Best safari memories are borne through traveling together as one big family. Such family experiences are so intimate because they are shared among the people so close to themselves.
An Uganda family safari is an adventure that you will all be happy you undertook and will definitely be that kind of trip, none of you ever stops talking about.
Unveiling the wonders of Africa to the young ones is a reward every parent must extend to their children, and there is no better way to achieve this than undertaking an African safari as a family.
It is however important to note that there are some specific activities that have age limits for participation.
Some of these activities which have age restrictions include gorilla and chimpanzee tours whose age cap is set at 15 years for all participants. This implies that families whose children are below 15 years won’t be allowed to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks.
Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking for example allow a minimum age limit of 15 years. So you cannot go gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest with your children who are below 15 years old.
Such activities are quite restrictive and authorities assume that the impacts imposed on the gorillas by children are many as compared to older people.
The longer hikes during trekking for example can take up to 8 hours, which is quite difficult for children. Perhaps alternative tours can be arranged by the lodge for the children to keep them occupied. These include guided walks, scenic views, primate watching, etc.
Here are some of the top destinations for family safaris in Uganda.
Lake Bunyonyi.
The renowned “Wakanda Land” has nothing much to offer other than the sweeping panoramic views from its top, plus the unmatched serenity that every family would love to stay there forever.
Lake Bunyonyi is dotted with up to 29 perfectly formed islands and an enchanting backdrop of jaw-dropping terraced slopes. Amidst the 29 nature-centric islands, many accommodation facilities come in handy, ranging from basic camps for backpackers to rustic bungalows for luxurious travelers. All these are nestled comfortably among the sounds of nature.
Lake Bunyonyi is undoubtedly one of those few places in Uganda that is safe and ideal for swimming: bilharzia free, croc free, and hippo free.
The lake and the islands are best experienced with a leisurely dugout canoe paddle in a morning sunrise or a motorboat exploration on sunset.
Jinja
Jinja is exactly what every family has been looking for. Indulge in more adventurous hardcore rapids along the Nile or rather hang around and float on its calm waters.
Just a few meters downstream you find some of the most tranquil river-side lodges perfect for family retreats. Kingfisher or the Haven? Both are famous for their laidback charms, while the super luxurious Wild waters Lodge is nothing but stunning, and with rooms overlooking the Nile grade five rapids; standing at the balconies gives you a fresh spray from the raging waters just beneath the lodge.
Murchison Falls National Park.
Murchison falls national park is the largest national park in Uganda, and currently the most popular with uncountable numbers of animals, than any other park in Uganda. This park is the perfect place to spend a family vacation.
The park is divided by the famous Victoria Nile which gushes through a narrow gorge, amidst protruding rocks forming what would later become the world’s most powerful waterfalls, the Murchison falls. The banks of this placid river are dotted with crocs, schools of hippos, buffaloes, and waterbucks.
The vegetation in Murchison falls national park is made up of majorly savannah grassland in the northern sector, riverine forest in the Centre of the park, and woodland savannah in the southern region.
This park has Uganda’s largest concentration of wildlife, notably leopards, lions, elephants, hartebeests, Uganda Kob, giraffes, chimpanzees, and numerous bird species.
Activities that perfectly fit a family safari are endless, and these may include; boat cruise to the bottom of the falls and to the delta, game drives, nature walks, and birding expeditions.
Budongo forest, located on the extreme end of the park close to the southern exit is home to chimpanzee trekking tours, which you can undertake as a family, but bearing in mind the age restrictions.
Experience Murchison falls national park in a magical style with your family, by taking to the air in a hot air balloon, about 10,000 feet above the ground. This is a highly recommended activity for any family. Get captivating views of the entire Murchison landscape, the mighty Albertine delta, Congo’s Blue Mountains, and the placid Victoria Nile as it heads to Lake Albert.
Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth national park is not only synonymous with beautiful scenery but also Uganda’s most famous and premier national park.
The Queen Elizabeth national park stretches from the magical Kazinga channel, thronged with various schools of hippos to the foothills of Mount Rwenzori in the north, to the extreme southern sector of Ishasha.
The park incorporates a varied range of habitats ranging from Savannah grasslands, woodland, and wetlands to lowland forests; and as a result, it shelters 4 of the Big 5 mammals, including Buffaloes, elephants, Lions, and Leopards, plus uncountable Uganda Kobs, Waterbucks, warthogs, hyenas, giant forest hog and so many others.
The Mweya peninsular just in the center of the park is absolutely the capital of sightseeing in this famous park. It is home to the famous Kazinga channel and the starting point for the sensational boat cruise perfect for families traveling together. This 2-hour boat cruise is one of the unforgettable experiences during an Uganda family safari.
While on this boat cruise, expect to see among other animals; Hippos, herds of buffaloes, elephants and so many other antelopes.