Discover the best Active Uganda adventure safaris and tours! Go mountain gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking in misty rain-forest jungles. Have a white-water rafting trip on the world’s longest river or trek to the African tallest mountain range. The prime region for wildlife adventures in Uganda is the western region.
This area of Uganda is home to most of the country’s national parks. It is where you can do chimpanzee and gorilla trekking adventures as well as hike to the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Jinja in Eastern Uganda is on most of Uganda’s adventure safari itineraries. This town is dubbed the adrenaline capital of East Africa. It offers a variety of thrilling activities on the Nile and in the surrounding area.
Rafting on Grade V rapids tops the activity list. But there is more adventurous fun to be enjoyed; whether it is bungee-jumping into the Nile or horse riding on the banks. In the same region, hikers can explore the beauty of Sipi Falls and mountaineers can tackle Mount Elgon, which is Africa’s 8th tallest mountain.
Adventurous travelers interested in a more off-the-beaten-track destination should travel to Uganda’s far northeastern Karamoja region for Kidepo Valley National Park. This pristine park has magnificent scenery and excellent wildlife viewing on open savanna.
Top Selected Uganda Adventure Safaris
Best Uganda Adventure Safaris Destinations
1. Jinja and the Nile River
Jinja town is located on the shore of Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria where the world’s longest River, River Nile exits the lake and commences an epic 6700-kilometer journey north to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. Just about 80km from Uganda’s capital city, Kampala, Jinja is the adventure capital of East Africa, offering activities such as white-water rafting, Kayaking, bungee jumping, quad biking, horse riding, mountain biking, village walks, etc.
2. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi National Park offers possibly Africa’s best mountain gorilla trekking adventure in ancient rainforest jungle with some of the continent’s highest levels of biodiversity and excellent birdwatching opportunities.
3. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Although Uganda’s smallest park, Mgahinga is also home to mountain gorillas, rare golden monkeys, atmospheric bamboo forests and the sacred Ngarama Cave, which was once home to the king of the Batwa Pygmies. It covers the northern slopes of three Volcanic Virunga Mountains and offers superb volcano hiking adventures.
4. Rwenzori Mountains
Situated on the border of Uganda and Congo, the Rwenzori Mountains are home to the legendary ‘Mountains of the Moon’. These snow-capped mountains near the steamy equator include Africa’s 3rd highest peak at 5,109m and serve as one of the sources of the world’s longest river. Rwenzori is a stunning destination for incredible hikes, perfect for Uganda adventure safaris. You may also like; how to hike the Rwenzori Mountains.
5. Kidepo National Park
Kidepo NP in the remote Karamoja region has a true wilderness feel and is a great destination for Uganda adventure safaris. It offers better predator sightings than elsewhere in Uganda – lion, cheetah, leopard, and hyena. There are great numbers buffalos, elephants, and authentic cultural experiences.
6. Semliki Valley
Including Semuliki National Park and Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, Semuliki Valley is one of Uganda’s more remote wilderness regions. Unspoiled by mass tourism, Semliki Valley includes lowland tropical forest and savannah grassland – to ensure an astonishing array of biodiversity. The valley hosts monkeys, chimpanzees, buffalos, and elephants, – but it is the bird species that attract many guests.
This is the eastern fringe of the vast Ituri Forest that occupies much of the nearby DR Congo, all the way to the Congo River 500km to the west. Avian wonders on offer include Congo serpent eagle, lyre-tailed honeyguide, red-billed dwarf hornbill, black dwarf hornbill, black-casqued hornbills, Nkulengu rail, western nicators, and Bate’s nightjar.
7. Kibale National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is Africa’s best destination for chimpanzee trekking adventures and a rewarding place for birdwatching safaris in Uganda in conjunction with the neighbouring community-run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
8. Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a classic African safari with a few twists. Habitats include dense tropical rainforest, moist acacia woodland, grassy savannah, freshwater lakes, rivers, wetlands, rainforest, and extinct volcanic crater cones with lakes. In addition to species such as elephants, buffalos, leopards, crocodiles, hippos, Kobs, warthogs, and giant forest hogs, the park is famous for the rare tree-climbing lions in Ishasha area and wild chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura George.
9. Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls Park is home to the Nile River and dramatic Murchison Falls (the world’s strongest waterfalls). This is mainly savannah woodland dotted with beautiful Borassus palm trees and encompassing tracts of tropical forests, savannah grassland, and wetlands. In addition to a mix of savannah wildlife like lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and giraffes, many people visit this park to find the incredible shoebills in the dense papyrus marshes.
10. Budongo Forest
Budongo Forest Reserve is located next to Murchison Falls National Park. The forest offers an excellent chimpanzee trekking adventure. Some of the chimpanzee communities have been researched and habituated for over 30 years. And your professional guides can recognize individual chimpanzees on sight, which only adds to what is already a profound and humbling experience.
11. Mabamba Swamp
Mabamba Swamp is a Ramsar Important Bird Area and bird watchers’ dream destination. It’s located on the edge of Lake Victoria, within easy reach of the cities of Kampala and Entebbe. This is arguably the best place in Africa to find the shoebill, one of Africa’s most sought-after birdwatching encounters. From the front, this giant prehistoric-looking bird resembles a dinosaur. Local fishermen help track these highly endangered birds, and your search will be conducted in a wooden boat – in the many deep-water channels of this large papyrus swamp.
Expect also to tick off other avian wonders, such as papyrus gonolek, lesser jacana, white-winged warbler, Viellot’s weaver, palm-nut vulture, Clarke’s weaver and Carruthers cisticola.
12. Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo lies halfway between the capital of Kampala and the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking havens in the country’s west – a convenient stop-over for those driving this route. The park offers a selection of antelope, buffalo, and occasional leopard and excellent birding on the lake. There are also cycling and horseback safaris inside the park.
