Highlights for Adventure Travel in Uganda
Uganda Adventures Include Gorrilla Tracking, Mountaineering, Rafting
Aug 16, 2009
Uganda, called "The pearl of Africa," by Winston Churchill, occupies roughly 91,000 square miles in the middle of Africa, a land mass a little smaller than the UK, or the American state of Oregon. Located at the ecological intersection between the East African savannah and the central African jungle, it offers a wide variety of options for the adventure traveler, ranging from gorilla and chimpanzee trekking to dare-devil white-water rafting on the upper reaches of the Nile, to tropical mountaineering in the Ruwenzori Mountains.
Despite being decimated by years of abuse and repressive leadership under Idi Amin and Milton Obote, Uganda has recovered a sense of hope in the last two decades. Severely challenged by the AIDS epidemic, encroaching civil wars in neighboring countries, uncontrolled population growth, and economic hardship, it is nonetheless making large strides in rural development, women's health care, and environmental protection..
One thing immediately strikes a visitor: this is a country that welcomes tourists, without making them feel that they are walking ATM machines that can be counted on to dispense unlimited amounts of cash to anyone who approaches with the offer of a trinket or a tour. It is a refreshing change from the hustle of Nairobi and the slick, well-practiced tourism of the East African game preserves.
Wildife, Chimpanzee and Mountain Gorilla Safaris in Uganda
Gorilla Tracking: No doubt about it, gorilla tracking is the country's marquee adventure. Two national parks – Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – have habituated 5 groups of the severely endangered mountain gorillas. Passes are extremely limited (a total of only 30 a day are available), and are most reliably available through trekking companies. If gorilla tracking is on a bucket list of must-do lifetime adventures, get passes in advance.
Chimpanzee Tracking: The panting-hooting call of the chimpanzee is the signature sound of the African jungle. Man's closest relative can be visited at several location in Uganda, including Kibale Forest, Budongo Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park. In all three preserves groups of chimpanzees have been habituated for tourism, meaning that they won't flee at the first sign of people. For visitors to Entebbe, a more convenient option might be to see a group of orphaned chimps at their sanctuary on Ngamba Island, which lies on Lake Victoria, a 45-minutes boat-ride from Entebbe.
Game Safaris at Murchison Falls National Park: One of Uganda's oldest and largest conservation areas, Murchison Falls is located at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the falls literally explode out of a narrow gorge. Famous visitors included Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway (who crashed his plane there), European royalty, and in 1951, Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, and the actors and crew of The African Queen. This region offers some of Uganda's best wildlife safaris, with elephant, giraffe buffalo, hippopotamus, and Nile crocodile.
Parks and Outdoor Adventure – Uganda's White Water Rafting, Tropical Climbing
White Water Rafting: One of the Nile’s sources is Lake Victoria. Near Jinja, where the Nile pours out of Lake Victoria, the river has, in the last decade, become one of Africa's premiere white-water rafting destinations. Adding to the adrenaline rush are outfitters offering kayaking, mountain biking, river boarding and bungee jumping. One and two-day whitewater rafting trips alternate between lazy sections of river good for relaxing and bird watching, and heart-pounding grade 4 and 5 rapids that leave everyone soaking wet but exhilarated. All companies offer clients the opportunity to bail out on a safety boat if the thrill gets a bit too thrilling.
Climbing in the Ruwenzori Mountains. The Ruwenzori mountains of western Uganda, also known as the Mountains of the Moon, offer some of the most challenging mountain trekking in the world. Guides frequently wear knee-high water-proof boots, and even tourist brochures seem to use the words swampy, muddy, more muddy, boggy, slippery, and wet a little too much for comfort. Treks can be up to 7 or 8 days long; accommodations are in primitive mountain huts. The terrain ranges from lowland jungle to snow-covered peaks where both altitude sickness and hypothermia are real possibilities. indeed, on Mt,. Stanley (16,761 feet) requires ice axes, crampons, and a rope. Only tackle these mountains with the help of qualified guides.
Climbing Mt. Elgon. In comparison to the Ruwenzoris, (and notwithstanding a section of trail called the "Rock of Death"), climbing Mt. Elgon, on Uganda's eastern border with Kenya, is a walk in the park. Climbs can be independently organized, with porters and guides available for hire at the park gate. Figure 4 to 6 days, depending on the route.
For adventure travelers, Uganda is indeed the pearl of Africa, an undiscovered Eden with outsized adventures at undersized prices, including classic East Africa safaris and remote tropical mountaineering.
More on East African tourism at Resources about East Africa.
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