Activities to compliment Uganda gorilla safaris
Activities to compliment Uganda gorilla safaris : Unless you have such a limited time on your hands, it’s hard to travel thousands of miles to trek gorilla and return home. Uganda has much more to offer you. Below are some activities to compliment Uganda gorilla safaris
Wildlife safaris
Compliment your Uganda gorilla safaris with amazing wildlife safaris in the nearby national parks. Enjoy the savanna plains of Queen Elizabeth national park and Lake Mburo national park. In Queen Elizabeth national park, you will get to see; tree climbing lions, elephants, leopards, hyenas, kobs, buffalo and much more. Embark on the boat cruise for a relaxing time on the Kazinga channel. Large herds of zebra and impala, giraffes, hippos can be spotted in Lake Mburo national park.
Cultural tours.
The indigenous people of the Bwindi forests are the Batwa people. These were relocated when the park was set up. Visit them and learn of their way of life in the forests. Learn of the ways of life like hunting, lodging, dances, food gathering and local medicines.
Birding.
Bwindi impenetrable national park has over 350 bird species. Some of these birds are endemic to the Albertine rift. Enjoy amazing sightings of rare bare species on your birding excursion after gorilla trekking. Some of the birds in Bwindi include;
- Handsome francolin
- Tit Hylia
- Chapins fly catcher
- African wood owl
- Black bee-eater
- Rwenzori Batis
- Montane Oriole
- Dusky Twinspot and many more
Nature walks
After you gorilla trekking safari, you can embark on a forest walk. On this walk, you will get to experience the beauty of the forest. The trails are clear and other primates like L’hoist monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys can be seen on this nature walk in the forest.
Golden Monkey trekking:
Golden monkeys are another endangered species of primates. They are found in the Virunga Mountains in Mgahinga national park. You can supplement your gorilla safari with golden monkey trekking. With over 400 habituated individuals, you will get good glimpse of these lovely primates.
Chimpanzee trekking.
Chimpanzee trekking safaris are other activities to compliment Uganda gorilla safaris. These are done in Murchison falls National Park (Budongo forest), Queen Elizabeth national park (Kalinzu forest and Kyambura gorge) and the most famous is Kibale national park. After your gorilla trekking, you can supplement your Uganda gorilla safari by trekking the chimpanzees. They do share 97% of their DNA with humans. Their behaviors are human like, which make a good chimpanzee trekking experience.
Hiking and mountain climbing
After your gorilla trekking, you can hike up the Virunga Mountains of Mt Muhabura, Mt Sabyinyo or Mt Gahinga. These are day hikes that offer amazing views of the other Virunga Mountains in Congo and Rwanda. Or better yet, if you are an experienced climber, set off to conquer the mighty Rwenzori Mountains. Although a little lower than Mt Kilimanjaro, it is a much tougher hike.
Adventure and cycling safaris.
Uganda has plenty of adventure activities that can be coupled with gorilla safaris. These include, zip lining, cycling safaris, white water rafting, walking safaris and rhino trekking. Cycle around the Bwindi area after a morning of gorilla trekking.
Community walks.
Explore and interact with the local people in the trekking areas after your gorilla trekking safari. This will give you an insight into the lives of the local people. Get involved in some conservation projects or some human rights organizations. Shop for souvenirs from their local markets.
Don’t feel compelled to have a short Uganda gorilla safari. Supplement your Uganda gorilla safaris with more interesting safaris.
