5 Days
Private
5 Days Murchison Falls and Kibale Chimpanzee Safari
from
Boat Cruise Safaris & Experiences
Picture this: you’re sitting on the deck of a safari boat, cold drink in hand, while hippos snort like grumpy old men in the water and on the other hand crocodiles sunbathe like they own the place. The late afternoon light hits just right with no crowds, no rush, just you, the river, and whatever nature decides to throw your way.
Boat cruise in Uganda and Rwanda
That’s the boat cruise in Uganda and Rwanda. It’s neither a beach holiday nor Venice, but so much better, offering you an exciting encounter with the aquatic life that inhabits both rivers and lakes
In addition to the savannah animals you will see roaming near river banks and lake shores, you get to explore the beautiful scenic environment around the National Park, rivers and lakes in the comfort of your boat.
Unlike the normal safari adventure conducted by a 4×4 vehicle through game drives, this exciting adventure is more relaxed, wavy, without the hardship that comes with the bumpy roads on a game drive.
Private trips • Local guides • Custom itineraries • Safari extensions
Typical duration
5 hours
Destination
Uganda
Best for
Couples, singles, Groups
Best season
June-October, Jan-Feb
Trip style
Private & custom
Boat Cruise in Uganda and Rwanda
A richer way to experience East Africa
Boat Cruise in Uganda and Rwanda in details
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo in western Uganda, along the road to Queen Elizabeth, is another top-notch destination for a boat cruise. Just like other destinations mentioned above, it brings life to some of the best game in the wild, which may include elephants, hippos, and crocodiles.
Lake Victoria, shared between Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, on the other hand, offers more of an unwinding experience than wildlife, although it does offer great bird encounters
Rwanda
Rwanda doesn’t have Uganda’s safari scale, but it brings elegance and calm to the boat cruise experience, with Lake Ihema being your best here. It runs along the southern edge of Akagera National Park, offering incredible encounters with hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds alongside other wildlife species, covering an approximate land area of 90 square kilometers with depths ranging from 5 to 7 meters.
Safari Boat Cruise Destination.
Uganda
Are you in or planning a trip to Uganda? One of the most exciting activities that you shouldn’t miss in your itinerary is a boat cruise. Uganda, being one of the best destinations for a boat cruise, offers the most incredible encounters with aquatic life, with the following being some of the most visited destinations.
Kazinga channel
Kazinga Channel is a 32 km long channel cutting through Queen Elizabeth National Park and connecting lakes Edward and George. It is the most popular spot for a boat cruise, offering exciting up-close encounters with some of Africa’s big game without having to engage in a game drive.
While on a Kazinga boat cruise expedition, you will catch sight of and have an up-close encounter with animals like elephants, hippos, crocodiles, among others. It is worth knowing that for a sight of the predators and some nocturnal animals, you must go for an afternoon boat cruise while you keep an eye open for the rare giant monitor lizards.
Besides animals, this exciting adventure brings your birding life to fulfillment with several species, which include the African fish eagle and kingfishers, among others.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is another headliner in Uganda when it comes to boat cruises. Here, the Victoria Nile squeezes through a 7-meter-wide gorge and explodes into the most aggressive waterfall in Africa.
Hippos in Lake Mburo
With an upstream cruise towards the falls, you will spot several animal species, which include elephants, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles, and enough hippos to form a committee. You’ll get off the boat below the falls, legs probably a little wobbly, and hike to the top for views that deserve more credit than they get.
Downstream, there’s another cruise that floats toward the Nile delta. This one’s slower, quieter, and often full of birders clutching binoculars like rare antiques. It’s the better option if you’re into Shoebill storks or prefer fewer people talking loudly about their camera settings.
COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS
Best ways to experience Boat Cruise
Much as all our itineraries and safari packages can be customized to deliver unforgettable and more satisfaction, below are some of our top picks when it comes to Boat Cruise , feel free to customize and tailor to match your specific interests and needs.
6 Days
Private
6 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Batwa Culture and Queen Elizabeth Safari
from
$ 800
per personSIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Boat Cruise in short.
Almost any group is suitable for a boat cruise, as different types of vessels and itineraries cater directly to specific social dynamics, ages, and event goals. Families and Multi-Generational Groups: Excellent for all ages because large vessels or calm sightseeing boats offer a mix of relaxing seating, shaded areas, and easy-going entertainment that accommodates both young children and grandparents.
Corporate Teams and Incentive Trips: Suited for medium-to-large private charters or riverboats that provide structured spaces for networking, catering, and team bonding in a controlled environment.
People enjoying Celebrations and Friend Gatherings like Birthdays, family reunions, and bachelor or bachelorette parties thrive on party boats or sunset cruises, which offer a social atmosphere, music, and drinks.
Couples and small friend groups can enjoy intimate sunset or wildlife-viewing excursions (such as a Lake Victoria Sunset Cruise) that focus on scenery, quiet conversation, and dining.
Typical duration
5 hours
Setting
Uganda
Activity style
PRIVATE / GUIDED
Best for
Solo, Couples, Group & Family.
WHAT TO EXPECT
How the experience unfolds
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo in western Uganda, along the road to Queen Elizabeth, is another top-notch destination for a boat cruise. Just like other destinations mentioned above, it brings life to some of the best game in the wild, which may include elephants, hippos, and crocodiles.
Lake Victoria, shared between Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, on the other hand, offers more of an unwinding experience than wildlife, although it does offer great bird encounters
Rwanda
Rwanda doesn’t have Uganda’s safari scale, but it brings elegance and calm to the boat cruise experience, with Lake Ihema being your best here. It runs along the southern edge of Akagera National Park, offering incredible encounters with hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds alongside other wildlife species, covering an approximate land area of 90 square kilometers with depths ranging from 5 to 7 meters.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
Boat Cruise planning Guide
During your boat cruise experience, whether in Uganda or Rwanda, get ready to be amazed by the abundant wildlife species you will encounter.
In contrast to the traditional African way of game viewing that is offered through game drives, these boat cruises offer a calmer, relaxed, and laid-back game encounter with all aquatic animals, birds, and other wildlife species that roam around riverbanks and lakeshores.
Additionally, get ready to be in awe of the beautiful scenic environment around the water bodies.
WHEN TO GO
Best time for Boat Cruise
Best Time to Go for a Boat Cruise
Whether in Uganda or Rwanda, the best time to go for an ultimate boat cruise safari is during the dry season. Both countries have two dry seasons, that is, June to September and December to February, offering clear wildlife visibility.
Besides that, the rivers and lakes are calmer, clearer, and easier to navigate. However, this encounter can be experienced all year round, though the rainy season comes with high water levels that seem to scatter wildlife away.
PREPARE WELL
What to know before you go
For an unrivaled boat cruise experience, here are some items you can bring to enhance your experience.
A camera and binoculars
Sunscreen
Light rain jacket in case of sudden rain
Hat for sun exposure
Water bottle
Insect
repellent
TRAVEL WITH FRIENDLY GORILLAS SAFARIS
We arrange more than the activity
Through out the past ten year, we have arranged exciting and unforgettable journeys to hundreds of thousands of guests.
We are definitely going to make your visit to East Africa worth while through our simple and engaging steps that involves.
01
Trip design
We match the activity, destination, trip length and wider safari to your priorities.
02
Permits & reservations
We book all your permits and entrances at the right times so you never get to meet any suprises.
03
Private transport
All our tours include free airport pickups and drop offs. No extra payments at any point for the same.
04
Guides & local teams
All our guides are experienced, calm and local. They shall definitely make your stay worth while.
05
Accommodation
We use only lodges we have been to and all accommodations we use are perfectly located to give you more fun
06
Safari extensions
Feel free to add more activities and destinations to your visit. Just let us know in advance for a better planning.
BUILD A COMPLETE JOURNEY
Combine Boat Cruise with more of East Africa
COMBINE 01
COMBINE 01
Gorilla Habituation Experience
Get a chance to relate, stare at gorillas for 4 hours in a few parks and only in Rushaga.
COMBINE 01
Tanzania Great migration
Join us as we have an experince of the greatest animal migration to have ever existed
ACTIVITY FAQ
Questions travellers ask before booking
Are boat fees included in the park entry?
No, the boat cruise fees are not included in the entry fees. The boat fees are paid separately and in advance, before the date of the activity; this is done to make bookings and arrangements easier and to avoid delays in the cruise, since they are always done in shifts
How long does a cruise last?
The cruise has different timings and durations. This is because different areas arrange different travel and cruise ships depending on the timetable and the number of visitors in a particular travel shift. These shifts normally range from 3 hours to 6 hours depending on the distance and the speed of the cruise.
Can children join the boat cruise?
Yes, children can also join the boat cruise since it has no negative effects with age. Visitors are encouraged to travel with their families on such memorable experiences with their families
Are life jackets provided?
Yes, life jackets are provided to all the participants to go on the boat cruise at no cost for safety reasons. These life jackets are given to both the old and the young, irrespective of gender, size, energy, or ability to swim or not to swim
What animals will I see on the boat cruise?
You will see several animals that both live in water and others that live on the shores, not forgetting others in the air. These animals include hippos, Nile crocodiles, Elephants, buffaloes, and rich bird wildlife like the African fish Eagle and the rare shoebill
START PLANNING
Build your Boat Cruise safari
Tell us your dates, number of travellers, preferred activity, comfort level and the other destinations you want to include. We will use those details to recommend a practical itinerary.
You do not need to know the exact route before contacting us.
Got any questions
about traveling to Uganda?
Get in touch.
