An East African Safari: Four Countries. One Continent. Myriad Discoveries.
An East African safari conjures up visions of ancient sepia-stained maps, pirates plundering, and safari plinths donned by the explorers of yore. The modern spirit of East Africa that now thrives has eclipsed a past peppered with conflict and colonialism. We take you on a […]
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Experiencing the Big 5 from Land, Water and Sky
Africa’s so incredible and vast that you have to see it multiple times – and from different perspectives! Experiencing a Big 5 safari in real life stirs you deeply, and seeing these world-renowned creatures in their natural habitat is a true treat. I still remember […]
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5 Things You Never “Gnu” About The Great Wildebeest Migration
It’s the dreaded moment for all introverts: the awkward lull in conversation begging to be filled at a party. But fear not, for the Great Wildebeest Migration is coming to your rescue! Let these lesser-known facts be the saviour of your dinner conversations and impress your friends […]
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The Top 5 Things To Do in Uganda
Bananas, Rolexes, boda-bodas and Michelle Pfeiffers. These are some of the things that await visitors to Uganda’s capital, Kampala. Bananas are everywhere you go in Uganda. Everywhere. Often you will see them stacked up impossibly high on top of the equally ubiquitous motorcycle taxis called […]
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Bananas, Rolexes, boda-bodas and Michelle Pfeiffers. These are some of the things that await visitors to Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
Bananas are everywhere you go in Uganda. Everywhere. Often you will see them stacked up impossibly high on top of the equally ubiquitous motorcycle taxis called boda-bodas. Everything and anything is carried by the boda-bodas. Fruit, livestock, bricks, furniture, people – all are piled on. Five people on one boda-boda is a Michelle Pfeiffer. A Rolex is Uganda’s version of a breakfast burrito. It is a rolled up chapati with scrambled eggs in it. That’s where the name “Rolex” comes from, rolled eggs. These quirky idiosyncrasies are a small part of what make Kampala such a vibrant African city and a traveler’s favourite. It is outside of the city, however, in Uganda’s national parks and reserves that travelers are most likely to be charmed.
The Pearl of Africa
As Lonely Planet explains, “Emerging from the shadows of its dark history, a new dawn of tourism has risen in Uganda, polishing a glint back into the ‘pearl of Africa’. Travellers are streaming in to explore what is basically the best of everything the continent has to offer.”
Uganda is home to the Rwenzoris, the tallest mountain range in Africa, which is the source that feeds the Nile, the world’s longest river and Lake Victoria, the continent’s largest lake. The country is also one of the best places in the world to see gorillas and chimpanzees and also has a range of Big 5 game parks with abundant wildlife. This place is a thriving destination with a range of diverse offerings for the more adventurous traveller. These are our top five things to see in Uganda:
What to do in Uganda: Our Top 5
1. Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a national park that is home to almost one-half of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorilla, making it an extremely valuable conservation site and one of Uganda’s chief tourist attractions.
It is situated in the south west of Uganda on the edge of the Great Rift Valley and is considered the most diverse forest in Uganda. Encompassing an ancient and vast stretch of lush rainforest, it is one of the few large expanses of forest in East Africa where lowland and mountain habitats meet.
2. Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale National Park
Kibale is one of the best places in the world to go chimpanzee tracking with about 500 of these primates spread around the park. The chimpanzee tracking tours leave twice a day with an expert guide who will lead you on a trek through the verdant rainforest.
The Kibale forest is rich in wildlife and is most noted for its primate population. Other than chimpanzees, Kibale has populations of red-tailed monkey, diademed monkey, olive baboon, and black and white colobus.
3. Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda is not just about gorillas and chimpanzees. You can also enjoy a traditional East African safari in one of the game parks dotted around the country. The Queen Elizabeth National Park is considered the best option as it contains a wide variety of wildlife and is easily accessible in the western corner of Uganda. The park is famous for its tree climbing lions that can sometimes be spotted resting in the branches of the large fig trees in the area.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located at the base of the Rwenzori Mountains and the views from some of the camps are simply spectacular. The park boasts an array of wildlife such as lion, leopard, elephant, antelope including the native Ugandan kob and the park is home to over 600 bird species which makes up a quarter of Africa’s total birdlife.
4. The Mountains of the Moon
In ancient times, it was reported that the much-debated source of the Nile was a group of massive mountains in East Africa. It was said that the Nile flowed from the mountains into a series of large lakes. The natives called this range the Mountains of the Moon because of their snow-capped whiteness.
These mountains turned out to be the Rwenzoris, which means “maker of rain” in local dialects, which are a dramatic range just to the northwest of Lake Victoria. Their highest peak is Mount Stanley, Africa’s third highest mountain at 5,109m. These mountains experience regular and significant snowfall and hold several significant glaciers. Today these are among the most endangered glacial formations on the planet. These impressive mountains can be admired from afar or, for the more adventurous, can be traversed with challenging multi-day hikes.
In the foothills of the range lie the crater lakes, also called explosion craters, which are extinct volcanoes. These picturesque crater lakes (some over 400m deep), are ringed with improbably steep hills. It’s a great spot to settle in for a few days to explore the footpaths or cycle the seldom-used roads.
5. Murchison Falls
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest and the location of the famous waterfall of the same name. The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which first races down 80km of white-water rapids before squeezing through a narrow gorge, only seven metres wide, to create a spectacular waterfall that plunges 43 metres below. The Murchison Falls, the park’s greatest draw card, drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, slow river that flows quietly across the rift valley floor for 55km to Lake Albert. The river’s banks are thronged with hippos and crocodiles, waterbucks and buffaloes. Wildlife includes lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and many bird species.
Discover the Enchanting World of Uganda’s Endangered Mountain Gorillas
The small group of trekkers crept slowly through the jungle. In the early morning stillness they moved in silence. The only sound the group made was the swoosh swoosh of the machete that forged a path for them to follow. In these tropical conditions, sweat […]
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The small group of trekkers crept slowly through the jungle. In the early morning stillness they moved in silence. The only sound the group made was the swoosh swoosh of the machete that forged a path for them to follow. In these tropical conditions, sweat poured from their bodies and their minds swirled from the heat and humidity. Dianne, one of our consultants, hiked with the group as they crossed rivers and muddy gorges, seeking gorillas. They pushed on through swarms of mosquitoes, up steep hills and under fallen trees into the belly of the jungle, buoyed by the imminent once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the endangered mountain gorillas.
Meet the Gorillas
The guide cut away a clump of vines and entered a clearing. “This is the last known location of the gorilla family. They will be near,” she whispered to the group. They moved through the clearing and back into the thick jungle. Moments later the guide seemed to see something, cut one last branch away and exclaimed in a hushed tone, “there it is, there is a gorilla. A female next to that tree. Look closely!” For many of the wildlife enthusiasts in the group, this was a moment they had been dreaming about for a very long time.
As the group adjusted their vision, leaned forward and scanned the nearby bushes two gorillas crashed loudly through the dense foliage behind them, crossing the same path they had made moments before. The group spun around in unison but were too slow to catch a glimpse. Then, somewhere to their left, came a short, low grunt. The beating of Dianne’s heart reached a crescendo as they frantically searched the jungle for the gorillas they seemed to be surrounded by. They were finally here. They were among the gorillas.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is as enchanting and otherworldly as the name suggests. It is a national park situated in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Great Rift Valley. The park is considered the most diverse forest in Uganda. It encompasses an ancient and vast stretch of lush rainforest and is one of the few large expanses of forest in East Africa where lowland and mountain habitats meet.
Gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
The park contains almost one half of the world’s population of the endangered mountain gorilla. This is making it an extremely valuable conservation site and a popular tourist attraction. After the first frantic minutes, Dianne and her group settled down to spend a precious hour with a family of 15 of these elusive mountain gorillas. “Some of them just hide and are a bit shy so you don’t see them. But most of them were just sitting around and playing in the area we were. The babies were the best!” Dianne lights up at the thought of the adorable infant gorillas with big eyes and fuzzy afros. “The babies were very sweet and curious. We were standing and they were all sitting when one came up and touched one of the girl’s legs. We just stayed still and let it explore.”
“It was very quiet. We would whisper to each other. You sit and stand and watch and take hundreds of photos. The parents stay further away and then come fetch the inquisitive babies when they get too near and steer them away.”
Dianne had six people in her group and was accompanied by two rangers and one guide. There are never more than eight guests in a group which ensures intimate and safe encounters. “The silverback was magnificent and very regal. He is the father of the family and they all tend to stick around him.”
After the hour, they retraced their steps and returned to their camp to reminisce about their thrilling experience.
Encounter Kibale’s chimpanzees
Whilst in Uganda Dianne was also able to go chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest, which is in the western corner of Uganda below the ‘Mountains of the Moon’, the alluring name of the Rwenzori Mountain Range. Kibale is one of the best places in the world to go chimpanzee tracking. The park hosts about 500 of these primates spread around the park. The chimpanzee tracking tours leave twice a day with an expert guide who will lead you on a trek through the lush rainforest.
“Kibale Forest is quite thick and as we travelled in the rainy season, quite muddy. Most guests will do the chimp trek in the morning when the chimps are more active. You are more likely to find them on the ground, instead of high up in the trees like we experienced. It was still amazing to see – they were very active in the treetops so we had a very good sighting. The two rangers that took us on the trek were very knowledgeable and the lead ranger had a good sense of humour.”
Kibale contains pristine lowland tropical rain forest, montane forest, and mixed tropical deciduous forest. In addition to forest, there are also areas of grassland and of swamp. The forest is rich in wildlife and is most noted for its primate population. Other than chimpanzees, Kibale has populations of red-tailed monkey, diademed monkey, olive baboon, and black and white colobus.
“All in all it was a truly wonderful trip. Uganda’s wildlife is so amazing and unique that it makes it a very special place to visit. On top of that, the forests, mountains and lakes are absolutely stunning. I cannot wait to go back.”
Lodging
In Bwindi, Dianne recommends Buhoma Lodge, situated just inside the National Park’s boundary gate, Buhoma offers uninterrupted views of the pristine rain forest canopy. Guests can wake up to tea and coffee on their own private veranda with spectacular views of the morning mist rising off the canopy of Bwindi Forest. The cosy central lounge area with its open fire is the perfect place to unwind after a hard day gorilla tracking.
For Kibale, Dianne recommends staying at Ndali Lodge. “Ndali Lodge was one of my favourites on the trip. Staff are very friendly and attentive and the rooms are spacious and you have a bath with a view!” Ndali Lodge is perched on the rim of an extinct volcano. From this exceptional situation, the cottages offer a panoramic view of the spectacular “Mountains of the Moon”. Dianne says, “the Lodge is a good base for the Chimp Trekking if you stay for 2 or 3 nights. They also offer walks in the area.”
If you want to hear about another travel story among the great apes, you can check the summary of one of our favourite gorilla and chimpanzee trekking adevnture in Rwanda.
If you would like to find out how you too could enjoy an encounter with these endangered primates, please contact us here.
