My first Safari
FINALLY I made it! Although my stay in Uganda was my 5th visit to the African continent I was never able to go on Safari. Now I made it, it was a one-day safari and definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I remember back in 2010 when I saw my first African sunrise I cried. I admit I did it again when I saw my first lion and elephants in the wild. I can’t describe those feelings, I feel so humble and greatful for being alive on our amazing planet.
My project team and I went on Safari, we had to do some research in the Western part of Uganda, close to Kasese and the Queen Elizabeth National Park. There we met a beekeeper who owns a flourishing business, and we visited a woman group who crafts baskets and a coffee farm! It’s great to get to know a country by exploring their businesses. After those exciting days of work we headed to the National park to finally see some animals <3
The Queen Elizabeth park is close to the Congolese border and at the feet of the famous Rwenzori mountains. Unfortunately we couldn’t make it to the mountains, but if you have I encourage you to go, the landscape looks amazing on pictures! The park is famous for it’s many hippos and the lions who climb into trees! Within the park you will find a wide variety of landscapes from deep forests to savanna there is everything. In the background there are high mountains and lots of rivers and lakes are within the park. There are even eleven communities living within and at the border of the park! So during your boat trip you will see one of the villages and people busy fishig and selling their goods on their market.
How we planned our safari
Luckily beekeeping business man we interviewed and visited for a few days knew a reliable driver and this driver brought along a wildlife guide who explained a lot to us about the nature and the animals. I highly recommend him! If you contact him he also plans your safari with and for you I think in whole East Africa. Feel free to contact him either via his website or just give him a call (+256788166311), Julius is a really knowledgable and friendly guy! He also knows many drivers and can arrange transport for you.
I highly recommend you to do the boat trip when you are in this National Park, you see the animals really close especially if it’s dry and they come to the river to drink. Aside I also just love it to be on the water:) Unfortunately we had some rain during the game drive in the morning, but we were lucky with loads of sun in the afternoon. In total we saw: buffalos, antilopes, one lonely lion, birds, hippos, crocodiles and elephants which was my highlight. This park unfortunatley is not a home to zebras nor giraffes.
Some inspiration:
Those are the costs we spend for one day in the park:
Entrance fee park: 40 USD per person
Wildlife guide (for 2 hours): 15 EUROS
Boat Safari: 30 USD per person
Driver whole day: 45 EUROS
If you have the chance to do a Safari in Uganda then do it! The money is worth invested in my opinion. Of course there are also plenty of tour offers out there there if you don’t like to organise it yourself. I got told that if you want to experience a “real” Safari, the more Southern African countries should be visited or Tansania or Kenya. But nevertheless I really enjoyed our day out in the Ugandan wild!