Uganda Family Safaris

Just like Tony Fitz John says there is no place like Africa, there is something about the spirit of the people, the beauty of the land, and the diversity of wildlife that touches the soul. Rewarding your family with a safari to Uganda is undoubtedly the best gift you could ever give to the people you love most. The Pearl of Africa as described by Winston Churchill is a wealth of unexploited natural resources that showcase a varied collection of habitats. From striking landscapes to vegetation that varies from open savannah grasslands to acacia woodlands.

The montane forests and tropical rain forests in rugged regions of rocky outcrops bring out the hidden gems under the vegetation cover. The craggy hills and sweeping valleys teem up with a mix of stunning savannah wildlife, primates, and unique bird species. A safari to Uganda caters to all categories of travelers such as wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers, birdwatchers, cultural experience seekers, and adventure seekers among others. It’s therefore upon the family head to know what his/her family members prefer on their travel itinerary to Uganda so that they are all considered and catered for.

Planning a family safari in Uganda

Uganda is irrefutably one of the best countries in Africa one can have a family safari evidenced by the country’s expertise in dealing with families more so children. Uganda for several years has hosted numerous tourists that have traveled as families, individually, and in groups. This is because the country is safe and has all the facilities one would ever want when traveling with a family or children. Therefore, for one to plan a family safari to Uganda, he/she has to consider the following.

Come up with the perfect safari destinations and activities that your family prefers. The perfect way to start planning a family safari to Uganda is by introducing the idea to the entire family and more so the children. Introducing the idea to the entire family helps you to come up with the best destinations and activities that suit the entire family. This is important since such moments are about bonding family ties and making unforgettable memories together. 

Check minimum age policies of national parks, camps, and lodges. Some activities in national parks have minimum age restrictions such as mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking. Trekking of these primates requires a minimum age limit of 15 years though there are perfect alternatives for seeing the chimpanzees behind a protected fence. For instance, at the Uganda Wildlife Education Center in Entebbe and Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary known for protecting orphaned chimpanzees. Some lodges and camps have family rooms that cater to the entire family offering family-friendly services and special child rates. It is therefore recommended to consider such accommodation facilities with the guidance of an experienced tour operator like Glory Summit Tours and Travel. 

The flight time and duration should be considered. When planning a family safari to Uganda, direct flights should be considered to eliminate family travel stress.

Traveling within Uganda to most national parks involves moving long distances. Some distances to the parks can take about 7-9 hours which might be stressful for the little ones. It is therefore advisable to use chartered domestic flights that are always available at Entebbe Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip. All the parks around the country have designated airfields close to them or inside and traveling by air saves a lot of time. Make consultations with Glory Summit Tours and Travel for such travel arrangements and bookings. 

Health concerns and travel insurance for children and the entire family. It is advisable to first consult your doctor about the vaccines you and your family need before traveling to Uganda. These could include antimalarial medication for your children since malaria is highly considered a risk for children traveling to Uganda. Insect repellants should also be considered because there are higher chances of encountering biting flies like tsetse flies on a Ugandan safari. Since you are traveling with children, one should also consider parking some medications for general illnesses, aches, and pains as well as a first aid kit. However, at Glory Summit Tours and Travel, a first aid kit is fully provided throughout the entire safari. For a family safari in Uganda, travel insurance is a must therefore make sure to contact us for more details about acquiring your travel insurance.

Select a reputable tour operator that has experience in guiding families. An experienced tour consultant here at Glory Summit Tours and Travel will help you come up with the best safari destinations that will entice your family as well as offer family-friendly safaris. We have a dedicated team of guides that are well-experienced in guiding families by keeping the entire family entertained. Our experienced team guides in the best way for children to understand and also keep the entire family secure in the wild. We also ensure that kids are offered tasty healthy meals throughout their safari. Glory Summit Tours and Travel is also dedicated and open to offer assistance where need be from the time of planning your family safari to the time of departure back home after your safari.

Children's safari equipment should be considered. The perfect way to make children fully engaged in a family safari is by providing binoculars, wildlife books, and a healthy supply of snacks to prevent them from being hungry. Binoculars easily help them spot several wildlife and bird species more so during game viewing activities whereas wildlife books keep them in the know as they love to compare what is documented to what truly exists.

Book in advance. When booking for a Uganda family safari it is advisable to always make bookings way ahead of time so as you may have ample time to make sure that you get everything done. For instance, in terms of time, we recommend a period of 5 months before the time when your safari begins.

Perfect destinations for a family safari in Uganda

Uganda’s premier National Parks

Wildlife viewing or game drives are the perfect activity that will get your children excited as they encounter the Big 5 animals and several other animals in their natural habitats. Game drives are open to children of all ages and are available in parks such as Murchison Falls National Park. Here they can easily spot Africa’s big five with a stop-over at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where teenagers above six years can track white Rhinos on foot. The western region is preferably the perfect destination for a family safari. This is because wildlife viewing is possible in Queen Elizabeth, Semliki, and Lake Mburo National Parks. 

These parks showcase Uganda’s abundant wildlife and the continent’s most cherished animals and bird species. Walking adventures and boat trips are also possible in these national parks where one can get an up-close encounter with aquatic animals in their natural habitat. For instance, hippopotamuses and crocodiles in both the Kazinga Channel and Lake Mburo. Children above 15 years can take on a hiking experience through dense forests to have an eye-to-eye encounter with the gorillas and chimpanzees in Bwindi Impenetrable and Kibale National Parks respectively.

Jinja the adrenaline capital of East Africa

Jinja boasts of the source of the Nile and is known for its adrenaline activities along the Nile River. These include boat cruises, bungee jumping, white water rafting kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, quad biking, horseback riding, and many more. These are perfect activities best for families and rehabilitation after having some strenuous activities in the country’s national parks.

Lake Victoria and Kalangala beaches

Lake Victoria has captivating activities ranging from all-day boat cruises to swimming and playing along the lake’s white sands. The entire family can enjoy their lunch in a floating restaurant while enjoying the natural breezes and the birdlife on the lake. In Kalangala, the entire family can have laid-back holiday relaxations as kids have fun in the white sands. There is also a possibility of making hikes through the Kalangala forests to spot several primates and bird species.

Ngamba Island and the Uganda Wildlife Education Center in Entebbe

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and the UWEC in Entebbe are perfect places to spot chimpanzees for kids who might not have a chance of trekking chimpanzees in the wild. At the Uganda Wildlife Education Center, children can see several other animals and bird species that could also be encountered in the country’s national parks. This is done with the guidance of experienced UWA guides.

Best time for Uganda family safaris Safaris to Uganda are open all year round though the perfect time for a Uganda family safari is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February. During this season, no expected strong downpours are implying that the hiking trails are dry and accessible. During the dry season, animals in the protected areas are easily spotted since they concentrate around specified water sources in large numbers.