Boat cruise activities can be done on lakes and rivers for leisure or for wildlife viewing in the national parks.
Boat based wildlife viewing in Uganda is conducted on the Nile River, Kazinga channel and Lake Mburo. Both of these water bodies are part of the savanna protected areas such as Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National parks in western Uganda. There are large mammal species such as hippos, buffaloes, African elephants, buffaloes as well as antelopes. In particular, the big cats – lion and leopard are present in the former. Elsewhere boat safari excursions are available to look for Shoebill stork in Toro-Semuliki Wildlife Reserve (Lake Albert) and Mabamba swamp, Entebbe.
The types of boat used in Uganda
Large, engine-powered, double-decked and medium-sized, motorized boats are the only vessels permitted for wildlife viewing tours in Uganda. The large boats remain on the river’s main channel, while the small boats can be used to explore the river’s narrow channels, allowing for closer encounters with wildlife. These boat tours operate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. until the sun sets. Reservations can be made on arrival at the destination or through a tour operator. Where to go for boat based wildlife tours in Uganda
Nile River boat cruise safari in Murchison Falls National Park
Best for scenery, waterfalls and wildlife especially Nile crocodiles, African bush elephants and shoebill storks.
Murchison Falls N.P. is the largest protected area of Uganda. It covers 3,840 sq.km at the northern tip of the Albertine rift valley and is bisected by river Nile. The centerpiece of tourism in the park, the Nile all the way from Jinja lake Victoria squeeze through a 6-meter gorge to form the Murchison falls, the world’s powerful waterfalls. Boat cruise safaris in Murchison falls national park offers visitors a chance to stand 10 meters away and watch the bottom of the falls where the river reassembles after falling steeply over a 40-meter cliff known as the devil’s cauldron with a trademark rainbow. On the riverbanks of the Nile, Nile crocodiles, hippos, birds, and elephant encounters abound. Here you stand at the top of the cliff looking down below the gorge with mist from the falls getting you moderately wet. See also Murchison Falls Safari Tour.
Kazinga Channel boat cruise safari, Queen Elizabeth National Park
At last, after the Nile River cruise, you can skip the Kazinga channel cruise. However, along the banks of the Kazinga channel, hippos and buffaloes and elephants frequently coexist than they do at Murchison falls. This is due to the large channel banks that appear during the dry season as water levels recede.
Lake Mburo boat cruise
The 234-square-kilometer Lake Mburo National Park is four hours’ drive south-west of Kampala’s capital city. It is the smallest of the aforementioned savanna protected areas, covering 370 square kilometers, and the only one with Impalas and plains zebras in the western region. Lake Mburo, the largest of the park’s 13 lakes, is surrounded by dense forests and swamps and has calm water. There are no elephants in this park, so you can expect to see solitary Cape buffalo bulls, Sitatunga (a swamp-dwelling antelope), hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species, including the African whistling duck, the African fish eagle, and several kingfishers. Besides offering boat cruise, the park offers opportunity to view wildlife by guided walking safari, biking and horseback riding.
Toro-Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve is off-the-beaten track in the rift valley between Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Albert. The wilderness area contains mammal species same as in Murchison Falls. The key highlight is the boat ride excursion on Lake Albert. Its mainly for bird watching with opportunity to spot shoe-bill stork, pygmy goose, blue headed coucal among others such as several species of bee-eaters.
Source of the Nile boat trip
The source of river Nile at Jinja is Uganda’s iconic destination. Jinja is a dialect of the Bagisu meaning rocks in English. The site is dramatic, as Lake Victoria Nile plunges over rocks to form waterfalls and Class V rapids to begin the long journey to the Mediterranean Sea. The boat cruise to the source can be done on a day trip from Kampala capital city. Among other adventure activities include whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, and tubing. Jinja has successfully become the Adventure Capital of East Africa, making for an ultimate destination for adventure seekers.
Adventure tourism is complemented historical heritage including the Uganda Railway, which played an important role in Uganda’s colonial history. In the 19th century, European explorers – John Hanning Speke and Richard Burton went to great lengths to discover the source of the Nile in 1858, at great cost and with considerable controversy. The men noted that at the time, Jinja a rural fishing village of about 200,000 people with plenty of food and fish. British Empire dominion to control the Nile, the construction of the railway brought a workforce of Indians who stayed and became important people for industrial growth of the town with textile, beer, sugar, and fish processing. However, Idi Amin expelled them and Jinja became a desolate town of Asian architectural buildings. Jinja survived and recovered faster due to its unique location on the Nile with construction of Nalubale hydro-power dam generating 180 MW and development of adventure tourism. New buildings have sprung up but the city’s old-fashioned shape and look has been maintained.
Boat trips on Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is an attractive lake with 19 islands as a beautiful as starts in pure dark. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in Africa and a must-visit gem in East Africa. Visitors are often advised to avoid swimming in most fresh water lakes of East Africa due to bilharzias. Listed among the 7 most neglected diseases according to World Health Organization. But research shows that lake Bunyonyi is bilharzia-free and there are no crocodiles or hippos which encourages swimming. Though, be sure to take preventive measures. Boat cruise on lake Bunyonyi is the best way to explore the islands and discover the cultural and historical heritage. Make your way to the punishment island to learn about the tale of how unmarried pregnant girls were left to die.
Bunyonyi serves as a nice place to relax after the gorilla and wildlife safaris and partially compensate for the of seaside beaches which attract many tourists to Kenya. Bunyonyi offers a wide range of accommodations including luxury, mid-range, budget, campsites and small home stays located on the islands and lake shores.
