Walking safaris in Uganda

Walking safaris in Uganda have become an increasing part of safaris in Uganda, with many tourists combining walking safaris and other safari activities carried out in the country, including gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, mountain climbing, boat cruises and game drives, among others. Walking safaris in Uganda vary in length but normally last between two to five hours or longer depending on where you have gone for the walks. The length of the walking safari depends on the itinerary, and what was agreed on during the planning stage; the weather and physical fitness will also determine the length of the walk trips.

Most Popular Safaris

4 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Safari

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

5 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

5 Day off season Gorilla and Chimp Safari

5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Tracking Safari

16 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tracking Safari

5 Day Gorilla & Chimp Tracking Safari

5 Day Low season Uganda Gorilla & Chimp Safari

5 Day Uganda Gorillas & Game Safari via Kigali

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

The walks are usually not more than 6 miles a day but the distance will be determined by the weather, the terrain taken and the time of the day you are taking the safari. The morning safaris are easier to go for because of the cooler weather experienced in the morning hours as compared to the mid-afternoon hours when it becomes hot. Terrains sometimes make it harder for the walks especially if you are taking on a terrain that is made up of valleys and steep hills. The weather, on the other hand, is sometimes bad for the walking safari. For example, when it rains, some terrains are harder to use when they are slippery, and the uneven ground makes it hard to walk.

Walking safaris involve tourists walking on foot as they tour the different safari destinations. There are some basic things that you will need to do for your walking tour in Uganda and these are:

• Get a medical checkup before traveling for the safari because you are going for physical exercise, and a full body checkup is important.
• Get to know your itinerary, because this is a good way of understanding how the trip will go.
• Choose the right clothes and footwear to be comfortable on your walking safari.
• Pack light because you don’t need to have a heavy bag when taking a walking safari.

Contact our team for more information.

Where to go for walking safaris in Uganda

A walking safari in Uganda costs between $70 to $300 and the cost is dependent on the length of the itinerary, how many activities are planned for the safari and how many people are taking the safari. The walking safaris in Uganda are carried out using different trails in the main national parks in the country and many other safari destinations. The trips can be carried out during both the day and night and below are some of the destinations where walking safaris are offered in Uganda.

Walking safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the walking safari destinations in Uganda. This is the second largest protected area in Uganda, covering over 1978 square kilometers and offering some of the best walking and hiking trails, and these include the walk to the Crater Lakes, through Maramagambo forest, the Bat cave and Kyambura Gorge, home to the chimpanzees. Walking safaris in the Maramagambo forest allows one to get closer to the wildlife species and see what would have been missed on a game drive. Below is a list of places in Queen Elizabeth National Park where tourists can take a guided nature walk.

Maramagambo forest: The Maramagambo forest trail takes tourists through the Maramagambo forest which is one of the best places to watch bird species. Maramagambo forest is a birding paradise which is surrounded by the Bat Cave, home pythons and hundreds of bats, numerous bird species, dense wood trees and Crater Lakes. The walk through Maramagambo forest starts in the morning but it can also be done in the late afternoon hours during the dry season.

Mweya Peninsula: This is one of the famous places in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the point where many of the safari activities are carried out. Mweya Peninsular is the only place in the national park and the entire country where mongoose tracking takes place, and although it is not recognized by tourists like gorillas and chimpanzees trekking, it is an exciting way to pass the time as you walk through the park. Tracking mongooses is carried out with an experienced guide, and tourists get a chance to visit the Mongoose Research Area, where they observe and monitor the behaviours of the mongoose in their natural habitat.

Kyambura Gorge: This is also known as the Valley of Apes and is the only section in the national park where chimpanzee trekking is carried out. Kyambura Gorge was named by BBC as the Lost Gorge, and going through the gorge allows you to see primates, which include chimpanzees, monkeys, several bird species and butterfly species.

Kasenyi plains: Kasenyi plains are vast savannah plains that are an ideal place for walking safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park. During your hike in Kasenyi Plains, you will be able to spot various wildlife species, some of which include lions, hippos, warthogs, Kobs and antelopes, among others.

Crater Lakes: The safari walk to the crater Lakes will take you to the Queen’s Pavilion and the Kabatoro Gate which offer the best views of not only the Crater Lakes but the Great Rift Valley Escarpment and the Kazinga Channel.

Ishasha River: Ishasha is one of the popular areas in Queen Elizabeth National Park (in the southern region) with the tree-climbing lions. With a UWA guide, you will be able to take a guided safari walk in designated areas of the region and while on your walk, you will be able to see animals like elephants, Kobs and several bird species like the shoebill stork.

Walking safaris in Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is one of the safari destinations in Uganda where walking safaris are offered. The National Park does not have leopards, leopards and elephants which makes it easy to take guided walks around the National Park. This is the smallest park in Uganda and a walking safari will get you closer to nature and the beautiful scenery around the park. Lake Mburo National Park is home to 69 mammals and over 332 bird species and this is the only place in western Uganda where you get to see elands, zebras and giraffes. Guided walking safaris in Lake Mburo are incorporated with other safari activities and packages.

Walking safaris in Lake Mburo National Park are carried out inside the national park and outside the national park, and this offers tourists a great experience to encounter the wildlife and the local communities. A walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park is under the management of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and it costs $15 for foreign non-residents, UGX10,000 for East African citizens and $15 for foreign residents for walking safaris within the national park. For walking safaris outside the national park which are organized by either lodges or local communities, the walking safari costs between $10 to $20 per person per walking session.

The best time to go for walking safaris in Uganda is during the dry months of December to February and June to October. This is because the roads leading to the national park are easier to use and so are the walking trek routes. The wet season, on the other hand, is not a good time because of the slippery routes and heavy rains.

Accommodations you can use when on a walking safari to Lake Mburo National Park include Rwakobo Rock Lodge, Acadia Lodge, Leopard Rest Camp, Mburo Safari Lodge and Mantana Tented Camp, among others.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley is Uganda’s hidden treasure found in northeastern Uganda offering beautiful landscapes and breathtaking sceneries that are filled with flora and fauna. The nature walks in Kidepo Valley National Park take closer to the tracks where wildlife is plenty giving tourists the best and authentic wilderness experiences. The nature walks in Kidepo start at 7:00 am at the Apoka Tourism Office where you get to first meet with the ranger who will be escorting you on your walk. The ranger will then share the dos and don’ts of nature walks and experiences, and thereafter, the walk begins when everyone is ready.

The walk will take you through the Narus Valley which is popular among tourists. The Narus Valley is where you will be able to encounter wildlife species like waterbucks, buffaloes, zebras, hartebeests, cheetahs, lions, elephants, giraffes and ostriches among others. The walks stretch from Namamukweny Valley, where you can get a deeper sense of the wilderness, and across the Kidepo Valley, which is filled with desert palms and unique bird species.

The cost of the nature walk in Kidepo is UGX for EAC citizens, $30 for foreign non-residents and $15 for foreign residents.

Mgahinga National Park

Nature walks in Mgahinga take you through the hills and valleys of the park, where you get to see the different primate species found here, some of which include Mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, baboons and red-tailed monkeys, among others. The nature walks around the park are always guided and armed rangers provide the necessary security along the walks as you get to experience the beautiful scenery filled with many tourist attractions.

The hike in Mgahinga will take you to the Sabinyo Gorge which is a 6-kilometer-long trek trail. The Sabinyo Gorge walks take you along the mountain stream, through a dense forest covered with Montane vegetation to the gorge. You will be able to see the peaks of Mount Sabinyo on a clear day and the walk takes 5 to 6 hours because it is a hard hike to make.

The walk to the border, also known as the border walk, is another guided nature walk tourists can take in Mgahinga National Park. This is a relatively easy walk compared to the Sabinyo Gorge walk taking about 5 hours through the montane forests along the lower ranges of Mountain Sabinyo. The walk is mainly carried out in the morning hours before the sun becomes unbearable.

The nature walk to the viewing platform or the Visitors’ Centre is the easiest taking about only 40 minutes. The visitors’ Centre is located at the park’s entrance and the viewing platform is just 800 meters from the Centre. While at the visitors’ Centre, you will be able to see the three volcanic mountains, especially Mount Sabinyo. You will also be able to see the different farmlands in the nearby villages and Lake Mutanda.

The cost of the nature walk in Mgahinga depends on which trek route you choose for example, the Sabinyo Gorge nature walk costs UGX15,000 for EAC citizens, $30 for foreign non-residents and $15 for foreign residents. Note that the nature walk to the Caldera is free of charge (this is usually an activity that is organized by the lodges). Get in touch with us for more information.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park offers night walks and these offer a different perspective to all the tourists visiting the park. Unlike the day guided walks, as the sun sets in Murchison and the nocturnal animals come out for the night, the tour guides with spotlights will gather the trekkers in search of the nocturnal animals which include civets, servals, hyenas, leopards and night jars among others. The trek usually starts around 7:00 pm after dinner with an armed ranger for security and the walk takes about 2 hours.

The night walks around Murchison offer you the opportunity of spotting the different nocturnal animals, and the smaller wildlife species that might have been missed during the day game drive.

Other destinations where you can go for walking safaris in Uganda include Semliki National Park, Mabira Forest and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Unlike many of the other safaris that are offered in Uganda, a walking safari offers you a more intimidating look at the flora and fauna of the areas you have chosen to have the walking safari from. When having a guided game drive, you might miss out on seeing the smaller animals because you will be in a vehicle looking at the bigger animals especially the big five but when you take a walk, you will not only be able to see the big game, you will also be able to notice the call of the birds, see the plant tree species clearly and track down the animals with a guide by following the signs that the animals leave behind.

Contact us for more information.