5 top activities on a Uganda Safari Tour
While planning your next tour in Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, Chopper Tour and Travel has carefully pointed out an outstanding list of 5 top things to do on a Uganda safari tour. These things can be done on a day safari or tailored to best suit your expectations, ranging from one day to more than a month, exploring various destinations within Uganda. The 5 top things to do on a Uganda safari tour include, but are not limited to, birding tours in Lake Mburo National Park, mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park, boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel, primate safaris in Kyambura Gorge, and Jinja white water rafting tours.
Let’s dive into these fascinating 5 things to do on a Uganda safari tour:
- Birding Tour in Lake Mburo National Park
Situated in the southwestern part of Uganda in the Kiruhura district along the Masaka-Mbarara highway is Lake Mburo National Park, a home to over 350 species of birds, including the migratory birds and the resident birds, making it an ideal travel destination for birding tours. Some of the best birding spots in Lake Mburo Uganda Park include around the lake shores, Rubanga Forest, swamps such as Miriti and Warukiri, and many more. Chopper Tour and Travel has an experienced birding tour guide who is always available to lead you to the best birding spots within the park.
Some of the birds to look out for in Lake Mburo National Park include the African finfoot, shoebill, papyrus gonolek, kingfisher, red-faced barbet, cuckoo, swamp warbler, bee-eater, hornbill, whistling duck, grey-crowned crested crane, and many more, which makes birding in Lake Mburo National Park one of the 5 activities done on a Uganda safari tour.
To enjoy this birding excursion in Lake Mburo National Park, the Uganda Wildlife Authority stipulated a fee depending on the nationality of the tourist. This includes $25 for foreign nonresidents, $20 for foreign residents and UGX 20,000 for citizens of East African Community member states. However, it’s important to note that the birding fee is exclusive of park entrance fees and any other park activities that you may wish to add to your travel itinerary, such as boat cruises, guided nature walks, cultural tours, cycling, guided game drives, and many more, to offer you an unforgettable experience in Uganda.
Birding safaris in Lake Mburo National Park can be arranged all year round. However, each season offers a different encounter. For instance, the rainy season is the best time to spot migratory birds, while the dry season is an excellent time for resident birds, as they are easily spotted in short savanna vegetation and along the waterbodies.
Here is a list of some items to pack for a thrilling birding tour in Lake Mburo National Park:
- A pair of Binoculars (very important for a birder)
- A camera and extra charged batteries to capture those beautiful memories
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes from direct sunlight
- A hat
- Sunscreen
- Long-sleeved attire to avoid scratches and insect bites
- Insect repellant
- Hiking shoes
- Packed lunch or snacks
- Enough drinking water
Get in touch with our experienced tour consultant to plan your next Uganda birding safari tour, not only in Lake Mburo National Park but also in many other birding destinations in Uganda.
Other than birding tours, Lake Mburo National Park is a great safari destination for wildlife excursions within its vast savanna that harbours plenty of wildlife, including zebras, impalas, kobs, buffaloes, warthogs, hippos and monkeys, to mention but a few. These animals can be easily spotted during the game drive, nature walk, boat cruise, cycling, and other activities.
- Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Mgahinga National Park
Trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda is one of the lifetime experiences that the majority of tourists always look forward to. This is because Uganda harbours more than half of all the mountain gorillas in the world, and there are only two destinations where tourists have an opportunity to have a memorable encounter with habituated mountain gorillas:
Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, both situated in the far southwestern part of Uganda. The geographical location of these parks makes it easy to have a mountain gorilla trekking tour in Uganda from Rwanda and return to Rwanda on the same day for other activities. It’s also possible to have a fly-in gorilla trekking tour from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park.
Mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park is yet another exclusively fascinating activity and one of the 5 things to do on a Uganda safari tour, offering tourists an opportunity to trek the one and only habituated Nyakagezi gorilla family, which allows only 8 people to trek this beautiful gorilla family per day. Being the only habituated gorilla family implies that the permits always sell out very fast, thus requiring booking to secure the slot and be part of the 8 daily lucky persons to trek the Nyakagezi gorilla family. On a lucky day, tourists also have an opportunity to encounter the Hirwa gorilla family that usually visits Mgahinga National Park from Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, both situated within the Virunga massif.
As of 2026, a gorilla trekking permit for Mgahinga National Park costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for the rest of Africa and UGX 300,000 for East African Community members. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park ranges from a few minutes to about 6 hours, depending on how far the gorilla family has moved, since trekkers have to travel via different trails in search of these endangered primates. Upon finding the gorilla family, trekkers have only 1 hour near the gorillas watching them play, groom, feed, and much more.
Tourists are briefed about the rules and regulations and are constantly reminded of the dos and don’ts while in the habitat of mountain gorillas, and these include keeping a minimum social distance, no eye contact, no eating or drinking while in the habitat of mountain gorillas, no using flashlights while taking photos, and many more. Thus, all trekkers are encouraged to attend the pre-gorilla trekking briefing.
The packing list for mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park includes:
- A gorilla trekking permit (a MUST have and requires prior booking)
- A camera
- Hiking boots (should fit and be waterproof)
- A rain jacket
- Long-sleeved attire
- A hat
- Packed lunch and enough drinking water
- A porter (available for hire upon request)
- Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Taking a boat ride on the Kazinga Channel is amongst the 5 things to do on a Uganda safari tour, enabling travellers to sail for about 2 hrs on a 32 km water channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George within Queen Elizabeth National Park. A boat cruise on Kazinga offers tourists a spectacular view of abundant wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and lots of water birds.
Apart from boat cruises, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best parks in Uganda, where travellers have an opportunity to enjoy a breathtaking game drive, guided nature walks, lion tracking, chimpanzee trekking, and many more activities that all offer a great encounter with the big 4 of the big 5, including lions, elephants, leopards, and buffalo. The cost of the Kazinga Channel boat cruise is $30 for foreign non-residents, $25 for foreign residents and UGX 30,000 for Ugandans and East African Community members. These fees exclude the park entrance fees.
- Primate safari in Kyambura Gorge
Famously known as the valley of apes, covered in a spectacular rainforest of Queen Elizabeth National Park, is the Kyambura Gorge, home to a good population of habituated chimpanzees available for trekking. During the chimpanzee trekking tour in Kyambura Gorge, trekkers have a great opportunity to encounter other forest dwellers, including small animals and birds, and enjoy the natural beauty up close.
This adventure is one of the 5 things to do on a Uganda safari tour; however, remember to book your chimpanzee trekking permit in advance while planning your next Uganda safari to the pearl of Africa.
- Jinja white water rafting tour
Jinja is famous for hosting several adventurous trips, but white-water rafting remains the highlight of almost every Jinja tour, making it one of the 5 things to do on a Uganda safari tour. Situated in the eastern part of Uganda, Jinja is the gateway for tourists who wish to have a fascinating white-water rafting experience, paddling through various grades of waves. Apart from white water rafting, tourists also have a great opportunity to explore the source of the Nile River on a boat cruise. This adventure can be combined with a trip to Jinja City.
The above 5 top things to do on a Uganda safari are a basic highlight of what Uganda has in store to offer. However, Uganda has a lot more to offer when it comes to tourism. Contact us today on our website or via WhatsApp to plan your next Uganda tour with us.
