Uganda is the most unique of all the East African destinations; offering gorilla trekking (Shared with Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo) Mountain climbing with a snow peak experience (Shared with Kenya and Tanzania), Game drives only unique to Uganda because of the green planes that cannot be found anywhere else in East Africa and chimpanzee tracking shared with Tanzania.
Safaris in Uganda give you the opportunity to experience almost all features of East Africa within one country; from the endangered mountain gorillas, tree-climbing lions, chimpanzees among other unique features garnished with a community of happy hospitable people that cannot be found anywhere else in East Africa.
Uganda Safari Reviews
Reviews are some of the best ways to identify where to go, what to expect, which service providers to avoid, product and service rates among other things that go along travel, tourism, restaurants and accommodation.
Since the emergence of sites like TripAdvisor, safari booking, Homestay, Airbnb; it is no longer a hustle to find out basic details about a particular destination and service provider. Thousands of reviews are available on review sites such as TripAdvisor as well as on booking sites for hotels, restaurants, hostels and travel related services.
Among all these sites, you are likely to find reviews ranging from one star for detestable experiences and five star or excellent reviews for exceptional sensational experiences. This is usually for varying reasons but in all this, one thing stands out; critics are always in relation to service providers not the depth in what the destination has to offer.
This gives us an important point to pin up, “choose your service providers wisely” because they determine whether your tour experience is worthwhile or a lifetime point of regret. We recommend TripAdvisor for what Uganda has to offer beyond the African Jungle Adventures Uganda safaris.
Uganda Safari TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is the leading go to site in case of any insight about a given travel agent/ travel agency. It will also give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay for your safari. Most of the companies that advertise on TripAdvisor are either big brands or companies to find their first steps in the market.
Considering the advertising cost, their rates/prices will slightly be higher by at least one or two percent or more to cover the advertising cost. So we recommend; you look at the rates offered at TripAdvisor advertisers, then look for a service provider on TripAdvisor who is not necessarily advertising on TripAdvisor but has good reviews.
Of course it might take you some time to read through the reviews of the former customers of any given company, but that time will pay off when you pitch for a rate 1,2,3,4 or even 5% less than the TripAdvisor advertisers’ rates.
Budget Uganda Safari
Uganda safaris are tricky to plan for without the help of a tour operator. But it is never advisable to take advice from a marketer; he will only tell you what influences you his desired action. The best place to get all the travel information for free is from car hire companies in Kampala, Uganda or any other East African country you might consider to travel to.
Car rental companies focus on hiring out cars but they have enormous information about tourism destinations. They will give you the rates for the car and fuel which are part of the major costs on any Uganda safaris, accommodation rates, driver rates and food.
However, their dealing in camping gear and camping safaris will cause them to give you advice that is more appealing to going for a camping “luxurious” safari if you dare suggest camping as an option anywhere.
It is advisable to ask them for recommendations regarding accommodation specifying whether you are seeking budget, mid range or luxurious accommodation. However it is important to note that most of the services in Uganda are rated by price not by the services offered. You might be bewildered to experience the same service at half the price another operator charges more so in the field of accommodation.
Budget Uganda safaris can be organized by both car hire operators and tour operators. Car hire operators tend to have enormous experience in camping safaris which fit the category of budget Uganda safaris while other tour operators will mainly focus on getting you accommodation in permanent budget structures. Whatever the case, the choice is always in your hands.
Uganda Safari Parks
Uganda has ten officially gazetted national parks; however there are more than 15 wild life reserves in Uganda though not all of them popular among visitors. We tend to visit what we already know; there is a limited willingness for people to visit places they least know about.
Murchison falls national park, queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Kibale forest national park are the most popular national parks in Uganda because; they are a summary for gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee tracking, tree climbing lions, and Uganda wildlife game drives.
Besides these top parks, Lake Mburo national park, Kidepo valley national park, Semuliki national park, Rwenzori and Elgon mountains national parks are some of the least popular parks yet they also have a lot to offer in terms of Uganda wildlife.
Other Uganda safari parks include: Matheniko, Bokoro, Pian Upe, East Madi, Ajai, Bugungu, Karuma, Kabwoya, Semuliki, Katonga, Kyambura and Kigezi.
Though there is enormous information about Bwindi impenetrable forest national park because of gorilla trekking, queen Elizabeth national park because of the tree climbing lions among other parks; there is very limited information shared about all these other Uganda destinations because people seem to have no interest in them.
It takes a few experts like African Jungle Adventures to open your eyes to a wider Uganda and the whole of East Africa with safari packages such as 3 days gorilla trekking, 15 days Uganda safaris, Nile rafting and gorilla trekking safari among other safari packages.
Uganda Wildlife Safaris
At African Jungle Adventures, we have a special term “Wildlife triangle”. This refers to uniqueness of Amazon wildlife setting, snowy wildlife and African wildlife planes that are more of savannah wildlife safaris.
The beauty and uniqueness of the pearl of Africa rotates around having both the African signature wildlife safaris and the Amazon kind of wildlife safaris; think of an impenetrable green forest like Bwindi with an amazing ecosystem. Then consider Kidepo valley national park one of the leading wildlife destinations in the whole of Africa.
All this time, I have only introduced you to the environment in these parks without deeper insight into the uniqueness of the wildlife in these parks.
Uganda is a home of the endangered primates; the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Actually you cannot find these amazing creatures anywhere else in the world apart from Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tour operators offer safari packages to enjoy these animals in their natural habitats in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC with tailor made adjustments.
Sometimes we avoid painting a picture of Uganda safaris because there is no moment we have been able to do justice in representing what this destination has to offer but amidst all these, please expect seeing; African elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Multitudes of African antelopes, reptiles among other Uganda wildlife species.
Chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking, tree climbing lions, and hippos (during boat cruise) have become some of the major highlights of Uganda wildlife safaris. It might take you a minimum of 8 days to experience all these major highlights of Uganda safaris.
Safari in Uganda Murchison falls
After coming this long, you realize that the major highlights of Uganda wildlife safaris point to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Kibale forest national park and Queen Elizabeth national park. But you will always find Murchison falls national park featuring somewhere in the pick. Why?
Murchison falls national park is the biggest park in Uganda with the outstanding distinct summarized marvelous depiction of a mini Niagara Falls, or Victoria falls also known as Murchison falls.
The falls are strategically located for a boat cruise spiced with wildlife sights as well as hiking points that will make you wish you would camp there for the rest of your life. Besides the falls, Murchison falls is located nearest to the only place where Rhinos can be found in relatively a large number in Uganda.
Game drives in Murchison falls national park are a big take away, offering sights and sceneries for cape buffaloes, Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Impalas, Uganda kob, alongside over 450 bird species.
Though Kibale forest national park is the most popular destination in Uganda when it comes to chimpanzee tracking, Murchison falls national park also offers Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest; only that there is a likely hood of spotting these chimpanzees on a bad day unlike in Kibale forest national park.
Conclusion
Uganda safaris are a like a natural entity that is meant to be experienced rather than talked about. Though we can echo the beauty and memories of our experiences; it is better to see or experience something once other than hear of it 1000 times.
