Guided Walking Safari Adventures in Uganda

Nature Walks in Semuliki

Nature walks in Semuliki National Park happen on the Kirumia Trail. The 13km KirumiaTrail runs through the heart of the forest to the Semuliki River. This guided walking safari trip starts at 8:00 and takes about 6-8 hours—a perfect hiking trail for birders and nature lovers. The 11km Red Monkey Track follows the park’s eastern border – a stronghold of the rare DeBrazza’s monkey – to the Semliki River. Along the 8km Sempaya Nature Trail, you can view the hot springs and primates. The shorter 2-4 hour guided hike on the trail is also available and can occur in the morning or afternoon.

Walking in Kibale

Kibale is well known for guided Chimpanzees trekking, but when the chimpanzees and other forest residents rest up at dusk, a night-time shift of rarely seen creatures becomes active. Night walks through the darkened forest uses powerful torches to seek nocturnal creatures such as the potto, bushbaby, nightjar, cricket, and tree hyrax, with its chilling shriek, as well as the occasional civet or serval cat. Night walks leave the camp at 7.30 pm and last between 1-2 hours. Why not add a guided night walk the day before or after a Chimpanzee trek.

Walking Safari in Kidepo

Our guided walking safari adventures in the Kidepo Valley hike through the Lomej Mountains, which takes about four hours to reach on foot. The hike starts at 7:00. You can take shorter guided walks of around two hours through the Narus Valley extending over a 5km radius from Apoka Tourism Centre.​

Visitors can also wander along the splendid Kidepo River Valley between banks of attractive Borassus palm forest. Hikers can reach Namamkweny Valley within an hour from Apoka.

Visitors can also have a unique cultural experience and meet the IK tribe members during prearranged hikes to the Morungole Mountains outside the park.

Guided Walks in Lake Mburo NP

Lake Mburo National Park is unusually open to all kinds of guided nature walks, including nature walks and other active adventures within the park. At Rwonyo, a guided walk leads to a salt lick where many animals are attracted to the salty rocks. A guided walking safari on the western side of the lake begins at 7:00 and takes 2 hours.

You may encounter hyenas returning to their dens and hippos retreating to the lake at this time of the day. Hikes through the woodland provide an opportunity to sight forest birds and mammals, while the walk to the top of the hill rewards visitors with a spectacular view of 9 of the region’s 14 lakes.

Of particular interest to walkers and birders is Rubanga Forest, which may be visited by prior arrangement and in the company of a ranger.

Hiking in Mount Elgon N. Park

The 7km (four-hour) mountain bamboo trail to Kapkwai Cave passes through a tropical and bamboo forest. Along the trail are many primates, birds, and rare trees, such as Elgon teak and Elgon olive. The 5km walk to the Chebonet Falls and 3km walk to the Kapkwai caves follow the ridge view trail. There is also an 11km hike to the Tutum Cave, with camping overnight beside the cave.​

In Wanale, a visit to Khauka Cave takes three to four hours. Alternatively, you can go to the viewpoint through the Nabuyonga loop, where you can see Jackson’s Summit and Wagagai peak. In Budadiri, short day hikes are available covering the Mudagi Cliffs, Sasa River Camp, and Drigana lower falls. These are great for bird watching, nature walks, and overnight camping.

Walking Safari in Queen Elizabeth

A guided walking safari in Mweya Peninsula offers savannah and woodland with beautiful views and bold warthogs.

At the southern end of the park, visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Ishasha River, where they can spot a variety of forest and savanna birds and mammal species, as well as having a unique opportunity on this walk to get extremely close to hippos on foot while remaining perfectly safe on the raised bank above the river.

This nature walk ties in perfectly with a more extended stay in Queen Elizabeth and a Kazinga Channel boat safari.

Nature Walks in The Rwenzoris

Rwenzori Mountains National Part provides an opportunity for guided nature walks within the central circuit zone. These include trails up to Lake Mahooma and Buraro chimp forest, walks through the communities of Kichamba to reach the Karangura ridge, and hiking to the Bundibugyo area through Bwamba pass.​

Ruboni and Turaco View communities also offer guided forest walks of various lengths just outside the park. Visitors can follow River Mubuku and glimpse views of Baker and Portal Peaks as they hike up to 2,300m above sea level. It is even possible to view the snowcapped Margherita Peak – a truly spectacular sight on a clear day. Along the way, keep an eye out for chameleons, squirrels, vervet monkeys, and many birds.

Bwamba Pass: Before a road was built in 1938 to link Fort Portal with the remote town of Bundibugyo, local people followed the most direct route between these settlements – a challenging active adventure, 1,500m high trek over the steep north Rwenzori ridge, known as the Bwamba Pass. The Abanya Rwenzori community group leads visitors over the mountain through isolated mountain villages to visit the bamboo forest and enjoy superb rift valley views.

Nature Walks in Murchison

The vast landscapes and varied scenery of Murchison Falls National Park and the surrounding Conservation Area are excellent for guided walking safari adventures. Guided nature Trails through Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo Forests provide sightings of many primates and birds, while around the Nile-Lake Albert Delta, 2-4hours of guided swamp walks offer possible sightings of the Shoebill when the water level is low. After an afternoon boating upriver, you can also hike 45 minutes through woodland to the top of Murchison Falls for a completely different experience of this magnificent waterfall.

This guided walking safari experience brings all the senses into play: watch waves of white water tumble hypnotically through this six-meter chasm, listen to the roar, taste the spray on your face, and feel the rock shake beneath your feet. Sheer sensory overload! If you don’t fancy the trek to the top, stop off at the northern bank during your game drive, and walk down a set of steps to stand within meters of the rapids.

Birders and nature lovers can enjoy short nature treks from Sambiya River Lodge or Mubako Junction, both on the southern bank or a walk along the northern bank from Paraa, passing the Emmy River. All walks last from 1-2 hours.