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Hiking in Uganda: A Few Reminders to Know

Uganda has a lot of mountains and forest lands with different trails and hikers from natives who first explored the terrains to those that were discovered and developed for urbanization and commerce. Uganda has a variety of hiking destinations for all sorts of hikers.

With all the hiking options Uganda has to offer, it is wise to be prepared too. You may find that this area has a lot in common with other areas popular for hiking but you would also discover lots of differences that are both wonderful and mystifying.

There are a few reminder guidelines you could follow to help you get prepared for the hike. See to it that your back pack is complete with all gears and items you would need during the hike. Unnecessary items must be left behind. As a rule of thumb the following should be found in your bag before you leave the camp:

1. First aid kit which includes an insect repellent, sunscreen lotion and toilet paper.

2. Food and drink enough for the entire trail and camp. Estimate your supply according to the length and distance you would be hiking.

3. Pocket knife, flashlight, water-proof matches or lighter, candles, a whistle, duct tape.

4. Enough clothes for the entire tour and extra clothing appropriate for both sudden rise and drop of temperature.

Refrain from going off the trail. Switching to a new trail might help increase erosion while detouring on a muddy trail would likely destroy the surrounding vegetation. Always stay in the company of your guides. Uganda highlands or forests are home to a variety of wild animals which may attack you in case you are alone and with no help.

Always travel in three or more. This will ensure that there are enough people to act on different circumstances. Say in case of accident, the injured person could be attended to while someone goes for help.

Never drink untreated water, always boil the water you get from streams and lakes. For most Uganda hiking tours, water is mostly got from the streams and hikers are expected to travel with some water purifiers.

Be sure that nothing is left behind, including your garbage and other materials you have brought with you.

Do not feed wildlife, interfering in their natural food chain might disturb the balance of nature. Monkeys can be expected along the trails and trekkers are forbidden from giving them food.

Always have these in mind each time you are on a hiking trip to make sure you are safe and also sustainability of the destination.

The Best 10 Things to Do in Jinja

Jinja is the adventure capital of East Africa. Located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Eastern Uganda, Jinja is a prime destination for tourists taking adventure safaris in Uganda. There are lots of things to do in the adventure capital of Uganda. Here are the best 10 things to do in Jinja;

Visit the source of the Nile

Visiting the source of the Nile will take you through a life of adventure. There is a golf course unwinding along the banks and the source of the Nile provides a pretty focal point to the flow of water from Lake Victoria’s only outlet. A boat ride out to Samuka Island is another trip of itself, not counting the beautiful fauna you will see along. The Nile is one of the world’s longest rivers and it flows up to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt.

Bungee jumping

Plunge about 44m from a platform above the Nile River. If you want adrenaline pumping action, this is your call.

White-water rafting

Explore the Nile by taking on its rapids. Some of the rapids are intense Grave IV and V rapids.  The Nile is one of the best white-water rafting destinations in Africa. This has been rated the most memorable wild adventure and activity in Uganda and East Africa at large. You can never forget the experience of rafting on the Nile in Jinja. Start with a pre-safety training before the rafting experience to make sure you will know what to do once you get into the water. A safety boat is always provided for those who fear & are scared of the grade 3 & 5 trips. Age limits are 14 & 16 years for the grade 3 & grade 5 trips respectively. Kayakers are always there to save you in-case you don’t know how to swim & also take photos and videos of you. Family rafting is also available.

Horseback Riding Safaris

This gives you a unique ride through a typical Ugandan Village and a stunning section along the banks of river Nile. Horseback riding safari experience offers you the views from the hills overlooking the Nile valley, canter through the stunning plantations and relax in the tranquility of Mabira forest.

Quad biking

All-Terrain Vehicle Quad biking along the River Nile taking in the sights and the local cultures as you ride through various villages. Visitors to Jinja find this an exhilarating experience. This activity is Ideal for small groups and families.    

Jet boating

Take your family or friends for a motorized trip on the Nile in a speedboat reaching a speed of 90km/hr. The jumps, the wind, the spins, the sprays are unforgettable.

Kayaking

Experienced and first time kayakers have a lot to experience on the Nile. There are instructors too who coach first time paddlers before they take on the untamed waters of the Nile.

Boat cruise

Take in the beautiful landscape through day cruises on River Nile. Sunset cruises over the lake are magical. Take a beautiful sunset Cruise with dinner and drink to the source of the Nile and Lake Victoria. It is one of the most enjoyable experiences. You get to enjoy the amazing food and endless cocktails while you watch sun go down.

Fishing

Test your fishing skills in one of the best fishing spots in East Africa. Fishing tours are offered on the Nile and on Lake Victoria. Your best catch ought to be the Nile perch. jinja features the waters of the Nile and those of Lake Victoria offering the perfect haven for the mighty Nile Perch and other indigenous species like the Cat fish types. This is the perfect option for you who loves to cast a line in the water but also want to share a great day out on the lake with family and friends. With all the fishing equipment supplied including GPS, Fish-finder, the latest rods and reels, all the latest lures, you won’t miss catching the Big Fish.

5 Mistakes People Do When Booking A Uganda Safari & How To Avoid Them

Planning African safari or road trip Uganda like any new destination can be that frustrating and in most cases, visitors make lots of mistakes when booking for their lifetime trips. They include among others;

Selecting the wrong group

Group trips are exciting and amazing but it becomes a main issue when you land into a group that doesn’t accommodate your interest especially those with varying age groups. What is usually important if you want to travel as a group is for you to ensure that you are all of the same age bracket, have the same travel interests and a common goal of traveling. That said, make sure that when booking for a group trip, you choose the right group and definitely, you will have enjoyable safari in this pearl of Africa. Group tours usually come with advantages especially if are such a person who wants to cut down costs it is the best option the fact that you and other members can easily share some of the costs compared to if you booked your trip alone.

Not picking the best travel plan

A travel plan is a complete guide for your tour in Uganda and even in any country; you need one to have an organized road trip. Avoid short trips and make sure that your travel plan is flexible and allows you to engage in different activities. Uganda features diversity of attractions and unique destinations that are worth exploring while on your safari. That said; make sure that you at least book for a safari of about 7-14 days to allow you enjoy variety of attractions in this stunning country.

Booking a safari that has many smaller trips

Most people do not know that the 21 day tour comes with many smaller trips in between although it allows you to meet people, enjoy variety of attractions. The disadvantage with it is that it can be too exhausting. While it is everyone’s wish to explore activities, make sure that they are well planned to allow you rest and relax as some activities can be exhausting for instance gorilla trekking, mountaineering a mention but a few.

Booking a safari personally

While you may book a trip in Uganda on your own, this may come with much stress as well especially if you do not find that dream accommodation or if you miss a flight. To avoid being stressed at the end of the day, make sure that you book your trip with a ground tour operator and you will be at a safer hand. That said, we are one of the best ground tour companies that can take you through Uganda’s stunning destinations that include among other the ten national parks-Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park which are popular for wildlife safaris as well as Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park which are famous for mountain gorillas.

Not getting the fine print

While booking for a safari, visitors tend to be excited and they forget even to carryout research on the costs. Usually, majority of travelers get attracted to websites with low prices because they want to cut down the costs. However, note that some tour operators tend to display low cost with hidden costs which later are added and you get surprised when the figure hikes. That said, make sure that you cross check your travel plan well otherwise what you look at as budget tour may turn to be a luxury safari which you may not be prepared for. When planning for a trip, the cost is very key for one to consider before you make a booking.

Conclusively, while planning for a safari to Uganda or any African state, make sure that the above mistakes are avoided and you will have an ultimate safari experience.

Bespoke Uganda Safari Holidays

Planning for a holiday should be everyone’s expectations after a long hustle for a full year; this can be well organized for you by Nature adventure Africa Safaris limited. Uganda is the best country to travel to for a tour due to the incredible adventures found within her national parks located in the different regions of the country. Uganda has got ten national parks all suitable for paying a visit due to the diversity of the wildlife including the floras found in them that has acted as a habitant to wildlife.

Besides national parks, visitors can take a tour to the different leisure parks within the country including other cultural centers found around the city of Kampala. Lake Bunyonyi- is another place to go for a hideout, while in Uganda one cannot miss enjoy the un disputable river Nile which is found in Jinja another amazing city in the eastern Uganda.

This is known to be the longest River in Africa, those who wish to do white water rafting can do it from this river as there are many service providers. One cannot leave the river minus visiting the Bujagali falls alongside the Itanda falls which is known for being bad waterfalls around the Nile and this is one of the discovery tours to be made in Uganda.

Enjoy the best Kidepo Valley National Park and Murchison Falls National Park while on your Uganda safari and start with Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo and then you can pass via the Pian Upe Reserve in Moroto.

Murchison falls national park is located in Murchison Falls Conservation Area which is comprised of Bugungu and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserves, the park is crossed by the Longest River in Africa that’s River Nile forming an explosion of a great Waterfall within the Park. This park was later named after this great river; it is characterized by a savannah and Riverine forest with some dominant woodland with abundant wildlife.  The park has got a number of activities that can be performed while here and these include,

Boat safari at the Nile River, this is taken up to the falls, this trip is one of the best enjoyed trip while at the park since visitors get a chance of disembarking from the boat and take up a hike to the top of the main stream and also come back to the boat for more wildlife viewing. While at the boat, visitors take a glance to see the herds of hippos bouncing off the bottoms of the river, Crocodiles are also another water residents, these are seen alongside the waters sun bathing and elephants flock to the river for water hence giving visitors a nice stunning photographic scene.

Hiking to the falls, Murchison Falls is regarded as the world’s most powerful waterfall, visitors spare around 45minutes of hiking to the falls, while towards the falls, one will experience the ground shake and vibrations surrounds the place due to the powers exhibited by the flowing water from a cliff of around 50fts. From here visitors can proceed to the Nile Delta on a boat ride where river Nile joins Lake Albert and it is also another supplement for seeing an abundance of wild animals and the birds.

Hot air ballooning safaris, this is another activity that is done from Murchison Falls National Park and it is one of not to be missed by every tourist who visit the park. While up in the sky, visitors enjoy seeing almost every wild animal that is within the park since the balloon takes around the park, herds of elephants, buffaloes, a glide above the trees within the park early in the morning will enable you to see the sun rising while seeing the herds of wildlife enjoying their territories.

Birding, for birders this is another birding option due to the vast numbers of bird species found around the park, this can be done while on boat or on a safari vehicle. Here the possibilities of seeing a number of birds are endless, guides will take you around every bird spotting corner where you will see a number of them in different locations. The savannah vegetation and the Riverine forest plus the swamps within the park offers a great habitat for a number of bird species, this is the reason as to why the park is a birders choice while on a trip to Uganda.

Game drives, there is no way you can escape taking on a game drive while on the park, this is the greatest mechanisms of seeing a variety of wildlife including the Uganda Kobs, Oribi, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests among others, the park rangers are always available to guide you throughout the activity. Game drives can be done during the morning hours, afternoon, evening and at night but the best spotting time for the various animals is during the morning hours as the animals are always awake to start looking for food.

After a long experiential tour around Murchison falls national park, visitors can proceed to Kidepo valley national park for another experiential tour in addition to the various activities,

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the north eastern Uganda and it is on the border Uganda with South Sudan, the park covers 1442km²; the park is one of the best places to hide due to its magnificent scenery. This makes it a visitor’s centre for over and over again, though the park is the only isolated park among the top ten national parks. This park offers spectacular Savannah landscapes that end in rocky horizon, reaching this park from Kampala takes around 10-12hours of drive hence visitors usually set early in the morning to reach the place at Apoka where the Park Headquarters are. Kidepo has got a number of sightseeing and attraction

Hiking and Sightseeing in Kidepo, this is one of the best interesting activities within Kidepo; hiking is done around Mountain Lamoj which is a few kilometres from the park headquarters. During this hike, visitors may have a chance to see the Kidepo river valley with its borassus palm forest, a hike can take you to Kanangorok Hot Spring that is 11km from Kidepo river valley. The savannah landscape of this park is a breath taking one and it is one of the best leading landscapes suitable for hiking.

Game viewing in Kidepo, this park is endowed with abundant wildlife with a nice landscape suitable for game drives that can be done in the morning and evening hours, during your game drives, you cannot escape seeing animals such as cheetah, caracal, aard Wolf, Oribi, Jackson’s hartebeests, bush pigs, eland, buffaloes, elephants, Warthogs, black-backed jackals, stripped hyenas, bat-eared fox, leopards, lions, and some spotted hyenas. All this makes the park a better place to be since visitors on different occasions don not want to leave the park due to the herds of wild animals seen here.

Cultural performance, the surrounding local communities have got numerous cultural performance groups that entertain visitors at a given fee, a wider range of traditional dances and songs such as the Emuya and Nyangia plus the Naporre Ethnic groups. Larakaraka and the Apiti are among the performed dances and songs from the Acholi culture, visitors on their wish can participate while the performers are doing what they know best.

Bird Watching in Kidepo, the park is renowned for its exceptional variety of birds. Out of the Fifty eight recorded birds of prey, fourteen are thought to be specifically endemic to the Kidepo as well as the Karamoja region. Included in these are: the pygmy Falcon, Verreaux’s Eagle plus the Egyptian Vulture just to mention but a few as many more are seen depending on your time of stay.

Do You know Uganda’s Local Musical Instruments

Uganda has a number of traditional instruments which aren’t well known but tend to make appearances in local bands and world music. Abraham Sekasi specialises in these instruments and helps make introductions to them.

Drum: In Buganda, we called the drum, Engoma, and it’s one of the most treasured instruments in the African community. In my tribe, it was used to communicate events and tragedies that either happened, were happening, or about to happen – like hunting, war, and worship. A tune, or percusive melody, was played and each melody could indicate a different event in order that the community could respond.

Akogo/Kalimba/Mbira: In English, this is called the ‘Thumb Piano’ and it is a small, hand-held, hollow box with metal prongs that are plucked by the musician. This was originally used mostly by nomads because it was simple, compact and could be easily carried. When they sat down to rest they could simply take out the instrument and play to forget the past and pass the time. In Uganda, this instrument is more normally found and used by West Nile tribes and those from the north of the country.

Endingidi: This is a stringed fiddle and it is easily recongisable as it usually has one string stretched along a wood piece between a base and the instrument’s top. It is played with a bow. The Endingidi is tuned on a pentatonic scale which has five notes per octave rather than the normal seven. It is mostly used by the Baganda and the Basoga people in their traditional orchestras.

Mbaire (Lusoga) / Madinda (Luganda): This is also known as the Marimba or Xylophone in English. This tends to be the lead instrument in many traditional orchestras in Uganda as it is used to tune the other instruments.

Adungu: This is also known as the African bow harp and it originated from the Northern and Western Nile areas. It plays on the diatonic scale which has eight notes in it. You can recognise it as the player holds the base and then plucks the many strings that are attached to its curved bow. The Adungu has specific stories and dances that accompany it.

Entongooli: This is known as the Lyre. In Uganda it usually has a round base and a triangular frame on which the strings are attached. It is mostly played by the Baganda and Basoga. In Kenya, it is mostly played by the Kikuyus.

These are some of the main instruments but don’t even touch on the wind section with the Enkwanzi (Panpipes), Omulele (Flutes) and Agwara (Horns).

The wood instruments, such as the Madinda and Endingidi are made from the native Ugandan Musambya tree – also known as the Nile Tulip or the Bell Bean Tree.

If you’d like to see a whole orchestra of traditional instruments played the best place to go is the Ndere Centre in Kisaasi on Sunday nights for their family show from 4pm to 9pm. If you’d like lessons or to know more about traditional instruments contact Abraham Sekasi: . Email: abramsek@gmail.com. Or phone: +256 (0) 774 146 040.

Birding In Lake Mburo National Park

Planing a birding Safari in Uganda? Lake Mburo national park is located in the western part of Uganda in Kiruhura district, 30 kilometers east of the largest city of the sub-region Mbarara. Lake Mburo national park was gazette as a national park in 1983 after being used as a hunting ground and later as a grazing field for the Bahima.

Currently it is the smallest savannah conservation area in Uganda, meaning it is the smallest park in Uganda covering an estimated area of 260 square kilometers but with some outstanding attributes that are so unique from other destinations in Uganda.

Lake Mburo national park is well known for its unique mammals like the zebras, impala, elands, leopards, buffaloes, warthogs, jackals and others. Though this amazing national park is known for its zebras but it is also one of the incredible birding destinations of Uganda, harboring over 310 bird species that has been sighted in this small but interesting savannah park. The lake Mburo national park will always leave you with need for more stay in this destination because of its scenic free standing acacia trees, with the dwelling birds not forgetting the forest species that are commonly seen in the Rubanga forest.

One other unique attribute of Lake Mburo national park is the presence of the swamps of course with its amazing and spectacular six papyrus endemic birds including the Papyrus gonolek and the blue-headed coucal ,don’t also forget that lake Mburo national park is a place that one can get the southern species in the northern limit of their range ,clear experience can be seen from the black-collared barbet and the ground hornbill and of course this same national park has the migratory birds that are commonly seen in the park during months of November to April.

One destination that any birder shouldn’t miss is Lake Mburo national park just for some of its notable species that are endemic to Uganda. Some of the key endemic species include; the shoebill with its attribute of inhabiting swamps and been a quiet , gentle and standing in the side point, and for long described as a statue- like bird species, the Abyssinian ground hornbill is an occasional bird, attributed to be one of the most endemic and migratory bird species in the park, the greater painted snipe is one of the most sought after bird species with its characters being as not a vocal bird, enjoys staying in reed beds but along water shorelines of marshes, swamps, streams, and ponds. There are many endemic bird species but to mention are these few.

The notable common species are; the African wattled lapwing, black-bellied bustard, and saddle billed stork, Brown-chested lapwing, bare-face go-away bird, African scops owl, blue-headed coucal, etc.

Birding in Lake Mburo national park is a year round activity that is done in the interior of the national park, with May, June and July comprised of less rain fall, then Jan, February, march and April having heavy rain, but interesting months are from November to April, where you can sight the migratory birds.

Best Time To Go Chimpanzee Tracking In Kibale

Are you planning to visit Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking but wondering when to go? Besides mountain gorilla safaris, Uganda offer yet exceptional primate adventures for you to explore while on your safari. Situated in Western Uganda, East Africa, Kibale Forest National Park has been described as the capital of the primates in the world. The park offers refuge to mainly 13 primate species including over 1500 chimpanzees out of the 5000 individuals that are confined within Uganda making chimpanzee trekking and Habituation Experience (CHEX) its main tourist attractions.

These primates share about 98.7% of their DNA with humans. Trekking these rare apes also rewards visitors with stunning views of other primates like the rare L’Hoests, Black and white colobus monkeys, endangered Red colobus monkeys, olive baboons and many more. Besides the park also offers refuge to more than 325 bird species, four felids, 70 mammal species and over 250 species of trees. Kibale National Park is dominated by moist evergreen and semi deciduous forest. The large part of this forest was logged at the time of when it was a forest reserve and some exotic tree species were planted in plantations especially the pines and eucalyptus.

Ever since the area was gazetted as a national park, most of these introduced trees have been removed and logging has stopped. Kibale is highest at the park’s Northern tip and it stands at altitude 1590 meters above sea level. The lowest point is at 1100 meters on the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley to the South.

If you are planning to visit Kibale Forest National Park, it is important that you take note of best time to track these unique apes in their natural habitats. Trekking adventures in Kibale National Park is an all year round experience but the best time to visit is during the dry season which starts from the months of June to September and then from December to February and these are drier and hottest months but the best season for chimpanzee trekking. The forest is also less thick making it easier to sight these incredible apes.

There is also much sunshine at this period and less rain and because of it is a peak season, most tourists flock for this adventure but most importantly the park doesn’t become crowded. From March to May and towards the end of September to November mark the rainy season where wildlife viewing is a bit challenging but it is perfect for birding safaris especially those who wish to look out for the rare Green breasted pitta-the only second pitta in the whole of African continent that can be sighted within the tropical rain forest of Kibale National Park. For tourists who part take a 2 to 3 day safari, they have a higher opportunity to view the wild chimpanzees in the park.

Briefly, the best time to visit falls in the month of June, July, August and September and December, January and February. At this season, it is also a peak season and the trails are kept relatively drier, making chimpanzee trekking a bit simpler. The peak season starts from June to September and the Lower season is in the month of March, April, May and November and it is characterized by heavy rainfall. Best weather conditions start from the months of June, July and December to February which comes with less rainfall. The worst weather conditions are in the months of March, April and May and at the end of September to November which comes with heavy rainfall and the trails are muddy for tourists to track chimpanzees.

In conclusion, Kibale Forest National Park is Uganda’s best protected area for chimpanzee trekking safaris. Trekking these endangered apes in the wild is the most exciting and interesting experience anyone should include in his or her travel itinerary in Uganda. Trekking these apes in wild is a unique experience unlike those in zoos which is why visiting Kibale National Park is a must for you to view our closest relatives.

5 Popular Adventure Activities Not to Miss in Uganda

Uganda ranks best in Africa when it comes to African safaris but still the country is full of amazing attractions that you can get involved in for an amazing holiday. The Pearl of Africa is exciting and its natural resources attract thousands to the country all year.However, Uganda is also blessed with various opportunities like volunteerism, business ventures and much more but for adventurers, the country is just packed with awesome experiences including that you have always looked for. Here is a list of the most famous Uganda attractions that you shouldn’t miss out and some make others come back to Africa for exceptional tour adventures.

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest

The main reason for most visitors to Uganda and if you ever ask someone why I should go to Uganda, gorilla tracking in Bwindi Forest will definitely be the answer. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest offers the greatest gorilla tracking experience on earth despite the existence of other gorilla tracking spots like Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park,Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park. It’s a home of the most attractive primates in the world and a huge number of them reside here. Bwindi Forest also has Uganda ancient people that have never been changed by the western world and till present still leave in the ancient.The Batwa People of the forest  are brave, great hunters but culture and Bwindi forest is a priority in their lives. They support gorilla tourism and conservation the reason they vacated their ancestral home to a new allocated homestead. There is a list of things to do in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest but the gorilla trekking safari in the impenetrable jungle is simply the best.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest

Just like gorilla tracking, tourists on chimpanzee viewing trips are requested to book their Chimpanzee trekking permits in advance due to the steep demand. Remember chimpanzees tracking go hand in hand with gorilla tracking so the demand is same. If you looking for wonderful primate viewing experience in Africa, track chimpanzees in Kibale forest the primate capital in Africa.Kibale forest offers, both chimpanzee viewing and habituation where you spend a all day monitoring the beautiful fast moving creatures. Find this vast rain forested park in fort portal with baboons as the first park guards that welcome you to their diverse rich home. While hear don’t miss the preferred tourist trail of Kanyanchu and view all the 13 primate species. In addition, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale has been advanced that tourist’s tract chimpanzees three times a day.

Wildlife Safari to Queen Elizabeth

Given the fantastic scenery, wildlife and primates, Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda is one of the most visited. Game drives are guided by informed park ranges and the activity is freely done all day though wildlife is best seen in mornings and evening hours. Kasenyi and Ishasha are the known park sectors for game viewing but its exciting looking at tree climbing lions up close in trees in Ishasha.

No one leave this park without taking a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel a home to hippos, birds, Nile crocodiles and wildlife. It’s superb to spend an afternoon on Lake Edward and L.George the two water bodies that form the impressive channel. Leisure and nature controls the ride and all tourists on this activity feel relaxed hence something you shouldn’t miss while in Uganda. Other thing to do in Queen Elizabeth is the chimpanzee trekking, nature walk, bird watching etc.