The best family destinations in Uganda: Traveling to Uganda with kids and you are not certain of the destination to visit? Uganda is amazingly an enchanting family safari destination. There is so much to explore and experience, plus incredible places to visit on a guided or self-drive family tour in the Pearl of Africa.
From the West to East and North to the South, visitors are guaranteed unforgettable family road trips. The western circuit is Uganda’s premier region with plenty of safari destinations and comes with breathtaking landscapes and wilderness areas with abundant wildlife and bird species. Here are some of the destinations you can enjoy with your family on an escorted or self-drive Uganda safari:
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Murchison Falls National Park
Murchinson Falls National Park. Tusk Trust
Murchison Falls National Park, the only park located in Northwestern Uganda is a remarkable place worth visiting on family tour. This is Uganda’s largest park and holds abundant wildlife species, with plenty of exciting safari activities to be enjoyed by adults and kids.
The diverse wildlife species of Murchison Falls N/P consist of 76 mammal species including the Rothschild giraffes, Uganda Kobs, spotted hyenas, blue monkeys, chimpanzees, lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, oribis, hippos, and more. These survive in the same habitat with over 451 bird species, reptiles and floral species.
The exciting activities to consider participating on a family tour with kids in Murchison Falls National Park include game drives to see a variety of the park’s wildlife species, launch cruise, bird watching, hot air balloon tours, cultural tours and others.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Photo/YouTube
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is by far the most family-friendly destination in Uganda. This wildlife sanctuary is found in Nakasongola, en-route to Murchison Falls NP, Northwestern Uganda. It is the only place to locate rhinos while in their natural habitats. At Ziwa, you can engage in a short walk to enjoy a close view of rhinos or go boat ride which allows you to sight shoebills and plenty of other bird species.
Jinja
Head off to Jinja, Eastern Uganda –the adrenaline adventure capital of East Africa. At Jinja, expect to enjoy a variety of adrenaline adventures. The highlights of every Jinja tour include horseback riding, white water rafting, boat ride, cycling, kayaking, jet boating, tubing, to mention but a few. The best place to consider for an overnight stay is the Wild waters Lodge, Jinja Nile Resort and more.
Ssese Islands
The Ssese Islands are some of the finest tropical islands with sand beaches making them the preferred spots for family holidays. These islands comprise of 84 islands with most of them not yet inhabited. While at Ssese Islands, don’t miss to check in at the Brovad Sands Lodge for a night stay.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Located at the edge of Kibale Forest National Park, Bigodi Wetland is one of the best places that is worth visiting as a family. This swamp-dominated area is home to abundant primates and birds. It is the best place to visit for an unforgettable guided nature walk or if you are interested in community-based tourism experiences. At Bigodi, the diverse primates to encounter include the red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, and many others.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park. Photo/ Queen Elizabeth National Park
Lake Mburo N/Park, located in Kiruhura is the most accessible Uganda family safari destination. The park is 4 hours’ drive from Kampala capital and its strategic location makes it an ideal place to start exploring while en route to Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Lake Mburo NP is blessed with over 68 mammal species, 350 bird species and its landscape is characterized by scenic lakes, savanna, papyrus swamps and riparian woodland. While on a family tour in Lake Mburo NP, the abundant wildlife to be spotted include bohor reedbucks, hippos, genets, elands, topis, impalas, Defassa waterbucks, white-tailed mongoose, bushbucks, buffaloes, hyenas, oribis, bushbucks, and leopards.
Birds of Lake Mburo National Park include rufous bellied herons, coqui francolins, papyrus yellow warblers, black bellied bustards, ross’s turacos, white winged barbets, Abyssinian ground hornbills, shining blue kingfishers, African fish eagle, carruther’s cisticolas, Lubanga forest and more.
The amazing activities to do on a family safari in Lake Mburo NP include game drives, launch cruise, birding, nature walks, horseback riding, and quad biking. The ideal places to retire for the night include Mantana Lodge, Kigambira Lodge, Rwonyo Rock, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge and Mihingo Safari Lodge.
Primate destinations to be visited on a family tour provided you have children above 15 years. Go gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda holds up to half of all the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and has 21 habituated gorilla families ready for trekking. Golden monkey safari in Mgahinga Gorilla NP or chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Ngamba Island (watch orphaned chimpanzees while they are fed by care takers), Kalinzu Forest and others.
When to go for Family Holiday in Uganda?
The best time of the year to visit Uganda to plan your family trip is during the dry season. The dry season for family holidays starts around June, July, August, September and December, January to February. However note, access to Uganda destinations require a 4×4, especially in the rainy season. Some roads are impassable without a 4×4.
