Top 8 adventure activities to do in Uganda 2025
Top 8 adventure activities to do in Uganda 2025: Known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is a top adventure destination because it offers a wide range of safari activities, such as mountain climbing, chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking, and wildlife viewing. Therefore, some of the best 8 adventure activities to partake in while your safari in Uganda in 2024 will be highlighted in this post.
Gorilla trekking
One of the best things that visitors can do while on safari in Uganda is gorilla trekking. Two national parks in the southwest of Uganda—Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park—are the sites of gorilla trekking in Uganda.
While Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to one habituated gorilla family, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to approximately 22 habituated gorilla families spread throughout four sectors: Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga.
Early in the morning, participants in gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park receive a briefing on the guidelines they must adhere to.
Because mountain gorillas prefer to roam around in search of food, you will begin trekking in the jungle after the briefing, which might take anywhere from two to six hours, depending on where the animals are. You will be permitted to spend an hour with the gorillas in their natural habitat if they have been located.
Chimpanzee trekking
After gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity in Uganda and is an intriguing experience. In Uganda, chimpanzee trekking is conducted in the following locations: Kalinzu and Budongo forests in Murchison Falls National Park; Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park; and Kibale Forest National Park, which is home to more than 1,500 chimpanzees.
At the park headquarters, chimpanzee trekking begins early in the morning with a briefing on expectations, rules, and restrictions. Following the briefing, you will begin trekking, which may take two to four hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are.
Once they are located, you will be able to spend an hour with them, during which you can observe their daily routines, take pictures, record videos, and learn about their habits and behaviors.
Wildlife viewing and game drives
Another fascinating activity in Uganda is game drives, which allow visitors to explore the savannah national parks in a cozy pop-up safari vehicle accompanied by a qualified driving guide. In Uganda, game drives and animal watching are conducted in a number of national parks, including Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley, and Murchison Falls.
Game drives can take place in the afternoon, at night to see nocturnal creatures, or very early in the morning when animals are more active. You may see a variety of species during the game drives in the savannah national park, including the big five mammals—the lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos in Ziwa rhino sanctuary. Among the other creatures you will be able to see are Uganda kobs, Jackson’s hartebeest, impalas, elands, topi, oribi, giraffes, hippos, warthogs, and waterbucks and bushbucks.
Golden monkey trekking
Another adventurous thing you may do while on safari in Uganda is golden monkey trekking. The smallest national park in Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, is the only place to engage in the strenuous activity of golden monkey trekking.
In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, golden monkey trekking begins early in the morning with an orientation regarding the guidelines to be followed. Following the briefing, you will begin your two to five-hour jungle journey.
Once you have located the golden monkeys, you will be permitted to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat, where you will be able to take pictures, watch them play, and climb tree branches.
Birding
One of the greatest places to go bird watching is Uganda, which is home to more than 1,082 known bird species, including migratory, savannah, woodland, and Albertine Rift endemics. Lake Mburo National Park, Mount Rwenzori National Park, Mabamba Swamp, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo Forest, Semuliki National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park are some of Uganda’s best places to go birdwatching.
The elusive Shoebill stork, Nahan’s Francolin, Karamoja Apalis, Rwenzori Turaco, Brown-chested Lapwing, Black Bee-eater, African Green Broadbill, Fox’s Weaver, Short-tailed Warbler, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Handsome Francolin, Archers Robin-chat, Red-throated Alethe, Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Dusky Crimson Wing, Dwarf Honeyguide, Grey Crested Crane, Strange Weaver, and Kivu Ground Thrush are just a few of the many bird species you will see while bird watching, which can take place in the morning or evening.
Mountain climbing
Another adventurous sport that visitors can partake in while on safari in Uganda is mountain climbing. The third-highest peak in Africa, Mount Rwenzori National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, and the three Virunga mountains—Mount Sabinyo, 3,645 meters above sea level, Mount Muhavura, 4,174 meters above sea level, and Mount Gahinga, 3,474 meters above sea level—are among the places in Uganda where mountain climbing is practiced.
Cruise by boat
In Uganda, taking a boat ride is a fun way for visitors to explore the waterways and take in breathtaking views of wildlife and other natural features. In Uganda, boat cruises are offered on the Nile River to its source, on Lake Victoria, on Lake Mburo, on Lake Bunyonyi, on the Kazinga Channel, and to the base of the falls.
Many aquatic animals, including hippos and Nile crocodiles, as well as animals like buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, giraffes, and waterbucks, can be seen along the shores during the boat cruise. Water birds, including cormorants, kingfishers, fish eagles, bee-eaters, and hornbills, can also be seen.
Recreational fishing
In Uganda, sport fishing is a popular adventurous activity that may be done in a variety of locations, including the Sipi Falls, Lake Victoria, Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Ssese Islands. Tourists can capture a variety of fish during the sport fishing experience, such as barbell, tilapia, tiger fish, lung fish, cat fish, and Nile perch.
During safari, visitors can also enjoy other exciting activities in Uganda, like guided nature walks where they can get up close and personal with various wildlife species, rhino tracking at Ziwa rhino sanctuary where they can see rhinos, horseback riding where they can explore the national park on horseback, white water rafting, quad biking, bungee jumping, cycling where they can explore the national parks on a bicycle, and cultural experiences where they can interact with the locals.
The ideal year to travel to Uganda.
Although you can visit Uganda at any time of year, the best time to go is during the dry season, also known as the peak season, which lasts from June to February. During this time, there is less or no rainfall in the national parks, so the trekking trails and access roads are dry and passable, and the vegetation in the parks is short, allowing you to see a variety of wildlife.
You can contact All In Africa Safaris or browse our website for a variety of safari packages to learn more about the top 8 adventure things to do in Uganda in 2025.
