Uganda, commonly known as the “The Pearl of Africa”, is a naturally endowed country with abundant natural resources and tourists’attractions, centers and activities.
It is a country covered with vast national parks with various wildlife species, several bird species like the ostriches, Crested crane, the beautiful peacock, wood pecker among others, the beautiful landscape of various plateaus, mountains, lakes and rivers, the thick green vegetation, forests and so many others the list is just endless; therefore the need for you to come and discover all that’s hidden within the Pearl of Africa.
Visiting Uganda shouldn’t cause any travellers any sorts of worries because Uganda is a peaceful and secure country and above all a county with freedom for anyone to visit.
The people in Uganda are very hospitable and welcoming and therefore make anyone visiting the country comfortable and feel at home at all costs.
However, when visiting Uganda, there are some extra super tourist activities that one should always endeavor to include on their Ugandan trip / safaris.
Horseback Riding In Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is one of Uganda’s big national Parks and is a frequently visited tourist center. It is found in Kiruhura district situated in the Western part of the country. Lake Mburo National Park is a habitat for several wildlife species and bird species due to its diversified vegetation; of savanna grassland and savanna wood lands will are all comfortable homes for wildlife species. It is no surprise that there’s a large concentration of game at this park with animals like zebras, buffaloes, warthogs, giraffes, a number of antelopes and several bird species like; ostriches, Crested crane, the beautiful peacock, wood pecker .
Something very interesting; the wildlife and bird views and sights are best taken and enjoyed from horseback riding while enjoying the Ugandan air and African breeze in the savanna grasslands and woods. To be part of this tourist adventure, it doesn’t necessarily require any expertise even first timers too are provided with the same fun and experience as those with great horseback riding experiences. This is so because the horses are very well trained and good at what they do and are usually guided by their well-trained horse guides too. On this particular activity; expect to horseback ride through the savanna grassland and savanna wood land of Lake Mburo National Park, with your horse guide who will ride alongside you, explaining the different game and bird species within this locality.
Horseback riding is a very adventurous activity that gives tourists a chance to get close to the real wild and it’s among the activities one must not miss while in Uganda.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks
These apes are the most endangered species of wildlife with only 900 left in the world. And these are only found on the African continent in only three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of Congo. Half of this remaining population of these creatures is found in Uganda and can be enjoyed at any time of the year though the best time is the dry season when the place is dry and without out any mud and water that are the cases of the rainy / wet seasons.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking is an adventurous tourist activity every visitor should include in their package when visiting Uganda.
Uganda is habituated by 13 mountain gorilla family groups with 12 family groups in Bwindi National Park and 1 (one) in the Mgahinga National Park.
It is an exciting experience to trek mountain gorillas with in the Thick Impenetrable forest of Bwindi National Park and the Mgahinga area of the Virunga ranges.
Mountain gorilla trekking is usually done in groups of 8 tourists per specific gorilla family group and the time taken before finding your group, depends at the rate at which an allocated family group moves within this African jungle. This may last from 30 minutes to 5hours or even an entire day accordingly but still an exciting experience as it will reward you with beautiful sights of other wildlife species and bird species like the elephants, monkeys, buffalos, giraffes among other while enjoying the sounds of the singing birds from within the woods.
Take note, mountain gorilla trekking can only be enjoyed with a gorilla trekking permit that can be obtained from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) at 600USD in the peak season and 350 USD in the low seasons.
To learn more about Bwindi visit the Bwindi Gorilla Trek Planner (www.visitbwindi.com)
To learn more about Mgahinga visit the park website or the travel guide to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
White Water Rafting
White water rafting is yet an exciting tourist activity offered by Uganda. This can be taken from Jinja district in the eastern part of Uganda and is done from the waters of River Nile; the longest river in Africa and second longest in the world after Mississippi river. At Jinja, this point, we find the source of the Nile that flows through Uganda, to Sudan, Egypt and eventually in to the Mediterranean seat at which it pours its waters.
This activity is done from a boat cruise / ride taken along the water rapids along R.Nile and he fun is got when the tourists are thrown out of their rafting boats by the strong force of the water rapids. However, those faint hearted are not recommended for this exciting activity, it can only be taken and enjoyed by the strong hearted individuals.
A Visit to Murchison Falls
The Murchison falls are situated along the River Nile in the south western part of the country where we find the Murchison Falls National Park, a home to the big four (elephants, hippopotamus, rhinoceros ,buffaloes, lions etc. among others. They are the highest waterfalls in Uganda and at this point, the water falls/ pours down the rocky valley with a lot of energy making an enormous sound, forming a mist a few meters in the air, splashing waters around, forming a permanent rainbow.
The Murchison falls have two viewing spots that is; the top and bottom views and allow provide tourists with such great satisfaction. Taking in these falls from the top view; one has to drive 10 kilometers to the viewing spot and from the bottom, boat cruises are usually taken to the falls and at times, they even ride visitors to the top so as to have a clear view of the permanent rain bow.
Surely Uganda is the Pearl of Africa and offers great experiences for all its visitors, come and enjoy the Ugandan paradise.