Hiking & Nature Walks in Uganda & East Africa

Complete Guide for Hiking & Nature Walks in Uganda & East Africa

Hiking & Nature Walks in Uganda & East Africa. East Africa’s landscape is very diverse, and one of the best ways to take in this beauty – and everything in it is to slow down and do it on foot. Whether it is the popular activities like tracking mountain gorillas, walking with rhinos, hiking some waterfalls or simply stepping into the purity of good air in a rainforest, doing it on foot puts you right at the center of it all.

Activities like gorilla and chimp tracking, mountain climbing, short hikes or birding are can be enjoyed through hikes and nature walks in some of the purest and most picturesque places in Africa. Here are some popular places which are great for hiking and nature walks.

 Rwenzori Mountains N.P  Bwindi Imp. N.P  Murchison Falls N.P
 Mt. Kilimanjaro N.P  L. Mburo N.P  Sipi Falls
 Masai Mara N.R  Samburu N.P  L. Kivu
 Volcanoes N.P  Queen Elizabeth N.P  Mt Elgon N.P
 Mgahinga Gorilla N.P  Kidepo Valley N.P  Aberdare N.P

Take a look at the safari packages shared below for some inspiration for your epic Africa safari experiences. Most hiking & Nature walks trips include great attractions and experiences that happen to put your feet to the ground.

 

 

Additionally, feel free to reach out to us for a fully custom-made safari. This can be designed with all your needs, budget, and schedule as the basis.

Hiking & Nature Walks F.A.Qs

Frequently Asked Questions About Hiking & Nature walks in Uganda & East Africa

What should I pack for hiking in Uganda and East Africa?

There is a great variety of how one would hike in various parts of East Africa. From short hikes that need a couple of hours, to full blown mountain climbing to snow capped peaks and everything in between.

Depending on what hiking you will do, and what season you are travelling, the preparation might be to charge your phone and put your shoes on, but it could also require training and packing winter clothing for the high altitude snow.

For simple hiking & nature walks, there is not much preparation needed. Maybe a charged phone, your water bottle and a camera. 

For the best advice, you can ask us so that we put everything in the context of your specific plans. Alternatively, take a look as some of the above safari packages to get a grounding of how a safari flows from point A to point B. More than anything, looking at the safari packages will help you figure out the kinds of questions you have – and then you can talk to our team for assistance.

Can I hike in the national park and see wild animals?

Yes, you can hike in the national parks and other protected areas where you will get to see the wild animals. For safety and conservation reasons, there are strict rules to hiking in the wild.

In some parks where there are few big predators, hiking & nature walks safaris are popular for viewing wildlife but in some other parks with a large the number of dangerous predators the conditions are usually different.

While they are mostly peaceful and staying out of a human’s way, wild animals are unpredictable and the safety of a car is a more popular way of seeing the wildlife up-close. If you are interested in hiking through the national park rather than doing a game drive, inform us as we plan your safari so that it is properly budgeted for in terms of cost and schedules.

Keep in mind that some parks are in the Savannah, forest, swamp or mountain environments. Depending on your specific interests, some activities like gorilla and chimpanzee tracking are already done as hikes to see these incredible primates.

Take a look at our safari packages and read through the detailed itinerary section to get a proper feel of how everything normally flows and what could be adjusted for your specific trip.

When is the best time for a hiking trip in East Africa?

The East African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania experience a tropical climate with warm and sunny days all year round. There are 2 distinct seasons – wet/rainy and dry.

For general travel advice, it is good to travel in the dry season months (June to September and December to February) since there is less disruption from the rain and the walking trails are dry and easier to navigate. While dry conditions are generally better, some places with high altitudes and dense rainforests have microclimates that make rain a possibility at any time of the year – with little notice or prediction.

Even after 1 hour of heavy rain, the sun always comes out and everything feels warmer in a short period. Our advice is that you plan according to your schedule and then we’ll guide you on what to pack for the likely weather based on the activities and duration of your safari.

Is there good hiking near the big cities?

Whether you are in a big city or deep in the wilderness, there are many chances for hiking and the only limitation is one chooses to see. In the big cities, you will not have the grandeur of vast endless horizons as you will in the savannah or mountains, but there is just as much fun to be had.

If you are visiting just the cities but would love to explore through a hike, be sure to ask and something can be arranged for you. There are also nearby options which are not exactly in the city but close enough for a day trip.

Here are some towns and cities where you try out some hiking & nature walks to experience the place in a different way.

  • Kampala – Uganda
  • Jinja – Uganda
  • Fort Portal – Uganda
  • Nairobi – Kenya
  • Mombasa – Kenya
  • Nakuru – Kenya
  • Dar es salaam – Tanzania
  • Zanzibar – Tanzania
  • Arusha – Tanzania
  • Kigali – Rwanda
  • Kivu – Rwanda
  • Musanze – Rwanda

What are some great places worth hiking?

With out service area covering 4 countries, there are so many great places to hike. We shall pick 5 from each country but you should know that the list could be as long as there are interesting places in East Africa.

The flexibility of hiking & nature walks means that there is no such thing as a place that’s not good for hiking. We have linked each place to its page on our website so that you can go there and learn more about each of these places.

Hiking places in Uganda

Hiking Places in Kenya

Hiking Places in Tanzania

Hiking Places in Rwanda