A safari day in Uganda is often an exciting mix of adventure, exploration, and connection with nature, people and places. Every safari day can be unique and influenced by several things including the location, the time of year and activities. You can decide on how to spend your but in most cases, you will follow a program. The trick is in embracing the day as it arrives. So adjust your compass towards that. Below is a general outlook of what it might look like in Uganda.
A safari day in Uganda begins with a pre-dawn wake-up call
Expect to wake up early in the pre-dawn hour between 5-5:30am to refresh, dress up, pack your bag and then have a cup of African tea or quick snack to fuel up for the day ahead. The lodge staff will wake you up in case you like to have your tea in bed. On a day for visiting gorillas, chimpanzees or golden monkeys, the procedure is almost the same. Since you must report at the gorilla trekking center before 7am.
Morning game drive
When a game drive is your activity, you will go out before sunrise in a 4×4 vehicle with a guide to spot wildlife, such as lions, leopards and herbivores like elephants. Uganda doesn’t offer hot air balloon safaris. So your wildlife drive activity can go up 11am. Then you can return to the lodge for full breakfast and lunch. If the distance back to the lodge is longer, then you will have carry packed lunch, enjoy it at a designated scenic view point relax and wait for the next activity. This is the case when you’re in Murchison falls national park.
Afternoon boat safari 2 -5 pm
In the afternoon starting at 2pm, you will go for an afternoon boat safari when you visit Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Lake Mburo national parks. Public boat cruise lasts for 3 hours ending up to 5pm with a quick wildlife drive en route to the lodge. Private boat trips will extend between 6-7pm if you want see the sunset.
Afternoon village walk
Primate treks often go hand in hand with community walks for those intending to get to know the local culture. For instance, Bigodi swamp walk is ideal after morning chimpanzee trekking session.
Evening wildlife drive
In parks that don’t offer boat cruises like Kidepo valley national park, your evening wildlife drive activity will start at 3pm till sunset. This also means you will have time to relax at the lodge between morning and afternoon game drives.
Night game drive
Night game drives in Uganda happen between 7-9pm only in Murchison falls, Lake Mburo, and Queen Elizabeth national parks.
Diner and bed time 7-8pm
Diner is served from 7:30-8pm Ugandan time. However, the lodge staff will ask you when you would like to have your meal. So dinner time on a safari day in Uganda is determined by you. Dinner tends to be followed by campfire, where you will gather and share stories with fellow visitors or your travel mates.
