Welcome to Uganda

What a majestic piece of heaven this forest is. It is the only park in Africa known to have up to 13 primate species; chimpanzees, L’hoest monkeys, bushbabies, olive baboons, bushbabies, vervet monkeys, black and white monkeys, blue monkeys, red colubus, grey cheeked mangabey.

The park is green throughout the year, and there is a reason: it receives rain for much of the year thanks to its location in the tropics. The best part of the story is that its trails have lots of boardwalks. By the same token, the log bridges over the rivers are routinely maintained. As such, you don’t have to wallow your shoes in mud to get through. This eases accessibility thereby making chimp trekking a sweet pleasure.

The chimp trek here is a life altering experience that brings chills of excitement to recall. The forest has a mix of both gentle and steep trails, so wear good hiking shoes and a pair of gardening gloves. 

Please note that there is no fixed route to find the chimps as they roam freely, unlike animals in a zoo. So brace yourself for anything from a 20 mins to 5 hours. As you hike deeper off the beaten path, the rangers will be clearing and opening a path with machetes.

Eventually, your endurance will pay off. You stand high chances of seeing a large family group of chimps, comprising of alpha males, teenage chimps, females and babies. It is such as astounding encounter. 

Having undergone habituation, most of the chimps are totally chill and not nervous around people. On the contrary, they are so free. Don’t freak out in case their young ones try out newly learnt intimidation techniques.

The guides are always happy to go the extra mile, ensuring you will see as much wildlife as possible, some of which you have never seen before. 

Chimp Habituation

You can’t go wrong with this adventure especially if you want a more intense experience than chimp trekking. It will show you what happens behind the scenes as ranger guides prepare chimps for tourism. It half day adventure is such a fun and educational trip! 

After being briefed on the DOs and DON’Ts of the adventure at the park headquarters, you will embark on a moderately challenging hike through the park’s jungle. Along the way, your guide will help scout for animal sightings and share with you intriguing aspects of unique flora. 

If lady luck is one your side, you might come across as many as five different families as you hike through the forest. Their vocal hoots and screams provide the sound track to the forest. They developed unique adaptations to fit their forest life. Whenever deficient of proteins, they hunt for black and white monkeys or fish termites from hills by poking their nests with sticks. You will appreciate how easy the guides are to talk to. They are patient and will let you walk at your own speed without feeling under pressure. 

You will leave this 1,442km² park very impressed by the plethora of animals that live in it; 77 mammal and 475 bird species. Situated in North Eastern corner of Uganda, its open savannah plains is extensive and dotted with jagged mountains, towering borrassus palm trees and clear blue skies. Before this semi-arid park was gazetted in 1962, it used to be a hunting ground for the Ik, a tribe of nomadic pastoralists.

Due to its 700km distance from Kampala (Uganda’s Capital), it comes across as the least-explored wildlife estate, and that’s the beauty about visiting it. There won’t be game viewers blocking your view at a sighting. 

Most unique aspect

Kidepo is the only Ugandan park where you are assured of finding wild cheetahs, greater and lesser kudu, Guenther’s dik-dik, caracal, mountain reedbuck and aardwolf. Of the five primate species found here, the patas monkies and olive baboons are the easiest to see. Despite their ability to camouflage with the savannah, they are so playful and restless.

What it’s like to be in Kidepo

For much of your stay here, you will feel like you are in a planet that God specially created for the fiercest fighters among the Big 5, Cape Buffaloes. The park has over 10,000 of them, a reason as to why it’s nicknamed the Buffalo Capital of East Africa. Ironically, many as they are, these huge herbivores can’t stand the sight of the park’s estimated 120 lions. One loud roar from these Kings of the jungle is enough to make them flee at 57kilometers per hour (35 miles). The same can’t be said about the park’s other predators like bat eared-fox, side-striped jackal, leopard and black-backed jackals. Their relatively small size makes it them easy for these 800kg beasts to knock them out. This explains why they prefer at night, a time when the buffaloes are also taking advantage of the cool weather to feed. Being large animals, they spend of the day resting as their body can easily overheat and shutdown.

Game drives

You can’t go wrong with a night game drive if you wish to discover how predators with extraordinary senses hunt. Imagine watching fierce, fast and furious leopards as the leap 6m forward through the air while chasing their target prey at 58km/h. It could be any of the 12 antelope species to which the park is home; jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, klipsringer, Uganda kob and eland, all of which have more tender meat compared to huge browsers like buffaloes.  

Anytime you visit this multi-award winning destination, you are assured of encountering the huge herds of elephants. Brace yourself to watch them match in one direction like soldiers headed for a parade. Our driver guide will go the extra mile to help you find one standing on its two hind legs—in an attempt to harvest tamarind fruits in distant branches. In the wet seasons, you are likely to find them playing at a seasonal river after which the park was named Akidep. It’s a word in Nyakarimojong language which means picking. It is in reference to how this neighboring tribe used to harvest ripe coconuts from the surrounding forest of borassus palm trees.

At the waterholes found along Narus valley, you will find warthogs enthusiastically wallowing in the mud to cool off the heat. On the other hand, the giraffes have a preference for zones with their favourite delicacies in abundance, acacia trees. To be exact, zones in open savannah where they can catch sight of any lions preparing to ambush them. Thanks to this vigilance, their population hasn’t dropped below 34 in over a year. In an effort to facilitate their re-population, 10 Rothschild giraffes were recently translocated to it from Murchison falls national park. 

Bird watching

On the part of bird watching, Kidepo knows how to impress without trying so hard. It has 77 species inclusive of the biggest bird species on earth, ostritches. Kidepo’s notables include Abyssinian roller, Rufous chatterer, Jackson’s hornbill, Northern carmine bee-eater, Abyssinian scimitarbill, Purple grenadier, Chestnut weaver, Golden pipit, Pygmy falcon, D’Arnaud’s barbet.  Kidepo is a dream-come-true destination for spotting raptors, with 56 species on record. The best time to see migratory birds is November to April.

Best time to visit

The dry season from November to February offers the biggest wildlife sightings. During this time, the park undergoes controlled burning. This makes it easily to see animals that are miles away. During this time, they mostly stay in valleys with water holes, like Narus and Kidepo valley. In the wet seasons from April to August, they prefer to stay higher ground and rocky outcrop.

Lying at 1,220m-1,828m above sea level, this park in Western Uganda is one of Uganda’s Top 3 bird watching havens, it possess 350 recorded species.

It has a wonderful combination of tranquil lakes, thriving papyrus jungles, endless grassland and pristine woodland where giraffes crane their neck to eat leaves.

Mburo has over 5,000 zebras. Watching them cross from one side of the park to the other is like witnessing a live migration. The energy, the sound and the stampede they cause is such a national Geographic spectacle. You will love every minute of it!

The buffaloes here play a vital role in feeding the impala, eland, defassa waterbuck, oribi and warthogs. They do this by grazing on tough parts of grass, and leaving the soft parts for the mentioned herbivores. 

The nature walk here doesn’t always deliver quantities of lion sightings that one may experience in Masai Mara or Serengeti, but the quality is on a different level. You will encounter a dizzying range of enthusiastic zebras, bushbucks, buffaloes and topi.

If you prefer game drives, our cars have a mini bar that is stocked with cold drinks to refresh as you take in sights and sounds of the park. You will get so close to animals without worrying about being attacked. Why? You will be in the company of an armed ranger-guide. His work is to defend you from wildlife by scaring them off.

Bird watching boat cruise

Mburo doesn’t have elephants any more, but it has and millions of spectacular birds, some of which stay in its forests, others in its savannah, but most in its shoreline. In total, it has 350 recorded species inclusive of southern species at the northern limit of their range, like southern ground hornbill and black-collared barbet and. Thanks to its thriving acacia woodland, it is the best place for acacia-dwelling birds.

The park’s lake system has six papyrus endemics, including the mighty blue-headed coucal and papyrus gonolek. Other notables include Shoebill, Red-faced barbet, Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, African finfoot, Greater painted-snipe, Hairy-breasted barbet, Papyrus yellow warbler, Tabora cisticola, Brown-chested lapwing…the list is endless.

Most of these birds can be seen as you pursue vitalizing boat cruises in the park’s fresh water environs. The boat is in excellent technical condition for the adventure and ensuit with bathrooms. It comprises of both a lower and upper deck where you can take pictures hippos and crocodiles without any obstruction.  

Alongside other nature lovers, you will enjoy the ride in the company of a guide with an encyclopedic knowledge about the geology and the myths surrounding the formation of the geographical features here. He will share the anecdotes with some humor and with, you will thoroughly enjoy.

Horseback ride

Exploring a national park by car is good as it allows you to explore so much distance in such a short distance. However, it has its downside. For starters, you miss out on seeing many timid animals (like elands) which shy away upon hearing the noisy engines of cars. That aside, cars are not allowed to drive off track due to the possibility of riding over elements that are vital to the normal functioning of the eco-system. In contrast, horseback rides and cycling experiences present an unforgettable way to see wildlife up-close without scaring them off.

During this guided tour, you will see almost all the mammals to which Mburo is home; warthog, zebra, topi, bushbuck, impala, duiker, waterbuck and giraffes. The guys who ride with you, genuinely love and care for the horses. As such, they are always in perfect shape to trot or canter as first as you want. 

 They are also gracious and have a sense of humor. Most importantly, they understand the history of park and know where to find wildlife at different times of the year. They will control the pace of the horses, allowing you take pictures of whatsoever interests you along the way. It could be birds or even skeletons of dead animals. 

Best time to visit

No matter the time of the year you visit Mburo, you are guaranteed of seeing over 60% of its wildlife species. However if perfection is what you are after, the dry months of June to August/September present Lake Mburo in its most beautiful state. You will take clear pictures of wildlife and clear blue skies.

Over view

Made up of three enormous mountains that lie at Uganda’s border with Congo and Rwanda, Mgahinga is an enchanting destination for outdoor adventure. It is naturally gifted with four montane vegetation zones, endemic bird species, stunning crater lakes and two critically   endangered primates, golden monkeys and mountain gorillas.

How it was formed and mountain climbing

The park is made up of four vegetation zones that are immensely endowed with unique flora and fauna; forest zone, bamboo zone, moorland zone and heather zone. All of these lie upon a lava rock that was formed over 1,000 years back as a result of a massive volcanic eruption. 

On the part of mountaineering, each of Mgahinga’s three mountains offers a distinctive experience to remember. They all lie in the rift valley and soar at an altitude between 3,474, 3,645 and 4,127 meters above sea level .They are, Mgahinga, Sabinyo and Muhavura all of where formed as a result of volcanic eruptions.

Your hike to the summit of Mountain Sabinyo will reward you with a lifetime opportunity of being in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda at the same time. See, the borders of these three tropical countries intersect here. You can have your feet in one, your left arm in the other and your right arm in the last. 

If you are passionate about conquering hiking challenges that seem impossible to overcome, Mountain Mgahinga will rock your world. It has a perfect mix of gently sloping ranges and steep gradients.  In an effort to make your hike less frustrating, there wooden ladders laid down to assist with the ascent over steep stretches. 

Upon the summit of Mountain Muhavura, you will find a scenic crater lake that is partly in Rwanda and partly in Uganda. 

The guides have an exceptionally comprehensive knowledge of the three mountains and the countless varied trails through which you can summit them. To this effect, he will help you chose one in matches your level of physical fitness. Having trekked for close to 20 years, they possess skills you need in overcoming any obstacle in your way. 

In an effort to reduce on your chances of getting knocked out by altitude sickness, you will walk at a gentle pace, allowing your body to acclimatize to the four climatic zones of the mountain. If you need help with carrying your luggage, we are happy to hire for you a porter. 

Gorilla trekking

Mgahinga is home to Nyakagezi, a habituated gorilla family comprising of 11 members ranging from infants to aging silverbacks that are over 30 years. Encountering them is an absolutely fascinating experience, u won’t bother to visit a zoo to see primates after the one hour you will spend with them as you take photos and observe their human-like behavior. Although they are 100% wild, they are quite used to human presence and couldn’t care less about you being few meters away from them. They will go about their own business of eating, grooming one another, mating and napping.

Their stomachs are split into chambers that can digest plant species that are known to be poisonous to other primate. They are very accommodative, a reason as to why they spend the better part of their day eating.  During your gorilla excursion here, you will pass by stretches of scenic tropical woodland, rocky hills and dribbling rivers.

The trails are a good place to treat yourself to as you meditate and reflect back on how far you have come. If you wish to have a less exhausting adventure, the guides will choose mainly descending trails, thus limiting the intensity of the hike. If you prefer something more challenging, they will provide you with ones that boost moderate intensity.

Batwa trail

As lava poured over Mgahinga during its formation over 1,000 years back, it created a spacious underground cave, Ngarama caves. Over the years, it was enveloped by vegetation of the forest zone. As the forest continued to thrive thanks to good weather and fertile soils, it attracted the full time occupation of lots of edible wildlife, like duikers and buffaloes. This prompted the Batwa, a tribe of hunters and fruit gatherers to migrate into Mgahinga. 

The only problem here was the abundance of forest elephants which often raided their huts, as built out of reeds and bamboo zones. As a solution, they turned to living in tree houses, but it wasn’t safe enough. Many a time, the branches supporting the houses broke off upon being weighed down by more weight than it could carry. This left them with fatal injuries. In an effort to save their King from falling victim, they took advantage of the caves strategic location, turning it into a palace for their royal family. Here, they lived happily ever after, until their eviction from the park in 1994. This followed the gazzetting of the park. 

Despite having moved out of the park, they still have a deep love for the environment and this is demonstrated in the way they look after it.  They are charming and packed with entertaining stories related to their past, cradle of their mankind and spiritual powers of their worshipping sites in the park. 

During this guided tour, they will show you how they used to harmoniously co-exist with gorillas. How used to hunt aggressive wild animals using simple tools like spears. How they used to make bark clothes from the bark of fig trees. The tour is crowned with their energetic dances. The entire performances is well choreographed to give you an idea of their historical day-to-day life. Best of all, everything they do has an educational character for you to take home.

You can’t go wrong with hiking this mountain if you are crazy about geology or seeking to reconnect with nature. All you need is a good set of lungs and strong legs but most importantly, a positive attitude. Fast forward, Rwenzori is a snow-capped mountain that straddles the Equator at the heart of our beloved motherland, Africa. Standing at altitude of 5,109meters above sea level, Rwenzori is a World Heritage Site. It is 110km long and 50km wide. It was formed after a block of ancient rock was tilted and thrust up during developments of the Albertine Rift Valley, and then deeply carved by river and repeated growth of glaciers. 

The trail provides a good balance of easy and challenging walks. The guides provide an excellent service, attentive to particular requests and trekking abilities. Their thorough understanding of the park’s ecosystem gives you lots of unforgettable encounters.

From the bottom, Rwenzori looks like it is made of one massive mountain. It is until you have set foot on it that you realize it is a complex of hundreds of mountain ranges that are separated by deep valleys. The six main mountains include Mounts Stanley(5,109m, 16,763ft.), Mount Speke (4,889m, 16,042ft.), Baker (4,842m, 15,889ft.), Gessi (4,715m, 15,470ft.), Emin (4,791m, 15,720ft.) and Luigi di Savoia (4, 626m, 15, 179ft.). 

Each of this mountains are easily accessible thanks to the well-developed network of trails that connect them. Hiking through them is an uphill and downhill experience. In some instances, you will jump down or slide down some larger rocks. 

If you are crazy about botany or photography, the greenery from the forest zone to the glacier zone is astounding and remote. In the forest zone (1,800-2,500meters above sea level), you will find the Red stinkwood, wild bananas. In contrast, the Bamboo zone (2,500-3,000m) features giant lobelia, bamboo forests, giant heathers and lots of herbaceous like Rubus dogetti, Arisoema ruwenzoricus and Amaryllid among others.

It takes the average person 6 days to hike to and fro the highest peak of the mountain, through Central circuit trail. On the other hand, the Kilembe Route takes an average of 9 days as it is relatively steeper. No matter which one you opt for, you are guaranteed of encountering crater lakes with a jaw-dropping beauty.

Each day, you will hike for an average of 8 hours, at the end of which you will retire to well insulated huts. Throughout the night, you will have constant supply of Ugandan Coffee and tea to keep you warm.

The different vantage points will give you a preview of what you will discover as you ascend or descend the mountain. From each summit, you will behold marvelous flora and fauna that have mastered the art of camouflaging with the montane environment. 

The guides are knowledgeable about the routes and will wow you with explanations about how the different scenery changes with the seasons. 

Travel Tip

Don’t underestimate the need for adequate footwear, preferably hiking boots that are designed for winter. 

Carry enough warm clothing with you. Rwenzori’s experiences sudden drop in temperatures, sometimes extremes like -10 Degrees Celsius.

The best time to go mountaineering is the dry season from Mid-November-March.

You can’t go wrong with Murchison regardless of whether you visit it in the dry season or wet season. It meets your imagination of Africa in its purest form, with plentiful wildlife roaming in its 3,840km² expanse. In this case, it has 76 mammal and 451 bird species.

 Found at the Northern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, it comprises of Lake Albert, River Nile, Budongo forest and a lively savannah. All these landscapes have cozy eco-friendly lodges where wildlife can be seen with ease.   

The Park doesn’t have sharks or zebras, but it has thousands of elephants, buffalo, Uganda kobs, hundreds of lions, leopards and millions of spectacular birds. Umoja Motherland Safaris is privileged to have guides who know them all, and where to find them at different times of the day.

Before spot hunting was banned here, it used to attract huge number of spot hunters from different corners of the earth. This includes the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt who visited the park in 1909. 

Thanks to undivided conservation efforts, park’s wildlife populations has shot up over the years. At a time it is so hard to come by Rothschild giraffes across most of Africa’s parks, Murchison has over 1,200 of these endangered animals. You will have seen at least 80 by the end of your four hour game drive.

While it is true that these elegant animals are the tallest land mammals, their 16ft height is no match to that of Borassus palm trees that tower over the park. The park once had less than 20 of these trees. Today, they can be seen at almost every turn. This growth is thanks to dispersal efforts by elephants families that have lived in the park for over five centuries now.

At first glance, you are bound to mistake the elephants here for huge ant hills due to their enormous size. It’s not by mistake that they have earned a top spot among the world’s largest land mammals.

Although Murchison is one of the three most visited parks in the country, it is still an immaculate setting. This is partly because the tour operators respect the no off-roading rule and don’t harass animals. Best of all, poaching its almost unheard of thanks to the patrol efforts by the rangers. As such, you are guaranteed of encountering even endangered species, like leopards.

Game Drives and Boat cruises

Game drives in Murchison take place in the Northern section of the park’s natural bush-land. Some stretches of the road is bumpy, but that adds to the pleasure. You won’t have a hard time maneuvering over them as our cars are custom made for off-road adventures.

On the other hand, boat cruises take place at 24kilometer stretch of river Nile that dissects that park into two major territories, North and South. Stretches of white water rapids dot the river beautiful. They are created as a result of the resistance that the river encounters as it forces its way down past static rocks to get downstream.

The shoreline is alive with lots of lush vegetation that provide lions a perfect camouflage—as they wait to ambush prey. This shoreline is an immensely wildlife-rich expanse and there is no better way to see them than by pursuing a two hours boat cruise headed for the mouth of the falls. The boat is lovely and well looked after. It has extensive shade cover to protect you from burning sun rays. Both its upper and lower deck is pretty basic but comfortable and bigger than anticipated. It was built without windows to allow plenty of breeze into the boat. This swift machine is ensuit with a bathroom and mini bar where cold Ugandan beers and sodas are sold. You cannot imagine how powerful this waterfall is till you have seen from the boat and subsequently from a vantage point that faces it. It flows in great volume and plummets over 40meters drop, landing with a bang. 

For better views, a hike from its bottom to summit is much recommended. It takes about one hour along a zigzagging trail that offers a gentle climbing challenge. The experience climaxes with unobstructed view of the only spot where the world’s longest river squeezes its self through a seven meter wide cleft. Don’t forget to carry with you sunscreen and insect repellent, especially if you have a sensitive skin.

Chimp trekking in Budongo Forest

Here, you will find the second largest population of wild chimps in Uganda, over 600 individuals. The best way to discover what makes them 98.7% human is by pursuing a guided chimp trekking adventure. 

Fast forward, Budongo is a rain forest with the oldest mahogany trees in East Africa, lots of which are over 250 years old. If you have ever dreamt of seeing enormous trees that are as wide as 9 average sized men combined, Budongo will bring your dreams to life.

Although the forest experiences lots of rains, its floor is usually in a passable state. This is thanks to the network of rivers that drain its water. The result is a beautiful setting perfect for a nice long leisurely walk. In case you don’t have a binoculars, our team will provide you with one enhance the enjoyment of viewing chimps that are high in the canopy. In this exquisite wild place, you will also find lots of forest elephants, Rothschild giraffes, and forest buffaloes. There leopards, too, but being a shy animal species, they prefer to spend much of their time in extremely dense parts of the forest where no tourist can disturb their peace. 

Budongo is not any forest, it is a world wonder that started out as a hunting ground for the Kings of the most authoritative Bantu kingdom in Uganda. Prior to being opened for tourism, it was a research ground for Dr. Jane Goodall in her 55 year study of chimpanzee behavior. 

If bird watching makes you happy, Budongo’s checklist has over 360 bird species, 60 of which central African birds. It is the second easiest place to find Guinea Congo species after Semuliki National Park. Budongo is also one of the only two places in East Africa where you can find Yellow-footed flycatcher and Puvel’s illadopsis. Other specials include Lemon-bellied crombec, Blue-breasted kingfisher, African dwarf kingfisher, Ituri batis, Cassin’s hawk eagle, Chestnut-capped flycatcher, White-spotted flufftail, Chocolate-backed kingfisher, Yellow-footed flycatcher, Grey-headed sunbird, crowned eagle.

Migratory bird species can best be seen from November to April.

If you have limited time and want to see great wildlife diversity in a beautiful ecosystem, you should be here. Situated in Western Uganda, along the same road that leads to Bwindi National Park, Queen Elizabeth is a wonderland that has it all; gorges, huge valleys, mountain ranges, forests and blue lakes. The cherry on the cake is 95mammal and 600 bird species.

The park is so big, and so is its variety of ecosystems—most of which can be seen during boat cruises, game drives and nature walks. You need at least three days to enjoy its diverse offerings. These include some of the world’s most beautiful crater lakes, Kazinga channel, Kyambura Gorge

Game drives

The morning and night game drives here are absolutely magical and the landscape so beautifully laid out. All the cars we have dedicated to game drives are customized with pop-up roofs so as to give you the pleasure of viewing elephants, cape buffalos, Uganda kobs, giant forest hogs, antelopes, bushbabies. Of all encounters, the most unforgettable memory is watching charming cubs following their mother in the tall grass. If patient, you will witness them making their way into the branches of acacia trees to rest in the shade. All this while, they will be stalking prey roaming in the plains. At a perfect time when their target prey is distracted, they will descend down the tree and take them by surprise.

To stand better chances of spotting leopards during game drive, pay close attention to brown vegetation. You might spot one standing so near that you can almost touch it. If you are first enough, you might get a photo of it before it dashes out of sight. Such close up experiences will live with you even in your afterlife.

Kazinga Channel

Kazinga was formed by the emptying of Lake Albert into Lake George at the place where an ancient lake once sat prior to the ice age. This constant flow of water from Lake George to Lake Albert attracts a conglomerate of wildlife, providing lots of photographic opportunities. The tour provides an enjoyable way to experience an African sunset and its radiant fiery colours. The guides are passionate about their jobs and are always delighted to help, and share in your excitement of new discoveries. If you love birds, you will see nearly 90% of the 600 species to which the park is home. Don’t be surprised to find all kind of birds inclusive of fierce ones that eat the most deadly snakes like the black mamba. In addition, you might spot crocodiles clashing with hippos to protect their territories. Special bird sightings range from African skimmer, White-winged tern, Grey-winged robin-chat, African finfoot, Shoebill, Black-rumped buttonquail, Collared pratincole, Crab-plover, Pel’s fishing-owl, Palm-nut vulture 

Chimp trekking in Kyambura Gorge, an underground forest

If you are big on primates, there is one place on earth you can’t afford to die without visiting. Kyambura gorge is what we call it, a pristine tropical underground forest with over 20 wild chimpanzees. Found in the North of the park, Kyambura is a paradise of sorts, with freshwater rivers and over countless tree species that have been around even before Africa was colonized. It is full of birds with soothing calls and stunning plumage. As it is a sunken forest in a rift valley, kyambura offers a tough climbing challenge. Altogether, these strong points make trekking chimps, here an experience one can’t forget, even in their afterlife. It is such a delightful experience to finally spot the chimps after trekking for an average of two hours. They are quite used to human presence and thus go about their own business of eating and napping. They couldn’t care less about you being few meters away.

You will spend a remarkable one hour with the chimps as you compare and contrast their human-like ways of life. 

Tree climbing lions

There are less than five national parks in Africa with tree climbing lions. Queen Elizabeth is among them, with over 50 of these kings of the jungle. The best time of the year to see them is the wet season, especially around April. During this time, they spend much of their time in the trees as opposed to the ground, as it is wet. Besides, the grass is overgrown and obstructs them from seeing short prey that easy to catch, like antelopes. Trees offer the perfect vantage point to spot them thanks to their towering heights.

Crater Lakes

There may be many places physically closer to heaven, but none of which really captures the spirit as Queen Elizabeth. And one of the reasons why is the diversity of crater Lakes found here and yes, If you searched the internet for the most beautiful crater lakes in the world, chances are high that you will come across at least one found in  this park. 

Queen Elizabeth has close to 10 crater lakes, each with a fascinating shape, some in the shape of body organs like the kidney, heart, pancreas…  The view of the rainbows that curve over them is really one of a kind Words can’t describe the surreal feeling of rounding their edges. It is breathtaking to the eyes and easy on the muscles, allowing them stretch back to normal.

Experience an exciting journey in the wetlands of Lake Victoria, Uganda, home to the rare shoebill stork population, with the Mabamba Shoebill Boat expedition. Guests take a leisurely boat trip through thick papyrus swamps, providing an excellent chance to see these amazing birds in their native environment. As they take in the peaceful appeal of the wetland ecosystem, visitors may also come across a wide variety of wildlife, such as different bird species, mammals, and reptiles, in addition to the famous shoebill.

The Kazinga Channel boat ride offers a unique safari experience in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, allowing visitors to witness an abundance of wildlife along its banks.
As you glide along the channel, you can spot hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and a variety of bird species in their natural habitat.

The boat ride provides a Classic way to appreciate the diverse ecosystem of the park while enjoying stunning views of the surrounding landscapes.

The Source of the Nile Cruise in Uganda offers a captivating journey along the legendary Nile River, exploring the very spot where the Nile begins its epic journey northwards. Embarking from Jinja, known as the adventure capital of East Africa, visitors can enjoy serene boat rides, spotting diverse wildlife along the riverbanks, and marveling at stunning landscapes. The cruise often includes visits to historical sites such as the Speke Monument, named after the explorer John Hanning Speke, who first documented the source of the Nile. Additionally

White water rafting on the River Nile in Uganda is an exhilarating adventure that attracts thrill-seekers from around the globe. The stretch of the Nile near Jinja offers some of the best white water rafting opportunities in the world, with a combination of powerful rapids and stunning scenery. The rafting experience typically includes safety briefings and training sessions before hitting the water, ensuring that even beginners can enjoy the adventure with confidence. Along the way, rafters can expect to encounter iconic rapids like “The Bad Place” and “Itanda Falls,” each offering its own unique challenges and thrills.