Lakes and rivers in abundance
We already briefly mentioned the Nile Rive and Lake Victoria. But we have a variety of other places in Uganda where you can enjoy fun water activities. Murchison Falls National Park for instance. There you can go on the most beautiful boat safaris and view the powerful Murchison waterfalls. In the middle of Lake Mburo National Park, there is a large lake. And in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you have the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake Gorge. Furthermore, we have Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda, near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. And let’s not forget: numerous beautiful wetlands and crater lakes.
1. Water sports on the Nile
A few kilometers outside the source of the Nile River in Jinja, the river truly becomes very interesting. That is where the waterfalls and rapids form. It is the ultimate place for water activities in Uganda, where you can enjoy all kinds of water sports.
The most popular activity is rafting. You can make it very challenging, at ‘grade 5’ rapids – that is very serious. It is the highest difficulty level – suitable for people who are not afraid to take a taste of the Nile. But if you are less of a daredevil, you can also go rafting on a calm stretch of the Nile – the chance of your boat capsizing is virtually nil.
There is also ‘family rafting’. In that case, you seek out calmer water; it is child-friendly.
You can dial it back a notch and go kayaking. Then you head out onto the water with a guide. Tubing is also an option and is affordable: you lie on an inflatable tube with a whole group and bob along the Nile River. You can even go bungee jumping into the Nile or take beautiful trips along the Nile. As you can see, there are all sorts of possibilities when it comes to water sports on the Nile: from rough to calm.
There are also increasingly more activities off the water. For example, you can go horseback riding or explore the surroundings on a quad bike. Mountain biking is very popular, both through the city and outside of it. You can visit farmers who grow their own crops.
2. Boat Trip, Murchison Falls
During the boat trip, you enjoy the beautiful green banks of the Nile, the powerful Murchison Falls, and particularly the wildlife. As you cruise on the Nile River, hippos swarm all around you. You see African bush elephants come down to the river to drink. Suddenly, you see a Nile crocodile about 22 feet long lying there. With luck, you will see the rare Rothschild giraffes. And there are a wonderful variety of water birds, such as kingfishers, herons, shoebills, and fish eagles.
You can do the boat trip in two ways. You can join large boat with 30 or 40 others, but we prefer not to do that. We prefer working with small private boats. It may cost a little more, but the experience is much better. You have your own captain, your own guide. The boat allows you to navigate shallow water more easily, enabling you to get closer to the wild animals.
And because you have your own boat, you set your own pace. A cooler is brought along, along with good food and drinks – so you can enjoy the boat trip exactly the way you like it.
3. The shoebill trekking
The shoebill is one of the most extraordinary birds in Africa. It is a prehistoric bird, with an intimidating appearance. And it is enormous: about 1.60 meters tall, with long legs, a long neck and huge beak that looks a bit like a shoe. Shoebill resides in swampy areas. The best place to see them in Uganda is Mabamba Swamp on the shore of Lake Victoria, near Entebbe.
The trek to the Shoebill is a very enjoyable experience. You board a small canoe boat with your guide and a local fisherman. You sail over shallow water and pass through navigation channels. You are surrounded by tall grass and water lilies. Enroute, you also see other special birds, such as the kingfishers, herons, and jacanas. Your guide tells you all about the surroundings and the marsh.
When you see the shoebill for the first time, you think: is this real, or has someone placed a statue here? If you are lucky, you will see it in action. You will see it hunting and eating its prey. That can be fish, but also reptiles. Whether you are a birder on a birding tour or not, this activity is one to put high on your list. The landscape, the shoebill itself – it is a magical experience.
4. Sipi Waterfalls
In the eastern region of Uganda on the slopes Mount Elgon, there is an area known for its waterfalls. It is a beautiful place, one where a lot of bananas and coffee are grown around the falls. During hiking, you can visit three waterfalls at different heights and locations.
The highest waterfall drops about 100 meters. Are the Sipi Falls the most special experience in Uganda? Probably not. But it is still very special area, particularly in combination with the local community, culture, and coffee tours around the falls. So, if you set aside a bit more time for your Uganda safari, the Sipi Falls really shouldn’t be missing from your list.
5. Boat safari on the Kazinga Channel
Queen Elizabeth National Park brings together many different sides of Uganda in one place. You can drive across open savannah, walk into the Kyambura Gorge in search of chimpanzees, or hike through landscapes shaped by ancient volcanoes.
But if there is one activity we would not skip, it is the boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. The Kazinga Channel is a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George, and it is one of the best places in Uganda to get close to wildlife from the water.
You glide slowly along the channel, experiencing one of the world’s densest populations of hippos and snapping Nile crocodiles up close, while huge herds of elephants come ashore to quench their thirst. And then there are the birds. They are everywhere. You see kingfishers, herons, storks, egrets and many other waterbirds along the channel.
6. Rafting Near Bwindi
Many people drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the gorilla trekking during their Uganda safari tour, or vice versa.
The Birira River is located precisely in that area. As a result, you can relatively easily incorporate a rafting experience on this into your itinerary without having to make a major detour.
We do, however, advise you to consciously set aside time for this. It is better to plan an extra day so that your tour does not become a race through Uganda. This allows you room to experience the activity in a relaxed way and truly take in the surroundings along the way.
For that is exactly what makes this adventure so special. This is not rafting like on the Nile in Jinja, where the river is big, powerful, and famous. Birira River is smaller and more intimate, but perhaps because of that, the experience feels even more authentic.
You raft through a landscape of steep hills, tropical vegetation, and small villages. En route, you see the daily life of the countryside pass by and hardly encounter any other travelers.
For travelers who like to make their tour a bit more active and enjoy discovering places that most tourists skip, this is a wonderful addition.
7. Watersports on Lake Mutanda
Lake Mutanda is most beautiful lake in Uganda. It lies in the far southwest of Uganda, right at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes. Early in the morning, mist drifts across the water. Small islands rise gently from the lake, while the Volcanic Virunga Mountains frame the horizon in every direction.
Green hills and rainforests surround the lake, and these forests are home to mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are both nearby, making Lake Mutanda a perfect base for gorilla trekking.
But the lake itself is a highlight. Lake Mutanda is bilharzia-free, making it safe for swimming. From Mutanda Lake Resort, you can enjoy the calm, clear water in many different ways. Swim, relax on one of the wooden jetties, or take a kayak or stand-up paddleboard onto the lake.
You can also sail a small Laser boat or take a traditional dugout canoe for a more local experience. There is also a motorboat, which is perfect for birdwatching or a peaceful sunset ride with your favourite drink.
8. Sunset Boat Cruise on Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is immense. It is Africa’s largest lake and the largest tropical lake in the world. One of the most relaxing ways to experience it is on a sunset boat cruise from Entebbe. The cruise usually lasts about two hours. As the sun begins to set, the lake slowly turns golden.
The air becomes cooler and everything seems to slow down. You pass local fishermen heading home after a day on the water. Their nets catch the last light of the day. Small islands appear on the horizon, while the colours of the sky change with every passing minute. Then darkness begins to fall. The last light disappears from the water and, on a clear evening, the first stars appear above you. It is calm, romantic and deeply peaceful. A beautiful way to end a day in Uganda.
Interested in water activities?
There are several other activities you can do on and around the water. Just relaxing on the shore. Or sport fishing – there is plenty of room for that on the Ugandan lakes. Would you like to know more about water activities in Uganda? Feel free to contact us. We enjoy talking to you.
