Taking a boat cruise safari to observe Uganda's wildlife experiences from the water
For a unique experience of observing savannah wildlife from the luxury of a houseboat, Uganda is an excellent place to go on a water safari. A boat safari is one of the greatest ways to get up close and personal with the wildlife that frequents the nation's aquatic bodies to drink the life-giving waters.
Uganda boat safaris provide a more breathtaking experience of seeing the animals on the banks of water bodies in the parks than the usual African safaris in Uganda, which are done on foot or in a 4x4 land cruiser. Tourists may see live animal drama from the perspective of a boat without having to deal with the hassle of scouting.
In addition to being a more tranquil experience than the jolting ride in a safari truck, a boat tour in Uganda is one of the greatest ways to see animals. You can rely on the onboard restroom rather than scurrying around looking for a private place, and you can enjoy a refreshing wind from the water rather than dust particles in your eyes.
Uganda provides amazing chances for those who love animals to take in the sights from a boat. With just a few other boats visible in the distance, the covered pontoon softly glides across the beautiful waters while you enjoy your favorite beverage during a two-to-three-hour boat cruise safari with Nkuringo Safaris. Some amazing animal sightings occur when there are no large crowds around.
While an unfazed hippo sits a few feet away, busy eating long blades of yellowed grass, the boat safari approaches a stationary crocodile so closely that you can see the individual scales on its glossy, mottled skin. The setting is stunning.
Booking a front row boat safari in Uganda would be the ideal option if you are planning a gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and would like to observe wildlife on safari but don't want to deal with the trouble of crossing borders to reach the well-known destinations.
Boat Safari in Kazinga Channel
The most well-liked shoreline for boat cruise safaris in Uganda is the Kazinga Channel, which is 20 miles (32 km) long. The waterway, which connects Lakes Edward (west) and Gorge (east) in Queen Elizabeth National Park, offers the finest chance to go on a boat safari and observe Uganda's big game species up close.
Twice a day, boats depart from Mweya jetty and spend around three hours cruising the whole length of the waterway. 11:00 is the departure time for the first launch, and 14:00 is the departure time for the second. However, you may travel through Mweya in a private boat or canoe.
Seeing wildlife on a boat safari in the Kazinga Channel
Daily sightings of elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, Uganda Kob, and big hippo pods are possible on the Kazinga Channel boat excursion. You can occasionally spot the lion, leopard, and enormous forest hog. Look for crocodiles and the giant water monitor lizard, which is prevalent in the riverine brush. Late afternoon is the best time to view predators and other nocturnal animals come to drink.
On Kazinga Channel boat safaris, you may see a lot of waterbirds, including plovers and the yellow-billed stroke. On a sandbank close to the channel mouth, pink-backed pelicans and white bullied cormorants frequently congregate. One smaller bird to watch for is the black-headed gonolek, which belongs to the shrike family and has a brilliant red chest. Pay great attention since there have also been reports of the localized papyrus gonolek, which has a yellow crown and a similar appearance.
Elephant sightings on the 14:00 launch excursion are most likely to be good, especially on a hot day when these thirsty animals like to head for the water from midday onward and occasionally take a bath in the canal.
Because the light would be softer, an early boat safari in Uganda on a private houseboat or canoe (08:00 and 17:00) is more fruitful for photography. However, the additional camera shaking on the moving boat in low light may make this difficult.
Boat Cruise on Lake Mburo
One kilometer from Rwonyo Camp, at the main campsite's dock, departs a boat cruise safari on Lake Mburo. Apart from the picturesque surroundings and the sheer joy of being on the river, the boat safari consistently yields favorable views of buffalo, waterbuck, bushbuck, crocodiles, and hippos. It's also worthwhile to keep an eye out for the three resident otter species.
The African fish eagle, marabou stork, pied kingfisher, and other egrets and herons are some of the most noticeable waterbirds that may be seen during a boat trip at Lake Mburo National Park. Lakeside thickets are often home to Narina trogon and Ross's turaco. The secretive African finfoot, which is often seen in quiet water behind overhanging trees, may be easiest to spot in Uganda near Lake Mburo.
Victoria Murchison Safari via Nile Boat
The park's most well-known and established feature is the amazing boat journey safari from Paraa to the foot of the Murchison Falls; the Queen Mother made her debut in a brand-new launch back in 1959.
Two private businesses, G&C Tours and Marasa (owners of Paraa Lodge), also operate a variety of boats on the river in addition to the traditional UWA launch tours. As a result, planning boat safari trips to fit your needs and timetable is now simple.
To get the optimum light, seasoned photographers, for instance, would undoubtedly want to go a little earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon than the UWA boats.
The boat safaris go down a section of the Nile that has a very African feel, surrounded by mahogany stands, acacia bush, and Borassus palms, on their route to the falls.
A boat safari in Murchison Falls National Park along the paraa stretch offers great game viewing, including hundreds of hippos, some of Africa's largest surviving crocodiles, small herds of buffalo, waterbuck, Kob, giraffe, bushbuck, and black-and-white colobus. Lucky tourists may even spot a lion or leopard. Elephants are regularly seen playing in the water, usually within a few meters of the boat.
The shoebill, which is less common here than during the journey to the Delta but is a real possibility during the dry season, is the top prize among the amazing birds on the banks bordered with papyrus. The African fish eagle, Goliath heron, saddle-billed stork, African jacana, pied and malachite kingfishers, African skimmer, piacpiac, rock pratincole, black-headed gonolek, black-winged red bishop, yellow-mantled widowbird, and yellow-backed weaver are the common birds that observant birdwatchers are most likely to spot. Additionally, a variety of migrating waders can be seen during the appropriate season.
More often seen here than anyplace else in East Africa is the red-throated bee-eater, which is a stunningly beautiful bird that nests on the sandbanks between Paraa and the falls.
The long-serving pilots and guides aboard the UWA's double-decker boats have decades of experience navigating the river, and they are extremely knowledgeable. The boats depart at 08.00 and 14.00, have a capacity of 40 passengers, and take around three hours.
Our Uganda safari specialists would be pleased to assist you in scheduling a personalized boat safari that departs at any time or a more general boat launch tour with a UWA boat.