Explore Uganda’s calm waterways as well as the wonderful fauna that lives in and around its water waves. The nation features various lakes, rivers, and marshes, which account for around 18% of the total land area. Among the most notable are Lake Victoria, one of the continent’s biggest freshwater lakes, and the Nile, the world’s longest river.
Best Canoeing and Kayaking Locations in Uganda for a Safari
Lake Bunyonyi
The lake is located in the Kabale district in southwestern Uganda, and it derives its name from the little birds that reside there. Because it contains a few waves, this lake is the deepest in Uganda and remains steady throughout the year. This lake is the only one where you may ride a canoe around all 29 islands, including the floating island and the punishment island, where young ladies who became pregnant before marriage were abandoned and left to die.
Each island has its own history, thus you will have a 2-hour canoe voyage with the greatest guide who will provide you with this history. There are also various activities available surrounding Lake Bunyonyi, such as birding excursions, hiking hills, house stays, nature walks, and cultural trips to experience authentic bakiga homes.
A canoe trip on gorgeous Lake Bunyonyi is a remarkable excursion; this lake in southwest Uganda is also one of the most beautiful sites in Uganda. Many tourists come here to rest and unwind after a day of gorilla trekking, volcano climbing, or a day before going on a safari in Uganda.
Lake Mutanda
To appreciate the beauty of Lake Mutanda and the rich culture of the residents who live nearby, you must visit the lake and go canoeing or kayaking on it. You may explore the lake’s intriguing islands on your own by renting dugout canoes, or you can embark on a tour with a local guide who will show you how people live there. A tour around this lovely lake in a dugout canoe will be an incredible adventure! Choose between a canoe journey early in the morning or at sunrise and a sail in the evening or at sunset.
Ssese Islands
The sea around the Ssese islands is ideal for kayaking, canoeing, or simply a simple boat trip. The water is pure and clean. Many of the resorts and hotels around the islands are in charge of organizing canoe and kayak trips, although the boats and canoes are not free. Visitors pay a nominal price to utilize their equipment for an agreed-upon period of time. As a result, these islands are among the best canoeing and kayaking sites in Uganda.
Mabamba Swamp
The secretive Shoebill Stork‘s native habitat in Uganda is the Mabamba swamp, and most bird viewing excursions take place in a canoe negotiating lily pads and papyrus swamp-lined canals.
Mabamba Swamp is a huge marsh that runs over a long, narrow bay and is surrounded by papyrus as it goes towards Lake Victoria’s western shore. After that, a local guide will take you to the swamp in a native fishing boat or canoe. Each canoe may only hold three birders (excluding the guide and boat driver). You must first pay a community fee of around $35, which was spent on the boat and the guide, at their modest office.
Because many of the boats do not have life jackets, you must either maneuver while wearing one or request one. The operators of these boats and the birding trip guides are locals. By paying for their services, you support the neighborhood and contribute to the preservation of the wetland’s fauna.
Semiliki Wildlife Reserve
The Reserve is nestled in a beautiful rift valley between Lake Albert, the Kijura escarpment, and the Rwenzori Mountains. The majority of the vegetation is open acacia-combretum woodland and grassy savannah, with patches of Borassus palm forest.
Large belts of riparian woodland along the major watercourses and some large wetlands in the direction of Lake Albert are interspersed.
These provide the greatest kayaking and canoeing opportunities in Uganda, particularly near Lake Albert. Rare birds such as Shoebills, African Pygmy Goose, Blue-breasted and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, and Blue-headed Coucal may be seen.
Katonga Reserve, as well as other sites around Lake Victoria’s coastlines
Katonga Wildlife Reserve in Uganda is one of the most beloved and smallest parks in the country, with distinctive qualities. Despite being one of Uganda’s lesser reserves, Katonga Wildlife Reserve may give you an unforgettable experience.
The wildlife reserve was established in 1998, making it a relatively recent addition to Uganda’s list of protected wildlife areas. The reserve is best explored on foot or by boat; it is home to around 40 animal species and over 150 bird species. Many of the animals, birds, and plant species present in the reserve are only found in wetlands.
Lake Victoria is Africa’s biggest lake and the world’s second-largest freshwater lake after Lake Baikal. The lake is also known as “Victoria Nyanza.” The lake was named Lake Victoria after Queen Victoria by the first British explorer, John Hanning Speke.
This massive body of water, shared by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, extends into the distance and appears to be more of a sea than a lake. Canoeing and kayaking are popular pastimes on Lake Victoria’s beaches. Consider performing these on Africa’s biggest lake. You may spend some time paddling around Lake Victoria, admiring the gorgeous shoreline and its remarkable array of bird species.
When is the best time to go canoeing in Uganda?
Throughout the year, Uganda has a variety of seasons. Heavy rains fall from March to May, and from October to December. The Dry season lasts from late December to February, as well as from June to August. However, the greatest time to go canoeing in Uganda is during the dry season.
The aforementioned are the greatest Canoeing and Kayaking places in Uganda for a safari.
