. Can you Imagine a cup of Milk tea is more expensive than Water tea at the salting site?. Uganda truly the Pearl of Africa with Hospitable communities and smiling faces all round and wherever you go!