Safari en Ouganda

Uganda, the pearl of Africa

Winston Churchill called it the pearl of Africa. The expression has stuck, and it's apt. Uganda is a country of beauty and diversity that consistently surprises first-time visitors. From the snow-capped volcanoes of the Rwenzori Mountains to the Queen Elizabeth Plains, from the impenetrable rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable to the shores of Africa's largest lake, it packs into a relatively small territory a density of experiences that no other country on the continent can offer.

But Uganda has one main draw, an experience that alone justifies the trip: the mountain gorillas. Only about 1,000 individuals of this species remain on the planet. Half live in the border forests of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Observing these animals in their natural habitat, just a few meters away, for the hour-long stay permitted by conservation protocols, is an experience that those who have lived it invariably describe as one of the most intense of their lives.

At Fundis'Africa, Uganda is the destination we recommend to travellers who want to go beyond the classic safari.

The unmissable experiences of a safari in Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name says it all: it's a dense, humid, and rugged mountain forest where mountain gorillas have lived according to their own rhythms for millennia. Reaching it requires real physical effort, sometimes two to four hours of hiking up steep slopes through thick vegetation, with mud, rain, and a tropical heat that lingers.

And then you see them. A group sometimes of twenty to thirty individuals, a massive figure grazing a few meters away, a baby playing in the branches, a dominant male whose gaze you feel fixed on you. Time stands still. The allotted hour passes in a few minutes. You descend a changed person.

Each visitor group is strictly limited to eight people per habituated gorilla family. Gorilla permits must be booked several months in advance, sometimes more than a year for peak periods. Fundis'Africa manages these bookings as part of its comprehensive travel package.

The chimpanzee trek in the Kibale forest

Kibale is the best place in the world to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. The forest boasts the highest density of primates in Africa, with thirteen species including chimpanzees, Ugandan red colobus monkeys, white-cheeked mangabeys, and Thomas's kob. Chimpanzee treks in Kibale last two to four hours depending on the group, and the sightings, when they occur, are comparable in proximity and intensity to gorilla treks.

Hearing chimpanzees before seeing them, following their movement through the canopy at their own speed, observing the social interactions of a group of thirty individuals: this is an experience that gives a new perspective on our own species.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth is Uganda's savannah safari. With its open plains, wetlands, volcanic craters and the shores of Lake Edward, it offers diverse wildlife including lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, hippos, crocodiles and exceptional birdlife with over 600 recorded bird species.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is world-renowned for its tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha area. This behavior, observed in very few places in Africa, is a curious phenomenon whose causes remain partially unexplained. These lions spend their days perched in fig trees, offering truly unique sights.

Boat safaris on the Kazinga Canal, which connects Lake George to Lake Edward, offer the opportunity to observe from the water some of the densest concentrations of hippos and crocodiles in Africa, with elephants drinking on the banks just a few meters from the boat.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls is Uganda's largest park. The Victoria Nile River plunges through a narrow canyon before cascading through a seven-meter-wide rock fissure in a spectacular cascade: it's the Nile's largest waterfall. A boat safari from Paraa to the base of the falls is one of the most memorable experiences in all of Uganda, with hippos and crocodiles at close range and elephants bathing on the banks at sunset.

The northern sector of the park, drier and less frequented, is home to Rothschild's giraffes, one of the most endangered subspecies of giraffe in the world, as well as large numbers of elephants and lions that hunt in the open plains.

The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

The Ziwa Sanctuary is the only area in Uganda where it is possible to see white rhinos in the wild. These animals were reintroduced to the country after disappearing locally due to poaching. Trekking through the sanctuary, accompanied by armed rangers, allows you to get within a few meters of these magnificent animals in a setting that is nothing like a zoo. Ziwa is often included as a stop on the route between Entebbe and Murchison Falls.

Why travel to Uganda with Fundis'Africa?

Uganda is a destination that demands meticulous planning and strong local connections. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are limited, and the best opportunities are booked months in advance. Quality lodges around Bwindi are reserved well before the peak season. The logistics of transfers between Bwindi, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls, which can involve several hours of driving on rough tracks, must be carefully planned to avoid exhausting days.

Our FGASA-certified guides know Uganda inside and out, with its complex logistics and rich natural heritage. They select lodges based on their proximity to trekking areas, the quality of their service, and their commitment to local conservation. They prepare each client for the gorilla trek: the necessary physical condition, the equipment to bring, and the mindset to adopt to make the most of this unique hour in the presence of the gorillas.

Each safari in Uganda organized by Fundis'Africa is tailor-made, with support in French or English and special attention paid to the booking of gorilla permits, which often determines the dates and structure of the entire itinerary.

Safari in Uganda as a couple, with family or among enthusiasts?

Uganda is a destination particularly well-suited to travelers seeking a profound nature experience that differs from the classic safari. For couples, gorilla trekking creates shared memories of an intensity hard to match elsewhere. The forest lodges around Bwindi, often small and intimate, offer a secluded atmosphere in nature that contrasts pleasantly with the larger, more crowded reserves found elsewhere in East Africa.

For primate and animal behavior enthusiasts, Uganda is a unique field of study. Combining a gorilla trek in Bwindi, a chimpanzee trek in Kibale, and observing the climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth means experiencing three exceptional behavioral experiences in a single trip.

For families, gorilla trekking is reserved for those over 15 years of age, in accordance with current conservation regulations. However, safaris at Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls are accessible to all ages, and Uganda can be combined with a more traditional safari in Kenya or Tanzania for families wishing to offer both types of experiences.

For travelers looking to delve even deeper, Uganda naturally combines with Rwanda for a tour of East Africa's great apes, or with Tanzania to experience both rainforest and open savanna. Consult our Destinations FAQ for all the practical details about Uganda, including health recommendations and visa requirements.