Little excursions to do either before or after a Uganda conference. Though not in name, Uganda is sometimes referred to as the pearl of Africa based on all the entertaining and instructive excursions one may take across the nation. Though they have to be arranged, you can enjoy many quick visits either before or after your conference.

When choosing safari locations, Uganda is usually disregarded since visitors travel to either Kenya or Tanzania. Still, in this post we will discuss the few quick getaways you could go on to unwind before and after the conference. For the excursion, you can pick from the activities and safari locations below.

Game drives and game watching within the Savannah National Parks

Several national parks allow visitors interested in wildlife viewing to engage in various activities like day game drives, night drives, boat trips, and guided nature walks.

Discover Queen Elizabeth National Park: Among Uganda’s best safaris is this one. Perfect for both before and after a gorilla trip, the park is four hours’ drive from the Ishasha sector to Bwindi. From native and foreign species, buffaloes, elephants, tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, kudus, Topis, antelopes, crocodiles, warthogs, leopards, and many more others, Queen Elizabeth boasts over 615 known bird species.

Excellent views of the Rwenzori ranges abound from Queen Elizabeth National Park; some of the activities you could do on your short safari include boat rides along the Kazinga channel, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge, viewing the tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, game drives, guided nature walks and bird watching. Discover the splendor of Queen Elizabeth National Park against the Rwenzori ranges and Lake Edward.

One of the brief excursions you should do either before or after a meeting is to Murchison Falls National Park. Spotting species including leopards, crocodiles, lions, baboons, antelopes, hippos, spotted hyenas, and warthogs best by a game drive throughout Murchison. Boat tours, wildlife drives, bird viewing, a trail to the waterfalls, and guided nature hikes abound in Murchison Falls National Park.

Visit Lake Mburo National Park, which is in western Uganda and boasts some of the most amazing landscape in the nation on a quick journey. From Kampala, the national park is four hours’ drive away. Among the things you should be on lookout for are elands, buffalos, zebras, elephants, Topis, Oribis, waterbucks, and buffaloes—all of which are best observed during game drives. Along Lake Mburo, you also get to enjoy guided nature hikes and bird-watching boat trips.

Found in a rural place, Kidepo Valley National Park is among the least visited national parks in the nation. Considered as one of the most beautiful national parks in the nation, it is situated in the far northeastern corner.

Second finest birding location after Queen Elizabeth National Park is Kidepo Valley National Park, which boasts over 470 known bird species including the Fox kestrel, ostriches, and Golden pipit. Kidepo offers cheetahs, giraffes, buffalos, elephants, zebras, elands, hyenas, wild dogs, and lions among the activities you can engage in.

Primate Viewpoint in Uganda

Trekking a gorilla in Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Only Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, both located in the southwest of Uganda, are used for gorilla trekking in that country. With half of the population and roughly 20 habituated families, Bwindi boasts the most gorillas worldwide; Mgahinga only features one gorilla family.

Trekking the gorilla families either before or after a conference with the primates will allow you to spend an hour with the animals observing their activities and shooting pictures. Only in Bwindi can you engage in the habituation process, whereby you spend four hours with the gorillas, therefore increasing your time with them. To fully enjoy your safari, we suggest you to reserve your permit in advance if you are going on a brief gorilla trekking tour. Other pursuits undertaken in Bwindi and Mgahinga consist of:

Watching birds.
Lead walks in the natural surroundings.
The Batwa path of culture.
Trekking in Mgahinga for golden monkeys.
Mostly carried out at Kibale National Park, where over 1500 chimpanzees have been registered, chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is Other primates such vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys call Kibaale National Park home as well. Other sites in Uganda are Kalinzu Forest, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo Forest and Kaniyo Pabidi in Murchison Falls National Park.

Kampala short excursions in Uganda

Go to the Kasubi tombs: Few minutes from Kampala, the capital of Uganda, Kasubi is home to the Kasubi tombs. Visited at any time of year, Buganda’s Kabakas (kings) rest at this ultimate spot. Although fire devastated the Kasubi tombs a few years ago, they are now under renovation and a journey to the tombs provides a window into Buganda history.

You also get to view the royal regalia once belonging to the kings. Though there are more than 31 tombs all around, Kasubi Tombs is a UNESCO Heritage site since four kings—Sir Edward Mutesa II, Mutesa I, David Chwa II, and Mwanga II—are buried here.

Travel to Kampala City. Although we are going to mention a few of the various activities you can engage in within Kampala City below, understand that Kampala is not for everyone. It is always packed, hence you have to keep eye on your property. Before or after your meeting, you could make quick visits to some of the locations within Kampala.

Though you have seen a number of local markets, Owino is on another level, loaded with everything you could think of, including bags, clothes, food, veggies, medication, electronics, kitchenware, and herbs among others. It is one of the best chaotic locations you could witness. Owino market has everything you could possibly imagine, and everyday market attendance exceeds 20,000 persons.

Make sure you are not alone when you arrange a visit to Owino since prices are raised when a foreigner visits and you will want someone to assist with negotiations. We encourage you to keep your belongings at the hotel as there are so many honest individuals there and concurrently pickpockets and small-time burglars. For visitors, it is a great spot to buy reasonably and safely.

Situated on one of the Kampala hills, the Bahai temple in Uganda is among the only 11 still standing ones in Africa. Situated on Kikaya Hill, Bahai Temple provides outstanding views of the surroundings. Visitors may stroll through the gardens and savor a quiet stay at the Temple free from most disturbance. It is forbidden, though, to take pictures in the Temple.

Located in Namugongo, Uganda Martyr’s Shrine is a holy site where the victims were executed under Kabaka Mwanga’s directives when they disobeyed his reign. Celebrations honoring the martyrs take place every year on June 3rd; nevertheless, it would be best if you choose another day as the big numbers of people cause problems.

Among the top sites to visit in Kampala city is the Gadaffi mosque, sometimes known as Kampala Central Mosque, with its outstanding architecture. The mosque Idi Amin Dada first built was finished by Libyan then-president Muammar Gaddafi, hence the name. When you arrive, be sure to take off your shoes since this mosque is the biggest one in East Africa.

Other locations you ought to visit in Kampala include:

Uganda National Cultural Centre’s Art Galleries
A boda boda journey across Namirembe Cathedral, Rubaga Cathedral, Mengo palace
Because of all Kampala city Uganda has to offer, nightlife there is sometimes referred to as the pearl of Africa; following is a basic six-day itinerary you may use for a quick safari either before or after a conference. It combines excursion to the Nile, primate tracking, and wildlife viewing.

First day: Kampala-Jinja
Beginning our safari from Kampala to Jinja, we have a briefing of what to expect on the journey at the pickup point either within Kampala or Entebbe. You go east Uganda with our seasoned driver guide, passing Mabira woodland and stopping at Namawojjolo for the roadside barbecued beef, chicken, plantain, and drinks.

Without the traffic congestion, it approximately two hours separates Kampala from Jinja. Among the activities we get to see and do in Jinja are a boat tour, bungee jumping, white water rafting, stop-over at the Itanda Falls, and sport fishing. We head to Jinja town for lunch and dinner, then spend the evening at the hotel getting ready for day 2.

Day 2: Jinja towards National Park of Lake Mburo
We left Jinja, drove across Kampala, and traveled toward Western Uganda to Lake Mburo National Park just in time for lunch after pausing at the Equator monument to get as many pictures as possible after breakfast. Following lunch, you have a few options including boat rides around the Lake for roughly two hours, a game drive to see the various wildlife species in the park, and bird viewing before supper and subsequently an overnight stay in the park.

Day 3: Lake Mburo via Bwindi
You get an early drive throughout the national park with views of elands, antelopes, zebras, and leopards after breakfast. After lunch in Mbarara town, we next travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a gorilla trekking activity.

Fourth day: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Beginning an early morning briefing following breakfast at the headquarters, the gorilla trek safari has seasoned guides informing visitors of the rules and guidelines for gorilla trekking. Note that the highlight of the safari is this exercise.

You will then be split into groups of eight and assigned a gorilla family to hike for a day. Once the gorilla family has been found, every group spends an hour with the gorillas observing their behavior, tracking their meals, and snapping pictures. Along with cultural excursions, bird viewing, primate hikes, and the Batwa route, other activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are

Day five: Bwindi to National Park of Queen Elizabeth
Day five saw us head for Queen Elizabeth National Park, a four-hour journey from Bwindi to the Ishasha area where climbing lions are seen. Among the most visited parks in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth offers activities include bird viewing with over 615 species, game drives with views of animals including antelopes, lions, crocodiles, kudus, zebras, buffaloes, elephants, leopards and hippos among others.

Day Six: Flight to Entebbe or Kampala
We return to Kampala or Entebbe, which marks the conclusion of the safari, after breakfast and an early game drive around Queen Elizabeth. Should you be done with the conference, you will be transported to the airport for departure; should not be so, the driver guide will bring you to your chosen hotel, thereby ending the journey.

When should one go to Uganda?
An all-year safari destination with a variety of activities available is Uganda. Still, the greatest time is during the dry season when the wildlife is readily visible. Peak season does exist, though, thus you have to get ready and book ahead of the safari to fully enjoy the conference and the surroundings.