Tour in Uganda without Gorilla Trekking
Are you planning a tour in Uganda without gorilla trekking? This article is yours to read. Uganda is one of the best destinations in East Africa, offering plenty of exceptional experiences, even without gorilla trekking. A tour in Uganda without gorilla trekking can still take place. Tourists have a lot more to explore in Uganda—the Pearl of Africa—beyond gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking is the leading experience to enjoy in Uganda, but there are other exciting activities to add.
Without gorilla trekking, tourists can also participate in safari activities such as game drives, gorilla habituation experience, chimpanzee tracking, mountaineering, forest/nature walks, golden monkey tracking, city tours, golden monkey habituation, mangabey tracking, boat cruise tours, and cultural experiences. Visitors on an Uganda tour can also add bungee jumping, zip lining, white-water rafting, kayaking, cycling tours, farm tours, and lion tracking, to mention but a few.
Top Things to do in Uganda without Gorilla Trekking
Chimpanzee trekking/tracking
Chimpanzee trekking features on the top list of things to do on a tour in Uganda without gorilla trekking. Tracking/trekking offers an incredible opportunity for nature lovers to embark on a primate trekking adventure to explore more about chimpanzees. In Uganda, tourists have multiple options to encounter a habituated chimpanzee community. The most popular places in Uganda for captivating chimpanzee trekking include Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu, and Budongo Forest.
The largest concentration of chimpanzees and habituated communities exists in the lush jungles of Kibale National Park, Kabarole district, Western Uganda. Of the estimated 5050 chimpanzees in Uganda, Kibale Forest National Park alone hosts over 1500, with more than four communities available for tourists to explore on a guided chimpanzee-tracking tour. To enjoy the
How much is a chimpanzee ticket in Uganda?
For Kibale chimp trekking, a valid permit must be booked, and each costs USD 250 per person for non-resident tourists, USD 200 for residents and Rest of Africa visitors, and UGX 180,000 for East African citizens.
Kyambura Gorge is another special spot to explore chimpanzees in the wild on a Uganda tour. Kyambura Gorge chimpanzee permits cost USD 100 for non-resident foreigners, USD 80 for residents, and UGX 50,000 for East African citizens. Visitors interested in the chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge must travel to the eastern end of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls offers a remarkable chimpanzee tracking adventure. To enjoy a trek with Budongo Forest chimpanzees, a valid permit must be obtained, and each is available for booking at USD 150 per person. In Budongo Forest alone, there are over 800 chimpanzees, offering primate adventure seekers a higher chance to encounter these apes in their natural habitat.
Golden monkey tracking
A guided golden monkey tracking/trekking experience is a perfect addition to a tour in Uganda, especially after trekking the gorillas. Golden monkey trekking offers tourists a unique opportunity to search for a troop of golden monkeys. The best place to witness habituated golden monkey troops is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, located in Southwestern Uganda. Mgahinga National Park holds a massive concentration of golden monkey troops, and visitors can start their treks from the Ntebeko region.
The Mgahinga golden monkey tracking permits cost USD 60 per person for non-residents, USD 50 per visitor for foreign residents, and UGX 40,000 for East African citizens. Booking a golden monkey permit isn’t stressful thanks to Native Africa Tours, a trusted and reliable company in Uganda.
Golden monkey habituation
In addition to the traditional golden monkey treks, Uganda tours also offer the best golden monkey habituation experience. Unlike a typical golden monkey trek, habituation offers a long-day excursion in which tourists search for a semi-habituated troop of golden monkeys with trackers/guides or conservationists.
During the unique golden monkey habituation experience, visitors enjoy up to 4 hours of face-to-face time with a troop of golden monkeys. To join the rest of the trekkers on a golden monkey habituation, a valid permit must be secured in advance. Each golden monkey habituation permit is issued at USD 100 per person for non-resident visitors, USD 80 for foreign residents, and, lastly, Ugandans and other East African citizens qualify to secure a permit at UGX 100,000 per person.
Chimpanzee habituation
Chimpanzee habituation experience is an exceptional primate adventure awaiting you on a Uganda tour without gorilla trekking. With the chimpanzee habituation experience, you have a chance to follow the semi-habituated chimpanzee community. A permit for Kibale chimpanzee habituation costs USD 300 for foreign non-residents, USD 250 for resident tourists, and UGX 250,000 per visitor. The habituation permit cost covers guide fee, park entrance fees, and 4 hours with the chimpanzees in the jungle.
Mangabey tracking
Still, if you are interested in primate adventures, guided mangabey tracking/trekking awaits you. Visit Mabira Forest to explore a troop of mangabeys. As you embark on a guided trek with mangabey monkeys, you will also find other primates, including the red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, and black & white colobus monkeys.
Game drives
Guided game drives offer an opportunity for you to traverse the stunning savanna plains in search of small and large mammals. On a guided game drive, expect to explore destinations such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. Lake Mburo, Kidepo Valley, Semuliki, and Murchison Falls national parks. A guided game drive in a 4×4 safari vehicle allows you to explore savanna wildlife, including elephants, lions, cape buffaloes, leopards, antelopes, warthogs, and more.
Boat cruise tours
Uganda offers multiple opportunities to experience the best of a boat cruise. The best places to consider for a boat cruise in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Victoria, Lake Mburo National Park, Semuliki, and Queen Elizabeth National Park along the Kazinga channel. Diverse aquatic life awaits you to explore during a guided boat or launch cruise tour, including hippos, crocodiles, and waterbird species.
Rhino Trekking
Have you always wanted to witness rhinos in the wild and on foot? Then a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary offers you a unique opportunity to explore rhinos. A rhino trekking tour in Uganda is best done at Ziwa, where you embark on a guided trek with an experienced guide to learn more about rhinos.
Mountaineering/hiking
Besides jungle and savanna experiences, Uganda tours also offer thrilling mountaineering adventures. Uganda is best known for its classic mountaineering experiences in the country’s top mountain ranges. When it comes to mountaineering, key places to visit include Mount Elgon, Sabyinyo Volcano, Mount Gahinga, the Rwenzori Mountains, and Muhabura Volcano.
Cultural Experiences
Uganda is one of the best destinations in Africa, offering authentic cultural experiences. A guided cultural tour in Uganda allows you indulge in different cultural experiences. These include; the Batwa cultural experience, visit Kasubi tombs, Ndere cultural centre, or discover the exceptional cultures and traditions in Western Uganda (Ankole region), and Eastern Uganda, especially the Karamojong cultural experience, or visit the IK people.
City tours
About 11 cities in Uganda offer mesmerising city tour experiences. Kampala is the capital and the largest city in Uganda. A guided city tour in Kampala offers a half-day or full-day experience, with the opportunity to visit key sites such as the Uganda Museum, Baha’i temple, Gaddafi Mosque, Namirembe Cathedral, Kabaka’s Palace, and Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine.
Jinja city tours include a mix of captivating adventures and cultural experiences. The main highlights of the Jinja city tour include white-water rafting, kayaking, jet boating, tubing, bungee jumping, and many more.
Overall, a tour in Uganda without gorilla trekking presents multiple alternative experiences. Book a holiday in Uganda with Native Africa Tours and enjoy a myriad of unique adventures at budget-friendly rates.
