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Boat Cruises.

Boat Cruises.

Uganda is one of the African countries that are endowed with various water bodies, the largest being Lake Victoria and it’s also the source of the longest river in the world, River Nile. Among the many activities that can be done on these water bodies is the interesting boat cruise activity.

 

Boat excursions are carried out on the water bodies all year round and help visitors to view the attractions near the water bodies and the ones that live within the water for example hippopotami, crocodiles and the various bird species at the shores of the water bodies which encompass secretary birds, African fish eagles, turacos, Abyssinian ground hornbill, black bee-eaters, cinnamons, egrets, hammerkops, African paradise flycatcher, shoebill storks, crested cranes and marabou storks.

 

The boat cruises are normally done in ferries, canoes, speedboats and comfortable state-of-the-art boats. Boat cruises on Ugandan water bodies are normally accompanied by guides that provide explanations of the tourist attractions encountered and information on the water bodies themselves which make the cruise more rewarding and entertaining.

Destinations for boat cruises in Uganda.

Boat cruises are done in various destinations across the country and they are;

Delta boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park.

This is a launch boat cruise that is normally done in the evening on the river Nile and is referred to as the sundowner trip since it offers better experiences at sunset. The feeling of being on a boat cruise at sunset and watching the sun reflect itself on the river as it sits is worthwhile. The boat cruise helps visitors to view the animals of the National Park while on the cruise such as the African Bush elephants, African buffaloes, leopards, hippos and crocodiles. This also comes with opportunities for watching birds, especially at the Albert Delta where birds such as cinnamons, egrets, African fish eagles and African paradise flycatchers normally feed.

● Budongo forest

The pride of this forest lies in being the largest protected forest in the country. The forest has only one habituated chimpanzee family which has between 500-600 chimpanzees that roam in the trees. Foreign non-residents pay USD 120 per person for the permits, USD 110 per resident person, and 75 dollars for East Africans.

Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park and Budongo Forest

Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale and Budongo forests is entirely an adventurous activity because of the nature of the environment these chimpanzees live in. The peak season of the year includes June to February. Trekking trails are generally dry during the peak seasons and the skies are also brighter.

The activity is kicked off very early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters about the rules and regulations of the adventure before it is done.

The habituation experience takes 7 hours to full-day depending on where the volatility of chimpanzees and tourists can spend more than six hours or the whole day learning how the chimpanzees eat, move, socialize and train them on how to tolerate humans.

Bottom of the falls boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park.

This interesting boat cruise sets off from the Paraa dock and continues up to the view of the powerful Murchison Falls where visitors have opportunities to take nice photographs and record videos as the whole river Nile roars and fits itself into the 7-meter gorge.

 

This is the most prestigious boat cruise in the National Park and it also offers views of Budongo forest which is inhabited by primates like black and white colobus monkeys that are seen in the trees while on the cruise.

Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This boat cruise is done on the water body that connects the two lakes of Edward and George and therefore provides extraordinary experiences and views of the forests on the land of the park and the fishing villages, especially Katwe and Katunguru. Visitors can feast on the delicious smoked lungfish and tilapia that are caught from Lake Edward as they enjoy the cruise which also provides them opportunities to view animals in the park and wonderful bird species. The boat cruise normally costs $30 per person and goes on for two hours.

Lake Victoria boat cruise.

Lake Victoria is the largest water body on the African continent and it’s shared by three African countries Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.  Boat cruises are carried out on the lake starting from areas of Entebbe and other docking sites. 

 

Boat excursions on the lake can go up to the islands such as Kalangala for the historical tours and Ngamba for the exciting chimpanzee observing activities on the sanctuary.  Boat cruises are also carried out for relaxation and entertainment on the ferries and the yachts as visitors enjoy the views of the lake and take beautiful pictures. The lake is serviced by many service providers who provide boat cruising gear and activities all year long.

Lake Mutanda.

Lake Mutanda is one of the spectacular water bodies in Uganda and is located in the southwest of the present-day Kisoro district. The lake has a maximum depth of 56 meters, that is to say 184 feet and is a safe place to swim and do boat cruising.

A boat cruise on the lake offers visitors the opportunity to view the mountainous landscapes in the lake’s vicinity, the small islands in the lake that are so picturesque, and the forests near the lake which are inhabited by wildlife species especially primates such as black and white Colobus monkeys, the golden monkeys and beautiful bird species.

Lake Mburo.

Lake Mburo is located in the southwest of Uganda in Kiruhura, Mbarara and Isingiro districts with Lake Mburo National Park named after the lake.

Boat cruises on this lake are normally done in two shifts – the morning shift normally goes from midmorning up to the afternoon and the evening boat cruise starts at 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM with opportunities to view sunset on the lake and also view wildlife species such as buffaloes in the water as they refresh themselves, hippopotamuses, crocodiles and other animals in the park especially elands, Defassa waterbucks, Kobs and zebras.

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