Gorilla trekking is one of the most amazing tourism activities in Uganda. However, to experience the best of Uganda you must also rightly choose the activities to include in your Uganda gorilla safari. Below are the top ten places that should not miss on your self guided safari in Uganda;
Lake Mburo Walking Tour
Lake Mburo national park is the nearest national park to Kampala the capital of Uganda. The park is mainly known for the diversity of antelopes including but not limited to waterbucks, zebras, bushbucks, Impalas, Kobs among several other wildlife species.
The park is a very good destination for biking, boat cruise and game drives. Instead of spending your ten hours on a drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, it is often better to have Lake Mburo national park as your first stop before you proceeding to Bwindi.
Fort Portal Crater Lakes
Fort portal is Uganda’s tourism city. It is strategically located to access Rwenzori Mountains, Queen Elisabeth national park, Semuliki valley national park and Kibale forest national park.
But besides being a gateway into all these other park, the city also has a number of crater lakes worth exploring for anyone visiting Uganda. It also offers a special cultural experience for the Toro tribe in Uganda.
Semuliki Hotsprings
Semuliki hot springs are found in Semuliki valley national park. Though this park as a diversity of wildlife, it is most popular for the Sempaya hot springs and the Bambuti cultural experience in the same park.
Leaving alone all the other activities that can be carried out in the same park, we highly recommended the Sempaya hot springs tour since it incorporates not only amazing sceneries but also a long line customs and norms rooted in the same area.
Chimpanzee Tracking In Kibale Forest National Park
Uganda is home to two great apes, gorillas and chimpanzees. Though gorilla trekking has overshadowed the primate tracking experience in Uganda, Chimpanzee tracking is another wilderness activity that should not be missed on your gorilla safari to Uganda.
There are several other chimpanzee tracking locations in Uganda including but not limited to Semuliki national park, Budongo forest, Kyambura gorge but Kibale forest national park still remains an exception. In Kibale you always have 99% chances of spotting chimpanzees on any given day of the week.
Game Drive in Ishasha Sector
Great stories have been told and retold of the king of the Jungle. But when it comes to Ishasha sector of Queen Elisabeth national park, there is an exceptional kind of lions; the “tree climbing lions”
It is believed that these lions developed this ability in quest to avoid scavengers who used to feast on their prey. Common of lions, sleeping whole day is part of their hard work. Over time they learnt to rest in the same trees that used to be havens for feasting. Your tour in the Ishasha sector will grant you amazing views of the tree climbing lions.
Rwenzori Mountains Hike
Rwenzori Mountains hosts over 4 of the top ten summits on the African continent. It is mainly known for its rare wildlife species and vegetation. The good news; you do not have to pay a 5-7 days package to experience the Rwenzori.
It is very possible to go for short hikes in the same mountains without worrying about making your gorilla trekking itinerary too hard to execute. Unless you are the kind that wishes to experience snow at the Equator, you would really have to reach the summit during your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.
Batwa Cultural Experience
A lot has been said about gorilla trekking. But in an attempt to preserve the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, the human inhabitants of the same forest have to be shifted from the forest. However much they were, they never lost their culture till now.
After gorilla trekking, it very possible to bundle up your experience with a Batwa cultural encounter in the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park; there are a number of amazing activities that you will witness including but not limited to honey harvesting, hunting among several other activities.
Lake Bunyonyi/Lake Mutanda
There are two gorilla trekking locations in Uganda; Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. Depending on where you go gorilla trekking, you can choose any of the above two lakes to include of your gorilla trekking itinerary in Uganda.
Both lakes offering boat trips, nature walks and community biking experience that a worth every beat of your time.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Ziwa Rhino sanctuary may seem too farfetched for most of the people but if you have been inspired by conservation of the environment to go gorilla trekking, then in the same spirit, you should spare some time to visit Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.
Rhinos are some of the animals that had gone extinct in Uganda, and in effort to reintroduce them into the wild in Uganda, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is breeding rhinos with hope of reintroducing them in the wild.
Boat Cruise To The Bottom Of Murchison Falls
Murchison falls are the strongest waterfalls in Uganda. It is one of the must-visits for anyone visiting Uganda. The trip can be bundled with a game drive with in Murchison falls national park.
