Boat Cruise in Uganda

Boat cruise in Uganda: Where can I go for a launch or boat cruise in Uganda? When it comes to safaris in Uganda, travelers have plenty of options to explore and experience the Pearl of Africa. A boat cruise also often referred to as a launch cruise is interestingly one of the most rewarding recreational activities tourists on Uganda safari should expect to be part.

Nothing gets one that exciting moment than taking a boat cruise on one of Uganda’s refreshing water bodies. Think of that one exceptional sport/recreational experience on Uganda safari and think not beyond a launch or boat cruise on a fresh Lake or Source of the Nile. On a boat cruise safari in Uganda, visitors have plenty of destinations to enjoy their remarkable recreation adventure.

The beauty about embarking on a boat cruise tour in Uganda’s National Parks is that visitors enjoy uninterrupted views of aquatic life such as crocodiles, water birds, hippos without leaving out other terrestrial species like elephants, buffaloes and more.

What is a Boat Cruise in Uganda?

A boat cruise is a distinct water sport activity involving travel while sailing on water in a boat/ship. It is all about riding on lakes, rivers or canals, and more. On a boat cruise in Uganda, it is possible to enjoy tea or party with friends or carry some cold drinks for you to sip while enjoying the breathtaking landscapes.

Best place to go for a boat cruise in Uganda

Boat cruise in Uganda is conducted in various parts of the country especially in the freshwater lakes and rivers. The best places to visit for a boat cruise safari in Uganda include among others;

Murchison Falls National Park

Located in far northwestern Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is amazingly one of the best places where boat cruise is enjoyed. A boat cruise in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park is done on the Victoria Nile which forms part of the Nile River. A boat cruise in Murchison Falls National Park is done in the morning and afternoon/evening and leads visitors to the bottom of the world’s powerful Murchison Falls or the Albert delta. It is an interesting sports activity worth participating if you are interested in aquatic wildlife, birds, and more.

Murchison Falls N/Park, Uganda’s biggest park sits in the Northwest, about 4-5 hours’ drive from Kampala. While at Murchison Falls, there are also several activities to take part including guided game drives, nature walks, chimpanzee tracking, hot air balloon, and others.

Kazinga Channel- Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kazinga Channel boat cruise takes you on a long channel that links Lake George and Lake Edward. While on a boat cruise on this extensive channel, the possible sightings range from aquatic birds, the Nile crocodiles, hippos, and other herds of wildlife including buffaloes, elephants.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in Western Uganda and it is the second-largest park, extending up to 1978sq.km. It is home to more than hippos, crocodiles but also the rare tree-climbing lions, buffaloes, 620 bird species, leopards, warthogs, antelopes, and more.

Lake Victoria & Source of the Nile

If you are interested in a sunset cruise then the no better place to visit than Lake Victoria, one of the freshwater lakes. The boat cruise on Lake Victoria begins at the waterfront pier and you set off up to Equator line while enjoying the view of beautiful fishing islands, birds such as yellow weavers, etc. Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest freshwater lake and one of the world’s biggest tropical lakes with multiple islands including Ssese, Kalangala, and Ngamba.

The tropical Lake Victoria covers 3 East African states- Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. It is famous for its interesting water birds including African jacana, egrets, Egyptian geese, eagles, kingfishers, and others. A boat cruise is also enjoyable on the Source of the Nile, offering you a magical feeling of navigating on the world’s longest river- extends up to 66996kms. The Nile River covers several countries including Rwanda, Tanzania, D.R. Congo, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, and others.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park also offers the most thrilling boat or launch cruise on its beautiful Lake Mburo. The amazing part about Lake Mburo National Park launch or boat cruise is that you have a variety of wildlife to see and the surrounding areas are magically beautiful. A launch cruise on Lake Mburo lasts for 2-3 hours with visitors enjoying a clear view of magical floral and faunal species of the park.

Lake Bunyonyi

After trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi is a special place you should think of visiting for an exciting boat ride to one of its 29 islands. It is a small lake with 29 dotted islands and amazingly, the deepest in Uganda and in Africa, it is the second deepest lake. On a boat ride, you navigate through the lake up to one of the islands say the Punishment Island while keeping an eye on special birds such as grey crowned cranes, herons, and more.

Cost of Boat Cruise

If you are visiting Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, or Queen Elizabeth National Park for a boat or launch cruise then you will pay USD30 for foreign non-residents and foreign residents, then 30,000 for East Africa citizens. To enjoy the best of your boat cruise experience, ensure that you have a life jacket, first aid box, good camera, daypack, clothes and don’t smoke/drink.