BOAT CRUISE ON THE KAZINGA CHANNEL
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Embark on a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel through the Queen Elizabeth National Park, the most popular safari destination in Uganda, spanning the equator and home to over 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species.
Head out on the water for the opportunity to see hippos yawning in the water and a huge variety of water birds, as well as plenty of wildlife visiting the water to drink. Witness fauna such as buffalo, elephant, zebra, topi, water buck, reed buck, bush buck, swamp antelope, mongoose, duiker, spotted hyena, warthog and forest hog.
BOAT TRIP ON LAKE MBURO
Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda
Take a boat trip on Lake Mburo in the Lake Mburo National Park, Western Uganda. These have to be booked in advance with the lodge but provide guests with a brilliantly unique way of viewing game.
Need to be booked in advance but a boat trip on Lake Mburo is great fun. Hippos and crocodile are aplenty and with any luck you might see a leopard coming down to the lake to drink. Trips take approximately 2 hours and can make a nice change from game drives in safari vehicles.
CHIMP TREKKING
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Kyambura Gorge, also known as the ‘Valley of Apes’, is the only place in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, in the south-west of Uganda, where you can go chimpanzee trekking, in an incredible tropical-rainforest setting right by the Equator line.
The Kyambura Gorge is home to a wide diversity of wildlife, including the only chimpanzees within the Queen Elizabeth National Park. It took a two-year process for the chimpanzees to become familiar with humans and continue their daily activities around them so now visitors can trek through this incredibly tropical forest and watch them in their natural habitat. Sadly reports state that there are only sixteen remaining chimpanzees in this impressive valley that is approximately 1km across and about 100 metres deep. There are also plenty of other primates including red-tailed monkey, black-and-white-colobus, baboon and vervet monkey.
GAME DRIVES – QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Embark on game drives through Queen Elizabeth National Park, understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination, set against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains, with the Kazinga Channel flowing through the park.
Climb up into a 4WD safari vehicle and head off into the Queen Elizabeth National Park for exhilarating game drives tracking elephants, buffaloes, lion, antelope and many other types of wildlife. With over 95 mammal species and around 612 species of birds, this park of bushy grassland, acacia woodland, lake, swamp vegetation and forest grassland has all the variety you could ask for. The tracks that go through Kasenyi, the North Kazinga Plains and the Ishasha Sector offer virtually guaranteed game sightings of buffalo, antelope, elephant, warthog and baboons. With your experienced guide you can also track prides of lion or maybe the elusive leopard on your morning or evening game drives.
GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the highlight of visits to Uganda, to see the fascinating mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
The Mountain Gorillas in Uganda cannot be seen in any zoo anywhere in the world due to their endangered status and inability to survive in captivity. They can only be found in the wild in Africa, in the mountains straddling Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. There are only about 786 mountain gorillas left in the world and about half of them can be found in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Mountain Gorillas still seem to many an almost mythical species, not known about by humans until 1902. To be able to go and trek through this impressive mountain wilderness in search of these amazing creatures is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done all year round although most people tend to go from June to September or December to February in order to avoid the rainy seasons.
There are strict gorilla tracking rules which include a maximum number of 8 visitors may visit a group of habituated mountain gorillas in a day. This minimizes behavioural disturbance to the gorillas and the risk of their exposure to human-borne diseases. There is also a minimum age requirement of 15. People are also not allowed to trek the gorillas if they are at all sick.
HOT AIR BALLOONING IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Soar over Queen Elizabeth National Park in your very own hot air balloon, taking in the incredible morning views of this diverse park. Spot wildlife from above, then return to land for a tasty bush breakfast.
Take off from the northern park gate for an early morning hot air balloon safari. Survey the magnificent Queen Elizabeth National Park as it spreads out below you, and experience safari from a unique perspective. After marvelling at the spectacular views, return to land and enjoy a private bush breakfast.
By special request, hot air ballooning is available in Ishasha, in the southern area of the park.
TOP OF THE FALLS WALK
Murchison Falls, Uganda
Hike to the top of Murchison Falls for a spectacular view of the Nile, its rapids, and the immense force of the water being pushed through the falls. Survey the river after its exciting journey, now calm and tranquil on its way to the Lake Albert Delta.
For a different perspective, visit the top of Murchison Falls, and watch as the Nile is forced through this narrow gap in the rocks. For those looking for even more adventure, it is also possible to hike down the side of the gorge, a hot and steep trek, but ultimately worthwhile for the incredible views you will be rewarded with!