Best Celebrities Must Do Tourist Activities in Uganda
After the Uganda Tourism board (UTB) appointing the ‘mother of Ugandan slay queens’, Zari Hassan as the tourism ambassador, the idea came with controversy. Some criticised it while others appreciated. She was recently on a UgandaSafari/ tourunder the campaign dubbed ‘Tulambule’ organised by UTB to western Uganda where she visited the Igongo cultural Centre and Queen Elizabeth National Park and she seemed enjoying everything that was happening.
The mother of five even took to her Instagram page to share about her experience with the fans.
“There are about 52 crater lakes in Western Uganda that were formed after volcanic eruption….. Some are close to Mountain Rwenzori which I plan to climb sometime next year… ” She posted.
According to sources inside UTB, the Tulambule campaign has already yielding results.
“People (celebrities) are already booking because of Zari. There is return of Investment” the source that preferred anonymity clarified.
Today, we bring you the top tourism activities that can be enjoyed by celebrities who would like to embark on a tour to Uganda.
Mountain Gorilla trekking.
This exciting excursion is a major key contributing factor towards huge percentage of tourists received by Uganda per year and it further gained momentum when nearby Rwanda the land of a thousand hills increased price of its Gorilla permits from $750 USD to $1500 USD per person.
Most of tourists received in Uganda from different countries of the World drop in with interest of participating in the exciting Mountain Gorilla trekking. Mountain Gorilla trekking is an activity which involves meeting with the shy endangered ground dwelling Mountain Gorillas in the Jungles for behavioural experience, interaction and more.
The trekking is usually done in a group comprising of only eight trekkers, park ranger guide and armed officers moving while following the permanently established trails heading to the Jungle in search of these apes.
After locating these apes in the Jungle you are only allowed to be in their presence for only one hour while seeing them playing with young ones, feeding, laughing plus taking photos and videos of them.
While in the Jungle for the Gorilla trek, you are exposed to other Wildlife species which include Primates like Forest monkeys, Golden monkeys and more, Reptiles like snakes, geckos, chameleon and more, different insect species plus different bird species which are recorded sightable.
It’s always advised that when heading for the Gorilla trek you come along with your packed food for eating while in the Jungle since most of the time lunch time reaches when trekkers are still in the Jungle.
Gorilla trekking requires a permit and Uganda’s permit costs $600 USD per person usually booked in advance before your trekking dates. While in Uganda the only known Parks to go for Mountain Gorilla trekking include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which are both located in the South Western Part of Uganda.
Chimpanzee tracking.
This is another exciting activity to do while in Uganda, it involves meeting with the Chimpanzee primate species in the Jungles for interaction, experience their natural way of behaving and more.
It also includes trekking in a group of about thirty people or more following the well-established routes in search of these Primates, a briefing is first conducted before the Journey to the Jungle is started to highlight trackers on what to do and what not to do while in the Jungle. The main emphasized key points include maintaining your voice at low tone and moving slowly in the Jungle.
While in Uganda, the major destinations to go for Chimpanzees include Kibale Forest National Park which is popularly known for variety of Chimpanzee primates, Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kyambura gorge, Murchison Falls National Park in Budongo Forest and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
The price of Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda vary according to destination where by in Kibale forest National Park it costs $150 USD per person, in Queen it costs $50 USD person and that of Budongo forest costs $90 USD per person.
Golden Monkey tracking.
This exciting activity done while in Uganda for Safaris involves meeting with these species of the Old World monkey family in the Jungles, Golden Monkeys are mostly found in Mountainous bamboo forested areas which requires physical fitness to all participators.
Usually the tracking is done in a group although there is no limit on number of people like how it’s done for Mountain Gorilla trekking, while in Uganda the only place to go for Golden monkey primates is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the South western part of Uganda. The permit for Golden monkey tracking in Uganda costs $50 USD per person.
Rhino tracking.
This usually involves meeting with the species of Rhinoceros although a distance is kept from presence of these Wild animals. These animals are very dangerous to human life therefore trackers are advised to keep a distance of about seven metres from these animals. The tracking usually last for about one hour at a cost of $45 USD per person, while in Uganda the only place to go Rhino tracking is the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Game drives.
This usually involves driving around the Park using suitable pop up roof Safari jeep with main interest of sighting different Wildlife species within range particularly Wild animals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Giraffes, Zebras, Impala, Kobs and more.
The only Parks in Uganda where game drives are done include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park.
Launch trip Cruise.
This is another exciting adventure to take while in Uganda, it involves sailing on the waters by use of speed boat or local canoes. This activity exposes you to different aquatic species including hippopotamus, crocodiles, water birds and more.
Nature Walks.
This usually involves moving in a group following the permanently established trails within the jungles exposing you to different Wildlife species in the Jungles.
Batwa Trail experience
This activity usually involves visiting the Batwa people in their local communities for interaction, cultural performances; experience their standards of living plus getting engaged in their daily performed activities like agriculture, use of different hunting tools and more. Batwa trails experience is usually done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at a cost $80 USD per person.
Bird Watching.
This is exciting mostly for birders; it involves visiting different birding hotspots with interest of sighting different bird species. While in Uganda, the major exciting places places to go for bird watching include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Mabamba Swamp, and Entebbe botanical gardens, Bigodi wetland, Mubwindi Swamp and more.
Mountain Climbing
As stated by Zari on her Instagram, one can also go for a mountain climbing adventure on either Rwenzori Mountain or Elgon. Mountain Rwenzori climbing takes between 7 – 11 days while Elgon is about 3 – 6 days.
Brief Notice about Uganda’s Tourism
Uganda is one of the top ranked destination to go for Safaris and tours while on an African Safari vacation, it usually receive huge percentage of tourists from different countries of the World per year because of its major key attracting factors which include easy of accessibility, wide range of attractions, favourable climatic conditions, stable security and more.
Uganda is geographically located in the Eastern part of Africa majorly sharing borders with Kenya in the East, South Sudan in the North, Rwanda in the South west, Tanzania in the South and Democratic Republic of Congo in the West.
Most of tourists who visit Uganda “The Pearl of Africa” witness the real branding which was declared by Sir Winston Churchill in 1908 and they go back to their home countries very contentedly praising Uganda to be really the Pearl of Africa.
