Uganda Tours and Tourist Information by Naturetrek Safaris
Naturetrek Safaris
We offer nature, trekking and adventure tours in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Contact us for free Uganda tourist information, we are happy to help!
Naturetrek Safaris is a fully registered tour and travel company that begun its operation in 2018. Our head office is at Maple leaf hotel Masaka and we offer safari and travel services in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. We are very passionate about nature travel and adventure and love bringing adventure to you. Travel with us for a great nature experience.
We value nature, its appreciation and preservation. This is what our tours are all about. Nature trekking tours to bring you a great excitement whilst enjoying nature.
Our tours include group and individual tours all tailor-made to your travel needs. Travel with us as a customer, leave as a friend.
Have a night at Maple leaf during your stay in Masaka
Maple Leaf hotel is located in Masaka town and is a very convenient location to set off to the different top safari destination in Uganda. The hotel is home to our offices and it has offers that include banquate rooms, restaurant, bar, free WiFi, airport transfers, lounge, good security, gardens and amazing customer care.
Book a room are at $45 single occupancy and $59 double occupancy.
Uganda is located in East Africa, and borders Rwanda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania. And Uganda is one of six African countries that lie on the equator. Kampala is Uganda's capital city and its top commercial capital. The country official language is English since it was colonies by the British. The country prides itself hundred tourist attraction and these include gorillas, chimpanzees, great lakes, the source of the river Nile, forests, national parks with great savannahs and plains, the equator, snow capped mountains waterfalls and many more. Tourists have a huge range of activities to do whilst in the country. These include game drives, chimpanzee tracking, gorilla tracking, leisure holidays on beaches, water activities like rafting bungee and kayaks, cultural tour, food tour, mountain climbing and many more. Uganda is among the most hospitable countries in the world and its very common for people to always wave and smile at tourists especially in the rural areas. All white people are referred to as “Mzungu” but it comes with no single degree of racism. Do not be offended.
Transportation
Air transport
Flying to and from Uganda is very easy. Entebbe Airport is the international airport of Uganda situated roughly 40 kilometers from Kampala the capital city. The airport receives planes from all over the world and the commonest ones include, Ethiopian airways, KLM, Brussles airline, Kenya airways, Turkish airways, British airways, Delta airways and more so its very easy to choose an flight to Uganda. Uganda has domestic flights from the airport connecting to top tourist destination within the country, these include from Entebbe to Kisoro and Kihihi air strips (Bwindi impenetrable forest national park), Kasese airstrip in the west, Pakuba in Queens park, Chobe in Murchison national park, Apoka in Kidepo valley park.
Road transport
is the commonest means of transportation throughout the country. Currently there is are good roads and routes to various tourist destinations in the country. More still, road transport crosses over borders to the nearby countries such as Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Road transport involves the use of:
Public buses operate daily and take passengers to various cities/town centers in the country but tourist may need to rent a special taxi for the cities to the various destinations. The common bus companies in the country include Global to the west, Link to the west and central, Gaaga to the north, Star to the west and southwest. There are cross country buses to Kenya like Scania, Mash Poa, Modern etc. and to Rwanda like Trinity and Volcano, to Tanzania like Friends, Lexus, Modern etc.
Taxis carry 14 passengers from Kampala to various locations in the country and they are marked with a blue stip. The set off at any time from the taxi parks which are easy to located on your walk through the capital.
Boda-Bodas (motorbikes for hire) are found all over the country and one can stop bodaboda at any point and negotiate carriage to a given location. Once you board a boda, there are no stopovers until you reach the final destination. This makes it a very convenient means of transportation for anyone in a time rush to reach your destination. They are ideal for short distance travels around the cities or for distances below 10km in rural areas. For safety, tourist are advised to use boda-bodas operated by companies. These include, Uber, Bolt and safe Boda. Download their app and order your ride.
The country has a couple special hire taxi companies like Uber, Taxify, Green Cab, Yellow Cab etc. Just download the app and text your taxi to come pick your from your location to your destination. They are safe and reliable.
Water transport
The commonest water transport means includes ferries, ships and boats. Ferries and ship SSese island and boats to top tourist destinations islands like SSese islands, Ngamba islands, Lake Bunyonyi, leisure islands on the Nile and in lake Victoria.
Tourist Attractions
Uganda is blessed with a number of tourist attractions that range from natural resources, culture and traditions and entertainments.
Top Natural attractions consist of natural game parks, rivers, crater lakes, fresh water lakes, water falls, savannahs, mountains, caves and many more.
Top Cultural attractions: Kasubi tombs, Namugongo shrine, Bigo bya Mugenyi, Baker`s Fort, Karambi Tombs, Sezibwa falls, Nakayima tree, Nkokonjeru Tombs, Nyero rock paintings, Naggalabi-Buddo Coronation site, Wamala Tombs and Igongo cultural centre.
Top Religious attractions: Cathedrals, the Bahai Temple, old Kampala Mosque and Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo.
The top tourist attractions in the country are the National parks for such activities as gorilla tracking, game drives, mountain climbing, water activities and leisure. Here are the top tourist park destinations in the country.
Mgahinga gorilla national park
The park was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests which is the main attractions are the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. The main activities in this park is gorilla tracking and monkey tracking etc. It also has many other animals and birds which interest the tourist during the gorilla tracking expedition. To access the park, one needs a gorilla permit that currently goes for $700. Tourist need to get these through travel companies and tour operators for ease. Or one can buy this directly from the Uganda wildlife authority offices. Talk to us for this permit and arrangement for you this trip.
Lake mburo national park
Lake Mburo is a very small park is very known for the biggest herd of zebras, natural walks and cycling safaris. It was named after the lake Mburo which is offers great chances to tourist to watch birds and hippos while on a boat cruise. The park is only 3hours from Kampala making it ideal for short safaris for tourist in a bit or a rush. Activities in this park include game drives. Night safari (game drive) with high chances of seeing leopards. Nature walks where one can to get close to the animals, horseback riding, bicycle safari and boat trip on Lake Mburo. Animal species to expect in the park include zebra, warthogs, hippos, giraffes, forest hogs, buffalos and many species of antelopes and birds. To access the park one travel form Kampala towards Mbarara and you will need an entry permit of USD $40 per person per day which can be currently purchase on the main gate entrance.
Kibale national park
This forest park is very renown for its rich ecosystems in the whole of Africa. The park is Uganda’s top destination for chimpanzee tracking. The park features animals like chimpanzee, many monkey species, bush pig, giant forest hog, bats and rodents and many species of birds. Activities in the park Chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzee habituation. Nature walks and hiking. Birding in Kibale forest etc. To access the park, tourist need a chimpanzee permit which can be bought from the wildlife Authority Headquaters in Kampala or through your travel operator in the country. Access to the chimps need early booking since permits can get sold out. The park is located in Kibaale district accesed via Kampla-Fortportal of Kampala-Kamwenge route.
Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda is Uganda’s most visited Park and was named after Queen Elizabeth II of England. The park’s diverse ecosystems which include, savanna, humid forests, crater lakes, fresh water lakes, fertile wetlands and over 600 species of birds. the park is also Uganda’s top tourist destination due its its melody of wonders. The main activities in the park are game drives, bird watching, boat trip/launch cruise and Chimpanzee trekking. To access the park, one needs a permit costing USD $40 per day per person and this can be purchased at the designated entry gates of the park or from Uganda Wildlife authority offices in Kampala. You can also use your tour operator to get you this permit through the different safari packages offered. You can access the park via Kampala-Kasese route.
Murchison falls national park
Murchison Falls National Park is in northern Uganda is the largest park in the country. It measures approximately 3,840 square kilometers. The park is hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds. Activities to have in the park include game drives, boat cruise, Bird watching and nature walks. To access the park, one needs a permit costing USD $40 per day per person and this can be purchased at the designated entry gates of the park or from Uganda Wildlife authority offices in Kampala. The park is about 5 hours from Kampala and is a great destination form the Big five.
Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda is very known for its mountain gorillas and its one of Uganda’s oldest diverse ecosytems which dates back over 25,000 years. The forest has over 400 species of plants and an estimate of 320 mountain gorillas-Roughly half of the world’s population existing population. Its also features over 350 species of birds and over 120 mammals. The main activities in the park is definitely gorilla tracking but tourist can also have culture encounters and bird watching. To access the park, one needs a gorilla permit that currently goes for $700. Tourist need to get these through travel companies and tour operators for ease. Depending on the season, gorilla permits can get sold out so one needs to acquire a permit early enough. Reach the park via Kampala- Kabaale routes. Talk to us for this permit and arrangement for you this trip.
Rwenzori mountain national park
The Rwenzoris are one of the top climbing destinations in Africa. Some peaks of the Rwenzori are the third highest point in Africa, The main Activities are mountain climbing and Hiking and Nature Walks, and Birding Tourist can have a chance to have activities from one day 14 days depending on how high one wishes to climb. Since mountain is a very risky and energetic adventure, its important for tourist to declare their health status before the climbing. Also one needs to carry along hiking shoes and other climbing and rain gear for the hike. Whist on the hike one will also encounter lost of birds, butter flies and animals like monkey. To access the park one needs a permit which is prices according to the activities one wishes to have. Permits are arranged by the rwenzori mountain climbing services company. Find out more from www.rwenzorimountaineeringservices.com. This company supplies the gears to the tourist and has training climbing and tracking experts in the field. Your travel agency will make arrangements with this company for your access to the park.
Semuliki national park
Semuliki park is unique due to its tropical lowland forest, denseness and flat. The park features animals like, buffalo, leopard, civet, bush baby and flying squirrels etc. Activities in the park include Birding. Game drive. Nature walks. Mountain hiking. To access the park, one needs a permit costing USD $40 per day per person and this can be purchased at the designated entry gates of the park or from Uganda Wildlife authority offices in Kampala.
Kidepo national park
Located in North East Uganda, the park is known for its vast savannah. The park is over 10hours drive from Kampala so tourist should be prepared for long drives. Activities on this park trip include Safari game drive. Bird watching. Cultural encounters Hikes and nature walks. To access the park, one needs a permit costing USD $40 per day per person and this can be purchased at the designated entry gates of the park or from Uganda Wildlife authority offices in Kampala. Have your tour operator help you get the entry permits.
Uganda wildlife authority
This is the government organization in charge of all the managing the country’s wildlife es and conservation it. Its located In Kamyokya Plot 7 Kira road, Kampala and this is where one can all the tourist information and purchase of the necessary permits for tourist activities. Get more information by visiting www.ugandawildlife.org.
Culture
Cultures are highly based on these ethic groups and tribes. Different tribes speak different languages but almost everywhere you can find someone who can speak English. Various tribes have different cultural norms and some behavioral differences but these do not differ much. As a tourist you may have a chance to witness this during cultural occasions and performances. Its always amazing learning about our local cultures and you shouldn’t miss any change to learn for this.
Currency
The Uganda shilling is the country’s currency. The country uses other currencies but most the US Dollar and Euros. Other common international currencies include the Indian dinar, Canadian Dollar, Yuan, Kenyan shilling and Tanzania shilling. For tourist its very easy to exchange money on arrival at the airport, in local banks and forex bureaus. Depending on where your coming form in the world, its better to carry along Euros or US dollars to be on the safer side and your money card.
Food
The biggest population of the country leaves in rural areas and they produce their food. Most people eat three meals in the day which include breakfast mainly tea or porridge lunch and supper which are full plate meal which mostly consist of solid food and a sauce. Popular dishes include matooke (steamed/boiled green bananas), rice millet, posho (maize floor) cassava, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, yams etc. The country also has plenty of fruits.
Religion
Uganda is a very religious country with visible attendances for/to prayer and worship. Over 70% of the population are Christians, Islam follows with about 13% and others belong to traditional worship beliefs, new exotic religions and some to none. The country has freedom to religion and tourist enjoys this freedom to pray and assist various churches and mosques in any charitable acts they may wish.
The Visa
Uganda visa can be bought online or on your arrival at Entebbe international airport. Its sometimes more convenient purchasing the visa on arrival. The Uganda visa is currently at USD $50 for single entry, USD $100 for multiple entry and USD $100 for East African visa. Please note, your passport must be valid for the next 6 months for the date of your visa application.
Currently park entry fees for wildlife parks is USD $40 per day and USD $700 for gorilla tracking. There is a discount for children, East African residents and for Non-east African residents. In many mark boat rides are charged USD $30 per person and there is a charge for entry of each car depending on the size.
The yellow fever vaccine is a must so carry along your immunization certificate. Other important vaccinations include Hepatitis A and B, tetanus, meningitis.
Safety
Uganda is generally safe and stable throughout the country. Its important though to take precaution while travelling alone, at night and in cities. Do not carry a lot of cash with you and valuables. In case of any emergency report the case to the police, to your embassy or you may call any tour company for help/directions.
Your money card
In Uganda visa and master cards are very common and are accepted my many banks unlike debit and credit cards. You should note though, card transaction aren’t much used in the country so you may need to withdraw cash for your payments. Visa, MasterCard and credit card can be used to access money in many bank ATMs. The country is only starting to adapt to cashless payment systems.
What to bring on your journey to Uganda
Include a rain Jacket and special gear like books for special activities. Talk to your tour agent to inform you about the necessary gear you require for the safari activities. Otherwise carry along items like the binoculars, camera, sun screen, mosquito repellant, enough closes, electronics, money waist bag, phone, etc. Carry along your driving license if you’re planning to drive In Uganda, your medication together with vaccination records.
Accommodation
Uganda has a variety of facilities for example hotels, cottages, guesthouses, inns and motels. But hotels are mostly used by tourists. Hotels are ranked one star to 5 stars. During your safari lodges and safari camps are highly recommended because they give tourist a touch of wilderness experience. Talk to us for advice on accommodations and ease to do your activities whilst on safari.
Day 1 – trip to jjinja via Mabila forest
Depart for JJinja with a short forest walk and tour in Mabila forest. Day 2 – day in JJinja
Source of the boat ride, Nile tour and a relaxed afternoon at the Nile river. Day 3 –water activity at the nile
You will have a water activity of your choice like rafting, bungee jumping, kayak etc. Day 4 – trip to sipi falls mt Elgon
Drive to Mbale , check in at hotel and visit Sipi falls in the evening. Day 5 – day hike Mt Elgon and nature walk Day 6 – travel back
Trip back to your accommodation / flight The budget includes all activities, accommodation and is on full board basis.
Day 1 – trip to Queen Elizabeth national park
Trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park and an evening game drive. Day 2 – in Queen Elizabeth
Main game drive, boat ride and short sunset crater lakes drive. Day 3 – trip back from queen Elizabeth
Travel back from Queen Elizabeth to your accommodation / airport The budget includes all activities, park entry fees, accommodation and is on full board basis.
Day 1 – trip to Queen Elizabeth national park
Trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park and an evening game drive. Day 2 – in Queen Elizabeth
Main game drive, boat ride and short sunset crater lakes drive. Day 3 – trip back from queen Elizabeth
Travel back from Queen Elizabeth to your accommodation / airport The budget includes all activities, park entry fees, accommodation and is on full board basis.
Day 1 – Entebbe trip to kiggungu fishing village and Kampala historical tour Day 2- Kampala cultural tour and trip to Masaka.
Formation of Kampala and Kampala tour
Day 3 – in Masaka
Religious site tour, Masaka tour, and traditional activities tours. Day 4 -traditional schools tour and cultural performances
Short school trip and dance exhibition from a cultural dance troop. Day 5- cultural tribal tour, traditional cooking and preservation methods
Visiting a cultural museum and taking of a short cooking lesson with highlights into the local languages. Day 6 – trip back
Travel back from Masaka to you accommodation / airport.
Budget includes.
The budget includes all activities, park entry fees, accommodation, and is on full board basis.
Day1 : Trip to lake Mburo national park
Travel to lake Mburo and nature walk. Day 2: in Lake Mburo
Game drive and boat ride Day 3: bicycle or horseback riding trip back
Trip back to your accommodation/airport Budget includes-
The budget includes all activities, park entry fees, accommodation, and is on full board basis.
Day1 : Trip to JJinja Day 2: In JJinja
water games like rafting, kayak , boart ride Day 3: morning activity and trip back
Trip back to your accommodation/airport Budget includes
The budget includes one activities( rafting/ kayak ), accommodation, and is on full board basis. estra actvities will be charges separately
Day1 : Trip from Kampala/Entebbe to Kibaale park Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking
we do the chimpanzee tracking and a birding swamp in the evening Day 3: trip back
Trip back to your accommodation/airport Budget includes
The budget includes all activities(chimpanzee permits ) , accommodation, and is on full board basis.
We reserve the right to accept, reject and modify booking requests. Please ask for an offer for tailor-made tours and larger groups: info@ugandatoursinfo.com.