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Luxury Gorilla Safaris in Uganda; Uganda is now a world-class gorilla trekking destination offering top-notch gorilla tours. With upgrades and investment in luxury accommodation, options of domestic airline operators with high levels of services including advanced health and security management for tourists during travel, travelers looking for luxury gorilla tours are well sorted.

Over the years, Rwanda has been known to be the only luxury gorilla safari destination with its gorilla permit at USD 1,500 per person per trek, and an inclusive tour is combined with extremely high-quality accommodation services from lodges at Volcanoes National Park.

Unlike the other two gorilla trekking destinations Rwanda and the DRC, Uganda has two gorilla national parks where tourists can encounter the majestic mountain gorillas any time of the year. For luxury gorilla tours to these safari destinations, we consider staying at upmarket safari lodges that we closely partner with and trust the genuine high-level services offered. A super deluxe gorilla safari would include flying to the destination with a domestic airline.

While Uganda’s Bwindi offers great chances of seeing the mountain gorillas at any of her 4 trekking regions, our luxury gorilla safaris are not limited to only gorilla trekking. We have several suggested packages combining the great adventure- gorilla trekking with other wildlife destinations like Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park for wildlife viewing and Kibale National Park for chimpanzee tracking.  Check out our luxury Uganda gorilla safaris

3 Days Luxury Gorilla road trip

Tour highlights

• Transport in a 4X4 safari jeep
• An experienced, professional, and smart safari guide
• Major Activities: Gorilla trekking
• Lodge options: Gorilla Heights Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge

3 days Bwindi fly-in safari

Tour highlights

• Flight to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip depending on the gorilla trekking sector
• Road transfer in a 4X4 land cruiser to your lodge
• An experienced, professional, and smart safari guide
• Major activities: Gorilla trekking
• Lodge options: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge

5 Days Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth Safari

Tour highlights

• Ground transport in 4X4 safari jeep
• Professional and well-experienced safari guide
• Major activities: Gorilla trekking, game drives, and boat cruise
• Lodge options: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge (Bwindi), Kikorongo Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge (Queen Elizabeth National Park)

5 Days Luxury Primate Road Trip

Tour highlights

• Ground transportation in a 4X4 safari jeep
• Professional and well-experienced safari guide
• Major activities: Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking
• Lodge options: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge (Bwindi), Chimpundu Safari Lodge (Kibale National Park)

6 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Fly-in Safari

Tour highlights

• Domestic flights to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips depending on the trekking sector
• Ground transportation and game drives in 4X4 safari vehicle
• Major activities: Gorilla trekking, game drive, and Kazinga channel boat cruise
• Lodge options: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge (Bwindi), Kikorongo Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge (Queen Elizabeth National Park)

7 Days Primates and Wildlife Luxury Safari

Tour highlights

• Ground transportation in a 4X4 safari jeep
• Explore with an experienced local safari guide
• Major activities: Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, nature walk, crater drive, games drive, and Kazinga channel boat cruise
• Lodge options: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge (Bwindi), Chimpundu Safari Lodge (Kibale National Park), Kikorongo Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge (Queen Elizabeth National Park)

9 Days Best of Uganda

Tour highlights

• Transport in 4X4 safari jeep
• Experienced local safari driver/guide
• Major activities: Gorilla trekking, Game drives, Boat cruises, Chimpanzee tracking,
• Lodge options: Nile Safari Lodge (Murchison Falls National Park), Chimpundu Safari Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge (Kibale National Park), Elephant Plains Safari Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge (Queen Elizabeth National Park), Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge (Bwindi)

16 Days Uganda Expedition Luxury

Tour highlights

• Domestic flights: Entebbe/Kajjansi – Kidepo and Bwindi – Entebbe /Kajjansi
• Road transport and game drives in 4X4 safari jeep
• Experienced local safari driver
• Major activities: Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee tracking, Game drives, Boat cruise
• Lodge options: Adere Safari Lodge (Kidepo Valley National Park), Nile Safari Lodge (Murchison Falls National Park), Chimpundu Safari Lodge, Crater Safari Lodge (Kibale National Park), Elephant Plains Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Kikorongo Safari Lodge (Queen Elizabeth national park), Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge (Bwindi)

Kidepo Valley National Park: Welcome to the fascinating Kidepo valley national park. Few of the parks in Africa have the same or close kind of wilderness presented by this destination. Situated in the far northeastern corner of Uganda, Kidepo Valley national park is one of the largest nature reserves in Uganda occupying 1,442 square Kilometers. It is the most remote national park in the country and thus less visited.

Kidepo valley national park was gazzetted in 1962 to protect a profusion of wildlife including large mammals, birds and their habitat. It is an isolated safari destination located on the border of Uganda, Kenya and Sudan. With the true open savannah landscape, the park offers clear views of the mountainous bodies close to it including the home to the IK people.

Wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park

Characterized with a semi-arid type of climate, Kidepo Valley national park boasts an incredible biodiversity that includes 77 mammals and about 475 bird species. Some of the residents of the park include the less and greater Kudu, Cheetahs, bush duikers, Elands, Rothchild giraffes, lions, leopard, hyena, jackals, Caracal, Guenther’s dik-dik, bat eared fox, Uganda kobs and Oribis. It also has large concentrations of African buffaloes, elephants and zebras.

The birds of Kidepo Valley national park include the Ostrich, Pygmy Falcon, Eagles, Kori Bustard, Karamoja Apalis, Red and Yellow barbet, Dark chanting Goshawks among others.

Attractions in the park

• Wildlife
• Lomej Hills
• Mount Morungole and the Ik people
• The culture of the Karimajong and the Ik
• Lonyili mountain
• Apoka Tourism Centre
• Narus Valley
• Kidepo valley and Kanangorok Hot Springs

Activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park

This rugged and isolated park is a great destination for adventurers looking to explore typical wilderness. Kidepo Valley national park is named the 3^rd wilderness nature reserve in Africa after Masai Mara of Kenya and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in the southern part of the continent. Major things to do in Kidepo include;

Wildlife viewing

Game viewing is always one of the top reasons that drive tourists to Kidepo valley national park. The southern and western sectors of the park have a number of tracks that lead travelers to areas where most wildlife roam. A 4×4 safari vehicle is recommended for Kidepo safaris. Game drives are done both in the morning and evening when weather conditions are ideal for animals to stay active. A guided game drive to Narus valley which is located about 5 kilometers from Apoka Tourism Centre offers an opportunity to encounter herds of African buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, lions, Zebras, reedbucks, Duikers and other mammal species.

Night game drives give a chance to sight the nocturnal wildlife such as; Leopards, Jackals and Bush babies among others.

Bird watching

Kidepo Valley national park has an impressive list of about 475 bird species. It has the second highest population of birds in Uganda after Queen Elizabeth national park. Close to 60 species of birds in Kidepo Valley national park have not been spotted in any other park in Uganda.  Common species here include the ostrich, Kori Bustard, red and Yellow barbet and Dark chanting goshawk. Major sites for bird watching in Kidepo valley national park are the Apoka Rest Camp, Narus Valley and Namamukweny Valley. Other birds in the park are the Purple Heron, Karamoja Apalis, Clapperton’s Francolin, Abyssinian Roller, Black Breasted barbet, Jackson’s hornbill, Rose-ringed parakeet and Rufous chatterer among others.

Hiking and guided Nature walks

Guided nature walks are done in the park to the Lomej hills for hiking. The activity starts early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters. While here, you are assigned a knowledgeable and experienced park ranger guide who shares a lot of information about the wildlife and landscape. For more adventures, the hike can be combined with the 2 hours walk at Kidepo River Valley along the banks of the beautiful Borassus Palm Forest. Alternatively, a guided nature walk can be done at Apoka Namamukweny Valley.

Cultural encounters

When planning to visit Kidepo Valley national park, be informed that you can include a cultural tour on your package to meet one of the few tribes in Uganda that have preserved the true African culture. The Karamajong people and the Ik still live an ancient life that involves practices such as living in homesteads made up of several Manyattas with an African architecture and with their animals’ kraals constructed close to their houses. Their traditional dances and music are just part of them. They also have a unique way of dressing which is partly determined by the semi-arid climatic conditions of the region.

Where to stay in Kidepo Valley

The number of safari lodges in Kidepo Valley national park is quite smaller compared to other parks in Uganda because it receives few visitors. The few lodging facilities here offer a good service, experience and amenities that supplements on your safari adventure in the park. They include;

• Apoka Safari Lodge
• Kidepo Savannah Lodge
• Adere Safari Lodge
• Apoka Rest Camp
• Nga Moru Wilderness Camp

Best time to visit Kidepo Valley national park

The Dry season is the best time to visit the park for wildlife viewing because the tracks are accessible. There is only one permanent water place during the dry season which is known as the Narus Valley adjacent to Apoka tourism Centre and this is where herds of animals congregate to drink and cool their bodies.

Accessing Kidepo Valley national park

Kidepo can be accessed by road and air transport.

By road, there are a number of routes that can lead you to the park with some of them giving you a chance to stop at different attractions.

The shortest and mostly used route is the Kampala-Karuma-Gulu-Kitgum-Kidepo route which covers 571km and takes about 11 hours. It takes you via Nakasongola where you can go for rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Murchison falls national park.

The other route is the Kampala-Karuma-Lira- Kotido-Kaabong-Kidepo which is 705km long and takes about 12 hours.

Passing through the Eastern region, the Kampala-Mbale-Sironko-Moroto-Kotido-Kaabong-Kidepo is 740km and also takes more than 12 hours. You can stopover at Sipi falls or Mt. Elgon national park.

Still via the East, there is an alternative of driving from Kampala-Mbale-Soroti-Moroto-Kotido-Kaabong-Kidepo.

Tourists who do not want to sit for long hours to get to Kidepo can fly with domestics airlines. They will fly you to the Kidepo airstrip and your safari driver picks you up for a transfer to your lodge.

A safari to Kidepo valley national park can be combined Murchison Falls National Park or Mountain Elgon National Park for double thrilling adventures in the Pearl of Africa.

Things to do at Lake Bunyonyi; Lake Bunyonyi is definitely one of the most beautiful water bodies in Africa. Nestled between the Kigezi islands in Kabale district, the lake owns amazing beauty awaiting to be taken in while on a Uganda safari in the southwest of Uganda, with pretty much enjoyable activities from canoe ride to cycling. Not far from Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi is always a good option to wrap up your trekking adventure. Out of the 29 islands on the lake, you can enjoy picturesque views when you visit and explore some of them.

Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest in Africa after Lake Tanganyika. It happens to be the safest natural water body for swimming since it is bilharzia free and does not host dangerous animals such as hippos and crocodiles.

In this article, we highlight the activities that are available for travelers add on their itineraries when planning to visit Lake Bunyonyi;

Canoe ride/ boat trip

Sitting in a dugout canoe to sail on Lake Bunyonyi is a thrilling experience of exploring the lake in a local way. The trip offers beautiful views of the conical Virunga volcanoes at a distance. You can choose to do the ride for a few hours if it is an additional activity to a gorilla safari or go for a whole day trip and explore some of the islands to learn more about their history. There is an option of using a motorized boat to get around Lake Bunyonyi.

Bird watching

The word Bunyonyi is translated as “small birds” and the lake got this name because of the presence of many birds of this kind around the islands and the locality. Lake Bunyonyi is home to about 200 bird species including sunbirds, kingfishers, cormorants and weavers among others. Whether you want to go birding on the islands or the mainland, moving with an expert local site birder will do you wonders.

Cycling tours

The surrounding hills have trails that you can cycle through and delight in the scenery, meet the locals and enjoy the adventure itself as you ride on the landscape. You can hire the mountain bikes in Kabale.

Relax along the lake shores

After routines for months in offices and other fields, the shores of Lake Bunyonyi would be one of the best places to chill out, relax and rejuvenate yourself. The tranquility, fresh air and the views here are just what you need, to get back to work with great energy, ideas and excitement after the short break. You can choose to chill out and relax along the lake shores or sail to one of the islands.

Zip lining

Most destinations for zip lining have this adventure done through forested areas and participants swing through trees. You can go zip lining over Lake Bunyonyi and touch the waters as you slide from one point to the other. It is a thrilling experience that could also come along with climbing high ropes which require some minimum level of experience, patience and focus.

Hiking and Nature walks

Whether you are on the main land or island, you can take a nature walk to closely explore this fascinating space. Hikes around the hills offer scenic views of the surrounding, take you through the villages of the Bakiga and you can meet and interact with them.

Cultural experience

We organize for cultural visits to the local peoples’ homes, local markets, schools and project facilities like women’s groups and associations under tourism. Entertainment groups of the Bakiga will hype you up you with their energetic dances that involve jumping and shaking the ground.

Regardless of Lake Bunyonyi’s remote location, far from Uganda’s capital Kampala, this lake is a gem worth visiting while on a Uganda safari or looking for a fascinating place to chill out at and make beautiful memories. It is commonly added on gorilla safaris but can also be visited as a standalone destination since it as quite a lot of things tourists can engage in. from adventure to relaxation, Lake Bunyonyi is magical.

Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise; Describing Kazinga channel as beautiful is an understatement! The 32-kilometer long water way is more than just fascinating. It is a fresh water channel in Queen Elizabeth national park collecting its water from Lake George, meandering through the park and pouring it in Lake Edward which is shared between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kazinga channel is renowned for wonderful boat cruise experiences due to its amazing wildlife concentration including hippos, crocodiles, monitor lizards, birds and buffaloes. Elephants often visit the channel during the dry season to drink and cool their bodies. On lucky days, a leopard, lion or forest hog can be sighted at the channel. A Uganda safari to Queen Elizabeth national park without the Kazinga channel boat cruise would be considered incomplete.

The launch trip is an impressive experience for bird lovers as the shores and fish attract an array of birdlife. It is possible to catch up the boat cruise after a transfer from nearby destinations like Kibale, Rwenzori and Semuliki national parks.

Attractions at Kazinga channel

While cruising on Kazinga channel, there is quite a lot of things that will keep your eyes busy, from the wildlife to the landscape. Here are the highlights of things to see while on the Kazinga channel boat cruise;

Mammals

Kazinga channel is among the top three areas with the highest hippo concentration in the world and these large mammals can be seen throughout the trip. Other mammals we expect to see at the channel include elephants, buffaloes, warthogs and waterbuck. Leopards are occasionally sighted especially in the acacia trees, meters away from the waterway.

Reptiles

According to facts from the guides at Queen Elizabeth national park, the population of crocodiles in Kazinga channel has been increasing over the years as more and more individual crocs are seen relaxing at the shores. Other reptiles seen at the channel include the monitor lizards.

Birds

Bird species commonly seen around Kazinga channel include pied kingfishers which could go further to visit you on the boat, African fish eagle, African spoonbill, little egret, white egret, greater egret, pink and white backed pelicans, long tailed cormorants, marabou stork, hadada ibis and hammerkop among others.

Scenery

Tourists get aboard the boat at the jetty located in the valley of the channel. As you start the trip, you will enjoy views of Mweya safari lodge and Tembo restaurant on Mweya peninsular and the thick greenery vegetation on the slopes where elephants are sometimes seen feeding.

Fishing village

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a biosphere reserve with over 5 villages. Most of these do fishing as the major economic activity. As you get closer to your turning point of the trip, you will watch people go on with their daily life at Kazinga fishing village including fishermen preparing their nets. It surprises how people here survive along with wild animals in the proximity but that’s the life in the park.

Lake Edward

Before returning to the jetty, you will see where Kazinga channel meets Lake Edward. The late afternoon boat cruise allows you to see fishermen in their wooden boats setting off from Kazinga to Lake Edward for duty (fishing). It is a large water body shared between Uganda and the DRC.

Best time for boat cruise on Kazinga channel

The best time to visit Kazinga channel for a boat cruise depends on your wildlife interests; for those interested in seeing mammals, the dry season is the best because many animals gather at the shores to drink and cool their bodies. For birding enthusiasts, birds are present all year round but more species including migratory birds are seen in November to April and January to February.

Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park; Renowned for tree climbing lions, masses of hippos and elephants plus the stunning craters, Queen Elizabeth national park is also among the best bird watching destinations in Uganda and Africa at large. Out of approximately 1010 bird species in Uganda, QENP records 612 of them, a number more than half of the total species in the country. The park has the highest checklist of birds than any nature reserve in East Africa.

Due to the wide range of habitats in QENP, you can go for bird watching tours combined with other interesting activities at different sites. From the tropical forests to savannah plains, a Uganda bird watching safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park is perfectly conducted during game drives, boat cruise, nature walk, Explosion crater exploration and chimp tracking.

Bird species in Queen Elizabeth national park

Kazinga channel is a hotspot for aquatic birds including the Pied kingfishers, African Fish Eagle, Long tailed Cormorants, Pink and white backed Pelicans, Wattled Plovers, Water-Thick knee, Egrets, White-faced Whistling, African Jacana, Malachite king fisher, Spoon-billed stork and the Black Crake among others.

More of the birds around the nature reserve include the swamp fly-catcher, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus canary, African skimmers, Grey-headed kingfisher, Martial Eagle, Pin-tailed warbler, Ramped buttonquail, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, shoebill stork, thin-tailed Nightjars, Mourning dove, squacco heron, White winged terns, and the Speckled tinker bird among others.

Best places for bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park

Kazinga channel

Kazinga channel is mostly recommended for bird enthusiasts looking for water birds.

Mweya Peninsula

This is a major site for all Queen Elizabeth wildlife safaris. It is strategically located for chilling out and relaxation, boat cruise, school tours, research and scenic viewing. Birds at Mweya peninsular include the black headed gonolek, pin-tailed warbler, yellow backed weaver, swamp flycatcher, doves, swifts, robin chats, swallows, Nubian pecker and the swamp nightjar among others.

Kikorongo area

The small lake Kikorongo which is an extension of Lake George hosts bird species including the sacred ibis, black crake, saddle billed stork, knob billed duck, lesser flamingo and the African jacana among others.

Kyambura gorge

You can spot savannah birds in areas near the gorge and forest birds close to and within the gorge. Birds at Kyambura include the Black rumped Buttonquail, Martial eagle, blue headed bee-eater, bar-tailed godwit, buttonquail, Chapin’s flycatcher, papyrus canary, white tailed lark, lesser and greater flamingoes, corncrake, African broadbill, to mention but a few.

 Maramagambo forest

This forest is located along the Kichwamba escarpment in the north of QENP. Notable bird species here include the black coucal, brown illadopsis, red-throated wryneck, blue-shouldered robinchat, African emerald cuckoo and African finfoot among others. The bat cave is a highlight for any visit to Maramagambo forest.

Kasenyi Plains

The vast Kasenyi plains are mostly known for game drives, but also harbor a wide range of birds including birds of prey. Some of them include the croaking cisticola, pin-tailed warbler, brown backed scrub robin, black bellied bustard, hooded vulture, ripeols griffin vulture, white-backed vulture and more.

Best time for birding in Queen Elizabeth national park

Bird watching can be done all year round in the park.

If you want to spot more bird species, November – April and January-February are the best because migratory birds are present. And travelers who are mindful about weather and probably want good weather conditions that will keep their movement smooth, the June – September and January to February are a good time for the activity.

Ishasha Sector; Situated in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park, Ishasha is one of the few places known for tree climbing lions in Africa. Although some writers have come out to say that lions can be spotted anywhere in trees and consider this unexceptional, Ishasha outstands with a lion population that has adopted this behavior and individuals or prides are often seen relaxing on tree branches.

While game drives in the Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth national park may offer a chance to spot lions, they are usually seen on the ground or anthills. Ishasha amazes tourists with clear views of the comfortably lazing lions on fig tree branches.

The tree climbing lions of Ishasha are commonly spotted during the day as it starts to get hot. There are no scientific facts to explain the behavior the tree climbing lions, rather it is an adaptation as these cats try to escape the heat on the ground and tsetse flies in the tall grass.

Things to do in Ishasha sector

Game drives

Ishasha is a less visited sector because of its remoteness but rewarding in regards to game drives with highlights being the tree climbing lions. Expect a rough ride on the off-the beaten track, therefore a 4×4 safari vehicle is recommended.

Bush breakfast

One of the best places to have a bush breakfast in the parks of Uganda is the Ishasha sector. You will enjoy your meal with beautiful views of the vast plains. This is organized by your safari lodge.

Camp fire

Sitting down to share stories and life experiences is a cool thing but it is extraordinary when you do it around a camp fire in the wilderness. No unnecessary sounds to compete with, except the silence of nature. Nothing beats this tradition.

Nature walk

Exploring a nature reserve on foot gives you a closer feeling to the wildlife in the area. With an armed ranger to keep you safe, the guided nature walk is an ideal way to get up-close the wildlife.

Cultural visits

Meeting and interacting with local people at a destination is an insightful way to learn about their culture and lifestyle. The Bakiga who live around Ishasha have a unique culture with a cultural dance that involves energetically jumping and shaking the ground.

Best time to visit Ishasha sector

The best time to visit Ishasha is also the same for the main Queen Elizabeth national park; during the dry season from December to February and June to October. During this period of the year, the area receives little or no rainfall and therefore the roads are dry hence easy to drive far in search for wildlife.

Where to stay in Ishasha

Ishasha is located in a remote part of the park and therefore has few lodges the fact that it also has limited activities compared to the northern side of Queen Elizabeth national park. Some of the safari lodges around Ishasha are; Ishasha Wilderness Camp, The River Ishasha Lodge, Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Topi Lodge and Enjojo Lodge.

Other places to visit

Bwindi Impenetrable national park

There is nothing quite like seeing the tree climbing lions and the giant mountain gorillas on an African safari. This happens on a combined safari with wildlife and gorilla trekking with Dolphin Tours and Travel will cater for your adventure and exploration thirst.

Why Hire a Car with a Driver in Uganda; A somewhat small country packed with amazing attractions from the wildlife, landscape, and culture to the warm weather, Uganda is a gem. Besides these attractions, Uganda is a booming East African country with various business, agriculture and mining activities which are playing a big role to its socio-economic development. No matter your travel purposes, Uganda is a safe and awesome place to visit. However, the experience of exploring this safari destination on self drive is different from that when you hire a car with a professional driver. You can rent a car and an experienced driver for wildlife safari, gorilla trekking safari, city tour or business trips in Uganda, then get to every corner with ease.

In this article, we highlight the reasons why we recommend travelers to hire a car with a driver in Uganda;

Insightful travel

Our safari guides have travelled around Uganda and across the East African region over and again, and they are well versed with the routes plus have good knowledge about the tourist attractions. Unlike on self drive where you could get to an attraction search for online information about it, traveling with a local guide allows you get first hand detailed information. They make sure you also learn about things or situations of interest that you may come across unexpectedly.

Route knowledge

Thanks to technology advancement which has made self drive easier with Google maps and GPS that help travelers on a new route to plan for their trips by knowing the travel distance and estimated time before traveling and also find their way while on the road. But remember that these apps and gadgets are not as accurate as a local driver who perfectly knows the routes and alternatives in case of uncertainties. They have also mastered the art of the road so they are aware of the location of humps or potholes which is crucial when travelling in the evening, early morning or amidst rain.

Safety and security

To most travelers, this is the basic reason they want to travel with a local driver. Even if Uganda is a safe place to travel, they feel more safer with a person who is familiar with areas they are visiting and can be there to ensure that they face no harm from either the locals or wildlife. And indeed, your hired driver guide is more like a bodyguard; he guards you from any dangerous people like robbers and fraudsters. They advise on where to go and places to avoid for security purposes. While in wildlife reserves, they will limit your movement to specific areas unless in the vehicle or with company.

Car choice

There are rental cars that are hired for self drive in Uganda and those that are only available for rent with a driver. Therefore, depending on the travel purpose for your trip and the car required, you might have to hire a local driver. Safari cars such as the extended land cruiser, super custom, and safari van are hired with a driver and these are mostly suitable for wildlife tours in nature reserves.

Are you planning to travel around Uganda soon and want to book a car and driver for your trip? Feel free to get in touch with us through our email: info@ugandagorillatrekkingtrips.com or call us on +256-772455610 to speak to the reservations team.

Fly In Safaris in East Africa; A fly-in safari in East Africa makes a transfer from one location to another faster and this allows travelers to cover more safari parks and do more activities in a shorter period of time. Most safari destinations are located far from major cities, international airports and from one another. In addition, the regional transport network in East Africa is not yet well developed with reliable and fast means of connection and this makes road transfers across the destinations and safari parks long and tiring.

How Fly in Safaris operate in East Africa

Choosing Fly in safaris in East Africa allows you to use light aircrafts to get to local tourism destinations;

Uganda flying safaris

Kenya flying safaris

Tanzania flying safaris

From your home country to the destination,  you will fly in to the international airport, then connect to the safari parks with a light aircraft. After your activities at one destination, you can connect to another park by air or road if it doesn’t have an aircraft landing facility, perhaps you would also wish to have some off the beaten path experience. Flight safaris will help you escape the hustles and bustles that come with traffic on the roads plus restlessness on rugged and dusty roads.

Travelers who plan to visit more than one country in the region are advised to apply for the East African visa, a single visa that allows you to access three East African countries: Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. This is one of the great joint achievements in travel for the countries.

Fly in safari experience

East Africa is one of the most beautiful regions in Africa and the world with fabulous landscapes and wildlife, fly-in safaris will offer breathtaking views of the region. The aerial sights of the water bodies, mountains, vast plains, forest canopies and terraced hills are pleasant.

Light aircrafts that operate fly in safaris in East Africa vary in size; small aircrafts with carrying capacity of 2-4 and bigger ones hose that take 10- 40 passengers. Early bookings are highly recommended. Travelers can use fly in safaris and combine with a road transfers to connect to other national parks to feel both the road and flight experiences in Africa.

The distant destinations in East Africa that we would recommend for fly in safaris include; Bwindi Impenetrable National park, Kidepo Valley National park and Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda, Serengeti National park in Tanzania and Masai Mara in Kenya. Fly in safaris are suitable for travelers who do not want to sit for long hours during road transfers or perhaps have limited time and want to do safari activities. However, for travelers who want a more explorative and adventurous experience, safari road trips are the best. They will take you through the spectacular countryside and you can stopover at en-route safari destinations.

Below are our most popular fly-in safaris in East Africa. They can be tailor made to perfectly suit your travel needs when you contact us.

3 Days Bwindi Fly in Safari

Tour highlights

• Scenic flight to southwestern Uganda
• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest
• Optional activities- Bird watching, Batwa community visit

3 Days Gorilla Habituation Fly in Safari

Tour highlights

• Scenic flight to southwestern Uganda
• More time with mountain gorillas during the fascinating experience of gorilla habituation
• Optional activities- bird watching, Batwa community visit

6 Days Bwindi and Wildlife Fly-in Safari

Tour highlights

• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
• Wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth national park
• Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
• Optional activities-Birding, Batwa community visit

Uganda Flying Safaris; Most of what you see and hear in regards to exploring Uganda is about the road trip safari experiences. But there are the unsung scenic flying safaris; soar in the skies of the pearl of Africa and enjoy views of the beautiful landscape with patched water bodies, the endless hills, plus the greenery plantations and vast savannah plains. For decades, Uganda flying safaris have been unpopular while safaris by road have been the trend. Great to know that there are now a number of reliable domestic airlines readily available for coordination to offer fast and and convenient Uganda safaris.

Dolphin Tours and Travel Limited organizes flying safaris in Uganda for tourists who preferably want to get to their tourist destinations and do more activities in a shorter period of time rather than driving long distances to get there in a 4X4 Safari vehicle.  Whether you want to travel solo, as a family or group, we are ready to handle your flight safaris with great value.

You can fly to national parks including Queen Elizabeth, Murchison and Kidepo Valley national parks for wildlife safaris and Kisoro to connect to Bwindi or Mgahinga for gorilla trekking.

The experience of fly-in safaris in Uganda

From the stunning aerial views of Lake Victoria to the various exciting things to do at your tourist destinations, flight safaris in Uganda are outstanding. You will enjoy the scenic views during flights and have shorter road transfers in our customized 4X4 safari land cruisers which will also take you around the parks for the game drives and other activities included on the itinerary.

How to book your Uganda flying safari

We advise travelers planning for flight safaris to contact us for reservations early so that we can make arrangements that fit in the scheduled flights or organize charter flights with the domestic air flight companies. Point out the need for the flight when booking for your African safari through our expert consultants and they will offer the best all-inclusive tour package rates.

Best of Uganda Flying safaris

Below are highlights for our Uganda fly-in safaris. These can be customized to fit clients’ travel needs.

2 Days Murchison Falls Safari

Tour highlights

• Approximately 1 hour flight from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Murchison falls national park
• Boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
• Visit the top of the falls
• Game drive

3 days Bwindi fly in safari

Tour highlights

• Scenic flight to southwestern Uganda
• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest
• Optional activities- Bird watching, Batwa community visit

3 Days Gorilla Habituation Fly-in Safari

Tour highlights

• Scenic flight to southwestern Uganda
• More time with mountain gorillas during the fascinating experience of gorilla habituation
• Optional activities- bird watching, Batwa community visit

3 days Murchison Falls Fly-in safari

Tour highlights

• Approximately 1 hour flight from Entebbe or Kajjansi to the park
• Game drives
• Boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
• Hike to or visit the top of the falls

4 Days Queen Elizabeth Fly-in Safari

Tour highlights

• About 2 hours flight from Kajjansi to Kihihi airstrip
• Tree climbing lions search
• Flight from Kihihi to Mweya
• Game drive in Kasenyi
• Boat cruise on Kazinga channel

5 days Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth Fly-in safari

Tour highlights

• Flights to Murchison and Queen Elizabeth national parks
• Flight from Queen Elizabeth national park to Entebbe
• Game drives
• Boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
• Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
• Visit the top of the falls

6 days Bwindi and Wildlife fly-in safari

Tour highlights

• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park
• Wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth national park
• Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
• Optional activities-Birding, Batwa community visit

Gorilla Trekking Sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable national park; Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is one of Africa’s most popular safari activities and a memorable experience. The adventure takes you through the pristine tropical forest in search of the majestic mountain gorillas. A specific gorilla family is sought and visited by only one group of trekkers per day. Getting up-close to these endangered apes is a breathtaking moment that many refer to it as a “life changing experience”. Some people wonder if this is safe, and the answer is YES. It is very safe to meet these mountain gorillas since they have been habituated and made ready for tourism. On the other hand, the apes also have to be kept safe and this has been managed through the clearly stated rules and regulations of gorilla trekking.

Bwindi Forest national park has four major trailheads for gorilla trekking spread all over different locations. Travelers can be advised on which trailhead to opt for considering factors such as their route to Bwindi, other destinations on their gorilla safari and availability of gorilla permits.

Gorilla tracking trailheads in Bwindi are found in the following regions;

Buhoma sector

Buhoma is located in the northern side of Bwindi Impenetrable national park. It is found in Kanungu district and the first to access when driving from Queen Elizabeth national park. It has five habituated gorilla families namely; Muyambi, Katwe, Mubare, Rushegura and Habyinyanja gorilla families. Apart from gorilla trekking, you can also go bird watching, for community visits or Batwa cultural encounter.

Rushaga sector

Rushaga region is in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable national park. It is home to 8 habituated gorilla families namely; Mishaya, Nshogi, Bweza, Kahungye, Busingye, Rwigi, Mucunguzi and Busingye. The gorilla families are open for trekking all year through.

Rushaga sector can be easily accessed from Rwanda in a 5-6 hours drive other than the approximately 12 hours from Kampala. It is also currently the only sector where visitors can engage in the gorilla habituation experience.

Ruhija sector

With four (4) habituated gorilla families, Uganda Wildlife Authority offers 32 gorilla permits daily to trek in Ruhija sector. The sector is located in the southeastern part of Bwindi. Gorilla groups available for tourism include; Kyaguiro, Bitukura, Mukiza and Oruzogo. Other activities to do after tracking gorillas in Ruhija sector include going for the Batwa cultural encounter, visiting local community projects and bird watching.

Nkuringo sector

Nkuringo is a region in the southeast of Bwindi. Located on a higher altitude, Nkuringo is the best sector  for travelers looking for a more difficult trek. It has three (3) habituated gorilla families namely Nkuringo, Bushaho and Christmas. Bushaho gorilla family is found of often crossing from Nkuringo sector to Rushaga side. These two sectors are close to each other and visitors can stay at one sector and trek gorillas in the other. It is common that visitors stay in Rushaga and go trekking in Nkuringo because of the limited number of lodges in Nkuringo sector. Other things to do in Nkuringo include bird watching, hiking and scenic viewing and visiting the Batwa and Bakiga communities.

Gorilla trekking in all these trekking sectors starts early morning at the park offices in each region. A maximum of 8 visitors is allowed to track one gorilla family per day and only one hour is allocated to stay with the apes. The trek can last for 1 -3 hours or more depending on the location of the gorilla family.

While hiking through Bwindi, you have an opportunity to see other residents of the forest such as monkeys and birds. Chimpanzees and elephants are also present but rarely seen.

While on a gorilla safari to Bwindi Impenetrable national park, neighboring safari destinations can be visited too; Queen Elizabeth national park for a wildlife safari, Mgahinga national park for golden monkey tracking and volcano hiking and Lake Bunyonyi and Mutanda for canoe riding, scenic viewing and a delightful relaxation.