For nature walks, tourists have the opportunity to explore the wilderness and wildlife by going deep into the forests and savannah grasslands on foot. Trained guides have to be part of every nature walks in the national parks, wild game reserves or communities neighboring the parks. In many cases, the communities have trained guides from within. The role of these guides is to defend and protect the ecosystem on which the tourist activities depend and by doing so, they also improve their livelihoods.
As national park authorities to fight poaching and other illegal activities, they tend to encourage the communities around the different national parks to take part in the tourist activities by providing trained guides. These guides must be trained to acquire knowledge on different aspects of wildlife, plants and birds. This training allows them to become very familiar with the behavior of animals like the chimpanzees and gorillas in the event they are encountered on a nature walk. However, trails have been created and routes are made where there is no danger of encountering predators.
Nature Trails in Uganda
Hit the trails off the beaten track, explore and discover the undiscovered virgin lands with a lot of amazing history, wildlife, plant life and amazing cultures and livelihoods of different people. Nature walks can be added to safaris according to your taste and preference and intended time of travel. Below are some of the nature walk trails that one can enjoy when visiting different travel destinations including:
- The Baker Trail
The Baker Trail can be enjoyed in and outside of Murchison Falls Park and further north around Gulu including Fort Patiko and in the south in the Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve along Lake Albert.
- Mount Morungole Climb
The hiking trail up Mount Morungole takes you on a visit to the remote Ik People Villages in the region of Karamoja just outside Kidepo Valley Park. This experience lasts up to 8 hours.
- In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
This forest offers superb hiking opportunities where you will have opportunities to view mountain gorillas, many bird species, and various plant species. The most popular trail is the hike through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and beyond to Lake Mutanda and Kisoro.
- The trails with the Batwa Pygmy Tribe:
The Batwa People were the original people who lived in Bwindi forest i in harmony with their environment as hunters and gatherers, but were evicted leaving them without land and the loss of their cultural values.
- In Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth Park has various hiking trails including Kyambura Gorge, Maramagambo Forest, the Mweya Peninsula where you can participate in the Banded Mongoose Research hike, the Ishasha River hiking trail, Kalinzu Forest and the Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest, where you can hike on some great Crater Lake Trails.
- In Kibale Forest
Kibale Forest offers different hiking trials trails in and around Kibale Forest including the top of the world hike, the Amabere Cave, Crater Lake walk, Bigodi Wetlands Swamp Hike with various birds, primates, small mammals, and hundreds of butterflies that you will see along the trail.
- On the Rwenzori Mountains Foothill
Rwenzori Mountains have a landscape that boasts extraordinary views of alpine valleys, diverse flora in the forests and valleys, high altitude ice glaciers, and even elephant sightings, which can be enjoyed along the trails.
- In Semliki Valley
There are numerous nature trails that are guided, depending on your preferences for what you want to do and see such as hippos, crocodiles, birds, monkeys, primates and elephants alongside the two hot springs.
- In Lake Mburo National Park
This national park is also open to walkers as they are led by the ranger guide to the salt lick where you will find many animals that are attracted to the salty rocks. The hikes through the woodland give you a chance to see the forest birds and mammals and the walk to the top of the hill will reward you with the spectacular view of 9 of the region’s 14 lakes.
- In Mabira Forest
Nature Walks here can be done at any fitness level through adventurous treks on our well-maintained trails including those that children can participate in for those on a family safari.
Best time to go for Nature walks or a Hiking Safari
Travelers that love hiking can come to Uganda at any time of the year. However, the months of mid-December to early February and June to September are the best times of the year to go hiking in Uganda. This is because these months have less rain and are part of the dry season making the trails drier and more navigable. Therefore, travelers that love mountaineering should visit Uganda during this period to enjoy the best experiences.
