Equator Crossing
The equator is the only imaginary line that passes through the center of the earth and divides it into the northern and southern hemispheres. Uganda is blessed by nature to be one of the 13 countries in the world to have the equator pass through it. The equator crossing is definitely worth a visit for travelers on a safari to Uganda. It is ideally located in Kayabwe, Mpigi district along Masaka-Kampala high way only 11/2 hours drive from Kampala city. Right for a stopover opportunity to make geographical experiments, stand on both sides of the planet, take photos. Enjoy traditional food or buy local crafts from the shops.
Explore the semi-arid plains of Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo has been voted several times by CNN travel as one of the most beautiful places in Africa. The landscapes including savannah, acacia, dry Murongole Mountains, rocky outcrops, sand rivers. Though not easy to access by 12 hours drive from Kampala, the park has 500 species of birds and 77 mammals to give visitors a unique game viewing experience. There animals like ostrich, cheetah, Aard wolf, bat eared fox, lesser and greater kudu, black backed and stripe sided jackals which are not found in other Ugandan safari parks. Kidepo is famous for its biggest buffalo herds in East African along with predators like lion, leopard, hyena, wild dogs. There are no crowds of visitors like those in Maasai-Mara to compete during game drives for game viewing especially in the narus permanent sand river valley.
Track white rhinos on foot
Ziwa Rhino sanctuary home to 20 endangered white rhinos offers the only walking safaris to track rhinos on foot in Uganda. Ziwa sanctuary spanning 7,000 acres is a large natural habitat for the rhinos and Uganda wildlife authority rangers provide 24 hours security. With the guide visitors can track and see rhinos from best viewing points as close as 20 meters.
Positively, your visit supports rhino conservation because Rhino Fund Uganda is focused to breed and re-introduce rhinos back to Murchison falls National Park. Both the black and white rhinos became extinct from Murchison and kidepo valley national parks due to poaching that occurred during the civil wars in the period from 1970 to 1980’s. Ziwa sanctuary is located in Nakasongora district along the way to Murchison falls national park. Visitors can make a stopover or overnight stay in the onsite accommodations. The area has savanna woodland and swamps home to over 100 species of birds, monkeys, antelopes, crocodiles. An overnight gives you a chance to do other activities such as birding and nature walks to view antelopes.
Visit the Batwa pygmies
BaTwa people naturally lived in the forest as warrior hunter gathers. They co-existed peacefully with the mountain gorillas of Bwindi and Mgahinga south western Uganda. However their unique traditional lifestyle was changed forever when BaTwa were evicted in 1991 out of forests to conserve the gorillas. Good enough, they were resettled outside the parks and given rights to attend school, hospital but are now struggling with poverty, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and discrimination. This has put their unique culture at the verge of extinction. A visit to BaTwa supports wellbeing, preservation of their traditional culture and gives visitors unforgettable and entertaining cultural encounters. With lots of their traditions including fire making, traditional dances, storytelling, dress code, hunting skills, use of herbs as food and medicine.
The BaTwa trail in Mgahinga includes a visit to their original Garama caves where their King once lived. Another BaTwa homestead can be visited in Buhoma north of Bwindi on a village walk and on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi.
Spot tree climbing Lions
Uganda is one of the few countries in Africa where you can spot tree climbing lions unlike other lions which are almost found all over Africa. The predators can be seen on game drive safari through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Sightings of tree climbing lions are easy because they climb and rest on fig tree branches and there’s less thick vegetation. Although this park is home to other big game mammals such as lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, it’s the tree climbing lions that have it famous and worth to visit.
Attend a cultural show at Ndere cultural center
Ndere cultural center is the biggest in Kampala and offers a Ugandan traditional cultural experience. Visitors to Ndere can witness traditional dancers perform different dances that you probably saw on TV. The cultural nights also feature live entertainment, storytelling, folklore backed by traditional music instruments like drums and stings which makes your visit to Ndere worth and meaningful. Plan to visit the center on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7pm for live performances and a family show is always on Sunday 6pm. Ndere center is located along Kira road, Ntinda-Kisasi accessible by 40 minutes drive while on Kampala city tour. The place has accommodation with en-suit beds, chalet cottages and traditional house. You can as well have a cultural overnight stay at Ndere.
Visit Murchison Falls
When it comes to waterfalls experience, Murchison falls are hard to beat being the most powerful in Africa after Victoria Falls. And given its remote location in beautiful wilderness of Murchison Falls National park home to 76 mammals and 451 species of birds, the waterfalls are a must see with top of the falls hike when you just arrive in the park. In addition to big game viewing and boat cruise take visitors to the bottom of the falls.
While the most waterfalls fall over rocks or have numerous sections, Murchison falls are exceptional. With River Nile waters falling over a 45 meter rift valley cliff plunging into an 8 meter wide gorge the devil’s cauldron to create a permanent trade mark rainbow. The metaphor of the waterfalls is so strong roaring like thunder that many visitors yell Jesus.
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