Murchison Falls National Park
The park’s centrepiece is the dramatic Murchison Falls, where the Nile River thunderously forces its way through a 6m narrow gorge creating a breathtaking spectacle as it plunges 45 meters into the river below. Visitors to Murchison Falls National Park also enjoy boat safaris on the Nile, offering close encounters with hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species, including the elusive shoebill stork. Game drives reveal a wealth of wildlife, from elephants and lions to giraffes and buffalo. The Park also features the scenic Albert Nile, various hiking trails, and opportunities for cultural experiences with local communities.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for it is home to half the total population of the endangered mountain gorillas in the world. It offers exciting gorilla trekking and habituation experiences. The Park boasts of its rich flora and fauna. It has over 120 species of mammals including forest elephants and various primates such as L’Hoest Monkeys and olive baboons. The Park is also home to 350 species of birds. The Park’s dense, mist-covered rainforest and scenic landscapes provide stunning views and a variety of hiking trails.
Kibale National Park
This Park is best known for its impressive population of 1500 chimpanzees and is the best place to trek chimpanzees in Uganda. Both chimp trekking and habituation experiences are offered at this park. Kibale National Park is considered as the primate capital of the world because it is home to 13 primate species. These include red tailed monkeys, Blue Monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and olive baboons among others. The Park is also blessed with 350 bird species and is an important bird lover’s haven. In the park’s neighborhood is the captivating Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This provides the visitor with further exploration options. This Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a community-based project and is home to 200 bird species such as the African pied wagtail, Great blue turaco and the Pin-tailed whydah. The wetland sanctuary also has an impressive number of mammal species like the Sitatunga Antelopes, Bush Bucks, Bush Pigs and Mongooses that are bound to keep the visitor entertained.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth is the second largest National Park after Murchison falls and Uganda’s busiest Safari destination. Queen Elizabeth has the widest variety of wildlife of any Ugandan park and the largest bird checklist of any protected area in East Africa. This is mostly due to the wide variety of habitats: from savannah to forest to wetland. The Park’s location between Kibale and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks makes it a popular stop over enroute to viewing the primates. The Park’s biggest draw is the Kazinga Channel boat Safari that spans from the Mweya Peninsula along the Kazinga channel past a large number of hippos, elephants, buffalos, and crocodiles, and a variety of bird species. The Park has other potential highlights like game drives along the Kasenyi plains, Chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge or Kalinzu forest reserve right outside the park. Bird watching and monkey viewing in Maramagambo Forest as well as exploring the Katwe and Bunyaruguru crater lakes is also an option. The park’s Ishasha plains are renowned for the legendary tree climbing lions! Some of the 600 of the bird species encountered within the park include Collared Pratincole, Palm-Nut Vulture, Swamp Flycatcher, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, African Open Bill, Great Cormorant among others.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo is one of two national parks where the Burchell’s zebra can be found. With over 5000 Zebras, the Park is home to the largest population of Zebras in Uganda. The Park provides excellent game viewing in both morning and late afternoon game drives where visitors are likely to see not only the Zebras but other mammals such as the eland, Impala and Klipspringer. The Park is also famous for its Horse riding and Biking safaris that allow you to stop along the trails to see the insects and smaller mammals that you would otherwise not see on an ordinary game drive
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park encompasses the slopes of three inactive volcanoes, Mt. Gahinga, Mt. Sabyinyo and Mt. Muhabura that form part of the Virunga ranges. The Park lies at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m and protects one family of mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests. The Park is the only habitat in Uganda where the endangered golden monkeys can be found. Golden monkeys have a distinctive appearance of bright colored fur with golden and orange hair. Mgahinga’s most notable attractions are Gorilla tracking, Golden Monkey tracking, Volcano hiking and birding. In addition, 76 mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hog, bush back and bush pigs can be found within the park. The Park is also home to over 180 bird species that can be seen at Sabinyo Gorge, the prime habitat for the Rwenzori Turaco, the Saddle between the mounts Gahinga and Sabinyo and the Boundary trail at Ntebeko.
Mt. Rwenzori National Park
The Park is known for its cloud covered mountain scenery, with Its highest peak at 5109m above sea level. This 120km long and 65km wide mountain range has the third highest peak in Africa. Located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the mountain presents some of the most spectacular and challenging hiking experiences in Africa. The Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site which features diverse ecosystems, ranging from tropical rainforests to alpine meadows and glaciers. Hiking the Rwenzori typically involves multi-day treks, with several routes available, including the central circuit and the longer Kilembe trail. The hikes are physically demanding, with steep ascents, unpredictable weather, and high altitudes and on average last between 7 to 10 days. Proper preparation including physical training and use of appropriate gear is therefore paramount before embarking on this adventure. The Park hosts, 70 mammals and 177 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift Endemics as well as some of the world’s rarest vegetation for example the giant groundsel. It is the only national park in Uganda where the Angola colobus has been documented.
Mt. Elgon National Park
Mt. Elgon is the world’s Largest Mountain Caldera and has the largest base of any free-standing mountain in the world with an area of 4000 km2. The mountain has the 4th highest peak in East Africa rising to 4321 m and is the 8th highest peak on the African continent. On the lower slopes of the mountain outside the National Park is the iconic Sipi Falls which is comprised of 3 water falls each at a different altitude. The Falls at the highest point drop from an altitude of 100 m, the second drops from an altitude of 85 m while the third falls from a height of 65 m. The mountain makes a great hiking destination as one of the park’s biggest attractions alongside the hike to the scenic Sipi Falls. Other activities that can be enjoyed while in the park include mountain biking, Rock climbing, fly fishing, the coffee tour as well as the birding. The Park is known to have over 300 species of birds such as the African blue fly catcher and the Lammergeyer.
Semuliki National Park
Established in 1993, this relatively lesser-known park covers approximately 220 square kilometers and is part of the larger Albertine Rift, known for its unique ecosystems. It’s the only tract of true lowland tropical forest in East Africa, hosting an impressive 435 recorded bird species and 60 mammal species 11 of which occur nowhere else in Uganda. Some of the mammals include the pygmy antelope, fanged deer, 2 types of flying squirrels and 6 types of bats. Eight diurnal primates such as the blue and De Brazza’s monkeys, Dent’s mona monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey among others can be found in this park. This is in addition to Hippos and crocodiles, that are found along the Semliki River. The Park presents excellent birding opportunities with notable bird species including the shoebill stork, Abyssinian ground hornbill, African crake, Black -billed barbet, Blue breasted bee-eater, Mustached grass warbler, Red necked falcon, Black chinned quail finch, Double-toothed barbet among others. The Park offers opportunities for guided nature walks and provides excellent hiking trails, with guided tours leading through the dense forest. Other attractions include the Sempanya male and female hot springs and a Pygmy village within the Park.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Covering an area of 1,442 square kilometres, Kidepo Valley National Park is a remote national park located in the north Eastern corner of the country, 700km from Uganda’s Capitol City Kampala. The Park gives one a feel of a true wilderness experience and offers one the opportunity to see the magic of the savannah away from the hustle and bustle of the city and away from the relatively more crowded national parks. Kidepo’s savanna, bush and forests habitats support a very impressive and diverse mammal list of 86 species. The Park has a high density of predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs and bat-eared fox. Black-backed and side-striped jackal are also present. The Park boasts of large herds of buffalo and twelve antelope species including Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, eland, Uganda kob and klipspringer. The best time for wildlife viewing is the middle and end of the dry season that is November to February when animals concentrate around reliable water sources. Kidepo valley National Park has a bird checklist of more than 470 species, the second-highest population of any Ugandan reserve after Queen Elizabeth National Park sixty of which are endemic to this region. Some of the birds you are likely to encounter include the Dark chanting goshawk, Kori bustard, Little bee-eater, Ostrich, Red and yellow barbet, Fox kestrel, Jackson’s hornbill, Karamoja apalis among others.
