Uganda is an incredible travel and tourism destination rooted in the east of the African continent. The country is endowed with a variety of eye-catching destinations scattered all over her regions.

From the breathtaking diverse array of landscapes of the Rwenzori mountains to the captivating wildlife species including the big 5 and the mountain gorillas, there is always something for everyone to enjoy in the country. Uganda boasts of a good weather that makes her an ideal destination for a vacation and uninterrupted exploration.

The exceptional cultural heritage of the country also sets it apart and adds up another layer of adventure to the experiences travelers get when they visit.

Gorilla trekking is one of the most exciting tourist activities travellers usually indulge in when in the Pearl of Africa. The activity presents opportunities for travellers to watch the endangered mountain gorillas in their naturalistic habitat.

The gorillas live in families of about 10 to 20 individuals and sometimes can even go up to 40. Visitors to the country have the golden opportunity to explore their habitat and observe the fascinating behaviours of the individuals therein up close.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks that is to say Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable national parks.

Mgahinga national park.

Mgahinga National Park is one of the conservation areas in Uganda blessed host the exhilarating mountain gorillas. Mgahinga lies on an area of about 33.9 square kilometers in the southwest of Uganda in the virunga massif.  The virunga conservation area is a renowned concentration of various primates though the mountain gorillas are the most highlighted.

Mgahinga takes its name from a Rukiga word “Gahinga” which means a pile of volcanic stones when translated to English. It is a well deserving name to the National Park due to its likelihood especially in the diverse landscapes. Mgahinga spans 3 of the 8 volcanoes in the massif that is to say Mt Sabyinyo, Muhabura and Gahinga ranges.

They are covered with tropical rainforests and bamboo on their lower slopes, a lush vegetation on the higher slopes that make up an incredible habitat for the mountain gorillas.  Mgahinga National Park is designed to fit the hospitality of every traveller and help all sorts of adventurers explore the mountain gorillas.

The park has a variety of lodges serving it to suit the comfort of travellers, other attractions to ensure that visitors get the most out of their safaris. The experiences obtained from the National Park are indeed worthwhile, a reason why it goes by the tagline “where gold meets silver”.

Bwindi Impenetrable national park.

Housing Africa’s oldest tropical rainforest, Bwindi impenetrable National Park is another attractive icon to look out for when in Uganda. The National Park is renowned for its richness in biodiversity and a strong collection of ecosystems that make it a perfect home to the world’s most endangered species of gorillas that is to say the mountain gorillas.

The park is home to 21 fully habituated mountain gorillas that visitors can check out any day of the year since the park is always open to visits. Every day is a day for an adventure in Bwindi impenetrable National Park. Visitors should however find it crucial to note that only eight people are allowed to meet each gorilla family on a daily basis.

This therefore makes it important for one to book permits in advance for a favourable date. The regulation was put in place to ensure that the habitat is not exploited beyond importance by the masses and also not trigger but tolerance of the gorillas.

Bwindi spans an area of approximately 331 square kilometres in the southwest of Uganda in Kanungu district. It lies in the albertine region on the escarpments of the great East African Rift Valley.

From the captivating landscapes covered with towering rainforests to the beautiful primate species hosted therein, Bwindi is indeed a dream come true for the nature lovers and travellers seeking adventure in the most unexplored areas on the African continent.

For one to have the opportunity to trek the gorillas in Uganda, they ought to have a gorilla trekking permit obtained from the authorities. The permits can be obtained through registered tour operators. The visitor is required to pay according to their nationality.

The permits are charged at a non-negotiable fee of $800.00 for the foreign non-residents, $700.00 for the following residence and Uganda shillings 300,000 for the East African citizens. The permits are presented to the authorities on the day of drinking just before one is allowed in the jungle to go and meet the exciting mountain gorillas.

Golden monkey trekking. Visitors to Uganda can also indulge in the golden monkey trekking adventure. This can only be done in Mgahinga National Park that hosts plenty individuals of this exciting species.

Nature walks. Nature walks are conducted in most conservation areas in Uganda. They equip visitors with the feeling of reconnecting with nature and getting to feel the cool breeze in the ecosystems.  Nature walks are usually conducted under the guidance of Ranger guides who ensure that travellers are safe as they explore the pearl. They are done in Lake Mburo national park, Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Ruwenzori mountains national park to mention but a few.

Mountain hikes. Mountain hiking is yet another exciting adrenaline pushing activity that travelers can indulge in when in Uganda. The activity presents a thrilling adventure of exploring the heights in the breathtaking landscapes of the nation. Mountain hiking is usually conducted in Mgahinga, Rwenzori mountains, Elgon and Kidepo national parks

Boat cruises. The boat cruises present the experience of floating on magnificent water bodies as travelers get immersed in the beauty of various ecosystems in the country. Boat cruises enable visitors to explore more of their conservation areas since visitors get to reach in areas where they cannot go on foot and on game drives.  Boat cruises are conducted on the magnificent water bodies especially in the national parks of Murchision falls, lake Mburo, Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park and on Lake Victoria.

Hot air balloon safaris. This exciting activity presents the thrilling adventure of flying above the diverse landscapes in national parks. Visitors get the opportunity to observe more of the national parks endowments and get to places where they couldn’t get on land. Floating in the skies in the golden hour amidst the views of various wildlife species is an experience that is indeed worthwhile and every traveler should have a lifetime. Hot air ballooning safaris are conducted in Murchison falls National Park.

Game drives. Game drives are conducted in various national Parks and Wildlife reserves across the country. They help travelers get close encounters with animals and observe their fascinating behaviors ranging from mating, hunting habits and their coexistence with other species of animals. This is indeed a life changing opportunity as the travelers get to learn and unlearn several things about the animals. Game drives are conducted in Kidepo valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison falls National Park and in the game reserves.

Cultural encounters. Uganda is celebrated for its rich cultural diversity. The country is a home to 69 tribes with each tribe having different cultures and traditions. Visitors to the country enjoy the entertainment and getting lost in the folklore and experiencing the various ways of life that the tribes live.

The most iconic tribes in the country that get visitors excited are the indigenous Batwa people. These are a fascinating group of people since they have an uncommon way of life. They coexist with the gorillas in Bwindi forest and other various forests in the south West of the country. A visit to their homesteads leaves most visitors in awe.

Chimpanzee trekking.

This is yet another exciting adventure that cannot miss mention. The activity is carried out in the moist evergreen tropical rainforests in the country. Visitors have the opportunity to meet various chimpanzee families and enjoy watching them up close. Travelers get to learn about the various behaviors of the chimpanzees and get beautiful photographs of them that remind them of their exciting time in the country.  Chimpanzee trekking is done in Budongo forest reserve, Kibale forest national park, Kyambura gorge and Kalinzu forest.

Best time to do a safari in Uganda.

For one to have the most untroubled experiences on a safari in Uganda, it is highly advisable to always travel to the country in the times when the rains are low. Dry seasons are characterized by favorable temperatures for the average human body. The low rainfall enables vehicles to traverse through the diversity terrains in the various regions of the country unlike in the rainy seasons when some roads are impassable especially in the national parks.

Dry seasons in Uganda are usually on from June to September and from December to late February.