NATIONAL PARKS IN UGANDA

National Parks In Uganda

National Parks in Uganda have a variety of national parks which are suitable for one’s safari in Uganda. There is a variety of wildlife, including Flora and fauna, hills and mountains, lakes, rivers, valleys, plains, and more.

 Bwindi National Park

Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most renowned Uganda national Parks, famous for mountain gorilla trekking on Uganda safaris. Like the rest of the national parks in Uganda, it is also under the management of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southwestern Uganda, Kisoro District, sits at the edge of the Great Rift Valley. It was first made available for tourism in April 1993 and declared a natural world heritage site in 1994. this forest park in East Africa covers an area of 321km2, and it ranges from an altitude of 1160m to 2607m above sea level.

The diverse ecosystems of Bwindi Impenetrable Park date back to 25000 years, and the forest has about 400 plant species, 120 mammal species, 350 species of beautiful birds, including all 24 Albertine Rift endemics, and 200 butterfly species. Thus making it one of the most beautiful national parks in Uganda.

The critically endangered Mountain Gorillas are its main attraction, as the impenetrable forest national park protects about 459 of these primates in Uganda, which is almost half of their population remaining in the world (1063). Thus, gorilla trekking is the major safari activity in the dense forests of the park.

Tourist attractions at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Other than the gorillas, the park also protects different primate species that are easily seen on a nature walk, for example, monkeys, chimpanzees, and olive baboons, among others.

Other wild animals to see in the park include elephants, duikers, bush pigs, buffaloes, and antelopes, among others.

You will encounter other highlights in and around the park, such as over 350 bird species, including the most sought-after Albertine Rift endemics like the Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Handsome Francolin, and Collared Apalis, among others.

Therefore, the natural beauty and rich ecosystem of Bwindi Impenetrable NP is the ultimate destination to experience different safaris in Uganda, like mountain gorilla safaris, Uganda.

Birding safaris, game viewing tours, scenic nature walk tours, and Batwa visits.

Safari Activities at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Almost all safari activities at Bwindi Impenetrable Park occur in the four sectors of the park, which are the Buhoma sector, the Nkuringo region, the Rushaga section, and the Ruhija sector.

The most common safari activities include gorilla trekking/gorilla treks, bird watching, nature walks, Batwa cultural encounters and community visits, among others.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth Park in Kasese District in South Western Uganda is known as one of the most popular Uganda national parks and the second largest after Murchison Falls National Park, greatly known for Uganda wildlife safaris. The park area is 1978 km2 and rises at an altitude of 1300m above sea level, marked by the Katwe explosion craters.

This national park in East Africa was designated in 1952 as Kazinga National Park but was renamed Queen Elizabeth National Park in 1954 to commemorate the visit of the Queen of England to the country.

Attractions at Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts abundant wildlife, including over 95 mammal species, including 20 carnivores, and more than 600 bird species, including the rare shoebill stork.

Its diverse ecosystems and natural beauty cover freshwater lakes, crater lakes like Lake Katwe evaporation pans, extensive Savannah plains, humid forests, and swamps that are home to various wildlife, like the famous tree-climbing lions on the acacia trees. It is also a Man and Biosphere Reserve with different communities living within the park.

Discover the different wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park in areas such as the Kasenyi plains, Ishasha Sector, Maramagambo Forest, Kazinga Channel, and Katwe Area.

Safari Activities/Things to do at Quern Elizabeth National Park

The major safaris at Queen Elizabeth National Park include wildlife safaris and community visits through incredible activities such as game drives, boat cruises that commence from the Kazinga boat landing site, lion tracking, bird watching, nature walks, rhino census, and community walks.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park in Masindi, Uganda, North Western Uganda, is the oldest and largest protected area of the country. Like other Uganda national parks, the Uganda Wildlife Authority manages this designated park in Uganda to promote its conservation efforts.

The Murchison Falls Park was designated in 1952, covers an area of 3840km2, and sits at an altitude of 127m above sea level. The park is in a secluded location on the northern end of the Albertine Rift and gives amazing wildlife views for travelers to the country.

This Murchison Falls park is unique for its Murchison Falls, which flows from the Victoria Nile, making it one of the most beautiful national parks in Uganda. The falls are squeezing through an eight-meter gorge and falling thunderously in the Devil’s Cauldron. The Victoria Nile also divides the park into the North and Southern Hemispheres, flows across the Rift Valley floor, and pours its water into

Lake Albert.

Some renowned visitors to Murchison Falls NP include Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, and various British royals.

Attractions/ Things to see at Murchison Falls National Park

The main attraction at the park is the powerful Murchison Falls, which flows from the Nile River.

Various habitats cover the plains of one of these Uganda national parks, including Savannah, acacia trees, Barassus palms, and riverine woodland in the Northern part of the park, while the southern areas are dominated by forest and woodland plantations.

Thus, they provide habitat for various animals, including over 144 mammals of Ugandan species, 51 reptile species, 51 amphibian species, and more than 556 species of Ugandan birds.

Some of the various animals to watch on the plains of Murchison Falls National Park include lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, and leopards, among others.

The most common species of beautiful birds to watch at the park are the endangered, rare shoebill stork near the Albert Delta, while others include the Secretary Birds, white Crested Turaco, Giant kingfisher, and Osprey, among others.

Things to do at Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Park is one of Uganda’s national parks that provides a chance for various safari activities, including game drives, visiting the top of the falls, nature walks, boat cruises on the Nile River, and bird watching, among others.

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale forest National Park/Kibale National Park, also known as the primate capital of the world, is famous for outstanding Uganda Chimpanzee tracking safaris and tours. The Kibale Forest National Park in Kabarole District, Western Uganda, covers an area of 321 square kilometers and rises at an altitude of between 1160m and 2607m above sea level.

The most famous activity at the park is chimp tracking, which occurs at the Kanyanchu visitor Center, and since 1993, when it began, it has always been an excellent experience. There are about 1500 chimpanzee species in the forest out of the estimated 5000 in the country. There is a 90% chance of finding the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, and it takes about 2 to 5 hours to find a habituated chimpanzee group.

Attractions at Kibale Forest National Park

Other than one of the Uganda national parks that are famous for chimpanzees, the Kibale Forest Park/Kibale National Park is also home to 12 other primates, including monkeys and baboons. There are also over 120 mammal species in Kibale Forest and about 370 species of birds, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. The Kibale tropical forests also present an impressionable scenery for travelers on their safari tours to the park.

Things to do at Kibale Forest National Park

Therefore, prepare for the best safari experience as you visit Kibale National Park. You will participate in various activities such as chimp tracking, chimpanzee habitat, nature walks, bird watching, and community visits, among others.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is defined as a true African wilderness and an isolated national park with a secluded location in North Eastern Uganda, near the South Sudan, Kenya Uganda border. It is comprised of two seasonal rivers, which are the Kidepo and the Narus rivers. The park covers 1442killometres square kilometers and sits at an altitude between 914m and 2750m above the sea level. It is found in Karamoja and was gazetted a national park in 1962.

Tourist Attractions at Kidepo Valley National Park

This isolated park protects over 77 mammals and 476 bird species and this is where you will see the ostrich common. However, other birds include Little Green Beater, Secretary Bird, Various Eagles, pelicans, and egrets, among others. Common animals to see at the Kidepo Valley National Park include elephants, buffalo, lions, antelopes, and various other species. The Karamojang and the IK people a hunter-gatherer groups that are threatened due to their small population. You will also study their lives and ways, for example, hut building, cooking, and other important values.

Things to do at Kidepo Valley National Park

There are different safari activities to do at Kidepo Valley National Park, including game drives, bird watching, nature walks, and community visits. Located in an incredible wilderness, Kidepo Valley National Park is among the Uganda National Parks with the most beautiful of experiences.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest Savannah national park in Uganda, but among the Uganda parks, it has abundant wildlife that promotes the country’s tourism sector.

This park covers over 370 kilometers and it was designated in 1983 as a national park.It is nearest to Kampala city in Nyabushozi County in Kiruhura district, and it connects the city to Western Uganda. 20% of the land in Lake Mburo is a wetland as it harbor 5 lakes and others surrounding it

Attractions at Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo NP is one o the most beautiful national parks to watch over 315 bird species, including the Ruppell’s Starling, Southern Ground Hornbill, Black Bellied Bustard, Black-Throat ed Barbet, Mosque Swallow, and Bare-Faced Go Away Bird, among others. There are also mammal species at Lake Mburo Park, and some of these wildlife animals include buffaloes, Zebras, topis, hyenas, hippos, leopards, elands, Reedbucks, Defassa waterbuck, among others.

Things to do at Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park boasts various safaris which include the game drive experience, boat crises, nature walks, bird watching, community visits, sport fishing, and cycling tours, among others. Thus, it is one of Uganda’s national parks with wildlife safari experiences.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla NP is the smallest national park in Uganda, found in Kisoro District in southwest Uganda, with a size of 33.7 square kilometers. It is a famous and the only destination to experience the Golden Monkeys in Uganda.

The park is also known for protecting one gorilla family that you can visit during your gorilla trekking adventures. In 1991, Mgahinga Gorilla NP was declared a national park; consequently, the local Batwa, who originally lived in the forests, were sent away from the forests and given land around them.

This park sits at an altitude between 2227m and 4127m above sea level, and it is the only one in Uganda found in the Virunga Mountains.

Attractions at Mgahinga National Park

However, Mgahinga is among the most beautiful national parks that are part of the Virunga mountains. Travelers get the chance to experience the beauty of meeting about 76 mammal species and another 180 species of birds, including 14 Albertine Rift Endemics like the Kivu Ground Thrush. Other animals to see in Mgahinga include Buffaloes, giant forest hogs, bush pigs and elephants.

 Things To do at Mgahinga NP

With various remarkable attractions in the park, travelers are guaranteed different safari experiences and activities like mountain gorilla trekking safari, golden monkey trekking adventures, volcano, hiking safaris, bird watching experiences, and nature walks, among others.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a wonder, known to many as the Mountains of the Moon, and the most popular Uganda mountain trekking safaris and tours. The park, found in Bundibugyo District in Western Uganda, spans an area of about 996 square kilometres, and it is shared by Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park has the highest altitude in the country at Margherita Peak, which rises to 5109 metres above sea level.

Safari Attractions at Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The main attraction at Mount Rwenzori National Park is the Rwenzori Mountains, thus making mountain hiking the most common safari activity in the park. Ms Beryl, at the age of 78, was the oldest person to reach the Margherita peak in 2010.

Mount Rwenzori National Park, however, has a plethora of other highlights to explore, as it is rich in some of the most endangered and endemic animals, birds, and vegetation in the ecological zones.

This park boasts over 70 mammal species and over 217 species of birds. This is also among the Uganda national parks with Albertine endemic birds, I.e, 19, for example, the Rwenzori Double-Collared Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, and Red-faced Woodland Warbler, among others.

There are other national parks, such as Semuliki National Park, which is known as a birder’s haven. It is found in Bundibugyo district in Western Uganda near the Rwenzori mountains. It has over 120 mammal species and 441 bird species, and it is famous for its unique bird species.

The bird list includes Guinea Congo Forest biome species like the Congo Serpent Eagle, Spot-breasted Libidibia, and Chestnut Flamed Goshawk, among others.

Mount Elgon National Park is another national park in Uganda shared by the two countries, Kenya and Uganda. It is located in Eastern Uganda in Mbale District, and has an area of 1121 square kilometers. Mount Elgon has the main attractions, like 300 species of birds, including the rare and endangered Lammergeyer. Mammals at Mount Elgon include antelopes, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and Elephants.