Uganda is referred to as the ‘Pearl of Africa’ and it’s easy to see why. Many travelers gorilla trek in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, but the beautiful landscapes and diverse wildlife in other parts of the country should not be overlooked. After visiting Uganda in November, I was reminded of everything that makes it a stand-alone destination with so much to offer travelers seeking wildlife, adventure, nature and unique experiences.
This park is in northern Uganda and named after the impressive Murchison Falls. At the falls, I was surprised by the force with which the Nile River plunges through a narrow gorge, creating a roaring cascade of water. I visited the top of the falls along a series of walking paths and took a boat safari to the bottom of the falls. Both options gave me a beautiful perspective of this impressive waterfall. The water levels were so high when I visited that I even needed my rain jacket at the top of the falls because of all the mist!
The boat ride on the Nile River was a perfect opportunity for wildlife viewing, in addition to views of the falls from below. Elephants, hippos and crocodiles were some of my sightings as well as many bird species. There are 450 bird species in Murchison Falls National Park and you have the possibility of seeing the iconic shoebill stork, making this destination a highlight for birders.
There are other opportunities for wildlife viewing away from the falls. My game drive in the national park included sightings of a variety of species such as lions, giraffes, buffaloes and many more animals. Just outside the park in Budongo Forest you can track chimpanzees. While finding the chimpanzees here isn’t guaranteed, the success rates are very high.
With so many wildlife and nature activities to choose from, it’s hard to believe this destination is still unknown to many travelers.
Accommodation: I recommend staying at Nile Safari Lodge, which is a luxury property directly on the Nile River. The food, service and amenities riveled any other luxury property I have visited in Africa.
Journey Specialist Tip: You can drive or fly from Entebbe to Murchison Falls. Driving takes about six hours, but you can stop at The Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch on the way for a rhino trek on foot and lunch. This is the only location in Uganda with southern white rhinos. I was lucky enough to get a clear view of a rhino mom and her 2-year-old calf in the peaceful forest.
Located in western Uganda, Kibale Forest National Park is known for its tropical rainforest and biodiversity. Kibale has the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda as well as 12 other primate species. The highlight of my visit to Kibale was trekking to see the chimpanzees. This area has the best success rates of finding the chimpanzees of any location in Africa and I was not disappointed. The forest was dense and adventurous at times, but the terrain was mostly flat making this activity a good warm up for a more difficult gorilla trek up a mountain that came later in my trip. After a couple hours of trekking, we found the chimpanzees who were active and spending much of their time in the trees moving from branch to branch, but occasionally coming down to the ground. We had one hour to observe them and I loved every minute watching them swing from branch to branch and interact with each other. When our hour concluded, we made our way out of the forest and I had the rest of the afternoon to explore the surrounding area.
After seeing the chimpanzees, I headed to lunch at Tinka’s for a traditional Ugandan meal. Tinka is a well-known leader in the Bigodi community near Kibale. Lunch at Tinka’s includes fresh and delicious Ugandan dishes. They are served family style on the largest lazy Susan I have ever seen, making this lunch fun and interactive! Each dish is described along with its cultural significance as it’s served. This was a great educational experience as well as a satisfying meal. I especially enjoyed the peanut sauce, the Tinka family guacamole, chapati bread and trying sugar cane for dessert.
At this point in the day, many travelers head back to their lodge to relax, but if you’re looking for more to do there are other activities in the area. After my lunch, I did the Bigodi swamp walk. On this guided walk with a member of the local community, I saw many birds as well as baboons and a couple other primate species (no chimps). I enjoy learning about native plants and found the guide very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about answering my many questions. You can also visit the area’s crater lakes with your guide for gorgeous views across this hilly region. I thought the area was one of the most beautiful locations in Uganda.
Accommodation: If you want to be close to the chimpanzee trekking headquarters, Tinka’s lunch and Bigodi swamp walk then I recommend either Primate Lodge or Chimpundu Lodge. These accommodations are lovely and their locations are ideal. If you prefer beautiful views of the crater lakes and want to have access to additional hiking and kayaking, then I recommend Ndali Lodge. This quirky accommodation has a comfortable and inviting feel with the owners usually onsite with their dogs giving this lodge a welcoming family atmosphere and gorgeous views of the lakes.
Journey Specialist Tip: There are many tea plantations in this region. If you’re interested in tea, ask your guide to stop at one and show you the tea plants.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is in southwestern Uganda and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rainforest here is home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas and trekking to visit these gentle giants is the highlight. My trek was on a sunny morning in November. My group was assigned the Kanywani family which consists of one silverback male gorilla named Kanywani, four females and a new baby named Kibirangwe. When we reached the family in a clearing, they were eating leaves and grooming each other. I was brought to tears watching these gentle creatures and their calm interactions. The mom and baby were especially special as they sweetly played, cuddled and the baby occasionally nursed. The one hour with this gorilla family went by quickly, but I will always remember my time with them.
I stayed in the Buhoma region of Bwindi, which has quite a few activities available after your gorilla trek. Ride 4 a Woman is ‘a Ugandan non-governmental organization set up to support women struggling with poverty, HIV and domestic violence, single mothers, widows and women who never went to school.’ I enjoyed my visit and meeting these women and learning about the projects such as weaving and sewing. It was a great opportunity to buy souvenirs for friends and family back home and support this great organization.
In Buhoma you can also visit the Batwa community. The Batwa people are indigenous to the Bwindi forest and you learn about their traditional way of life and culture. Back at my lodge, I also enjoyed a tea processing tour, a river walk in the forest, and a well-deserved massage at the spa after my gorilla trek. Gorillas are definitely the main draw of this area, but there are plenty of other activities for different interests.
Accommodation: I recommend staying at Bwindi Lodge. Located close to the gorilla trekking headquarters, the staff are friendly and welcoming, the food is incredible, and the rooms are in the forest giving you a great sense of place. I especially liked the on-site amenities such as the river walk, tea processing tour and spa.
Journey Specialist Tip: If you stay at Bwindi Lodge, be sure to visit Bwindi Bar which is just a few minutes’ walk away in the nearby community. Bwindi Bar provides tourism training to youth in the area to create more job opportunities for them. I recommend trying a ‘Rolex’ (traditional Uganda wrap) for a delicious snack.
A visit to Uganda promises the thrill of gorilla trekking and so much more. I found that it’s worth it to spend time exploring each region and appreciating the natural beauty and wonder of Murchison Falls, Kibale and Bwindi. You will create memories to last a lifetime. Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, awaits you!
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Photos courtesy AAC Senior Journey Specialist Sara Stark, Nile Safari Lodge and Bwindi Lodge