The best way to discover Uganda’s beauty or its natural wonder is by embarking on a boat cruise which to most people is also popular as a launch cruise. With Uganda boat or launch cruise safaris, you get the best of lasting memories as they take you through the magical waters offering you a great opportunity to look out most of the aquatic life. Usually, this thrilling water sport takes visitors through spectacular Lakes and Rivers and in Uganda, this experience is perfectly conducted around Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Lake Victoria, River Nile, Lake Bunyonyi and many others. For birders, it is such an exceptional water sport that gets you the best sights over varied bird species at a close range. Besides, you also have a great opportunity to spot out a huge concentration of hippos, crocodiles among other remarkable wildlife species.
Top Launch Trips & Boat Cruises in Uganda Parks
When you visit Uganda, you can get the chance to participate in Launch trips within some of the water bodies. There is no activity that provides a relaxing experience as the launch trips conducted in Lake Mburo, the Kazinga Channel of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Murchison Falls and the Lake Victoria.
Launch Trips in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Launch trips within Queen Elizabeth National Park are conducted within the Kazinga Channel, which is a 40 kilometer wide natural channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward and is the main feature within the National Park. With this activity, tourists get the chance to cruise just few meters way from hundreds of large hippos, waterbucks, Nile crocodiles, Uganda Kobs, buffaloes and elephants that linger the shores of the Kazinga Channel and visit to cool off especially during hot days.
Launch cruises within the Kazinga Channel also reward tourists with over 60 phenomenal aquatic bird species such as the occasional shoebill stork, piac-piac, pied kingfishers, saddle billed stork, papyrus Gonolek, African fish eagles, African Jacana, martial eagle, Pink-backed pelicans, African Skimmer, malachite kingfishers and goliath heron among others.
Launch cruises within this incredible Channel are conducted with an expert guide on-board and the activity takes 2 hours, and is conducted for three or four sessions. Booking s should be made from the Mweya Information Center. The capacity of the passengers per trip is only 40 passengers and costs $30 per person for foreign non-residents, $30 per person for foreign residents and Shs 30,000 per person for East African Community residents.
Launch Trips in the Murchison falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is another must visit place in Uganda for launch trips. There are mainly two launch cruises on the Nile in Murchison Falls National park and last at least 3 hours per session. The first which is the launch cruise upstream from the Paraa to the bottom of the Murchison Falls (moist powerful waterfalls in Africa) presents an outstanding presentation of remarkable wildlife species and highlights with the unforgettable frontal views of the waterfalls. Launch trips within Murchison Falls is highly recommended for bird enthusiasts, and especially the morning cruise downstream to the phenomenal Nile-Lake Albert delta.
Besides that, the serene sundowner cruise from 5:30pm provides the most breathtaking view of an Equatorial sunset reflected on the River. Launch trips within Murchison Falls National Park also cost $30 for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents, and Shs 30,000 per person for East African Community residents and the launch trip takes a maximum of 45 persons.
Launch Trips within Lake Mburo National Park
Do not leave Lake Mburo National Park without participating in the launch cruise within the lake Mburo (largest Lake with this National Park). With the introduction of another boat within this national Park, this activity has increasingly become a must-do adventure within this Savannah National Park. The wildlife and bird abundant eastern shores of Lake Mburo can be explored through a serene 2 hour boat excursion. When on this activity, look out for the Nile crocodiles, Hippos, buffaloes, waterbucks and Impalas among others. Also keep an eye on the beautiful fish species such as African fish eagles, magnificent Kingfishers, Pink-backed pelicans, Hammerkops and the rare and most sought after Shoebill storks. Boat trips in Lake Mburo National park start from Rwonyo landing every two hours beginning at 8:00am (but also subject to demand).
Boat trips within Lake Mburo National Park cost only $15 per person for foreign non-residents, $15 per person for foreign residents and Shs 15,000 per person for East African Community residents.
Boat Safari on Mabamba Wetlands
A boat safari on the Mabamba Bay offers sights of a unique extensive marsh stretching through along narrow bay, fringed with papyrus towards the main body of Lake Victoria. It forms part of Buwaya Bay South-west of Nakiwogo Bay both of which are located in the west of Entebbe International Airport. It lies between Busi Island and Buwaya/ Ziba village on the mainland. This is a must-see if you like birds. The boat man and the guide will help you to be able to see a shoebill plus other abundance of wonderful and beautiful birds.
In conclusion, when you visit Uganda for a safari, do not miss to participate in launch cruises carried out within Lake Mburo National Park, launch trips within Murchison Falls National park and the Kazinga Channel in the Queen Elizabeth National park. This activity allows tourists to explore several wildlife species such as crocodiles, waterbucks, elephants and buffaloes and bird species such as the pink-backed pelicans, African Fish Eagles and the elusive Show bill storks among others.