Family vacation safari with kids in Uganda and Rwanda

Some activities in Uganda and Rwanda like gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking have age limit at which a kid is allowed to engage in those activity. For example, to go gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking a kid need to be fifteen years or above to be allowed to participate in the activity.

This is so because the trekking involves hiking if you are to go to parks like volcanoes national park or Mgahinga national park or passing through impenetrable forest for people visiting Bwindi national park, Kibaale national park or Nyungwe national park.

However, other activities like game drive, boat cruise and natural walk can be engaged in by kids of all ages from five going forward. So don’t hesitate to plane for one such kind of trip as they tend to be fan and build the strong family bond

Challenges faced in family trips

Organizing a family trip in Uganda and Rwanda is both challenging and tricky as you must strike the balance adventure and relaxation as kids are not as strong as adult. Therefore, as you are planning for their safari you must ensure that you don’t over exhaust them and also not risk them for any physical damage

Uganda and Rwanda are still facing the risk of Malaria and they are ranked medium for the chance of acquiring malaria while on the trip. Malaria drugs are characterized with the side effect of kids below five years that why we recommend that the family trip should only include kids above five years of age. Furthermore, it is a requirement to have yellow fever vaccine before embarking on your trip to Uganda or Rwanda to minimize any chance of acquiring the disease.

For the case of malaria, you don’t need to be over worried as lodges always have repels of mosquitoes and you are also encouraged to carry one while coming on the African adventure.

Having known that, let us look at the to places you can visit on a family safari with kids of all ages with the suggested activities you can do while at those destinations

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Uganda’s most visited park is one of the best destinations for tourists in Uganda. This park is also a haven for family activities. Some of the family activity at the park include morning and evening game drive where you will see wildlife like cheetah, lions, elephant, leopard and more. Boat cruise is another family activity that does not select any kid of any age group. During the boat cruise, you will be able to spot things like water birds, hippos, crocodile and many more.

Murchison falls National Park

Another places that is perfect for family vacation is the Murchison falls national park where you will go with the family to. The highlight of the Murchison falls where got its name. The fall have 7-meter gauge through which water falls to create sprinkler. The water from sprinklers once meant by the light, it creates a permanent rain ball which will create a breathtaking view especially to the kids. On top of the falls, you will also be able to go for a family game drive where you will be able to spot various animals including the African big 5.

Uganda wildlife conservation education Centre (Entebbe Zoo)

Uganda wildlife conservation education Centre (UWCEC) popularly known as Entebbe Zoo is both a wildlife sanctuary and a zoo. This is so because so of the animals are caged while others are left to live in their natural habitats. At Entebbe Zoo you will almost be able to see all the animals that you can find in other Uganda national parks except mountain gorillas.

The centre is also a good haven for bird enthusiast with birds including the rare shoebill being kept at the centre. The age limit to visit the centre is 3 years old which makes it a perfect destination for the family safaris, and it is just meters away from the airport. Therefore, I will authoritatively advise that you start with UWCEC before continuing to other parks of Uganda.

Volcanoes national park

Volcanoes national park is a home to the mountain gorillas which is the highlight of tourism all over east Africa countries. However, kids below 15 years are not allowed to go gorilla trekking as the activity is considered challenging and for the purpose of conserving mountain gorillas. However, kids below 15 years can still find other activities to engage in while the adult enjoying gorilla trekking in their natural habitats.

Some activities that you can engage in with kids at volcanoes national park include golden monkey trekking. unlike gorillas, golden monkey lives in lowland of Virunga massif which makes it less challenging to trek them.

Visiting Diana fossil graves, you can also hike Diana fossil graves with kids to pay your respect for the person who risked so much for gorilla conservation.

Other things you can do include visiting Musanze cave and community walk among others

Nyungwe national park

Nyungwe national park is famous for chimpanzee trekking but unfortunately, they are also age capped at 15 years of age for a kid to trek. Therefore, for a family trip with kids below 15 years we have other activities that they can engage in which include canopy walk at Nyungwe forest where you will have an aerial view of Nyungwe forest, game drive to have a meeting with various wildlife including the big five and natural walk.

Conclusion

Even though some of activities in Uganda and Rwanda like gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking are age capped. There is a variety of other activities from different destinations that are open for kids of all ages. These two African countries still face challenge of malaria and they are rated medium at malaria risk by CDC. Therefore, for kids below five years precautions against malaria must be taken

Uganda & Rwanda Family safari Packages

The 10 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Tour starts and ends in Kampala. It will take you to Uganda’s un-spoilt wildlife destinations to experience Nature at its best. Explore all the best Uganda has to offer to tourists in the tropic Africa. Major tour activities in this tour include game drives in hunt for some of the “Big 5”

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Fishing trips are very enjoyable, it is a relaxing but also very exciting sport. Join Active vacation Fishing safaris while we visit beautiful River Streams like Nile in Jinja and Murchison Falls, Lakes such as Victoria and many more. We take fishing as seriously as you do and aim to make your trip unforgettable!

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Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best wildlife areas in Uganda, with the Kazinga channel famous for the highest concentration of Hippos in Africa and 611 bird species. The Kazinga Channel attract hippos, crocodiles and a variety of water-birds. Additionally, fringing swamps hide secretive papyrus specialists such as the sitatunga

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