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Uganda Family Safaris

4.4/5  –  394 Uganda Reviews

Adventurous, outdoorsy families will fall in love with Uganda. Imagine the thrill of taking your children to track wild gorillas or chimps and coming face-to-face with these extraordinary creatures in their lushly forested home. Or being with your family on a game drive in search of lumbering elephants and tree-climbing lions. Or enjoying a boat trip together on a timeless tropical waterway alive with hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds. True, Uganda isn't for everybody, and if your children would prefer hanging in a mall to heading out on a nature trail, then you might want to think twice about taking them on safari. But if they are receptive to the outdoors and love wildlife, a Uganda safari will be the holiday of a lifetime.

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5 Questions About Uganda Family Safaris

1. Is Uganda recommended for a family safari?
2. How old should my children be to go on safari in Uganda?
3. Which parks are recommended for a Uganda family safari?
4. Is it safe to bring my children on a Uganda safari?
5. What should we pack for our children when going on safari in Uganda?
 
 

5 Questions About Uganda Family Safaris

Answered by Philip Briggs

Is Uganda recommended for a family safari?

“That depends on the family. Uganda certainly wouldn't qualify as a conventional family holiday destination, given that it lacks for swimming beaches, amusement parks, resort-style hotels and other such child-friendly amenities. On the other hand, it has a lot to offer adventurous, sociable families with a strong interest in the outdoors and wildlife. As safari destinations go, Uganda is particularly attractive to families because it offers more opportunities than most to vary the usual regime of twice-daily game drives with boat trips and guided walks. Overall, Uganda is probably better suited to families with teenagers than to those with younger children. But bear in mind that online screen time is likely to be restricted by slow or nonexistent internet connections in many places.”

1

How old should my children be to go on safari in Uganda?

“There are two fixed age restrictions relating to travel in Uganda with kids: children under the age of 15 are not allowed to track gorillas, while those under 12 are not permitted to track chimps. The Uganda Wildlife Authority might make an exception for children a few months short of the relevant birthday, but the paperwork needs to be completed in advance. It is also the case that while most lodges and camps in Uganda are open to all, some (mostly at the luxury end of the scale) impose a minimum age restriction of anything from 4 to 12 years old. Those restrictions aside, kids of any age can go on safari in Uganda, though the experience tends to be more rewarding for older children. Generally, children of a preschool age lack the concentration and interest to really enjoy game drives and similar activities. For those aged between 6 and 10 years, a lot depends on the individual child’s interest levels and boredom thresholds. Most over-10s absolutely love being on safari and are fascinated by the wildlife. But again this depends on the temperament of the individual child, so some parental judgement is necessary. Children of any age who are prone to tantrums, whining or crying are unlikely to be much fun on safari, especially if you do group activities with non-family members. If in doubt, with children of any age, it's probably best to limit your first African safari to less than 7 days and book a private safari tour package.”

2

Which parks are recommended for a Uganda family safari?

“Assuming that everyone is old enough to go gorilla trekking, the two places this can be done are Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks (both in the far southwest). An absolute minimum of 3 days is required to trek in one of these parks using the capital city of Kampala or nearby Entebbe International Airport as a springboard for your safari. Most people spend longer in the area and combine gorilla trekking with a more traditional safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park (home to lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo and the like). They might also go chimp trekking in Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Kibale National Park or Kyambura Gorge. For families whose children are too young for gorilla trekking, a recommended option is Murchison Falls National Park. It is home to four of the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant; rhino are absent) and offers a great combination of game drives and boat safaris. Murchison Falls is easily combined with chimp trekking in Budongo Forest and a visit to see white rhinos in Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch.”

3

Is it safe to bring my children on a Uganda safari?

“Uganda is generally safe for travel. In most parts of the country regularly visited by tourists, there is little to worry about in terms of crime and security. The main exception is the capital Kampala, which has crime levels similar to any large city. Healthwise, your main concern (traveling with or without children) should be malaria. This is especially the case if any member of your family is unable to take antimalarial drugs. This includes breastfeeding mothers and children under the age of 4. Sporadic and very localized outbreaks of Ebola virus have occurred in Uganda, but the risk posed to casual travelers is practically nonexistent. Wildlife is not generally a major cause for concern in Uganda, but parents should be extra cautious with young children when staying in camps and lodges in national parks. You have little to worry about with children on game drives and boat safaris, but if you track gorillas or take part in other hikes, it is vital that you and your children obey the instructions of your guides at all times.”

4

What should we pack for our children when going on safari in Uganda?

“Even if your children are fascinated by wildlife, they are likely to be bored on long drives between national parks, so bring plenty of distractions (tablet, games, toys or snacks). If your children are used to watching shows or playing games on a tablet, bear in mind that you’ll probably lack internet access much of the time in Uganda. Be sure to download plenty of content in advance. It's worth bringing binoculars for your children so they can enjoy looking at wildlife up close. You may also want to bring an African wildlife checklist and/or suitable bird and mammal field guides to help keep them occupied on game drives and boat trips. Otherwise, the safari accessories required by children are much the same as those for adults: sunscreen, insect repellent, a good selection of warm and waterproof clothing, solid shoes for walking, sunglasses and a hat.”

5

Uganda Reviews

4.4/5 394 Reviews
Expert
Mark Eveleigh  –  
United Kingdom UK

Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.

Fantastic Wildlife and Some of the Friendliest People in Africa Make Uganda Unbeatable
5/5

I spent a month travelling around Uganda with a self-drive, expedition-prepared Landcruiser and visited almost every national park in the country. Uganda was a revelation! I had not expected such a richness of wildlife nor such great...

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Expert
Lizzie Williams  –  
South Africa ZA

Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Mountain Gorillas, Chimps and Birds in Lush, Well-Watered and Incredibly Green Hills and Valleys
4/5

Most of the superlative descriptions you read about Uganda are totally true: it really is a place of shimmering lakes, lofty mountains and mysterious forests. Uganda is best known as the place to see mountain gorillas, and no safari to the...

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Leah  –  
Canada CA
Reviewed: Oct 23, 2024
A beautiful country with exceptional service industry and private wildlife encounters
5/5

We travelled through Uganda and Tanzania over three weeks. The time we spent in Uganda was incredible. The country is a lot quieter to travel through, which makes the game drives feel intimate when you have the wildlife all to yourself...

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Val  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Oct 12, 2024
A new adventure every day
5/5

We toured Uganda for 17 days mid range accommodation. We took many game drives, launch trip on Kazinga Channel, gorillas and Chimpanzee trekking, plus visted Lake Bunyonyi and local villages. We had the most amazing holiday with many...

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Joe Breedon  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Sep 28, 2024
Uganda is an unrivaled destination to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants,&hippopotamus's.
5/5

The people of Uganda were amazingly hospitable. Dav Safaris provided an excellent 7-Day safari to several major National Parks where we saw a wide variety of large animals and birds. The highlight for us was trekking mountain gorillas in...

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Balint  –  
Hungary HU
Reviewed: Aug 27, 2024
Exceptional beauty and poverty.
4/5

I visited the western half of Uganda that is full of green and wonderful. Murchison and Queen Elizabeth National Parks provide the opportunity to meet lots of wild species, and In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest you can visit gorillas. The...

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All 394 Uganda Reviews