Uganda National Parks

Uganda National Parks: Uganda is by far one of the leading safari destinations in Africa, priding herself to a list of all the 10 beautiful national parks each offering a distinct Uganda safari experience. Uganda’s natural beauty never goes unnoticed while you are on Uganda safaris. No wonder Sir Winston Churchill described it as “The Pearl of Africa!”

Uganda is occupies a special geographical area in East Africa and remarkably, it is a famous place where the Western and Eastern Africa meet. It is a compact in size and also landlocked country in East Africa, but a Uganda safari here rewards holidaymakers with lifetime experiences. Uganda is a home to half of the remaining mountain gorilla populations-estimated to be fewer than 1063 on earth and it is of no doubt the best place to go for gorilla trekking, the lush tropical rain-forest with a huge concentration of chimpanzees and other primates, magical savannas with big mammals.

List of Uganda National Parks

Murchison Falls National Park

In Africa, there are a few exceptional places where you can see diversity savanna wildlife and Murchison Falls National Park is remarkably one of a kind destinations you should consider a must-visit. Murchison Falls N/Park is strategically positioned in the North-western Safari Circuit of Uganda, and it is the largest Uganda safari park, spanning in an area of about 3840sq.kms. The surrounding districts include Masindi, Kiryandongo, Nwoya and Buliisa and accessing Murchison Falls National Park from Kampala takes you about 5 to 6 hours to drive.

A Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park is a great opportunity to enjoy incredible sightings of its big mammals, reptiles, bird species, primate species and also for you to witness the world’s powerful waterfalls-Murchison Falls squeeze itself into a 7m narrow rock. It takes its name from Murchison Falls which stands out as its iconic attraction and it is incredible one of the splendid Uganda National Parks.

Murchison Falls National Park features different sectors, each with its attractions. The Northern sector is mainly characterized by open savanna grassland, borassus palm trees, acacia trees and this is the most sought for area by Uganda safari holidaymakers who come for game viewing. The area is endowed with diversity of wildlife species including the Rothschild giraffes, leopards, lions, hyenas, Oribis, warthogs, elephants, water bucks, Bohor reed bucks, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, Hartebeest.

The Southern sector largely comprises of riverine woodland and a lush tropical forest but is an incredible area to explore chimpanzees plus several other primates in Budongo Forest while on chimpanzee tracking safari. Murchison Falls N/P also boasts of its largest collection of Nile crocodiles, hippos, over 451 bird species and others. There are many ways to explore Murchison Falls National Park on Uganda safaris; you can embark on a game drive, bird watching, boat cruise, hot air balloon tour, chimpanzee tracking, sport fishing, nature walks, hike to the top of the falls, chimpanzee habituation experience etc.

Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP)

Queen Elizabeth National Park, geographically set in Western Uganda is one of the most visited Uganda National Parks. It ranked as the second biggest Uganda safari park after Murchison Falls N/Park, occupying over 1978sq.kms of land area. QENP takes its name after Queen Elizabeth II of England and it is incredibly a magical destination worth spending Uganda holiday safari.

Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda lies astride Equator in the western rift valley and closely located near the Rwenzori Mountain ranges. Its landscape is exceptional, featuring a vast savanna grassland, tropical rain-forest, swamps, lakes and a lot more, each sheltering the park’s diverse animal species. Over 95 mammal species and 620 bird species have been recorded in Queen Elizabeth National Park of Uganda alone making it an outstanding Uganda wildlife safari destination.

The Northern sector-Kasenyi Plains of QENP is an incredible place to enjoy sightings of the big mammals especially African bush elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, leopard, lions, Kobs. This is a remarkable game viewing area for visitors on Uganda safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The southern sector-Ishasha is popular for viewing the tree climbing lions. Other places of interest in QENP include the Kazinga Channel for a launch cruise, Kyambura Gorge and Maramagambo Forest for chimpanzees, baboons, L’Hoest moneys, red tailed monkeys, or if you are interested in forest birds.

Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP)

Kidepo Valley National Park still stands out among the very few well-kept destinations in Africa. It is isolated in the extreme North-eastern side of Uganda, Karamoja region approximately 560kms away from Kampala. It is one of the magical Uganda National Park, created in 1962 and comes 3^rd as the largest park occupying 1442sq.kms of land area.

Kidepo National Park isn’t popular for its exceptional scenery and landscape, but also it is a home to 77 mammal species, 475 bird species. The park’s diverse animal species include lions, cheetahs, striped hyenas, Senegal Galago, spotted hyenas, buffaloes, carcals, bat eared fox, leopards, elephants, lesser Kudus, gazelles, zebras, striped jackals, Klipspringers, water bucks, Bohor reed bucks, white tailed mongoose. The park’s top activities include game drives, nature walks or hiking, bird watching, cultural encounter and visiting the hot springs.

Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP)

Lake Mburo National Park is the nearest to Kampala capital city of all the 10 Uganda National Parks, about 4 hours’ drive away. This is also one of the smallest savanna parks occupying 370sq,kms of land area in Kiruhuru district, Western Uganda.

Lake Mburo N/Park is a home to 68 mammal species, 350 bird species and significant reptile population. The park hosts several of topis, elands, zebras, buffaloes, reed bucks, hippos, water bucks, Rothschild giraffes. These range from its wide range of habitats including open savanna grassland, acacia, marshland, riverine woodland, lakes and others. The best way to indulge yourself into Lake Mburo is taking part in guided game drives, bird watching, sport fishing, nature walks, horseback riding, quad biking, boat cruise.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP)

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, suitably lying in the south-western Uganda is a stunning Uganda National Park of its own. The designated UNESCO Heritage Site and rainforest park occupies 331sq.kms of land area, established in 1991 purposely to protect mountain gorillas and other biodiversity. Access to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is possible by road which is 9-10 hours’ drive from Kampala/Entebbe, 3-4 hours’ drive from Kigali Rwanda and by air, fly from Entebbe Airport/Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi (Savanna) or Kisoro airstrip.

Bwindi National Park protects more than 120 mammal species, 360 bird species, 320 tree species, 1000 flowering plant species, 250 butterfly species making it one of the incredible Uganda National Parks. Over 459 of the 1063 mountain gorillas which still live on earth are all in Bwindi, sharing the same habitat with diversity of other animal species including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, elephants etc.

Visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Uganda safari holiday offers a great chance to engage in a number of memorable activities. These include Mountain gorilla trekking, bird watching, nature walks/forest walks, community tours, mountain gorilla habituation experience.

Kibale Forest National Park (KFNP)

Kibale Forest National Park is most popular as the Primate Capital of the World, priding itself as a home to 13 primate species. The 795sq.kms rain-forest park, suitably lies in Western Uganda 6 hours’ drive from Kampala and protects incredible primate species including 1500 chimpanzees making it the most sought for chimpanzee tracking destination.

Besides a huge population of chimpanzees, Kibale National Park also protects other species of primates including L’Hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, bush babies, baboons, pottos, gray cheeked mangabeys, red tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys. There also exist 370 bird species including the African green breasted pittas; countless butterflies, tree species, plant species and a significant number of reptiles.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP)

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is spectacular on its own way and this is set in the southwestern Uganda. It is the smallest of the 10 Uganda National Parks (occupying 33.7sq.kms) but it is an outstanding destination to enjoy mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking or golden monkey habituation experience, bird watching, volcano hiking (Mgahinga N/Park is part of the Virunga volcano ranges and protects Sabyinyo volcano, Muhabura and Gahinga), Batwa experience/Batwa trail, cave exploration.

Mount Elgon National Park (MENP)

Mount Elgon National Park is a designated UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, located in the Eastern Uganda at border with Kenya. In Uganda, Mount Elgon N/Park was founded in 1992 and Kenya Mount Elgon N/Park in 1968. This park occupies only 1110sq.kms of land area on Uganda side and it is an incredible place to go for mountaineering/volcano climbing, bird watching, nature walks, hiking to the Sipi falls, cave exploration, cultural safaris especially to enjoy the Imbalu/Bagishu cultural experience, coffee tours, sport fishing, game viewing, abseiling.

Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park, lying suitably in Bundibugyo district is incredibly the newest of Uganda National Parks. It is popular for its powerful Sempaya hot springs and protects the only lowland rainforest in East Africa. Semuliki N/Park’s lowland rainforest is an extension of the Ituri Forest which is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Central Africa.

Semuliki National Park is fascinating game viewing destination and a perfect place to go bird watching (protects over 441 bird species), primate walks (the park’s distinct primates include red tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, grey cheeked mangabeys, De Brazza’s monkeys and others).

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site lying in the south-western Uganda. This park occupies about 1000sq.kms of land area and protects one of the highest mountains-the Rwenzori Mountain ranges/Mountains of the Moon.

While on Rwenzori Mountains National Park safaris, expect to explore its diverse attractions. The UNESCO designated park boasts of its diverse primates including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys; buffaloes, leopards, 3 horned chameleon, forest elephants, 216 bird species. Rwenzori Mountains N/Park is ideal destination to engage in classic mountaineering/mountain climbing adventure, bird watching, nature walks.