Eco-friendly Uganda safari activities for 2024 to 2026

Visiting Uganda is when you will get the chance to explore the wildlife side of the country and, at the same time, participate in the eco-friendly activities that are offered, including gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, Golden monkey trekking, and many more. Our tours are designed to ensure that tourists get the feel of the wildlife in Uganda and, at the same time, participate in the various eco-friendly safari activities. Below is a list of activities you can participate in 2024 to 2026.

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is one of the eco-friendly activities you can do, and it is carried out in different parts of the country, mainly in Kibale National Park. Other places in Uganda where you can go for a chimpanzee trek safari include Ngamba Island chimpanzee, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo Forest and Kaniyo Pabidi in Murchison Falls National Park, Semuliki, and Kalinzu Forest.

Kibale National Park: located in southwestern Uganda, Kibale National Park is home to over 1500 chimpanzees, making it the best destination for chimp trekking in Uganda. The national park can easily be accessed from either Kampala or Entebbe using both road and air transport, and you have a 90% chance of spotting chimpanzees in Kibale all year round. Trekking chimpanzees in Kibale is carried out twice daily, with one session starting as early as 8:00 am and the second after lunch at 14:00 hours. Kibale also offers chimpanzee habituation experiences, which can take the whole day. You must purchase permits for the chimpanzee trek and habituation process and ensure you do this in advance.

Kyambura Gorge: Also known as the Valley of Apes, Kyambura Gorge is found in Queen Elizabeth National Park and is the third-best chimpanzee trekking destination in the country. It was formed after centuries of erosion and, with the dense forests, became home to the chimpanzees. 

Kyambura Gorge has about 17 habituated chimpanzees, and you have a 60% chance of spotting the chimpanzees in Kyambura. A visit to Kyambura Gorge is usually an added safari for Queen Elizabeth National Park tourists.

Budongo forest: Located within Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo forest is one of Uganda's chimpanzee trekking destinations. You have an 80% chance of seeing chimpanzees during your trek in Budongo. Although it has fewer chimpanzees than Kibale, it is still a good destination for an eco-friendly safari in Uganda. It is an excellent place to spot chimpanzees for tourists who prefer fewer crowds, but you will still need a permit to participate in chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest.

Semuliki Wildlife Reserve: Semuliki Wildlife Reserve is located in Western Uganda and has the smallest chimpanzee population in the country. It is hard to track chimpanzees in Semuliki because the vast and sparse vegetation means that the chimps roam free, making it hard to locate them. However, there is a research program where researchers are trying to find the connection between chimps using two legs to walk.

Kaniyo Pabidi: Kaniyo Pabidi is also located in Murchison Falls National park near the Kichumbanyobo gate. Its untouched wilderness is home to chimpanzees, but they are scarcely seen since they are always on the move. During the chimpanzee trek in Kaniyo Pabidi, you will also be able to spot other wildlife, including bird species and monkeys.

Kalinzu Forest is home to over 320 chimpanzees, 50 of which are habituated and ready for tracking. It is located near Queen Elizabeth National Park in Bushenyi. Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu starts early in the morning with a briefing. Subsequently, you head to the trek trails to start tracking chimpanzees. This exercise can take 30 minutes to 4 hours. Once you meet the chimpanzees, you will spend an hour with them studying their behavior, watching them breastfeed, pay, and care for their young ones.

Ngamba Island: Ngamba Island is home to 49 chimpanzees who were orphaned or rescued from illegal deals for meat and pets. The chimps have been well taken care of, and their diet is improved and changed daily. The island covers 95 acres, and tourists can see the chimpanzees from the viewing platform, where they can feed and play around the island.

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. It is one of the eco-friendly safari activities in southwestern Uganda in the dry and wet seasons. Planning for a gorilla safari to Bwindi and Mgahinga can easily be organized through a trusted tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris, which will help you plan the entire safari from purchasing the gorilla trek permit, transport, meals, and accommodation, among others. A gorilla permit is like a document that will give you an hour with the mountain gorillas, and it has to be booked 3 to 6 months before the trek date to confirm that you have booked your gorilla trekking safari to Uganda.

The gorilla permit cost in Uganda is UGX 300 000 UGX for East African citizens, $800 for foreign non-residents, $500 for African citizens, and $700 for foreign residents. The cost is high because a percentage goes to government and community projects, and a percentage goes to the protection and conservation of Mountain gorillas.

Bwindi has about 24 habituated gorilla families, whereas Mgahinga has only the Nyakagezi family. All these families can be seen and trekked all year round. Bwindi also offers the habituation experience in the Rushaga sector, where tourists spend four hours instead of one observing the gorillas.

When you visit Uganda for gorilla trekking, you will contribute to conserving the mountain gorillas and their natural habitat. After spending one hour with the gorillas, you will receive a certificate of participation in conserving the Mountain gorillas.

Bird watching in Uganda

Uganda is considered one of the best birding destinations on the African continent, with over 1073 recorded bird species, both endemic and migratory. Uganda has 11% of the total world species and 50% of the African bird species found in the different parts of the country. The country is also home to 34 IBA (Important Bird Areas), which have been developed to improve bird-watching safaris. Some of the best bird-watching destinations in Uganda include Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Lake Bunyonyi, Semuliki National Park, Mabamba Swamp, and all the national parks in the country, with Queen Elizabeth National Park having the highest number of recorded bird species (over 612 bird species). Some of the bird species you are likely to spot during a bird-watching expedition in Uganda include the papyrus Gonolek, Blue-headed Congo Serpent Eagle, Long-tailed Hawk, White-tailed hornbill, black-wattled hornbill, Kingfishers, Shoebills, Caruthers's Cisticola, red-billed Malimbe, Orange weaver, ostriches, Crested crane, and Lyre-tailed Honey guide among others. 

The Botanical Gardens: These are exciting eco-friendly birding destinations in Uganda. The gardens were opened in 1989 and are located along the shores of Lake Victoria on the north side. There are over 400 bird species, some of which include white-backed ducks, Fulvous whistling ducks, red-billed ducks, Egyptian geese, little grebes, doves, crested Francolins, and scaly spurfowls.

Golden monkey trekking

Golden monkeys are an endangered species found in Mgahinga National Park and one of the eco-friendly activities you can carry out on your safari to Uganda. Mgahinga is the country's smallest national park and part of the Virunga region. Since golden monkeys are an endangered species, all tourists must purchase a golden monkey trekking permit, which costs00 per person, and the habituation permit is $ 14 per person. Golden monkeys are unique because of their golden orange color, distinguishing them from other monkeys in the park. They are playful and can be spotted jumping from one tree to another. They usually feed on bamboo shoots, which is why they are easy to trek compared to gorillas and live in the lowlands of the national park. Visiting Uganda to engage in golden monkey trekking is one of the best and most eco-friendly activities because, for each tourist that visits the country, more golden monkeys are saved from the critically endangered species list. The activity can be carried out all year round.

Hiking/Mountain climbing

Volcano hiking in Mgahinga: For tourists interested in volcano trekking/hiking, Mgahinga is home to three ranges, including Mount Gahinga, Sabinyo, and Muhabura, and you can choose to hike up one of the three ranges. Mount Gahinga rises to 3474m, and it will take you about 6 hours to ascend and descend; Mount Sabinyo is 3669m, and the hike takes 8 hours, and Mount Muhabura is 4127m, taking 8 hours for a round trip. Once you get to the peaks, you will be rewarded with beautiful scenery from Lake Edward, Bwindi, several bird species, wildlife, and crater Lakes.

Sipi Falls: Located over 270 kilometers from Kampala, Sipi Falls is in Kapchorwa district at the foot of the Elgon ranges. It has three flowing waterfalls, and this is the best getaway for couples and other types of tourists. The best time to go to Sipi Falls is during the dry season; however, you can still visit during the wet season.

Elgon Mountain: This extinct volcano is located along the border of Uganda and Kenya and is one of the destinations to visit for an eco-friendly safari activity. A national park was designated around Mt. Elgon because of its unique features, and it is home to bird species and wildlife. It will take you about five days to reach the top of Mount Elgon, and at the peak, you will be rewarded with some of the amazing sights.

Visit the Batwa people on a cultural tour.

The Batwa/pygmies are a group of people found in southwestern Uganda who used to originally live in Bwindi and Mgahinga before they were gazetted off. After Bwindi was gazetted off and recognized as a UNESCO heritage site, the Batwa moved out of the National Park and settled around the park. They act as porters and guides during gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga. The Batwa offers an authentic cultural experience as you learn more about their ways of life, how they survived in the park, their hunting skills, and join in singing and dancing with the locals. A visit to the Batwa communities empowers them because the little money paid to them as porters and buying some of the local things they make improves their living standards.

Wildlife safaris in Uganda

Combine sustainable and eco-friendly activities by going on a wildlife safari in one of the ten national parks found in the country. Some national parks found in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park. With over 300 mammals, you will be able to see wildlife, including the tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos, antelopes, crocodiles, hippos, cheetahs, kobs, hyenas, and elands, among others. 

Tracking rhinos in Uganda

Rhinos in Uganda were extinct because of the constant poaching and political instability. Rhinos have been re-introduced in Ziwa rhino sanctuary, and now tourists can spot the big five while on their safari to Uganda. Bwindi is located in the Nakasongola district. As you head to Murchison Falls National Park, you can make stops and track Rhinos on foot with experienced guides. Plans are still ongoing to re-introduce them to other national parks in the country. 

Exploring the Uganda Wildlife Education Center

Also known as the zoo, the Uganda Wildlife Centre is located in Entebbe and was opened in 1952 during the colonial era. During this time, sick, orphaned, confiscated, and injured animals were taken to be rehabilitated. Some of the animals that you should expect to see during a visit to the zoo include bird species, crocodiles, elephants, leopards, and giraffes, among others.

Encounter Africa Safaris is experienced in organizing eco-friendly trips to Uganda and Tanzania. We organize eco-friendly and unforgettable safari activities in different parts of the country that help preserve the country's national parks and conservation areas. Feel free to contact us about all eco-friendly safaris in Uganda.