A safari in Uganda is one of the best trips to enjoy wildlife viewing in Africa. This is not due to high wildlife numbers like in Tanzania, South Africa and Kenya but the diversity of wildlife you can see on a single safari. Uganda is a great place hosting incredible wild animals including gorillas, chimpanzees, over 10 species of monkeys, and more.
Mountain gorilla tracking
Uganda is the best destination for gorilla trekking on the entire planet. Mountain gorillas in Uganda live in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in southwestern Uganda. Bwindi impenetrable has the highest mountain gorilla population estimated at 480 with 18 habituated mountain gorilla families. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on the other hand has only one mountain gorilla family. Each of the mountain gorilla groups is tracked by strictly 8 tourists everyday spending with it an hour.
Mountain gorillas can be best tracked in the dry season in the months of December to January and from June to September. Mountain gorilla tracking permits are sold at US$700 during the peak season and US$450 in April, May and November.
Recently introduced in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s Rushaga sector is the mountain gorilla habituation experience. There are two gorilla groups that are currently undergoing habituation and only 4 tourists are allowed to be part of this great adventure where tourists are allowed to stay in the presence of the mountain gorillas for 4 full hours getting to know more about them and observing the gorilla habituation experience. The permits for the gorilla habituation experience are sold at US$1500 per person.
Game Viewing
This can be done in the major savanna national park that Uganda has. The popular Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda has a variety of wild animals like elephants, tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, hippos and crocodiles along the Kazinga channel, buffaloes, chimpanzees in the Kyambura gorge forest, Topi’s and many others. Murchison falls national park also in western Uganda is also a home to a number of wild animals including buffaloes, African elephants, Nile crocodiles, hartebeests, giraffes and many others. These can be viewed while on game drives or on boat cruises along the Nile.
The Kidepo Valley National Park situated in the extreme northeastern Uganda is another unique wildlife destination and among the best game viewing destinations in Uganda with a variety of wild animals like cape buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, elephants, zebras, cheetahs and many others.
Birding
Uganda the pearl of Africa is blessed with a number of bird species. Currently over 1000 birds’ species have been recorded including those that cannot be found in any other place on the African continent. Some of the most rare birds in Uganda include the shoebill stork that lives in the swampy areas. Other birds that can be sighted include Turacos, skimmers, falcons, hornbills, Egrets, eagles and many others. These are usually seen along water bodies, swamps, forests, while others keep flying in the air.
Chimpanzee Tracking And Habituation Experience
This is usually done Kibale forest national park, which is located in western Uganda. This national park has the highest chimpanzee population in the world and it’s on such basis that it was named the primate capital of east Africa. Chimpanzee tracking is the most done adventure wildlife activity in this national park. Tourists going for chimpanzee tracking are expected to be at the national park headquarters early in the morning for briefing after which they are directed along the various tracking trails in search of the chimpanzees.
Tourists going for chimpanzee tracking usually come back by midday. The chimpanzee habituation experience on the other hand is a full day activity that starts very early in the morning at 7:00 am ending in the evening. The chimpanzee habituation experience gives tourists a greater chance to spend more time with the chimpanzees and get to learn more about them.
Chimpanzee tracking permits are sold at $150 and the chimpanzee habituation experience permits are sold at $220. Tourists need to however book early enough.
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