Best adventure destinations in Uganda: Uganda is among the destinations in East Africa to visit for exciting adventure experiences during tours in the country.
Also referred to as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is made up of diverse scenery and provides exciting wildlife and adventure encounters throughout the year. Some of the adventure destinations to visit in Uganda include the following;
Bwindi National Park in the southwestern part of Uganda is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the adventure destinations in the country.
When visiting Bwindi National Park during adventure tours in Uganda, tourists can engage in activities such as gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation, hiking and guided nature walks and can also enjoy bird watching experiences and cultural tours with tribes such as the Batwa pygmies.
The mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park can be seen during gorilla trekking tours in the Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Ruhija sector, and Nkuringo sector. Permits are required for the gorilla tours in the national park and they are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and cost 800 USD per person and allow tourists to enjoy close encounters with the mountain gorillas in the impenetrable forest.
- Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is located in the northwestern part of Uganda and is home to a variety of wildlife and bird species.
Adventure tours in Murchison Falls National Park involve engaging in different activities and enjoying views of the thunderous Murchison Falls. Activities which are done around the national park include game drives, boat rides to the bottom of the Murchison Falls, chimpanzee trekking in the Budongo forest, bird watching, and guided nature walks among others.
The Murchison Falls form at a point where the Nile River flows through a 7 meter gorge and drops about 45 meters forming strong waterfalls. During the adventure tours around the national park, tourists can encounter the falls by taking a boat ride along the Victoria Nile, hiking to the top of the falls, and also viewing the falls.
During the game drives around Murchison Falls National Park, tourists can see different wildlife species including some of the big five such as elephants, lions, buffalos, and leopards. Other animals found at the destination include giraffes, antelopes, hippos, and warthogs among others.
- Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park is one of the famous adventure destinations found in Uganda and it is found in the western part of the country.
Mount Rwenzori is the hiking place found in the national park and there are different routes used for hiking to the snow capped peak of the mountain which is also referred to as the “mountains of the moon”. The highest point on the mountain is the Margherita peak which is at an altitude of 5109 meters.
During hiking adventures around Rwenzori Mountains National Park, tourists can view different attractions including lakes. Tourists also hike through different vegetation zones to get to the top of the mountain including the rainforest zone, bamboo zone, and moorland zone.
Trails of hiking to the top of the Rwenzori mountains include the Central Circuit Trail, Kilembe Trail, and Bukurungu Trail. During these hikes, tourists move with ranger guides and can also be accompanied by porters on their adventures.
- Jinja – the adventure capital of Uganda
Jinja is also referred to as the adventure capital of Uganda and it is located in the eastern part of Uganda and is among the places where different adventure activities take place.
When visiting Jinja, tourists can engage in different activities along the River Nile including boat rides at the source of the Nile, Kayaking, bungee jumping, white water rafting, and horse riding among other activities.
Some of the places visited around Jinja include Itanda Falls, and the local markets, among other destinations.
- Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is another destination where tourists can enjoy adventures in the wild and see different primates and bird species.
During tours around Kibale Forest National Park, tourists can engage in close encounters with the chimpanzees as they take part in chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation tours. Permits for the chimpanzee trek cost 250 USD per person and allow tourists to visit the primates in their natural habitat in the morning or in the afternoon.
- Mount Elgon National Park
Tourists visiting Uganda during their adventure tours can visit Mount Elgon National Park where they can engage in hiking.
Mount Elgon is a popular hiking destination in the national park and there are different routes used to get to the top of the mountain and they include the Piswa route, Sasa route, Sipi route among others.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
Another place where adventure tours can be done around Uganda is Queen Elizabeth National Park which is located in western Uganda.
Activities which are done around Queen Elizabeth National Park include game drives, hiking, guided nature walks, chimpanzee trekking around Kyambura Gorge, and boat rides along the Kazinga channel among others.
- Mgahinga national park
Golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga National Park is another adventure experience that can be done during tours around Uganda.
Mgahinga National Park is also home to mountain gorillas which can be seen during gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda. This activity involves spending time with the gorillas and watching their behavior closely.
Climbing the Virunga volcanoes such as Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo is another adventure activity which is done when visiting Mgahinga National Park.
- Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park which is located in northeastern Uganda is another destination to visit for exciting adventure experiences.
This remote national park offers exciting wildlife encounters around the savannah plains, woodlands, and hills around the destination. Some of the wildlife species that can be seen during safaris around Kidepo National Park include lions, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, impalas, waterbucks, leopards, elephants, hyenas, warthogs, kudu, reedbucks among others.
Activities such as game drives, cultural encounters with the Ik and Karamojong, and hiking around Mount Moroto, and Mount Morugole are done during tours around Kidepo Valley National Park.
