Uganda Christmas Safari: What To See And Expect

A Christmas safari in Africa is a time to make merry however choosing a Uganda safari for this festive season is a time to create everlasting holidays. Uganda is a land gifted by nature a reference that is apt for what the country is proud of but most of its destinations are still unknown to the world.

Most Popular Safaris

3 Day Murchison Falls National Park safari

2 Day Lake Mburo game & Boat safari

3 Day Lake Mburo wildlife, boat & walking safari

4 Day Kidepo Valley Fly in Safari

3 Day Queen Elizabeth Wildlife safari

3 Day Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking safari

16 Days Primates, Game & Culture

19 Day Best of Uganda Safari

3 Day Fly in Gorilla Habituation Safari

5 Days Gorillas & Game Safari

As a safari destination, Uganda hosts the largest population of the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world. To do a gorilla safari in Uganda, one can either choose gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience. Gorilla safari in Uganda involves moving in the wilderness in search of these mysterious primates. Booking a gorilla permit is very important as it is the only confirmation of a gorilla tour in Uganda.

A number of other Uganda safari activities are available to book during Christmasfestive including game safaris, chimpanzees safaris, water activities, birding, cultural tours, religious tours, mountaineering and others.

To enjoy and explore the best of Uganda during the Christmas season, identify the activities you desire to engage in and tailor a Uganda safari itinerary that suits your needs and time on holiday in advance. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we have a team of professionals and experienced safari consultants who can work with you to draft the most appropriate Uganda safari itinerary with your input and budget.

What to See And Expect on Uganda Christmas safari

Game safaris in Uganda

Uganda has a number of game parks, rich in game but less traveled. Some of the Uganda game parks include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. These Uganda game parks may have some common wild animals but there are those wild animals that are specific to particular parks.

During the game drive in the Uganda game parks, some of the wild animals you may have a chance to see include lions, buffaloes, herds of elephants, cheetahs, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, Zebras, reedbucks, elands, hyenas, leopards to mention but a few. The long list of wild animals in the game parks in Uganda is awed to the variety of habitats where they thrive from grasslands to swamps to woodlands.

Note that in case you desire to see a particular wild animal during a Uganda safari, it is best to inform the tour consultant working with you so that you can be advised where you may have a chance to find it. Finding the wild animals of your choice is not a guarantee all the time during a game safari but open your mind to seeing other species that cross your way to enjoy this adventure. Contact us for more information.

Primate Safaris in Uganda

Gorilla safari in Uganda

A Gorilla safari in Uganda during Christmas is the ultimate festive holiday prize. The demand for gorilla permits for the festive season is over the top with some booking the permits as early as a year in advance. In Uganda, one can do gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience.

Gorilla habituation experience is an adventure where a maximum of 4 tourists accompany a team of researchers to follow semi habituated family of gorillas and spend four hours with them. During the time with the mountain gorillas, tourists may be requested to assist with collecting data, taking notes about the mountain gorillas, observing the mountain gorillas and much more.

Gorilla trekking is a tour where a maximum of 8 tourists visit a fully habituated gorilla family and spend one hour with them.

In Uganda, two destinations are open for gorilla safaris that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. So far about 19 gorilla trekking families are open to the public in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Some of the gorilla trekking families of Bwindi include Rushegura, Nshongi, Mishaya, Nkuringo, Mubare and other but the gorilla permits for this park are booked according to areas.

Mgahinga National Park also hosts currently one gorilla trekking family called Nyakagezi. For gorilla habituation experience in Uganda, at the moment four gorilla families are open to the public so far all are in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda

Chimpanzees are the closest human relatives in the animal kingdom and Uganda has a population of about 5000 chimpanzees living in its boundaries. A Uganda chimpanzee safari for Christmas would not be a bad idea as it is time to merry make with lost relatives in the jungle.

For chimpanzee safari in Uganda, one can so chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience (Chex). For chimpanzee trekking in Uganda maximum of 6 tourists walk in the forest to find a troop of fully habituated chimpanzees. Chimpanzee habituation experience maximum four tourists accompany a team of researchers in the forest to search for a semi-habituation chimpanzee community.

Whether doing chimpanzee trekking or habituation experience, one must have a permit for either the morning or afternoon session.

Some of the chimpanzee safari destinations in Uganda include Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest in Murchison Falls National Park or Budongo Forest, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Uganda Wildlife Education Center and others.

Golden Monkey Safaris in Uganda

Golden monkey safaris in Uganda are only done in Mgahinga National Park in the southwestern part of Uganda. Golden monkeys are a different monkey species with a body that is larger than the bodies of the common monkeys. They live in communities of over 100 golden monkeys with an alpha male as their leader. One can choose to do golden monkeys trekking or golden monkeys habituation experience.

Golden monkeys have golden brown hairs on the lower bottom. Even though they are habituated, golden monkeys still possess their natural characteristics as they keep you on your toes during the adventure.

The golden monkeys are very charming and finding them is one of the exciting safari moments.

Other than the golden monkeys, Mgahinga National Park also hosts a variety of other species including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys and others.

Birding in Uganda

Mark the Christmas holiday with a Uganda birding adventure. The rich birdlife of Uganda with over 1000 species recorded as residents of this country competes with no other African country. The long list of birds is awed to the amazing diversity of habitats and this is reflected in the ever expending list of Uganda birds.

Uganda hosts some of the most highly endangered birds in the world including the shoebill which is slowly getting lost because of habitat loss.

Some of the bird likely to locate during Uganda birding safari include Handsome Francolin, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Turaco, African Green Broadbill, White Bellied Robin Chat, Greater and lesser Flamingos, African Hill Bablers, Yellow eyed black fly catchers and others.

The Birding destinations on Uganda include Mabamba Swamp, Mabira Forest, Musambwa Island, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and others.

Water Activities On Uganda Safari

Uganda may be a landlocked country but the water bodies in its boundaries play a big role in supporting and enhancing the water activities in the country. While on Uganda safari, you may not yarn for the crowded beaches by the ocean side during the Christmas holiday.

White water rafting on River Nile

Peddle through the River Nile tides while on a tube boat by engaging in the thrilling white water rafting experience. The Itanda Falls of River Nile and Murchison Falls are where white water rafting in Uganda happens. No experience is required to do white water rafting in Uganda because on ground are instructors to take you through all necessary procedures.

Every participant in the white water rafting adventure is expected to participate in peddling and securely tying the safety gear. Every tube boat used for white water rafting adventure with the crew is instructed by an expert who rides a kayak first to establish the depth and strength of the water before tourists are given go ahead.

Boat Ride on Uganda Safari

How memorable it is to mark the Christmas festive on a boat ride on River Nile or Kazinga channel. The most exciting launch trips on Uganda safari are in Murchison Falls National Park on River Nile and Queen Elizabeth National Park on Kazinga channel.

While relaxed by the deck on the launch trip, sail as you enjoying the presence of several animals that normally love spending time by the banks of River Nile or Kazinga channel to cool off the day’s heat or quench thirst. Enjoy the regular suspects in the waters that is schools of hippos and crocodiles.

A boat trip on Lake Mburo is always exciting with an exquisite view of the features surrounding this massive lake nestled in the middle of Lake Mburo National Park. A number of wild animals love spending time on the shores of Lake Mburo.

Sail to the source of River Nile on a boat to the point where Lake Victoria water separates dramatically from River Nile water. At the actual point where River Nile separates from Lake Victoria, there is a mysterious occurrence. Enjoy the evergreen surrounding along the banks of River Nile and the plethora of birds that are pulled to enjoy the freebies along these banks.

Bungee jumping on Uganda safari

Bungee jumping adventure is not for the faint hearted as you are held by a rope then let down the high cliff to touch River Nile surface. A Boat awaits beneath to collect you after this thrilling and adrenaline stimulating adventure.

Sports fishing on Uganda Safaris

Enthusiastic Anglers may choose to catch fish on Christmas while on safari holiday in Uganda. Enjoy a catch and release moment on a sports fishing adventure during Uganda safari. You need to book a fishing permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Carry your own fishing equipment that you will be comfortable with and hire a boat to use for the time on the water.

Some of the sports fishing spots on Uganda safari include River Nile, Lake Victoria and others. Some of the freshwater fish species likely to catch on Uganda sports fishing adventure include Tilapia, Nile Perch, Cat fish, lung fish, mud fish and others.

Beach Activities On Uganda Safari

Spend time at the beach during Christmas while on Uganda safari. Note that most locals also love taking time at the beaches along different water bodies in Uganda so get ready to share space with the crowd. Along Lake Victoria especially in Entebbe are several beaches even though the majority are not built to world standards.

Ensure you abide by the precautions set by the management of these beaches in Uganda to avoid possible accidents. Wear safety gear like life jackets when sailing on the boats at these beaches.

You may choose exclusive beaches like Bulago Island, Ssese Islands and others.

Visit Lake Bunyonyi Or Lake Mutanda

Enjoy the cool breeze from Lake Bunyonyi or Lake Mutanda in the southwestern part of Uganda. If you are searching for exclusivity and untamed nature, a visit to Lake Bunyonyi or Lake Mutanda is the ideal choice.

At a boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi is an opportunity to enjoy some of the 21 islands that form part of this deepest lake in Uganda. The Akampene Island is the most significant Island in Lake Mutanda where girls who got pregnant before wed locks were abandoned to die when trying to swim to get to the shores.

A number of small birds are common residents of areas around Lake Bunyonyi and Mutanda.

Mountaineering on Uganda safari

Mark the Christmas festival by taking a mountaineering adventure on Uganda safari. Hiking Mountain Rwenzori as the highest mountain in Uganda has a 7 days return hiking adventure. During this mountaineering adventure, there are stops you make at the shelters set up along the way. You carry your own supplies too. The highest peak of mountain Rwenzori is called Magheritah at 5109 meters above sea level and it is snowcapped all year. The lower section of this mountain is filled with moorland and montane forest.

There are other mountains where you can do an excursion during Uganda safari including mountains Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo. The western part of Uganda has a number of highlands where you can hike to test your level of fitness.

For more information, please contact our team.