Enjoy kayaking and canoeing in these places in Uganda to learn more about Uganda’s serene waterways and the incredible wildlife that lives around them.
Kayaking and canoeing in Uganda, a country famous for its tranquil waterways and its incredible wildlife, offers a great way to discover the country’s natural wonders.
Many lakes, rivers, and wetlands exist throughout the nation, and together they make up around 18% of its total land area. The longest river in the world, the River Nile, and Lake Victoria, two of the continent’s largest freshwater lakes, are among the most remarkable.
During your Uganda Adventure Safari, you’ll be able to take advantage of the various canoeing and kayaking spots on the various waterways across Uganda.
Below are the top ten places in Uganda where you can go canoeing and kayaking.
Ssese Islands
The Ssese Islands offer the perfect water for kayaking, canoeing, or even a simple boat ride. The waters are clear and fresh which is just what you need.
A lot of the resorts and hotels next to the islands are in charge of organizing canoe or kayak excursions. The boats and canoes don’t come for free though. Tourists are charged a small fee to use their equipment for an agreed amount of time.
On the other hand, if all this seems too expensive, you could consider hiring a canoe from nearby local fishermen. At an even smaller price, they could let you borrow theirs but we don’t recommend it.
This is because their water equipment may not be safe or in good condition to use on the water. If you insist then we recommend that you do a thorough checkup and also be used to agree on proper terms of use to avoid any problems or disagreements.
Mabamba Swamps
In Africa, the secretive Shoebill Storks’ native habitat is Mabamba Swamp. Most bird watching is done from a boat while navigating lily pads and papyrus swamp-lined canals.
The journey to Mabamba Swamp from Entebbe on dirt roads takes about an hour. Mabamba Swamp is a vast marsh that extends through a long, narrow bay and is bordered by papyrus as it moves towards the western portion of Lake Victoria.
After that, a local guide will take you in a native fishing boat or canoe to the swamp.
Only three birders can fit in each canoe (excluding the guide and boat driver). At their little office, you must first pay a community fee of roughly $7. About $35 was spent on the boat and the guide.
Since many of the boats lack life jackets, you must either maneuver while wearing one or ask for one. These boats’ operators and birding tour guides are natives of the neighborhood.
You support the neighborhood and aid with the preservation of the wetland’s wildlife by paying for their services.
The Nile river in Jinja
Kayaking on the Nile in Jinja entails paddling slowly through the breathtaking Nile’s white water rapids. One is exposed to the magnificent wildlife and beauty around the Nile by kayaking or canoeing on it.
Everyone who signs up for the activity receives instructions, instruction on how to row a boat, and safety measures in case of an accident while on the Nile. Everyone is given a helmet and a life jacket at no additional cost.
If you haven’t tried kayaking on the Nile river, here’s your chance.
Lake Bunyonyi
Southwestern Uganda’s Kabale District is home to Lake Bunyonyi. The “Small Birds” that live here are the source of the lake’s name. It’s also the deepest lake in Uganda, Lake Bunyonyi, which is reasonably steady throughout the entire year because there aren’t many waves in it.
While canoeing or kayaking, you may visit the 29 islands, including floating islands and the punishment island where young ladies who got pregnant before marriage were thrown and left to die. All the islands may be visited in Lake Bunyonyi by canoe.
Every island has a unique history, making a two-hour canoe trip with some of the greatest guides from the House of Edirisa incredibly worthwhile.
Lake Mutanda
To truly see the beauty of Lake Mutanda and the rich culture of the locals staying nearby, you must visit the Lake for yourself.
You can rent dugout boats and explore the lake’s interesting islands on your own, or you can go on a trip with a local guide who will show you how people live there.
A dugout canoe trip around this magnificent lake will be an amazing adventure! Select between a canoe trip in the early morning or at sunrise and sail in the evening or sunset.
Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
The Semliki Wildlife Reserve is a protected area for conservation in the Western Region of Uganda, having its headquarters in the Ntoroko District of Karugutu.
The Semliki Wildlife Reserve is situated in a stunning rift valley between Lake Albert, the Kijura escarpment, and the Rwenzori mountains.
Open acacia-combretum woodland and grassy savannah make up the bulk of the vegetation, with patches of Borassus palm forest, sizable belts of riparian woodland along the major watercourses, and some sizable wetlands in the direction of Lake Albert interspersed.
These offer the best kayaking and canoeing places in Uganda, especially around Lake Albert. You may see rare birds like the Shoebills, African Pygmy Goose, Blue-breasted and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, and Blue-headed Coucal.
Katonga Reserve
One cannot discuss reserves without mentioning Katonga Wildlife Reserve in Uganda, one of the most adored and smallest reserves with unique features.
Despite being one of Uganda’s smaller reserves, Katonga Wildlife Reserve may truly provide you with an experience you’ll never forget.
The 1998 establishment of the wildlife reserve makes it a more recent addition to Uganda’s list of protected wildlife habitats.
The reserve is best explored on foot or by canoe; it is home to more than 40 species of mammal and more than 150 species of bird. Many of the animals, birds, and plant species found in the reserve are unique to its wetland habitat.
Shores of Lake Victoria
The largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world after Lake Baikal, Lake Victoria is also known as “Victoria Nyanza.” The lake was dubbed Lake Victoria after Queen Victoria by the explorer John Hanning Speke, the first British to record it.
This vast body of water, which shares a border with Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, stretches into the distance and seems more of a sea than a lake.
The must-do activities on the shores of Lake Victoria include canoeing and kayaking. Imagine doing these on the largest lake in Africa.
You could spend some time canoeing across Lake Victoria while taking in the breathtaking shoreline with its incredible diversity of bird species and breathtaking scenery.
Bubugo Banana Kayak School in Jinja
You may kayak on the longest river in Bubugo for four hours while also seeing wild animals and eating a local dinner there.
They are a nonprofit organization that offers local children the chance to learn how to kayak, and all of its equipment was donated to the school by various European manufacturers.
The school relies on contributions, thus it established this activity to help the kayak school and the students since they struggled to raise money through crowdfunding. With a love for nature and kayaking, they support local children in achieving their goals!
Itanda Falls
Like the famed Bujagali Falls, which in the past attracted a lot of people, Itanda Falls in Jinja runs down the Nile.
Itanda Falls is more beautiful and has more ripples than Bujagali Falls. It has the potential to draw hundreds of tourists who will participate in various sports like water rafting and kayaking.
Itanda is still one of Uganda’s untapped resources that hasn’t been fully explored because only a very small number of tourists have visited the area. There are three different grades of rapids at the falls, ranging from 1 to 6. Rafting and kayaking enthusiasts must be aware of these levels.
The sound of the rushing river can be heard from a few miles away when you are standing close by. The waters rush by with a powerful force. Kayakers and rafters must use caution while navigating the rapids because the falls are magnificent and forceful.
Conclusion
Kayaking and canoeing are ideal, especially in areas such as Jinja and on the lakes Mutanda and Bunyonyi. These locations are well placed hence offering the ideal location for kayaking and canoeing in Uganda.
The activities are fun and don’t require much except for areas such as Itanda Falls. The rapids are strong and only experienced people can manage them.
For the best experience, contact your local tour guide because some of these activities are already incorporated into the tour packages they offer. This will make your safari adventures to Uganda much easier and enjoyable.
