Uganda, the Pearl of Africa is naturally endowed with numerous tourist attractions located in all corners of the country. Everywhere you go in Uganda, something magical awaits you!. However, some tourist attractions and activities have outcompeted the others. These are the MUST visit for every traveler on a Uganda Safari. Among the Must Visit travel attractions in Uganda include among others:
• Mountain Gorillas
Inhabited in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Mountain gorillas are the iconic attractions in Uganda. Over 60% of travelers to Uganda visit to trek gorillas rewarding them with a lifetime experience. Mountain gorilla trekking is ranked as the best wildlife experience in the world, a dream come true for most travelers on African Safaris. Uganda is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas, which make it the premier gorilla safari destination. Uganda gorilla permits cost $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African residents. A gorilla habituation experience permit costs $1500 allowing you to spend four hours with the gorillas.
• Chimpanzees
Chimpanzee safaris are among top safari experiences in Uganda. YES, a chimpanzee trekking safari to Kibale Forest offers you a close encounter with the man’s closest relatives in their natural habitats. Other places to see chimpanzees in Uganda are Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, and Kalinzu Forest. A Uganda chimpanzee trekking permit costs $200 for Foreign non residents, $150 for foreign residents, and UGX 150,000 for East African Residents. All bookings are done through African Apes Holidays or directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
• Game Safaris
Go game viewing in the open savannah parks of Uganda. African Apes Tours offer you guided game drives in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Semliki Valley National Park. Morning and evening game drives offer you spectacular views of various wild animals such as buffalos, Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Giraffes, Uganda Kobs, Waterbucks, Warthog’s, Impalas, Hippos and Hyenas among others.
• Mountain Climbing
Join our adventurous Uganda mountaineering safaris to the summit of Mount Rwenzori (Mountains of the moon), Mt Elgon and the Virunga Volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Hike to the snowcapped Margarita peak of Mt Rwenzori which offers you scenic views of local communities, Virunga Volcanoes, National Parks and all attractions in the neighboring countries. A 10 Days Mount Rwenzori hiking safari is the recommended package to reach the summit of this iconic mountain.
• Golden Monkeys
Visit to see the endangered golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park southwestern Uganda. It’s only in Mgahinga that travelers get a close encounter with the playful and lively golden monkeys. A permit to trek golden monkeys in Uganda costs $100 inclusive of par entrance fees, conservation, and rangers fee. Golden monkey trekking starts at the Ntebeko information center preceded by a simple briefing. African Apes Tours & Travel helps you book a golden money trekking tour at affordable rates. If you have limited time, you can fly into Kigali Rwanda and cross to Mgahinga via Cyanika border in Kisoro district.
• Birds
Being home to over 1070 bird species, Uganda is a premier bird-watching destination in Africa. The Pearl of Africa is home to the famous shoebills stork mostly seen in Mabamba wetland short distance from Entebbe International Aiport. The top birding spots in Uganda include Bwindi Forest, Kazinga channel Lake Mburo, Murchison Falls, Semliki Valley, Lake Bunyonyi, Mabira Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The iconic birds in Uganda include Handsome Francolin, Blue qual, Common quail, Yellow cheeked Francolin, Moorland Francolin, Crested Francolin, Jackson’s Francolin, Scaly Francolin, Orange River Francolin, African Jacana, Black bee-eater, Ituri Batis, Masked Apalis, Olive Long-tailed cuckoo, yellow-billed stork, Papyrus gonolok,, red chested owlet and white-naped pigeon.
• Culture
Uganda’s diverse cuture is an exceptional safari package worth exploring on your Uganda safari. Uganda is comprised of over 50 tribes each of which is different in terms of culture, norms and traditions. The most visited cultural communities in Uganda are the Batwa pygmies who are the former dwellers of Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These very short people lived for 1000s of years with wild animals especially the mountain gorillas in harmony. Batwa depended fully on the forests for hunting, fruit gathering and the honey collection as their source of food and livelihood. However, after the introduction of gorilla trekking in Uganda, Batwa pygmies were relocated to the forest borders where they currently. The Batwa cultural trail in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park gives you a clear understanding of Batwa’s traditional forest life. More so, visit Kamajongo pastoralists in Kidepo Valley National Park to enjoy and experience their traditions and norms.
The above-listed tourist attractions are a must-visit for every traveler on a Uganda safari if you want to have a memorable experience. Contact African Apes Tours today, book your Uganda safari, and enjoy the natural beauty of Africa’s Pearl.
