Top 5 Uganda Safari Activities For Families

Top 5 Uganda Safari Activities For Families. Most of the safari activities in Uganda are family inclusive however the top five family friendly include game safaris, primate safaris, water activities, cultural visits and visit to Uganda religious sites. Uganda is a country gifted by nature with a number of destinations that are convenient for a family visit.

Most Popular Safaris

3 Day Gorilla Trekking safari

8 day Uganda safari via Kigali

5 days gorillas and chimp safari

8 days gorilla tracking tour

19 day best of Uganda safari

15 days Uganda Rwanda safari

18 day Uganda Ultimate Safari

16 day primate game and culture

11 days gorilla tracking safari

5 days gorilla and Nile river source

17 day Uganda birding and wildlife

To plan a family trip to Uganda, you need to select the perfect destination and since the people travelling with may be more than one, choosing the right amenities to use during the Uganda safari in advance is very important. The more the company you travel with the merrier it gets during your safari in Africa so it even gets better if you spend the nights in the same accommodation.

Uganda is referred to as the pearl of Africa so when you travel with family, donot be shocked by the waving and smiling people you drive by on ground because people in Uganda are friendly.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can work with you to tailor a family friendly Uganda safari itinerary inclusive of your preferences and within your budget. Sustainable tourism is one of our key points so we enjoy introducing the young generation to the relevancy of co-existing with nature a step we believe will lead to future existence of most of the current safari destinations.

Highlights of The 5 Uganda Safari Activities For Family

• Game Safaris in Uganda
• Primate safaris in Uganda
• Water Activities in Uganda
• Cultural Safaris in Uganda
• Visit to Uganda religious sites

Details of The 5 Uganda Safari Activities For Family

Game Safaris in Uganda

Uganda has a number of game safari destinations that the family can enjoy while on a visit. The game parks in Uganda are located at different points of the country and not all animals are found in all the Uganda game parks. Some wild animals can specifically be found in particular Uganda safari destinations.

Some of the Uganda game safari destinations include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park.

During the game drives on the tracks of the Uganda game parks, you may spot animals including elephants, herds of buffaloes, cheetahs, lions, waterbucks, bushbucks,leopards, Hyenas, aardwolf, giraffes, statungas, Uganda kobs, warthogs, hartebeests and others. A number of birds are residents of different Uganda safari destinations and may be seen while on a game drive as Uganda has over 1000 bird species.

In case your desire is to find a particular animal during the Uganda safari, you may state that so that you can be advised by our tours consultant about which Uganda safari destinations may offer you a better opportunity to finding it. Note that game drives are a chance safari experience where you are not sure of finding the animals because they are very mobile so open your mind during the tour to enjoy the entire adventure.

A sunrise or sunset game drive is more rewarding during a Uganda game safari. Driving in a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle with a pop up roof gives the people travelling with a better feeling of an African safari and it is most convenient if every person traveling with has a window seat.

Primate safaris in Uganda

Uganda is Africa’s primate haven hosting some of the endangered primates in the world including the mountain gorillas which are only surviving in only three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo. Other primate safaris in Uganda include chimpanzee safaris, Golden monkeys safaris to mention but a few

• Gorilla Safaris in Uganda

During the gorilla safaris in Uganda, tourist aged 12 and over are the only ones eligible to do this adventure. This was set because of the nature of this Uganda safari activity where you have to walk in the rugged wilderness. In Uganda, you can choose to do gorilla trekking where tourists have one hour with full habituated gorilla family or gorilla habituation experience where tourists have four hours with semi-habituated gorilla family.

To do gorilla safaris in Uganda, you need to book the gorilla permit as this is the only entry ticket to participate in this safari. For gorilla trekking permits, maximum 8 gorilla permits are open to the public per gorilla family per day. For gorilla habituation permits, maximum 4 gorilla permits are open to the public per day per family.

Uganda has two gorilla safaris destinations that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park all in the southwestern part of the country. Uganda has so far about 20 gorilla trekking families and 4 gorilla habituation experience families open to the public.

It is very safe to carry and wear the right gorilla safari gears as this is a jungle experience where you may encounter some rough conditions. For a family gorilla safari, it is best to brief the children about what they can expect during the gorilla tour and how they can act so that they are not shocked when on ground.

• Chimpanzee Safaris in Uganda

Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda are open to persons aged 12 and over as persons of this age may be in position to abide by the rules of chimpanzee safaris in Uganda. Chimpanzees have about 98% human DNA and are regarded as the closest human relatives. Many children may have a chance to watch the chimpanzees at the zoos but those in the jungle are quite different in characters.

In Uganda, one can choose to do chimpanzee trekking where tourists have one hour with the fully habituated chimpanzee troop or chimpanzees habituation experience (CHEX) where maximum four hours are allowed with the chimpanzees.

Some of chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda include Kibale National Park, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo forest, Kalinzu forest reserve, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Bugoma forest and others.

Uganda has a population of over 5000 chimpanzees but of them 1500 chimpanzees are residents of Kibale National Park putting it on the top tier of the chimpanzee safaris destinations in the country.

To do the chimpanzee safaris in Uganda someone needs a permit but the permit costs differ with the destination. Do not forget to carry the relevant chimpanzee safari gear because in the wilderness where these primates live is quite rough and you may encounter some stinging nettles.

• Golden monkey safaris in Uganda

The golden monkeys are some of the most interesting yet endangered primates in the world. These primates have a larger body compared to other monkeys and even though habituated, golden monkeys still posses there natural characters. During the Uganda safari, one can choose to do golden monkey trekking where one hour is allowed with these fully habituated primates or golden monkey habituation experience where maximum four hours are allowed with semi-habituated golden monkeys.

In Uganda, golden monkey habituation experience happens in only Mgahinga National Park which is generally a mountainous destination with three outstanding highlands that is Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo.

When with the golden monkeys, expect to be on your toes most of the time because they are very swift and mobile primates most of the time and charming to see too as they cross from one branch to another.

To be part of the golden monkeys safari viewers for the day, you must secure a golden monkey permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

• Other primates in Uganda

A part from the famous three primates in Uganda, during the search in the wilderness, you may encounter other including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, pottos, bush babies, l’hoest, blue monkeys and others.

Water Activities in Uganda

On the different water bodies in Uganda, one can plan a family trip even though Uganda has no coastline.

• Launch trips during Uganda safari

In Uganda, the most astounding launch trip destination to do during the safari include a launch trip on Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park and on River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park. During the relaxing launch trip in these Uganda safari destinations, you may get the chance to see a variety of animals that move to the shores to quench thirst or feed on the rich ever green grass that is situated along the banks.

A multitude of birds spend time on the banks of Kazinga channel or River Nile daily and keen birds may get the double opportunity to spot some of them during the Launch trip.

The endpoint of a launch trip in Murchison Falls National Park is the sunning view of the Murchison Falls which is termed as the most interesting point of the entire River Nile course. At this spot River Nile pushes its way through a 6 meters bend and bust out vigorously to produce a thundering sound then cascade a 43 meters high cliff.

On Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is the park’s wildlife spectacle where numerous animals visit the channel from the rift valley to quench thirst or take a bath. The channel banks are flocked by multitudes of birds including foreign migrants that come from as far as Europe. It is one of the best spots where you can stand to enjoy the features on the floors of the rift valley.

Boat trips on Lake Mburo National Park are also family appropriate with chances of enjoy its surroundings, the hippos and crocodiles that are common residents of the lake and much more.

• Sports Fishing on Uganda Safari

Take on a sports fishing adventure as a family is very competitive and interesting, While on Uganda safari, you can include this adventure. You need a fishing permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and a boat for the time on the water. There are gazettes areas where you can do sports fishing in Uganda but a catch and release method is advised in order not to deplete the waters.

Carry own fishing equipment is more convenient while on Uganda safari. Some of the possible fish species you may catch include tilapia, Nile perch, Mudfish, Catfish, lungfish and others.

• White water rafting on Uganda safari

No need for experience to do white water rafting on Uganda safari as on ground are instructors to take you through the necessary steps. Ensure to buckle securely your safety gears and participate in peddle as you sail though the rides. Some of the notable Uganda white water rafting destinations include Itanda falls and Murchison Falls National Park.

Cultural Safaris in Uganda

Uganda is a rich cultural destination with multitudes of tribes but majority have cultural leaders. The chiefdoms, kingdoms of Uganda form a big part of the culture of the people in this country. Some of the kingdoms of Uganda include Buganda kingdom with the kabaka as the title of their leader, Busoga Kingdom with Kyabazinga as the leader, Bunyoro and Tooro kingdoms have Omukama are the titles of there kings ad others.

Visit to Uganda religious sites

As a family on safari in Uganda, you may decide to visit the religious grounds in Uganda as the country has freedom of worship. The most notable is the Uganda Martyr’s Shrine in Namugongo where over 20 young men were burnt to ashes by one of the autocratic leaders called Mwanga for the sake of their religion. Every 3^rd June tourists from world over gather to commemorate there bravery.

There are other religious grounds in Uganda include the Rubaga cathedral for the catholic, Bahai Temple, Gadaffi Mosque for the Muslims, Namirembe cathedral for the Protestants and others.

When is the best time to so a Uganda safari as  family

Uganda safaris are open all year with generally nothing regarding weather that may stop them from happening but the dry season is most preferred. The dry season which is normally June to September and December to February offers better chances to explore different safari destinations in the country. it is the high tourism season too so advance reservations are necessary.

Expect to meet other tourists on Uganda safari during this season so be ready to share your space with other.

The wet season which is March to May attracts less tourists so for exclusive family experience, you can take advantage of this normally low season on Uganda Safari.

Contact us for more information.