Do you want to enjoy Uganda beyond seeing mountain gorillas? Boat cruising is yet another exceptional way to relish the splendors of Uganda. In addition to numerous wildlife, the Pearl of Africa is naturally blessed with freshwater lakes and rivers that make your boat cruising dream come true. It’s a magical feeling sailing on top of the calm freshwaters with spectacular views of the surroundings. Also, known as launch trips, boat cruising is normally done as a relief after tiring experiences such as gorilla trekking, mountain climbing, and chimpanzee tours to give travelers a fresh feeling before they return to their homes of origin. To make your Uganda safari complete, we combine our boat trips with other wildlife experiences such as game viewing, gorilla watching, cultural visits, mountain climbing and bird watching among others. The top spots to do boat cruising in Uganda include:
Kazinga channel
Situated in the heart of Queen Elizabeth national park, kazinga channel offers you a memorable boat cruising experience. This 8 meters longs and 40 meters deep channel connects Lake Edward and George in the western rift valley. A boat at cruise at kazinga channel starts at Lake George and ends at lake Edward, making it so interesting. Enjoy the fresh feeling of the water airs plus great views of numerous wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalos, and monitoring lizard among others. Besides wildlife, a boat cruise at kazinga is best for birders. Expect to see a variety of bird species such as African kingfisher, Squacco Heron, Long-tailed Cormorants, wattled plovers, yellow-backed weavers, fish eagle, water-thick-knew, Knob-billed ducks, African jacana, white-winged terns, Papyrus Gonolek, squacco heron, malachite, thin-tailed nightjars, black bee-eater, and black ramped buttonquail among others. Also, you will view the nearby fishing villages making your experience memorable indeed. Launch cruises are done two times a day in the morning at 9:00 am and in the afternoon at 2:00 pm
Lake Victoria
The largest freshwater body in Africa offers you the best luxury boat cruise trips in Uganda. A boat ride to any of the island on lake victoria mainly Ssese island for the honeymoon, Ngamba Island for chimpanzees and Kalangala Island among others is worth doing. Enjoy sailing on the calm clear waters of lake victoria with clear views of various fishing villages and human activities. Fortunately, speed and engine boat have been introduced on lake Victoria to ease your cruising experience memorable.
Source of the Nile
Imagine cruising right at the source of the longest river in the world. Wow, a boat ride to the source of the Nile is an exceptional feeling that last for a lifetime. Posing your boat at the point where river Nile starts flowing is a magical experience, which thousands of travelers have over time come again and again to experience. Expect to see some birds and animals on the river shores, which make you experience much amazing.
Murchison falls
Cruise to the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls in the heart of Murchison falls national park, Uganda’s largest and oldest national park. Also known as a delta Nile cruise a boat ride to the bottom of Murchison falls make your Uganda safari to Murchison falls an experience to remember. See for yourself how water strongly squeezes through that narrow gorge before pouring down into the devils ‘cauldron forming a rainbow. Also, look out for crocodile, hippos, buffalos, and waterbucks, which are spotted on the riverbanks. For birders, expect to see birds like African Darter, Goliath Heron, secretary bird, black-headed plover, osprey, white-faced whistling duck, veracious dove, rock pratincole, yellow-billed stork, pied kingfisher, long-tailed nightjar, long-toed plover, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-napped Moosebird, Black-billed Barbet, Abyssinia ground hornbill, piapiac, yellow-fronted tinker bird and White-rumped seedeater among others. Like at kazinga channel, boat trip at Murchison falls are done two times at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm daily lasting for three hours.
Lake Bunyonyi
Found in the extreme end of southwestern Uganda, Lake Bunyonyi is exceptional in its own kind. The small lake (Lake Bunyonyi) is the second deepest lake in Africa after lake Tanganyika and comprise of 29 islands. A boat ride to any of the islands on Lake Bunyonyi is a life-changing experience. Cruise to the punishment island where pregnant unmarried Bakiga girls, would be left to die in isolation and to the Akacuraniko Island believed to have turned upside down. Interestingly, each island on Lake Bunyonyi has a different story that is worth listening. More still, the swampy shores of Lake Bunyonyi house many little birds like the levillant cuckoo, Herons, African Harrier Hawk, the levillant, slender-billed ball fetch, cardinal woodpecker, Herons and African harrier hawk among others.
Tip for boat cruising in Uganda
Travelers intending to do boat cruise in Uganda are reminded to be extra careful and responsible. While on a boat cruise;
• Avoid hanging over the side railings of the boat
• Wear life jackets and keep them on fit to prevent drowning in case of any tragedy
• Avoid boozing and smoking on the boat
• Ensure the boat is balanced both sides, in front and back
• Properly check the boat before the start of the cruise to make sure it’s in a safe state
With a variety of water bodies, the pearl of Africa is undeniably the best place for boat cruising and launch trips. Book a boat trip to the source of the Nile, kazinga channel, Bottom of Murchison falls, lake Victoria and on Lake Bunyonyi for a magical experience.
