Best Adventure Places in Uganda – Best Uganda Adventure Tour Destinations

If you are looking for the best adventure tour experiences, visit one of the following top adventure places in Uganda:

• Jinja, Source of the Nile River
• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
• Kibale Forest National Park
• Rwenzori Mountains National Park
• Murchison Falls National Park
• Mount Elgon National Park & Sip Falls
• Semuliki National Park
• Kidepo Valley National Park
• Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Lake Mburo National Park
• Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Lake Bunyonyi
• Mabamba Swamp
• Mabira Forest
• Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
• Ssesse Island in Lake Victoria
• Kampala City

Top 22 Adventure Activities in Uganda – Best African Adventure Things To Do In Uganda

Although renowned for its incredible Gorillas and Uganda wildlife safari tour experiences, Uganda is home to a whole host of fantastic adventure activities. From Forests to savannahs, and lakes to mountains, there is always an adventure waiting just around the corner.

Here are the best outdoor adventure activities in Uganda:

1. Visit Jinja – the Source of the Nile River

Jinja sits on Lake Victoria shore, about a 3 hours drive east of Kampala city -Uganda’s capital. For Ugandans, it is a symbol of the country’s industrial heyday.

For visitors, Jinja is famous for being the Adrenaline Capital of East Africa and the Source of the Nile – the point at which the world’s longest river exits Africa’s largest lake to commence an epic 6700km journey to the Mediterranean Sea.

With its world-class Grade-5 rapids, the Nile River in Jinja is a magnet for white-water rafting enthusiasts. And extreme kayakers from all over the world head here in their quest for more challenges.

There is also the ultimate daredevil deed of bungee jumping into the historic Nile River for the bold and brave. For those wanting something gentler on the River Nile in Jinja, there is the family float, tubing, or a sundowner cruise on the Nile.

You can also enjoy quad biking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing in Uganda, and birding along the Nile. The Jinja tour on the River Nile has something for everyone.

2. Go Gorilla Trekking In Uganda-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site where almost half of the planet’s remaining mountain gorillas roam free and known for the most thrilling Uganda gorilla tours & safaris.

It is one of only 3 places in the whole world where you can see them in the wild.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda Bwindi is a 2-8 hours trek through steep, unforgiving dense rainforest, but the feeling of awe that comes with the first glimpse of a wild gorilla amid the dense jungle cannot be overstated.

The adrenaline kicks in when you are up close to 220kg silverback and his family, and it is all very Dian Fossey-like when curious babies peek through the leaves, twisting, turning, and somersaulting for your entertainment. This is a thrill of a lifetime only Bwindi can offer you.

Uganda Gorilla safari permits will set you back a hefty $700 but do not think twice about forking out for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially when one realizes that roughly 1,063 individuals roam the rainforests of Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.

Keep in mind that a portion of the fee goes to the park and gorilla conservation initiatives, helping to ensure their survival.

3. Encounter Chimpanzees In the Wild on Foot

Similar to mountain gorillas, Uganda is one of the only places on the planet where you can have a special opportunity to get close to your closest living relatives in the wild.

Current estimates for the total wild Chimpanzee population range from 170,000 to 300,000, with Uganda home to about 5,000. Almost 1,500 Chimps in Uganda are found in Kibale National Park (The Primate Capital of Africa) which is the best place in Africa to see these great apes in the wild.

Kibale Park also offers the unique Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Uganda (CHEX) whereby you track the chimps’ sleeping nests and then spend a full day tracking them to their new sleeping nests that evening. Magical.

4. Track Wild Rhinoceros on Foot

If you are a wildlife adventure enthusiast, you will love the immersive on-foot rhino tracking experience in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the home of Uganda’s only rhinos. A highly trained guide will keep you safe while you approach these magnificent pre-historic beasts.

Don’t forget to take photos or to breathe; you will get to appreciate what a 2-ton animal really looks like while your adrenaline is pumping. You will also learn about rhino habitats, behaviors, threats, and conservation opportunities.

5. Discover the Traditional Culture of Ugandan Tribes

If you want to experience the ‘real’ Uganda tour adventure, then you will have to include Uganda cultural safaris on your adventure Uganda safari tour itinerary.

Uganda has about 56 tribes and some of them have kingdoms and others do not have, but operate under chiefdoms. Currently, the Kingdoms do not have political power but are majorly ceremonial.

The current ‘active’ ceremonial kingdoms include Buganda, Busoga, Bunyoro, and Tooro Kingdoms which have a reigning King.

Each tribe has unique culture and customs, language, music, dance, and folktales. One of the favorite adventure cultural experiences in Uganda involves heading north to spend time with the Karamojong people, a group of agro-pastoral herders whose tribal jumping dance resembles that of the famous Maasai warriors of neighboring Kenya.

6. Big Game Safaris

For a special encounter with majestic beasts like lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, antelopes, and others of the savannah, this is the ultimate Uganda adventure tour experience.

Head to Queen Elizabeth National Park, in the southwest, where a varied landscape houses Africa Elephants, Africa Buffalos, Leopards, Lions, Hippos, chimpanzees, and the Ugandan Kob, as well as over 600 species of birds.

For a more off-the-game viewing adventure safari experience, Murchison Falls National Park. In the northwest, is Uganda’s largest national park which is home to 4 of the Big 5, Giraffes, and chimpanzees.

The Park has some breathtaking scenery, including the legendary Nile River and the world’s most powerful waterfall from which the park takes its name.

And few visitors make it as far north as Kidepo Valley National Park, but those who do are rewarded with a fantastic selection of animals and some of the most spectacular scenery in the country.

6. Find the Rare Tree-Climbing Lions

Spotting a Lion, the indisputable king of the African bush, is always a treat for a Uganda wildlife safari adventure.

Even seasoned animal behaviorists agree that lions are not evolutionarily adapted to scale trees and perch atop branches.

In fact, this phenomenon is so rare that there are only two documented populations of tree-climbing lions on the planet.

Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha sector is that rare place where these majestic predators reliably spend their days in ancient fig trees. They look quite comfortable, too. That is until they want to come down. Let’s say, you won’t confuse any of them with a graceful leopard.

7. Cruise on a Boat Safari

Boat safaris are a wonderful way to spot wildlife on your Uganda safari tour adventures and nowhere is this truer than the Kazinga Channel. It is a 20-mile-long natural waterway that connects two of Uganda’s westernmost lakes – Edward and George.

It also happens to flow through Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most famous wildlife destination (by now you will have realized that many Ugandan placenames have quite a retro, colonial feel).

The Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise gives you a chance to cruise just a few from hundreds of hippos, and African buffalos, while African elephants and Nile Crocodiles linger on the shoreline, along with numerous waterbirds.

If you’re keen to see more Uganda wildlife, then undertake a boat cruise along the Nile River to the bottom of Murchison Falls.

On arrival at the bottom of the falls, you marvel at Murchison Falls. These falls are arguably the world’s most powerful! They’re not very big or wide like some you may have seen before but think of the world’s longest river which is 50 meters wide squeezing through a narrow cleft of up to 7 meters and falling 45 meters down.

8. Walk Among The Wild Mammals of Lake Mburo NP – Uganda Wildlife Safari Game Walks

This is one of the most interesting game walks in the country, in a beautiful area with a knowledgeable local guide.

On the walk, you see various species of primates, birds, and antelopes like Common Eland, Waterbuck, Impala, Topis, Bushbuck, and Klipspringer among others, as well as Spotted Hyaena, African Buffalo, Rothschild’s Giraffe, Plains Zebra, and Common Warthog. All this in a beautiful savannah landscape dotted with great Acacia trees.

9. Drive North To Discover True African Wilderness

Travel off-the-beaten-track to the true wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park. The plains, surrounded by rugged mountains, are teeming with wildlife, and you might not see another car on a three-hour game drive.

What you will have, however, is the privilege of spending time in pristine wildlife habitat, with excellent opportunities to spot ‘the Big 4’ (only rhinos are absent). A road trip through the tribal Karamoja region to get here is a whole adventure in itself.

10. Spot Rare Bird Species

If you’re a birder, you’ll find much to delight you in Uganda. Despite its small size, Uganda boasts 11% of all bird species on the planet – and you’re bound to add some exciting new species to your list.

The Mabamba Swamp on the shore of Lake Victoria near Entebbe is one of the crucial Uganda Birding Sites.

Taking a canoe ride along the narrow channels of this papyrus swamp gives you chances of seeing a variety of unique Uganda birds, but the ultimate prize is a glimpse of the odd-looking shoebill stock. You’ll probably get more than a peek.

Sightings of these rare birds in Uganda, resembling something from the dinosaur era, are excellent here.

Other excellent sites for your Uganda birding-watching safari adventure include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park, Semuliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and more.

11. Take a Canoe Ride on Lake Bunyonyi

Considering adventure activities to do Uganda do not forget canoeing on the magical Lake Bunyonyi, meaning “place of many little birds,”

Located close to the border of Rwanda in southwestern Uganda near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi comprises 29 islands dotting the lake, making it one of the most scenic parts of Uganda. Its depth of 3,000 feet makes it the second-deepest lake in Africa.

On the canoe ride, you can explore several of the lake’s legendary islands including the Akampane/Punishment Island, which was used as a place to leave unmarried pregnant girls as punishment.

At Akampane, they faced one of two possible fates. Any man who did not own sufficient cows to pay for an untainted bride was permitted to fetch the disgraced girl from the island and make her his wife. Failing that, the girl would usually starve to death.

12. Summit Snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains

Truly the stuff of legend, Ptolemy’s fabled “Mountains of the Moon”, the Rwenzori Mountains, meaning “rain-maker” in the local Lukonzo language, presents a fascinating reason to undertake an adventure safari in Uganda.  

This mountain range with its permanently snow-capped peaks including the 3^rd highest in Africa at 5109 meters gifts hikers with sublime high-altitude trails complete with stunning views and fascinating equatorial alpine vegetation.

Rwenzori peaks are at a lower elevation than Kilimanjaro, but the climb is much more technical and therefore reserved for extremely adventurous travelers.

You will sleep in huts for the duration of the climb and enjoy incredible views of the surrounding mountains as well as the gratifying feeling of conquering a breathtaking peak in Africa.

The challenging Uganda Mountain hiking safari to the summit, known as Margherita Peak usually undertakes a challenging 8 or 9-day trek, but there are also lots of different trekking options from short day hikes.

14. Hike a Volcano in Mgahinga Gorilla Park

You can also challenge yourself with volcano mountain hiking in Uganda at the famous Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The park is located in the Virunga Mountains, which are dominated by 3 dramatic volcanic cones: Mount Sabyinyo (3,669m), Mount Gahinga Hike (3,474m), and Mount Muhabura Hike (4,127m).

Most popular is the vertiginous scramble to the Sabyinyo which takes you through regenerating forest, home to bushbucks and buffaloes before entering a beautiful bamboo forest where you might be lucky and track/see the Golden monkeys.

You then trek through a fairy tale of an Afro-montane forest with various species of Albertine rift endemic birds including the colorful Rwenzori Turaco.

As you hike further, the upper slopes support a cover of alpine moorland vegetation dotted with bizarre giant lobelias and groundsels. At the peak, you have an opportunity to stand in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo at the same time. How cool is that?

15. Trek Mt Elgon & Sipi Falls

Straddling the Kenyan border east of Kampala and Jinja, freestanding Mount Elgon is the centerpiece of the Mount Elgon National Park on both sides of the border and offers unique Uganda safari Mountain hiking adventures.

At 4,321m, this massive extinct shield volcano is the second-highest mountain in Uganda, and it boasts the largest base of an extinct volcano in the world.

Mt Elgon is topped by an immense collapsed caldera and a hiker’s paradise and far more budget-friendly than East Africa’s other major mountains.

The trek to the top takes about 4 days, staying on the mountain for 3 nights. The climb is non-technical but is still a good challenge and you will need good hiking equipment (warm clothes, a sleeping bag, good boots, etc.).

Once you’re done with adventuring the volcano, you can take a hike to nearby beautiful Sipi Falls! You can also undertake coffee tours, where you are shown the start-to-finish process at a local coffee plantation, all culminating with a delicious steaming cup as the sun sets over the banana plantations.

16. Explore The Scenic Fort Portal Crater Lake field

Uganda’s Fort Portal crater lakes are simply stunning. They are located near the legendary Amabere Caves which can also be explored on foot and the Uganda Chimpanzee trekking destination of Kibale National Park.

Here, you have a challenging hike on the Kyeganywa hill which is surrounded by a range of crater lakes and crater hollows, some of them over 400 meters deep – presenting one of the most beautiful scenic sites in Uganda. The top of the hill offers superb views of the Rwenzori Mountains of the moon on a clear day.

17. Cycle In Lake Mburo NP & Mpanga Tea Estates

Lake Mburo National Park provides cycling adventure tours in the park, where you can enjoy wildlife viewing, Buffalos, Giraffes, Zebras, Elands, and more.

You can also enjoy cycling in Mpanga tea estates near Fort Portal and Kibale National Park, where workers still harvest the tea leaves by hand. The green tea plantation is spread over a beautiful undulating landscape with endless scenic views.

18. Zipline Through Mabira Forest

Mabira Forest is about 40km east of the capital of Kampala and on the way to the adventure destination of Jinja. Apart from being a beautiful, ancient rainforest that’s ideal for hikes and exploratory walks, it has a fantastic zip line that is dubbed the Mabira Forest Canopy Super Skyway!

The Zipline system is a canopy tour of the Mabira forest, where you will soar between the ancient tall trees. While up there, you’ll experience a unique perspective of the forest, primates, a variety of bird species, and the roaring Griffin falls.

19. Fish for the Nile Perch

Sportfishing in Uganda is a unique Uganda adventure safari experience that will offer you a lot of holiday fun, enjoyment, and exploration.

You will discover the Nile Perch – one of the world’s largest freshwater fish.

Uganda fishing safari trips usually take place on the mighty Nile River in Murchison Falls National Park. It is an adventurous activity where you’ll be surrounded by Hippos, Nile crocodiles, African elephants, Buffalos, and Shoebill birdwatching in Uganda the whole day.

For a more peaceful Uganda fishing tour expedition, you can head to Ssesse Islands in Lake Victoria which is home to an abundance of Nile perch and Tilapia. Here you can catch the fish and then relax on the island’s lovely white sand beaches.

20. Stand at the Ugandan Equator

While on your Uganda adventure tours to western Uganda safari destinations – Uganda National Parks and Uganda Game Reserves, you can make a stop at the Ugandan Equator crossing at Kayabwe, where you can stand with one leg in the Northern hemisphere while the other remains in the Southern!

It makes for great photographs and memories. It is also an impressive site for purchasing memorabilia to take back home as a memento of this incredible adventure safari in Uganda.

21. Sample Ugandan Cuisine

Trying the local cuisine of a different country only enhances your overall Uganda safari holiday adventure experience, so one of the best things to do in Uganda is to sample some of the country’s most popular foods. Roadside stalls and markets offer fresh fruits such as plantains and roasted meat on sticks.

At restaurants, you are likely to be served traditional dishes such as Luwombo (fish, beef, or chicken steamed in plantain leaves with peanut sauce). You can also try the famous Rolex. No, not the watch… it’s a Ugandan street food that is basically a rolled chapatti filled with an omelet and other ingredients (onion, tomatoes, avocado, etc.).

22. Explore Kampala  – The Capital City Of Uganda

The ancestral capital of the Buganda Kingdom is modern-day Uganda’s capital too. And for an African first city, it’s got real charm.

You can still see some of the thatched relics of the former glory years at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kasubi Tombs, or you can taste the frenetic energy of day-to-day Ugandan life between the sun-cracked streets of Central Kampala; a place of throbbing markets (the city’s Owino market is said to be the largest in Central-east Africa) and echoing mosque minarets (that soaring Gaddafi National Mosque is a must!).

It is known as one of the biggest party cities in Africa. Ugandans know how to party and the city extracts a big crowd of backpackers and ex-pats who are more than willing to join in.

The Best Time for Your Epic Uganda Adventures

While planning your Uganda adventure tours, keep in mind the weather with your chosen activities; Uganda is a country with two climate seasons every year.

Completely throughout the year, one can have a breathtaking encounter on any of the ideal Uganda safaris all through the country.

The dry seasons of June to mid-September and December to February are top with the most elevated records of guests and wet seasons are low accounts for lower quantities of sightseers. The dry seasons are additionally ideal for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Chimpanzee tracking as forest trails are drier for the exercises.

Are you ready for an Adventure in Uganda?

What are you waiting for? Pack your bags! A hat and some SPF are recommended, too. You’ll also want to be prepared for the rain – in the rainy season especially, but sometimes also in the dry season! Always have a little bit of cash on hand.

Lastly, approach each adventure with enthusiasm and an open mind. The villages, towns, jungles, and mountains are all ready to offer you the very best of adventure in Uganda. Enjoy your time in the Pearl of Africa!