Tips on planning a Uganda Safari for first timers

Tips on planning a Uganda safari for first timers. A safari to Uganda is one of the most memorable and life-changing leisure trips. You will fall in love with safari life in Africa. The first time you go on safari, see an elephant, touch a rhinoceros, giraffes and watch lions climb trees, the moment will stay with you forever The deepest of all safari experiences in Uganda is the encounter with the higher apes This little moment that you spend near a mountain gorilla or a gang of chimpanzees will fundamentally change your relationship with nature.

This vast game reserve and we use our free time to inspect the treasure of this travel destination We have been on countless safaris in Uganda and work with many safari lodges. As travel bloggers, we have traveled extensively through the pearl of Africa. For us anytime is safari time because our love for nature, the bush o and all the beautiful creatures in it are reborn every day.

Planning Your First Uganda Safari It can be a daunting experience, but with a little research and advice from local experts, it will be it is the most memorable trip I've ever been on.  We wrote this beginner's guide to make planning your Uganda vacation a splendid memory.

Why organize a Safari to Uganda

Your first safari in Uganda will open up wide horizons, open skies, emerald green landscapes, and rich tropical forests. Use more days on your first safari to experience an unforgettable experience. A slow safari allows you to immerse yourself in the wilderness, get up close and personal with primates, meet people from different cultures and ways of life, and help protect the same places and animals you've seen maybe you have a lion or seen an elephant in a zoo enclosure or in an animal documentary on National Geographic Channel But there's a big difference when you come across a group of chimpanzees, a herd of elephants, or a pride of lions in their natural habitat with no fences between them and no commercial breaks, who disturb the action.

A longer safari in Uganda gives you the chance to experience indigenous cultures either through traditional food that appears on the menu or maybe interacting with the local Uganda Safaris tribes, you can get your perspective on life in a flash by following different lifestyles and experiences in the remote villages you walk through. Gorilla tourism, for example, ensures that the conservation and protection of mountain gorillas and their protected areas are well-supported. Uganda's safari, camp, and lodge operators directly employ people and resources from the local communities. The hustle and bustle of modern everyday life It's a change of scenery, an adventure, and maybe even a culture shock When the sun rises over the Savannah plains or sinks against the backdrop of the National Geographic mountain, you will catch your breath and the silence of these moments, knowing that you will remember them long after you return.

Best time and Places to go on a Uganda Safari

Uganda is a well-equipped travel destination with many incredible attractions, each with its own charms and attractions. The country has a warm and sunny tropical climate, mostly all year round. But different regions of the country experience a wide variety of climates and climatic conditions.

For your first safari in Uganda, the best time to travel depends heavily on the destination activity chosen, Animals congregate in places where the water hasn't dried up. Gravel roads are also easier to drive on during the dry season, so you can see a lot more animals in the two dry seasons from December to January and June to August.

Be aware, however, that the dry season is considered high season for Ugandan safaris, it will probably come at a higher cost. If you are expecting gorillas in the mountain impenetrable forest of Bwindi, also keep in mind the availability of gorilla permits.

Top things to do and destinations in Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Uganda Offers Extraordinary Gorilla Jungle Experiences Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of two gorilla habitats and protects at least half of the world's last mountain gorillas, the other half lives on the Virunga mountain slopes and is shared between Mgahinga of Uganda and Virunga of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Volcanoes National Parks of Rwanda

Bwindi 19 common gorilla families on four hiking trails around the park boundaries offer guaranteed mountain gorilla sightings Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi it's active all year round

But since gorillas live in the rainforests, many will Hikers recommend that you hike in the drier and colder months of January and February and June to September

The fact that there is no way to predict where the gorillas will be on any given day. From a 15-minute hike through the impenetrable jungle to six hours, you'd better prepare for anything agonizing trekking, but in the dry season the hike is not as difficult as in the rainy season, so six hours in the jungle is not a torture test.

Best time to see mountain Gorillas in Uganda

There is no better month to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking than drier months of June, July, August, and September. People also visit Uganda during the winter months of December, January, and February. If planning to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking during these months, note that all services including gorilla permits are on high demand and must be booked in advance at least 4-6 months ahead.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park and Budongo forest

Apart from gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park is ranked second-best primate experience for anyone planning a Uganda safari for the first time. Located in western Uganda, Kibale National Park is home to hundreds of habituated individuals of chimpanzees that can be trekked by all those interested in seeing these primates in their natural habitat. To book a spot on a given day, you need a chimpanzee permit from Uganda wildlife Authority. A chimpanzee permit allows you one hour with chimps in the wild and includes park fees, a walk in the forest, and the services of an armed ranger guide. Encounter Africa safaris will take care of reserving and securing your chimpanzee permit.

Where to see Savannah wildlife on a Uganda Safari

Uganda has some of the top Savannah National Parks where one can enjoy a wildlife safari in an unspoiled natural atmosphere. Still not yet discovered by many tourists, a Uganda safari will give you that ambiance where you may find yourself alone with a pride of lions or a school of hippos on your game drive. Some of the top game safari parks to look out for including Queen Elizabeth National Park for Kazinga Channel boat cruise and tree climbing lions of Ishasha, Murchison Falls National Park for game drives, and boat cruise to the most powerful waterfalls on planet earth. If you go further to the northern part of the country, you will be welcomed by the jungle life in Kidepo National Park. A Uganda safari without at least one of the above National Park is not complete. At Encounter Africa safaris, our prime duty is to advise you on the best options while considering your time, interest, and budget.

Where to hike mountains on a Uganda safari trip

Uganda safari is incomplete without hiking some of the famous mountains in Africa. Rwenzori mountains found in western Uganda are snow-capped and located on the equator. Isn’t this magic? How about the dormant volcanic mountains of Mgahinga, Sabinyo and Muhavura that form part of the Virunga ranges. Encounter Africa safaris organizes hiking trips to any of these mountains from one to seven days depending on where you prefer. Check out some of the outstanding hiking adventures featured on our website and revert back to us for discussion. Other places of interest include mountain Elgon located in the Eastern part of Uganda. For more information about mountain hiking and tips on how to include it in your Uganda safari, please contact Encounter Africa Safaris and we will advise you accordingly.

Fishing expeditions on your Uganda Safari

Uganda is endowed with great water bodies including Lake Victoria the largest freshwater lake in Africa, River Nile, which is the longest on planet earth plus many other lakes such as Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo where sport fishing takes place. Are you interested in fishing the Nile Perch and Tilapia? Encounter Africa safaris organizes amazing fishing trips on the River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park and in Jinja where you also get a chance to see the wildlife and also a source of the River Nile. Fishing trips are also available on Lake Victoria where the main fish to look out for is the Nile Perch. If you don’t have fishing equipment, don’t worry as we will provide this as well as boats for your fishing safari. For more information about including fishing in your Uganda safari, the best time to go fishing, where to hire fishing equipment, the best place to do it, just send us an email and we will advise accordingly.

Include cultural and community visits

Uganda is a small country in East Africa with over 54 ethnic groups, each with unique and interesting norms and ways of living. A Uganda safari is incomplete without a visit to communities most especially those around National Parks. On your way to the gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park, you will not miss the Hima former pastoralists with their long-horned Akole cattle, The bakinga in Kabale, the Batwa in Bwindi, and Mgahinga among others. The Karamajongo in the North-Eastern part and the Gisu in the East are worth visiting while in Uganda. Our cultural and community encounters include homestay experiences, community or village walks, cultural performances and so much more. If you have time, you can include volunteering in selected community projects in order to support them.

There are so many things that can be included in your Uganda safari and Encounter Africa safaris is here to provide tips and guidelines for first timers. We have handled so many visitors across the globe and our trip advisor reviews speak volumes. We have a team of well-trained and motivated staff who will work around with you to make sure that we tailored your safari to suit your interests and budget.