How is Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park Rwanda?
Mgahinga Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost increased from $700 – $800
Planning a safari in Uganda offers a wealth of options, whether you’re looking for Budget Mid-Range or Luxury Uganda Safaris experiences. Here’s a breakdown of the difference between Budget Mid-Range or Luxury Uganda Safaris and what each level might entail and the difference:
- Uganda Budget Safaris:
- Accommodation: Typically staying in budget lodges, campsites, or guesthouses. These options may not offer as many amenities as higher-end accommodations but are clean and comfortable.
- Transport: Shared transportation such as minibusses or vans may be used for transfers between destinations.
- Activities: Group tours or shared activities are common to reduce costs. These could include game drives, boat safaris, and guided walks.
- Meals: Meals may be simple but filling, often provided as part of the safari package.
- Uganda Mid-Range Safaris:
- Accommodation: Upgraded accommodations with more amenities such as private bathrooms, comfortable beds, and sometimes even swimming pools.
- Transport: Private or semi-private transport with experienced guides. This could include 4×4 vehicles for game drives.
- Activities: More flexibility in choosing activities, with options for both group and private excursions.
- Meals: Higher quality meals, often including a mix of local and international cuisine. Some packages may include meals at upscale restaurants.
- Uganda Luxury Safaris:
- Accommodation: Stay in luxurious lodges, tented camps, or boutique hotels with top-notch amenities such as spa facilities, gourmet dining, and exclusive views.
- Transport: Private transport with knowledgeable guides who can tailor the experience to your preferences. This could include flying between destinations to save time.
- Activities: Customized itineraries with exclusive experiences such as private game drives, guided nature walks, and cultural encounters.
- Meals: Gourmet dining experiences featuring locally sourced ingredients and fine wines. Some packages may include private dining options.
In Uganda, regardless of the level of safari you choose, you’ll have the opportunity to explore diverse landscapes, encounter incredible wildlife including gorillas and chimpanzees, and immerse yourself in the rich culture of the region. It’s essential to research and compare safari operators to find one that aligns with your preferences and budget while ensuring a memorable and enjoyable experience.
Budget Mid-Range or Luxury Uganda Safaris offers, Uganda has much to offer for tourists ranging from primates, wildlife and cultural experiences, here are the 10 Top Things to do on safari in Uganda:
Primate tracking
Primate tracking is one of top Uganda safari activity to do in the new normal, Uganda is a home to various primate species including Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys, among others. On this activity you will be able to explore various forests in search for the famous primates major activities include Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee trekking and Golden monkey trekking.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda on a low budget camping safari in Uganda is done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, for you to be allowed to go for the gorilla trek you will need to have a gorilla permit which costs USD800 for the foreign non residents, USD500 for Rest of Africa, USD700 for the East African Residents and 300,000 Uganda Shillings for the East African Citizens, this gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas. You can as well opt for a 4 hour encounter experience that is Gorilla Habituation which costs USD1500 per person per trek, this is gives an opportunity to spend more time with the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park
Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda is done in Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu Forest and Budongo Forest close to Murchison Falls National Park. The chimpanzee tracking is done in the morning and afternoon and we can book for you the permits and organize this trek for you depending on the itinerary and timing of the activities. For the normal chimpanzee tracking, a Chimpanzee permit costs USD250 for the foreign non residents, USD200 for the residents and USD50 for the citizens this gives you one hour encounter with the chimpanzees. You can as well do the chimpanzee habituation experience which gives you a half day encounter with the chimpanzees; this is only done in Kibale Forest National Park
Golden Monkey Trekking
Golden Monkey tracking is only done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Golden monkey tracking permit costs USD100 allowing you to spend one hour encounter with the Golden monkeys, then a Golden monkey habituation permit costs USD140 giving you 4 hour encounter with the Golden monkeys.
Gorilla Habituation Experience
Gorilla Habituation Experience is a gorilla activity done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park that involves trekking/walking and hiking through the forest to search for semi-habituated mountain gorillas which leave together in a given gorilla family group but are not used to human presence, once you find them you will participate in activities geared to making these mountain gorillas get used to human presence. Gorilla Habituation Experience gives you an opportunity to spend much time with the mountain gorillas that is four hours encounter different from the one hour encounter during the normal gorilla tracking. This experience is unique given the fact it gives you an opportunity to learn more about mountain gorillas. It is done is a group of 4 visitors tracking a given semi-habituated gorilla group.
Wildlife viewing
You will be able to do various game drives in savannah national parks of Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Uganda’s most popular National park Queen Elizabeth National Park, wildlife to see includes tree climbing lions, Buffaloes, Elephants, warthogs, Giraffes, Zebras, Leopard, among others.
Experiential Tourism Activities
Experiential tourism activities is one of another item you should not miss including in your itinerary, these include lion tracking, Mongoose tracking, Hippo Census and Bird counts these are all done in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Depending on the time you have on your safari you will you do one of the activities which normally give you a great up-close experience with animals in their natural habitat.
Cultural experiences
Uganda is ranked among countries with most diverse cultures with more than 50 ethnic tribes and languages, you will be able to enjoy various cultural experience, you will be able to visit many communities in various national park part of your itinerary where the local community will share with you the hard experience of living near the park and how they have managed to co-exist peacefully with wildlife you will as well enjoy the cultural encounters and traditional dances.
Mountain Hiking and Cycling
Mountain Hiking and cycling is another amazing adventure activity that you can add onto your safari to Uganda. Uganda is a land of various hills, mountains and various highlands giving you a great opportunity for hiking activities and cycling. Mountains include Elgon, Rwenzori, Moroto, Sabinyo, Muhavura and Gahinga among others which are common for hiking.
Bird watching
With over 1000 recorded bird species in Uganda, Uganda is one of the best destinations for birding in Africa; it is home to various migrant birds and Albertine endemics with the Shoebill as one of the must see bird specie the major birding areas include Bwindi Forest, Mabamba swamp, Mubwindi swamp, Bigodi wetland and Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park among others many birds as well can be spotted during game drives in various national parks. Some of the Birds include, Collared pratincole, Palm-nut vulture, Pel’s fishing-owl, Rare Swamp flycatcher, Gray crowned crane(Uganda’s National bird), Giant Kingfisher, Giant Heron, Shoebill stork, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Nightjars, Marabou stork, Black headed lapwing, Back-bellied Bustard ,Swamp Fly catcher, Giant Heron, African Jacana, Secretary Bird among others.
Boat Safari excursions
With various lakes and rivers in Uganda boat trips and excursions is one of another top Uganda safari activity to do, Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, River Nile Excursions to the top of the falls and the Delta give you an opportunity to enjoy wildlife up-close and various water animals in Murchison Falls National Park.
What is the best time to Visit Uganda
The best time for visiting Uganda is during the months of December to February and then June to October which is relatively drier than March to May and November. Uganda is crossed by the equator making it experience a modified equatorial type of climate with two rainy seasons and because of this people tend to associate drier seasons to be the best time to visit Uganda. This is true because when it is raining, it becomes hard to drive through the park for wildlife viewing because of the heavy rains that make the trails too slippery.
Why Book a Uganda Safari Through Eco Adventure Safaris
At Eco Adventure Safaris we are committed to the well-being of our staff and guests as well as to having a positive impact on the communities and wild places that our operations reach. Contact us here about planning and booking Uganda safari and more information about Budget Mid-Range or Luxury Uganda Safaris.