Uganda national parks
Ten national parks are spread throughout Uganda’s east, south-west, and north. Northward is Kidepo Valley National Park; eastward is Mountain Elgon National Park; and northwest is Murchison Falls National Park. The parks in the west are Lake Mburo National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Mount Rwenzori National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, and Semuliki National Park.
See the African Big 5 cats up close, including lions, leopards, African elephants, cape buffaloes, and rhinos, when you travel to Uganda.
You will be intrigued by the River Nile; the longest river on earth; Lake Victoria which is the largest lake in Africa; the most coveted Mountain Gorillas; the chimpanzees; and more. If you’re having trouble deciding which of the ten national parks to visit, this guide can help.
Uganda’s top 5 national parks offer sights and sounds from around the globe. It’s a trip into the wild, complete with a wide range of plants and animals, picturesque landscapes, bodies of water, and pleasant weather. East African nation of Uganda is bordered by Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Republic of Kenya.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Situated in the southwestern region of Uganda, this area harbors the highest density of the highly-coveted Mountain Gorillas. These Apes are more than 98% genetically similar to humans. There are more than 19 families living in the park, primarily in the four sectors of Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo.
After purchasing a trekking permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which is responsible for overseeing Uganda’s national parks. This is a top attraction that you simply must see; it’s a real jungle that is home to some of the most unusual plants on the planet.
A montane rainforest covering 330.8 330.8 sq km is found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Among many other things, it was created in 1991 to safeguard plants, birds, monkeys, and more.
Murchison Fall National Park.
With Murchison Falls, the most potent waterfall on Earth, this is Uganda’s largest and oldest national park. The park is home to four of the Big Five cats, chimpanzees in the Budongo forest, water from the Nile, and a variety of other wildlife.
Murchison Falls National Park is situated in the northwest region of Uganda, on the northern border of the Albertine Rift Valley. The country’s capital, Kampala, is around 305 kilometres away. The Victoria Nile divides the region into its northern and southern halves.
Safari Activities such as game drives and hot air balloon rides are held in the northern section of the park. The southern portion is used for boat trips to the falls’ base and hikes to their summit. To protect the wildlife, the conservation area was elevated to national park status in 1952.
Over 114 mammal species, over 556 bird species, 51 amphibians, and over 51 reptiles can be found at the destination today.
Queen Elizabeth National Park.
One of the most popular tourist safariĀ destinations in Uganda, it is home to the lions that climb trees. It is located in Uganda’s western region and spans more than 1978 square kilometres. The park was created in the early 1950s and is home to a wide variety of animals, including four of the Big 5 cats: lions, elephants, leopards, and African buffalo.
More than 600 bird species, 95 mammal species, including chimpanzees, exist. Game drives in the designated areas, boat cruises at Kazinga Channels, lion tracking, nature walks, cultural tours, photography, and bird watching are among the park’s safari activities.
The second-largest national park in the nation offers a plethora of surprises in terms of flora and fauna to identify.
Kidepo Valley National Park.
The most remote and yet most rich national park on the African continent is Kidepo Valley National Park, a true African wilderness. It is situated in the north, close to South Sudan and roughly 5 kilometres from the Kenyan republic.
This pristine savannah grassland, which was gazetted in 1962, is home to 470 different species of birds, over 75 different species of mammals, and an amazing scenery. Activities at the park include hiking Mount Murungole, bird watching (with the ostrich being the highlight), camping, and game drives where you may see, among other things, lions, elephants, zebras, warthogs, Rothschild giraffes, and elands. Because of the distance, we recommend clients to save time by taking a chartered flight to the destination.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the sole national park in Uganda where gold meets silver. The park was created in 1991 in the southwest of Uganda, at the base of the massive mountain range known as the Virunga chain, which crosses three nations: Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda.
Activities on offer include the rare opportunity to go gorilla trekking on the African continent, guided nature walks, Batwa walks, gorilla habituation experiences, and Batwa cultural experiences.
Best time to Visit Uganda.
Uganda is open to tourists throughout the year. The locations of the weekly events, featuring the presence of various attractions, animals, birds, and primates. But taking the weather into account, December through early March and June through September are frequently dry or have less rain, which makes for ideal conditions for activities.
The best months to go birding are November, April, and May, when there is rain and migratory birds. The low travel seasons, which are late September to November and March to May, are when discounts are typically found.
What to Pack for a Uganda Safari?
We recognize that most travelers find packing for a safari to be quite difficult, so we advise only bringing what is necessary for the trip. Waterproof hiking boots, a head-protecting hut, hand gloves, water, long shirts, loose-fitting trousers, insect repellents, long stockings, a high-end camera for taking pictures, binoculars for observing far-off sights, all the necessary safari documentation and more.
Finally, take a look at the top five safari destinations. You have the option of choosing a few stand-alone locations based on your interests, or you can combine all the destinations into one safari. To ensure you have the most unforgettable safari experience in Uganda, the “pearl of Africa,” book your trip at least six months in advance.