Super Seven
Entebbe
Although it's not the capital, majority of international flights enter Entebbe, so it's worth spending half a day here to get the feel of a busy buzzing African city. Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and social spot for the locals. There's an array of bird life, combined with children swimming in the lake, so it's a nice contrast. If you're looking for 'chill time' I'd recommend Lido Beach, where you'll pay a small entrance fee to access sun loungers and a bar/restaurant. For bird lovers, head for an hour walk around Entebbe Botanical Garden in the late afternoon. Finish off the day at the rooftop bar in K Hotel for a great panoramic view of the city.
Note - If you visit on a Sunday, pass by one of the many churches to see the locals wearing their Sunday best.
Murchison Falls National Park
My most unexpected highlight of the trip was Murchison Falls, which is a National Park located in the north of the country. It's packed with a wide variety of wildlife! Obviously, sightings differ daily, but for my two-day visit, it was a huge success. I had the best leopard sightings of any Africa safari to date, as well as huge array of birds. The collection of wildlife spotted includes Oribi, Ugandan Kob, Hartebeest, Nubian Giraffe, Patas Monkeys, Bushback, Warthogs, Buffalo, Hippos, and Lions. In the late afternoon, head towards Lake Albert (shared with DRC) for many watering holes and swamps that are a haven for wildlife during the heat. Additionally, you have Murchison Falls waterfall located within the park. You can view from a distance via a boat trip, which will also take you past wildlife along the river, like hippos and crocodiles. For an up-close look, you can view the waterfall from the top observation platform, which was significantly better in my opinion. If you only have time for one, then view from the observation platform to appreciate the true power.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
In the western region of Uganda is Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is also a abundant in wildlife. The main reason to include this NP is because it's a "hot spot" to witness lions chilling up in the tree branches. We had no luck with this, but saw some impressive wildlife all the same. Some first-time wildlife were Topi and Hyenas, that were fascinating to see. Additionally, seeing hundreds of Topi sprint across the plains was enthralling. The park seemed to have large volumes of the common mammal species in packs, which were great to see and photograph. For bird watchers, Queen Elizabeth NP is regarded as the 2nd best spot on the entire continent. As you approach the NP, you'll also cross the equator, where the Ugandan government have recently unveiled a new monument. If you only have time for one general wildlife park, then I would recommend Murchison over Queen Elizabeth, but personal opinion.
Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park will provide you with a very unique experience, as it has the highest diversity and concentration of primates across any NP in Africa. The large number of endangered chimpanzees are the highlight, but don't underestimate the other residents. This is a government-permit activity with a limit on daily visitors, but definitely not to be missed. Time it the best you can with the weather, as chimpanzees don't like the rain, so tend to stay high up in the treetops during wet times. The chimpanzee experience was very special to observe, as they're an active species jumping around, eating, mating, and socialising. In addition, the park offers a high concentration of colobus monkeys and is great birdwatching. June to September is regarded as "peak season" with the highest success of successful chimpanzee experience.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The highlight of The Pearl of Africa are the gorillas, and rightly so. They're located in Bwindi National Park with four main sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo to base your experience around. I went trekking in the Rushaga sector and it didn't disappoint. There's a total of 19 gorilla groups spread across Bwindi and these can be observed on an organised tour by purchasing a government permit, which includes trekking with mountain rangers in small groups. The hike time can very between 1-5 hours, depending on the movement of the gorilla families, which are carefully monitored in the early hours by spotters, ahead of tourism activities.
You get surprisingly close to the gorillas, within 2-5 meters, so the photographic opportunities are amazing! What fascinated me the most was how human-like they are in their behaviours and movement. If there's one thing I'd recommend to do during your Uganda visit, this is it!
Tea Plantations
Tea production has been a booming trade in Uganda for many years, with a huge expansion in 2010 that's helped with employment opportunities for locals. If you're on a road trip through the country, you'll pass by many tea plantations, especially in the south-western region. The rolling hills of plantations are deep green and a photographers delight! I simply 'passed by' and took photographs from the road, but there's a handful of plantations around Kibale NP that you can visit for tourism that will explain the full process from start to export. Wildlife aside, this was one of my favourite photo experiences across the country. These locals work extremely hard outside with intense heat conditions, so feel free to bring them a donation.
Kazinga Channel
Uganda is very diverse, which means you can also observe wildlife from the water. There's no better place than taking a boat along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake George & Lake Edward. The motorised boats are easy to hop on at the shoreline and include a wildlife guide. Larger species like bushbuck, nile monitor lizard, elephant, crocodiles, and vast volumes of hippos can be seen, but the real highlight was actually the birds. The African Fish Eagle was very impressive, along with smaller species such as Pied Kingfisher and African Jacana. You'll also see local fishermen out on the channel hard at work on overnight trips before heading back to shore with their catch. Overall, the Kazinga Channel is an enjoyable experience and mixes things up from land-based wildlife spotting.
Note - Majority of the smaller boats don't have shaded areas, so wear plenty of SPF.
Accommodation Advice
Uganda has accommodation for all standards, ranging from budget to luxury, so you'll definitely find something to suit. Overall, I was happy with all stays across my trip, but one I recommend above all, is Turaco Treetop near Kibale NP. You get spacious rooms with tranquil green surroundings, an impressive pool area, a high-end restaurant, and functioning WiFi. The lodge owner is Australian and greets all guests to introduce himself, which is a nice touch.
Food Factor
During a mainstream Uganda expedition, you'll predominantly stay in nature lodges that provide plenty of food options for in-house guests. The best lodges spread across the country where I had the tastiest food... Fort Murchison Lodge, Turaco Treetop, Bush Lodge, and Rushaga Gorilla Lodge.
I honestly had some of the best fruit in Africa during this trip, compared to anywhere else on the continent. If your route permits, stop by Kabale Central Market for the best selection of fresh fruit, as well as a colourful photo opp.
Good Guide
There's so many tour operators in Uganda and it can be a minefield. I spent days researching trying to find the best balance between a reliable trustworthy company, but also one that doesn't break the bank. I can highly recommend East African Jungle Safaris, whom I've used more than once.
Their owner Fred is a local Ugandan family man, who has a small team working for him. He's straightforward to communicate with and unlike many international operators, he's very fair with his pricing. I have 100% confidence in him and his team, and you can reach them via Whatsapp on +256 752 820818 or their website. Their reviews via multiple online sites speak further volumes about their service.
Comentarios