National Parks In Uganda | Uganda National Parks -

The ten (10) national parks in Uganda are the primary impact toward the continuously steadfast growing Uganda safaris. The Uganda Wildlife Authority manages all these game parks in Uganda.

Below is a list of the National Parks in Uganda.

Queen Elizabeth National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Kibale Forest National Park
Murchison Falls National Park
Lake Mburo National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park
Mount Elgon National Park
Semuliki National Park, and

These national parks are a gem in Uganda and most of them are located in Western Uganda.

Savannah national parks include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest national park in Uganda with 3,840 square kilometers. It also stands as the oldest, designated in 1952. The park holds the strongest waterfalls in the world flowing from the longest river in Africa, which is River Nile.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second largest national park in Uganda with 1,978 km². This savannah national park standing near the equator is a haven for a safari in Uganda as it holds numerous wild animals and birds. A boat cruise safari on the Kazinga Channel will do you a lot of wonders.

Uganda is also blessed to have national parks that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of their biodiversity and their role in holding rear species of both animals and plants. These are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Bwindi Uganda is home to almost half of the world’s Mountain Gorilla population and has all 24 Albertine Rift endemic birds.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park on the other hand has got the mountains of the moon, one whose peaks snow all year round. It also has wild animals, birds, and plants that are not in any other place in Uganda. More so, the park also has 19 out of the 24 Albertine Rift endemic birds.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest of all Uganda national parks with an area of 33.7 km2. This park is also home to Mountain Gorillas hence promoting Gorilla trekking safaris.

There is more to learn about Uganda parks as each of them offers a peculiar aspect to awe at. Let us have a look at these National Parks of Uganda that you will encounter as you safari Uganda.

1. Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park was designated in 1952 as Kazinga National Park. However, this name changed to the present “Queen Elizabeth National Park” in 1954 to honor the first visit of the former British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

This park lies in Western Uganda near the iconic Rwenzori Mountains and it sits on an area of 1,978 km2, with an altitude of 1,300m.

Queen Elizabeth park is a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve because of its biodiversity and various ecosystems. This consequently makes this park home to both humans and animals.

The park is further patently the most popular destination for safaris in Uganda and its star attraction is the Kazinga Channel. This stream hails with various Uganda wildlife, hence a pillar for Uganda wildlife safaris.

Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda boasts a high diversity of wildlife of Uganda. The park has over 95 mammal species, and it especially holds the highest concentration of Hippos in the world at the Kazinga channel.

More so, the famous tree-climbing Lions live in the Ishasha sector in the South Western part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Also, this park proves to have the highest bird checklist in Uganda, with over 600 Uganda bird species. This makes, therefore, birding in Uganda to be one of the top safari activities that you ought to encounter on a Queen Elizabeth safari.

Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Game Park is a sanctuary to the only habituated Chimpanzee family in this park.

Many beautiful crater lakes exist in this park, proving former volcanic activities in and around the area. Indeed, this park is a place to reminisce about historical natural formations!

The major things to do at Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda are the

Kazinga boat cruise
Safari game drives in the various sectors like Kasenyi plains, Ishasha sector, and Mweya Peninsular
Chimpanzee tracking at Kyambura gorge
Birding in all the sectors of the park
Visiting the volcanic crater lakes.

Queen Elizabeth National Park Africa has various lodges to soothe your stay in the park and they range from luxury to midrange, and budget.

You can access Queen Elizabeth National Park Kasese by either road or air, using the various routes while following its geographic coordinates, 0.1577° N, 30.0794° E.

Let us explore this natural wonder further.

History Of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park’s history dates back to ancient times when the parkland was home and grazing settlement to the local Basongora pastoralists.

In 1906, the British government declared the North of Lake George a game reserve. However, in 1912, the whole of Lake George and the Ishasha sector were affirmed restricted areas.

Settlers evacuated the park in 1930 due to sleeping sickness and this helped to further make plans for gazetting the park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park was designated in 1952 as Kazinga National Park. Nonetheless, it was renamed in 1954 to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip.

Queen Elizabeth National Park was also selected as a ‘Lion conservation unit’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUNC in 2006.

Where Is Queen Elizabeth National Park?

Queen Elizabeth National Park is in South Western Uganda, in Kasese District. It lies along geographic coordinates 0.1577° N, 30.0794° E and is about 410 km from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.

Lake George borders Queen Elizabeth National Park on the North East and Lake Edward to the South West. These lakes are linked by the Kazinga channel.

Mountain Rwenzori borders this park in the North West and Virunga National Park found in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the West.

Attractions In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is rich in various attractions like

Wild Animals
Birds
Kazinga channel
Many crater lakes

Animals Found In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park animals abound in large numbers, that is, the park has over 95 mammal species. These include 10 primate species, 20 species of predators, and many herbivores.

The park has 4 of the big 5 big five animals of Africa, which are the Lions, Leopards, Elephants, and Hippos.

The rare tree-climbing Lions in Ishasha and the highly concentrated Hippos on the Kazinga Channel are some of the major animals to see in the park. This park was even declared a Lion Conservation Unit in 2006 to protect these Lions.

Below are some of the animals found in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Hippos, which are over 5000 in the park.
African Elephants abound over 2500 in number.
Cape Buffaloes are about 1000.
Tree-climbing Lions in both Ishasha and the Kasenyi plains total up to about 76 in number.

Ugandan Kobs
Topis
Warthogs
Giant Forest Hogs
African Bush Pig
Oribi Bushbuck
Sitatunga Antelope
Long-Haired Chimpanzee
Olive Baboon
Vervet Monkeys
Uganda Blue Monkey
Red-Tailed Monkeys
Black and White Colobus Monkeys
Red Colobus
Leopards
Spotted Hyena
Crocodiles

Birds In Queen Elizabeth National Park-h4

Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 600 bird species, the highest bird checklist of all national parks in Uganda. Some of these birds are migratory, native, rare, or common according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

These Uganda birds spread through the different sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park that is the

Lake George
Kazinga Channel
Ishasha sector
Kasenyi plains
Mweya Peninsula
Kyambura Gorge
Maramagambo forest

The most notable birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Shoebill
Great Blue Turaco
Grey Crowned Cranes
Long Crested Eagle
Black and White Casqued Hornbill
Black Bee-Eater
Black-Rumped Buttonquail
African Finfoot
African Hobby
African Skimmer
Ayres’s Hawk Eagle
Broad-Billed Roller
Great White Pelican
Grey-Winged Robin-Chat
Caspian Plover
Collared Pratincole
Papyrus Gonolek
Pel’s Fishing-Owl
Common Sand Martin
Crab-Plover
Heuglin’s Gull
Palm-Nut Vulture
Western Banded Snake Eagle
Yellow-Throated Cuckoo
White-Backed Night Heron
Pink-Backed Pelican
Red-Chested Sunbird
Rufous-Bellied Heron
Spotted Redshank
White-Winged Tern
Yellow-Bellied Wattle-Eye

Kazinga Channel In Queen Elizabeth National Park-h4

Kazinga Channel is a 32-kilometer stream that drains from Lake George to Lake Edward. The major activity here is a safari boat cruise in which you can view various animals, and birds, and have some engaging sights.

Common animals to see in the Kazinga Channel include

Hippos
Elephants
Buffaloes
Crocodile
Giant Forest Hogs
Water Monitor Lizards
Bushbucks
Waterbucks

Other attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park are

Lake George and Lake Edward
Crater lakes
The equator
Omani coffee plantation near the park
Kasenyi plains
Ishasha sector
Maramagambo Forest
Kyambura Gorge
Mweya Peninsular
Katwe Area

Activities In Queen Elizabeth National Park-h3

There are various adventurous things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park while you have fun.

Let us take a look at these activities at Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Game Drives In Queen Elizabeth National Park-h4

Safari game drives are one of the top activities to do on the Uganda tour in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

These game drives majorly take place in the Kasenyi plains but also occur in the Ishasha sector and the Mweya Peninsular. The activity majorly happens in the Kasenyi area, making the region not have night game drives to not fuss the animals. However, tourists on Uganda tours and safaris can have night game drives in the Mweya Peninsular and the Ishasha sector.

Therefore, Queen Elizabeth National Park is open for both day and night game drives.

Bird Watching In Queen Elizabeth National Park-h4

Birding is an exploratory activity in which you observe birds from their natural habitat. There are over 600 bird species in the park and this gives you a wide variety for your birding experience in Uganda.

Boat Cruise In Queen Elizabeth National Park-h4

This activity majorly occurs on the Kazinga Channel, which spreads with various birds and animals in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Mweya Lodge are currently responsible for these boating trips.

Also, boat cruises are done in the Katunguru bridge area and different communities manage it especially to promote Uganda budget safaris.

The boat cruise on Kazinga Channel begins from the shipping deck just below Mweya Peninsular and goes as far as the shore of Lake Edward.

Other activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park include

Chimpanzee tracking
Guided nature walks
Cultural tours and community walks
Lion tracking
Mongoose tracking
Crater lakes tour
Hippo Census

Lodges In Queen Elizabeth National Park-h3

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the national parks in Uganda with many accommodation facilities that range in luxury, midrange, and budget.

Luxury lodges in Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda include

Mweya Safari Lodge
Mazike Valley Lodge
Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Elephant Plains Lodge
Queen Elizabeth Katara Lodge
Kyangabi Crater Resort
Jacana Safari Lodge
Kyambura Game Lodge

Midrange Lodges in Queen Elizabeth National Park are

Enganzi Game Lodge
Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge
Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Baboon Safari Resort
Kingfisher Lodge
Enjojo Lodge
Marafiki Safari Lodge
Savannah Resort Hotel
Buffalo Safari Lodge
Lake Munyanyange Caves Lodge
Kasenyi Safari Camp
Parkview Safari Lodge
Kikorongo Safari Lodge
Elephant Hab Lodge
Njovu Park Lodge

Budget Lodges to stay in while in Queen Elizabeth National Park are the

Pumba Safari Cottages
Bull Bush River Camp
Tembo Safari Lodge
Irungu Forest Safari Lodge and Campsite
Simba Safari Camp
Kazinga Channel View Resort
Mweya Hostel
Topi Lodge
Engiri Game Lodge and Campsite
Forest Hog Safari Camp
Elephant Home
Kitandara Hippo Hill Lodge
Craters Campsite and Country Lodge
Queen Elizabeth Safari Camp
Lake Chibwera Camp
Queen Elizabeth Safari Lodge
Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp
Kabatooro Guest House
Kyambura Tented Camp

What Is Unique About Queen Elizabeth National Park?-h3

The fact that Queen Elizabeth National Park is a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve makes it unique. Amidst all the wildlife in this park, different communities live alongside the animals inside it and the park sustains both of them.

This park is the only place in Uganda where you will meet the rear tree-climbing Lions.

Additionally, Queen Elizabeth National Park has the highest bird checklist in East Africa, with over 600 bird species documented.

The park also holds the highest concentration of Hippos in one place, with over 5000 according to the last census by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Kazinga Channel is also another uniqueness at Queen Elizabeth National Park. This stream connecting Lake George and Lake Edward abounds with various wild animals that drink and bathe from it.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-h2

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park derives its name from the Runyakitara word “Mubwindi” which means a dark place. This indicates the thick dense forest of this Uganda Park.

This park sits in the Southwestern region of Uganda in Kanungu district.

Bwindi impenetrable forest was designated a world heritage site in 1994 due to its profuse ecology and biodiversity.

The endangered Mountain Gorillas are specifically the major attraction in this park and the primary factor for which the park was gazetted in 1991. There are over 459 Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi, which is nearly half of their world population. These Mountain Gorillas live in 50 different families, but 20 families are habituated for gorilla trekking safaris in the park.

Bwindi impenetrable forest Uganda is therefore one of the only two national parks in Uganda where you can find Mountain Gorillas. The other destination is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

This park is also home to over 120 mammal species including 10 primate species. There are about 30 rare Forest Elephants, 6 species of Antelopes, and 5 kinds of Forest Duikers in the park.

Additionally, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a sanctuary to over 350 bird species with all the 24 Albertine rift endemic birds and 14 others that are not in any other place in Uganda.

This park also has 200 Buffer fly species and many reptiles and amphibians with the outstanding Three Horned Chameleon which is an Albertine Rift endemic.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda has 4 sectors which are Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo. These regions are the places where Uganda tourists do Gorilla trekking. The Buhoma sector is where you can particularly do birding.

Another enthralling aspect in Bwindi Uganda is the indigenous Batwa pygmy tribe who were evicted from the park’s forest in 1991. Their peculiar forest culture has since been evolving even though they have not adjusted to the new ways.

Bwindi holds many luxury, mid-range, and budget lodges that will make your tranquil stay a more memorable one.

You can access the park through the various routes either by road or air with the geographic coordinates 1.0521° S, 29.6201° E.

Let us take a deeper step into this unique national park of Uganda.

Background/ History Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-h3

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was divided into two Crown Forest Reserves in 1932.

The Northern sector was Kayonza Crown Forest Reserve and the southern part was Kasatora Crown Forest Reserve.

The reserves were communally 207 km2 and in 1942, the two crown forest reserves were joined as one and renamed Impenetrable Central Crown Forest.

In 1948, the forest was re-gazetted as Impenetrable Central Crown Forest Reserve under the 1947 Forest Act and the new forest covered 298 square kilometers. It was managed jointly by the Ugandan government’s game and forest departments.

In 1961, this forest reserve was designated an animal sanctuary, and amendments were made in 1964 to protect the Mountain Gorillas. This was when the forest was renamed the Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve.

Two other forest reserves joined this main reserve in 1966, enlarging its area to about 321 square kilometers. It was then managed as both a game sanctuary and a forest reserve.

In 1991, the Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve was designated one of the national parks in Uganda with its current name, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The major intention was to protect numerous species like Mountain Gorillas.

Further demarcations of the park affected the Batwa Pygmies who were banished from inside the forest and prevented from entering or accessing it.

Gorilla trekking began in April 1993 after the habituation of the first gorilla family, which raised the park’s tourism to another level.

In 1994, the Mbwa tract which was 10 square kilometers was added to the park and Bwindi was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This was because of its abundance of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Also in 1994, Uganda Wildlife Authority became responsible for the management of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The Bwindi and Mgahinga Conservation Trust was formed in 1995 to manage the two parks.

Destabilization affected Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 1999 when there was an Interahamwe attack that greatly affected Gorilla safaris. This park was closed for many months, but tourism later recovered, thrived, and grew tremendously.

A piece of land, 4.3 square kilometers, just near the park was added to the park in 2003.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Location -H3

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is in Western Uganda in Kanungu District.

The park neighbors the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kisoro District, Rukungiri District, and Rukiga District.

Bwindi Uganda is about 500km from Kampala, the Capital city of Uganda and lies on the geographic coordinates 1.0521° S, 29.6201° E.

Attractions In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-H3

Even though Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is famous for its Mountain Gorillas, there are also various other wonders to encounter in this park.

The attractions are in 4 major sectors which are Buhoma in the North East, Rushaga in the South West, Ruhija in the East, and Nkuringo in the South West.

Attractions in Bwindi include

Mountain Gorillas
Birds
The Batwa tribe

Bwindi Gorillas-h4

The Bwindi national park’s Mountain Gorillas are its star attraction and their population is almost half of the Mountain Gorillas in the whole world.

Mountain Gorillas are scientifically called Gorilla Beringei Beringei and they are omnivore mammals that live in families led by an alpha. Their leader is responsible for planning activities like eating, nesting, and group movement.

They majorly feed on roots, shoots, fruit, wild celery, tree bark, and pulp. However, 2% of their diet consists of insects and other invertebrates.

Their lifespan is 35 years in the wild and they share 98% percent of DNA matches with humans.

These Mountain Gorillas survive on the green, volcanic slopes of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo hence being endemic to these places.

A female Mountain Gorilla gives birth after a gestation period of about 9 months and she can produce over 6 babies in her lifetime.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about 20 habituated families out of the 50 in the park. These habituated families live in different sectors so let us discover them below.

The Buhoma sector has the;

Mubare gorilla family
Habinyanja gorilla family
Rushegura gorilla family
Katwe Gorilla Family
Muyambi Gorilla Family

The Rushaga sector has the;

Nshongi gorilla family
Mishaya gorilla group
Kahungye gorilla family
Busingye gorilla group
Bweza gorilla group:
Bikingi gorilla family
Rwigi gorilla family

The Ruhija Region has the;

Bitukura Gorilla Family
Oruzugo Gorilla Family
Kyaguliro Gorilla Family
Mukiza Gorilla Family

The Nkuringo Region has the;

Nkuringo Gorilla Family
Bushaho Gorilla Family
Christmas gorilla family

Other Primates In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-H4

This park has other primates apart from the Mountain Gorillas, for example

Chimpanzees
L’Hoest Monkeys
Black and White Colobus Monkeys
Red-Tailed Monkeys
Olive Baboons

Birds In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-h4

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda is famous for having all 24 Albertine rift endemic birds. They include

Handsome Francolin
Rwenzori Nightjar

Rwenzori Turaco

Dwarf Honeyguide
Kivu Ground Thrush
African Green Broadbill

Red-Throated Alethe
Collared Apalis

Archer’s Robin-Chat
Grauer’s Warbler
Mountain Masked Apalis

Grauer’s Scrub Warbler
Yellow-Eyed Black Flycatcher
Neumann’s Warbler

Red-Faced Woodland Warbler

Chapin’s Flycatcher
Stripe-Breasted Tit
Rwenzori Batis
Blue-Headed Sunbird

Purple-Breasted Sunbird

Regal Sunbird
Shelley’s Crimsonwing
Dusky Crimsonwing
Strange Weaver

The park is also a reliable source for birding safaris in Uganda since it holds over 350 bird species.

Animals In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-h4

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has a rich number of animals because of its high altitude and its importance as a refuge for wildlife since the Pleistocene error. Some of these animals include

Forest Elephants
Sitatunga antelopes
Bush duikers
clawless otter
Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys
Bushbucks
African golden cats
The rare giant forest hog
Bushpig
Domestic cats
Common warthog
Sun squirrels
Frogs
Toads
Salamanders
Lizards
Snakes
Skinks
chameleons
Squirrels

Other attractions in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The Batwa pygmies
Vegetation in Bwindi national park
Butterfly species in the park
Bwindi’s scenery

Activities In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-h3

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a home for adventurous exploits. Below are the various activities to do at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda-h4

This involves a group of tourists walking to find a Gorilla family to spend time with them.

The tourist activity began in 1993 when the first trekkers visited the Mubare family in the Buhoma sector. Over time, however, this activity is famous among visitors on Uganda safari tours.

It begins with a briefing at 8:00 am and the activity itself starts at 9:00 am. Nonetheless, only eight people can go for a Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi and only those above 15 years can do it.

Gorilla Habituation Experience In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-h4

This is a process by which humans relate closely with the Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park thus making them used to human presence.

This activity occurs through a group of researchers, conservationists, and trackers.

Habituating the gorillas takes between 2 to 3 years and the current family being habituated in Bwindi National Park are the Bikingi and Bushaho Gorilla families.

Birding In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-h4

Bwindi National Park has over 350 bird species including all 24 Albertine Rift endemics hence, this is a birding spot for every birder.

Other activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Batwa cultural encounter
Nature walks and hiking
Canoeing at Lake Mutanda near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Accommodation In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-H3

Luxury Lodges In Bwindi

Buhoma Lodge
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Mahogany Springs Safari Lodge.
Volcanoes Safari Lodge
Gorilla Safari Lodge
Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

Midrange Lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Gorilla Mist Camp
Gorilla Valley Lodge
Silverback Lodge
Eco Marvel Gorilla Resort.
Mutanda Lake Resort
Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge.
Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Rushaga Gorilla Lodge
Ruhija Gorilla Lodge
Bakiga Lodge
Gorilla Close up
Gift Of Nature Lodge
Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp
Haven Lodge Buhoma
The Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel
Agandi Lodge

Budget Lodges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi View Bandas
Wagtail Eco Safari Camp
Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Nshongi Gorilla Resort
Trekkers Tavern Cottages
Ruhija Community Rest Camp
Bweza Gorilla Lodge.
Broadbill Forest Camp
Cuckooland Tented Lodge
Kisoro Travelers Rest
Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort And Campsite

What Makes Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Unique?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its biodiversity and the various ecosystems that it preserves.

This park holds almost half of the world’s Mountain Gorilla population. The park has 459 Mountain Gorillas out of the estimated 1,063 in the whole world!

Bwindi has all the 24 Albertine Rift endemic birds, making it a reputable birder’s haven.

Kibale Forest National Park-h2

Kibale Forest National Park is largely a forest habitat for Chimpanzees, and it is one of the best national parks in Uganda. It is known as the primate capital of the world due to its richness of over 13 primate species including Chimpanzees.

The park has over 1500 Uganda Chimps out of the estimated 5000 in Uganda. It also has over 375 bird species, 70 mammal species, and 250 Butterfly species thus making it a rich destination for wildlife safari in Uganda.

The park covers an area of 795 km2 and sits at an altitude ranging between 1100m to 1600m. In addition, the park has both lowlands and montane areas.

The major activity in this park is Chimpanzee tracking at the Kanyanchu visitor’s center. This center is also a favorable place for birding and monkey viewing.

Another major attraction near this park is the community-run Bigodi swamp.

Various accommodation classes facilitate your adventurous stay at Kibale National Park and they range from luxury to midrange and budget.

History Of Kibale Forest National Park-h3

Kibale National Park was first gazzeted in 1934 and then designated a national park in 1993.

Location Of Kibale Forest National Park-h3

Kibale Forest National Park is in Western Uganda in Kabarole District, the South East of Fort Portal.

The park is about 326 km from Kampala the capital of Uganda and borders the Ndali Kasenda crater area, Queen Elizabeth National park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, and Semuliki National Park.

The park lies at the geographic coordinates 0.4862° N, 30.3897° E.

Attractions In Kibale National Park-h3

Kibale National Park is a sanctuary of many attractions as compared to other national parks in Uganda so let us look at them.

Chimpanzees In Kibale Forest National Park-H4

Chimpanzees are the major attractions in Kibale Forest National Park. There are over 1500 of them out of the approximated 5000 in the whole of Uganda.

These Chimpanzees are the closest relatives to humans with about 98%-99% DNA match.

Four Chimpanzee communities are being habituated in the park, but the most visited is the Kanyanchu community which has been habituated for about 25 years. Thus, increasing the chances of seeing these Chimpanzees to 90%.

The Kanyantale community is another popular community to spot, and they have thrived since 1993.

Other Primates In Kibale National Park-h4

Apart from the Chimpanzees, Kibale National Park has 12 other primate species that live in families. These primates are present both in the park and in the Bigodi Wetland sanctuary, hence boosting primate safaris in the park. They include

Red-Tailed Monkeys
Black And White Colobus Monkeys
L’Hoest’s Monkeys
Olive Baboon
Vervet Monkeys
Gray Cheeked Mangabeys
Uganda Mangabey
Blue Monkey
Uganda Red Colobus Monkey
Pattas Monkey
Potto
Demidoff Galago

Birds In Kibale National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is a haven of over 375 Uganda bird species including the Green-Breasted Pitta which is one of Uganda’s most sought-after birds.

Other notable birds in the park include

Abyssinian Ground Thrush
Afep Pigeon
African Pitta
Black Bee-Eater
Black-Capped Apalis
Black-Eared Ground Thrush
Blue-Breasted Kingfisher
Blue-Headed Bee-Eater
Blue-Headed Sunbird
Brown Illadopsis
Brown-Chested Alethe
Cassin’s Spinetail
Crowned Eagle
Dusky Crimsonwing
Green-Breasted Pitta
Grey Parrot
Little Greenbul
Masked Apalis
Nahan’s Francolin
Purple-Breasted Sunbird
Red-Chested Owlet
Red-Faced Woodland Warbler
Ruwenzori Apalis
Scaly-Breasted Illadopsis
Western Nicator
White-Naped Pigeon
Yellow-Rumped Tinkerbird

Wildlife Animals In Kibale National Park

With over 70 mammal species, this park keeps various animals of Uganda like primates, herbivores, and carnivores.

Some of these animals include

Forest Elephants
Forest Buffaloes
Bush Bucks
Sitatunga
Antelopes
Leopards
Forest Hog
Warthogs
Blue Duiker
Red Duiker
Peter’s Duiker
Red-Tailed Monkeys
Black and White Colobus Monkeys
L’Hoest’s Monkeys
Olive Baboon
Vervet Monkeys
Gray Cheeked Mangabeys
Uganda Mangabey
Blue Monkey
Uganda Red Colobus Monkey
Pattas Monkey
The Potto
Demidoff Galago
Geckos
Chameleons

Other attractions in Kibale Forest National Park are

Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Near Kibale National Park
Bigodi Wetland Near Kibale National Park
Ndali-Kasenda Craters Near Kibale Forest National Park
Butterfly Species In Kibale Forest National Park

Activities In Kibale National Park-H3

Kibale National Park abounds with many activities to do during your safari, they are

Chimpanzee Tracking In Kibale Forest National Park-H4

Kibale National Park is the best destination for Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda. The park has the highest number of Chimpanzees than any other place in Uganda and there is about a 90% to 95% chance of seeing them.

The activity occurs at Kanyanchu with a briefing at the Kanyanchu visitor’s center.

Maximally 6 visitors visit the community in each session and they do the activity for between 2-5 hours depending on how fast they meet this family.

Only those above 16 are allowed to do Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee Habituation In Kibale Forest National Park-h4

Chimpanzee habituation is the process by which wild Chimps are made to get used to human presence.

This activity happens once a day and it begins at the Kanyanchu visitors center at 6:30 am.

Bird Watching In Kibale Forest National Park-h4

Bird watching in Kibale National Park mostly occurs when visitors are for the Chimp trekking safari activity from the Kanyanchu Visitor’s center.

The Bigodi Wetland sanctuary near the park is also a good destination to do Uganda birding safaris around the park.

Other activities in Kibale National Park

Nature/ forest walks and hiking in Kibale Forest National Park
Community tours in Kibale Forest National Park
Crater lake tours near Kibale Forest National Park
Bushcraft children in Kibale Forest National Park

Accommodation In Kibale Forest National Park-h3

Kibale National Park has various accommodation facilities including those ranging in luxury, midrange, and budget.

Luxury Lodges in Kibale Forest National Park

Primate Lodge
Crater Safari Lodge
Kyaninga Safari Lodge
Ndali Lodge
Papaya Lake Lodge
Aramaga Safari Lodge

Midrange Lodges in Kibale Forest National Park

Isunga Lodge
Kibale Forest camp
Mountains of the Moon hotel.
Turaco Treetops
Chimpundu Lodge

Budget Lodges in Kibale Forest National Park

Rwetera Safari Park
Chimpanzee forest Lodge (guest house)
Lake Nyamirima cottages
Mwamba Kelele Lodge
Rwenzori view Guesthouse
Nyinabulitwa country Resort

How Is Kibale National Park Unique Among The National Parks In Uganda -H3

Kibale is a forest national park that preserves the highest number of Chimpanzees in Uganda. The park has over 1500 Chimpanzees out of the estimated 5000 in Uganda. It is therefore a sure destination for tourists who would love to experience Chimpanzee tracking safaris.

This park also has 12 other primate species apart from the Chimpanzees, hence making it surely the primate capital of the world.

Kibale National Park is also a top destination for butterfly safaris since the forest has many butterfly species.

Murchison Falls National Park-H2

Murchison Falls National Park also known as Kabalega National Park is the oldest and largest of the national parks in Uganda. The park was established in 1952 and it covers an area of 3,840 km2.

It is famous for its waterfalls which many consider the world’s strongest waterfalls.

Murchison Falls National Park is blessed with about 76 mammal species and over 556 bird species, including the rare shoebill.

Major safari activities in Murchison Falls National Park include wildlife safari game drives and bird watching. Others include Chimpanzee tracking, a boat cruise at Victoria Nile, nature walks, and community tours.

Murchison Falls National Park boasts various accommodation facilities ranging in luxury, midrange, and budget to make your Uganda safari tour more than memorable.

History Of Murchison Falls National Park-h3

The first explorers to visit Murchison Falls National Park were John Speke and James Grant in 1862.

Sir Samuel Baker named the Murchison falls after the geologist Roderick Murchison who was then the president of the Royal Geographical society.

Between 1907 and 1912, local inhabitants were evicted from the park as boundaries for its demarcation were beginning to be set.

It became a game reserve in 1926 and in 1952, the British declared it a national park under the National Park act of Uganda.

In the 1970s during the presidential reign of President Idd Amin Dada, the park’s name changed to “Kabalega National Park” after the Omukama of Bunyoro. However, its original name was reinstated after the downfall of the president in 1979.

Location Of Murchison Falls National Park-H3

Murchison Falls National Park is in Northwestern Uganda, Masindi District at the rim of the Albert Rift valley. However, there are majorly four districts that neighbor the park and these are Nwoya, Bulisa, Kiryandongo, and Masindi.

This park lies on the geographic coordinates1.9289 ° N, 31.6644° E with a distance of about 305km from Kampala.

Attractions Murchison Falls National Park-H3

Murchison Falls National Park welcomes very many visitors each year due to its abundance of attractions and which include

Murchison Falls
Animals
Birds

Murchison Falls In Murchison Falls National Park-h4

Sir Samuel Baker named Murchison falls after Roderick Murchison, a geologist who then was the president of the Royal Geographical society.

Murchison Falls flow by the Nile River through an 8-meter gorge and many refer to it as the strongest waterfall in the world.

Animals In Murchison Falls National Park-H4

There are over 76 mammal species in Murchison Falls National Park ranging from carnivores, herbivores, primates, and reptiles. Some of the animals to see include

Herbivores

Rothschild giraffes
Elephants
Buffaloes
Hippopotamus
Jackson’s Hartebeests
Uganda Kob
Oribi
Deffasa Waterbuck
Bush Buck
Reedbucks
Warthogs
Aardvark
Bush pigs
Duikers

Carnivores

Lions
Leopards
Spotted Hyena
Serval cats
Jackals
Honey badger
African Civets
African Wild cat
Genets
Mongoose

Primates

Chimpanzees
Olive Baboons
Patas Monkeys
Black and White Colobus Monkeys
Vervet Monkeys
Red-tailed Monkeys
Blue Monkeys
Grey cheeked Mangabays

Reptiles

Nile Crocodiles
Monitor Lizard
Geckos
Giant Chameleon
Flap-Necked Chameleon
Graceful Chameleon
African Cobra
Puff adders
Gabon Vipers
Rock python
Boom slang
Green mambas
Black mambas

Birds In Murchison Falls National Park-h4

There are over 556 bird species in Murchison Falls National Park, making it a rich place for birding tours in Uganda. This includes the rare and elusive shoebill and various wading and savannah bird species.

Migratory birds are in the park from around November to April while some birds to see in Murchison Falls National Park include

Shoebill
White-faced Whistling-Duck
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Knob-billed Duck
Egyptian Goose
Red-headed Lovebird
Meyer’s Parrot
Gray Cuckooshrike
White-breasted Cuckooshrike
Ring-necked Dove
Vinaceous Dove
Laughing Dove
Brubru
Northern Puffback
Gray-backed Fiscal
Yellow-billed Shrike
Northern Fiscal
Pennant-winged Nightjar
Standard-winged Nightjar
Black-shouldered Nightjar
Flappet Lark
Western Nicator
Green Crombec
Lanner Falcon
Peregrine Falcon

River Nile In Murchison Falls National Park-h4

This longest river in Africa passes through Murchison Falls National Park and bisects the park into two parts, then flows westwards into Lake Albert.

The river also flows into a narrow 8-meter gorge, hence forming the Murchison Falls.

This river has not only facilitated great sights but also boat cruise safaris in the park.

Other attractions in Murchison Falls National Park are;

Karuma Falls
The neighboring people and communities
Rabongo Forest
Kaniyo Pabidi eco-tourism site in Budongo Forest
Paraa

Activities In Murchison Falls National Park-H3

The park has numerous activities to explore during your safari. They include

Boat Cruise In Murchison Falls National Park-h4

The Murchison Falls boat cruise takes place toward the bottom of the falls and the Albert Delta.

On a boat cruise, you will be able to spot the different wildlife animals, and birds as you experience the waters of the Nile.

Hiking To The Top Of Murchison Falls-h4

Hiking to the top of Murchison Falls National Park begins from Baker’s point and it takes about 45 minutes to reach the top. The activity requires physical fitness for the hikers.

Game Drives In Murchison Falls National Park-h4

This activity occurs in the Northern sector and the Southern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. In the Northern sector, game drives occur in the Buligi track while in the Southern sector, it occurs in the honeymoon track and it goes for about 2-5 hours.

Other activities in Murchison Falls National Park

Bird watching
Chimpanzee tracking
Nature Walks
Sport Fishing
Community tours and visits

Accommodation In Murchison Falls National Park-h3

Accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park ranges from luxury to midrange, and budget.

Luxury accommodations in Murchison Falls National park include

Paraa Safari Lodge
Nile safari Lodge
Bakers Lodge
Chobe Safari Lodge

Mid-range accommodations in Murchison Falls National Park are

Fort Murchison Lodge
Pakuba Safari Lodge
Sambiya River Lodge
Kabalega Wilderness Lodge
Twiga Safari Lodge
Murchison River Lodge

Below are the budget Lodges in Murchison Falls National Park

Red Chilli Rest Camp
Hornbill Bush Lodge
Heritage safari Lodge
Parkside Safari Lodge
Bar Lyec Safari Lodge
Yebo Safari Camp
Boomu Women’s Group Bandas
Mama Washindi Lodge.
New Court View Hotel
Masindi Hotel.
Geo Lodges Shoebill Campsite

What Makes Murchison Falls National Park Unique Among The National Parks In Uganda?

Murchison Falls National Park has the most powerful waterfall in the world, which is Murchison Falls.

The longest River in Africa, which is River Nile, passes through Murchison Falls National Park. Hence attracting various tourists for different adventures.

Murchison Falls National Park is the first and largest national park in Uganda, making it an icon of the tourism industry in the country.

Still, the park has an innumerable number of animals and birds which are a great source of tourism in the country.

Lake Mburo National Park-h2

Lake Mburo National Park, with the theme, “Whispers of the wild” is the smallest savannah national park in Uganda with an area of 370 km2.

This park sits at an altitude of 1,220m-1,828m above sea level and has over 68 mammal species, counting the highest Burchell’s Zebras.

The park was named after Lake Mburo which forms a 50km-long wetland system linked with 13 other lakes linked by a swamp.

Lake Mburo National Park also has the highest concentration of leopards and is the only place in Uganda to find the Impala antelopes.

This park also harbors over 350 bird species, thus making it one of the top destinations for birding safaris in Uganda.

More so, the park is the only national park in Uganda where you can do horseback riding and cycling.

Lake Mburo National Park has a variety of lodges and campsites where you can stay during your adventure in the area. They range from luxury, midrange, and budget.

History Of Lake Mburo National Park-h3

Lake Mburo National Park derives its name from the myth of the two brothers, that is, Mburo and Kigarama. One night, Kigarama had a dream that their residence had flooded and because dreams were seen as a warning from the ancestors, he told it to his brother Mburo.

However, Mburo did not respond immediately but Kigarama left with his family to a nearby hill. That very night, the place flooded and Mburo drowned in it with his family. The lake formed was then called Lake Mburo in memory of Mburo and the nearby hill, Kigarama to remember the Kigarama family that migrated there.

Lake Mburo National Park was first gazzeted as a controlled hunting area in 1933. In 1963, the park was made an animal reserve and it became a national park in 1983 when Dr. Milton Obote was the president of Uganda.

It is believed that president Obote’s decision to make it a park was intentional to punish the Ankole who were against his reign. This was because the Ankole pastoralists used the land to graze their cattle.

Location Of Lake Mburo National Park-h3

Lake Mburo National Park is in Western Uganda in Kiruhura District. Four districts surround the park and these are Lyantonde, Mbarara, Isingiro, and Kiruhura Districts.

This park lies at the geographic coordinates 0.5805° S, 30.9919° E, and is about 240 km from Kampala city.

Attractions At Lake Mburo National Park-h3

This savannah national park holds a great variety of things to see including

Animals In Lake Mburo National Park-h4

Lake Mburo National Park has over 68 mammal species with the highest population of Burchell’s Zebras in Uganda. It is also the only park in Uganda where you will find the Impala Antelopes.

Therefore, the animals to see in Lake Mburo National Park are

Burchell’s Zebras
Impala Antelopes
Leopards
Rothschild Giraffes
Elands
Buffaloes
Oribi
Defassa Waterbucks
Topi
Olive Baboons
Vervet Monkeys

Birds In Lake Mburo National Park-h4

Lake Mburo National Park is a birder’s paradise that mostly has acacia-related birds. You can see these birds, especially in the Rwonyo zone and some you can see are the

Mosque Swallow
Black-Bellied Bustard
Bare-Faced-Go Away
Ruppell’s Starling
Brown-Necked Parrot
Meyer’s Parrot
Gray Cuckooshrike
Black Cuckooshrike
Petit’s Cuckooshrike

Other attractions at Lake Mburo National Park are;

Culture and people around Lake Mburo
Lakes in Lake Mburo National Park
Rubanga Forest Lake Mburo National Park

Activities In Lake Mburo National Park-h3

Lake Mburo National Park has various activities that you can enjoy in your safari tours to Uganda. These include

Game Drives In Lake Mburo National Park-h4

Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park occur during the day and the night to view various wildlife.

During the game drives, you will view animals such as Zebras, Buffaloes, Impalas, Giraffes, and many other bird species.

Boat Cruise In Lake Mburo National Park-H4

The boat cruise in this park occurs on the small Lake Mburo and it takes about 2 hours where you can view the various wildlife and birds.

Bird Watching In Lake Mburo National Park-H4

Lake Mburo National Park hosts over 350 bird species hence making it one of the ideal destinations to do birding. Since the park is also in swampy areas, it hosts a number of both wading and savannah birds.

Other activities in Lake Mburo National Park

Nature walks
Horseback riding
Sport fishing
Cycling
Community and cultural tours

Accommodation In Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park holds many lodges that give amazing experiences to customers. These lodges range from luxury, midrange, and budget. They include

Luxury Lodges in Lake Mburo National Park

Mihingo Lodge
Kigambira Safari Lodge
Mburo Safari Lodge

Midrange Lodges in Lake Mburo National Park

Acadia Cottages
Rwakobo
Mantana Tented Camp
Mpogo Safari Lodge

Budget accommodation in Lake Mburo National Park

Mburo Eagle’s Nest
Rwonyo Rest Camp
Leopard Rest Camp

What Makes Lake Mburo National Park Unique-h3

This savannah National Park has the highest number of Burchell’s Zebras and the highest concentration of leopards in Uganda.

Lake Mburo National Park is also the only protected area in Uganda where you will find the Impala Antelopes.

It is also the only National Park in Uganda where you can do horseback riding and cycling.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park-H2

Rwenzori Mountains National Park was named after the mountains themselves, also called the mountains of the moon because their peaks have snow glaciers.

It is among the most toured destinations in Uganda due to its richness in wonderful rare features like the vegetation.

The park has 6 mountains and sits in a range of 120 km in length and 65 km wide. These 6 mountains are among the tallest mountains in Africa and hiking those take about 7-9 days.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park has 217 bird species with 19 Albertine rift endemics and over 70 mammal species.

There are 20 beautiful lakes that you can see while hiking to the top of the mountains while the richness of flora is a whole other new experience. The mountains have the land of triffids which are a very rare plant, growing only on the tallest mountains in the world.

Mountain hiking is the main tourist activity in the Rwenzori Mountain National Park, whereby various tourists go to the great heights of Margherita peak.

Lodging facilities at the park or near it include luxury, midrange, and budget hotels.

History Of Rwenzori Mountains National Park -h3

Ptolemy, an ancient Greek first called the Rwenzori Mountains the “Mountains Of The Moon” in AD150, and the Duke of Abruzzi first hiked this highest peak in 1906.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park was gazetted as a national park in 1991. In 1994, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and then a Ramsar site in 2008.

Location Of Rwenzori Mountains National Park-H3

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is located in South Western Uganda in the Bundibugyo district in the Western Albertine Rift Valley.

The Rwenzori Mountains in the park lie in both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the park lies along geographic coordinates 00°22′N 29°57′E.

Virunga National Park also borders the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Attractions In Rwenzori Mountains National Park-H3

This destination abounds with several attractions and they include,

Rwenzori Mountains In Rwenzori Mountains National Park-h4

There are 6 mountains in Rwenzori Mountains National Park and they are among the tallest mountains in Africa,

Mountain Speke at 4,890 meters is (the 4th tallest in Africa)
Mountain Stanley at 5,109 meters (3rd tallest in Africa)

Mountain Baker at 4,843 meters (5th tallest in Africa)

Mountain Emin at 4,798 meters
Mountain Gessi at 4,715 meters
Mountain Luigi da Savoia at 4,545 meters
The Rwenzori Glaciers Or The Snow Peaks In Rwenzori National Park-h4

The snowy glaciers that cover the Rwenzori Mountains are another attraction in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park Uganda.

Although the Rwenzori Mountains sit near the equator, the mountain ranges are permanently snowy.

You can reach these peaks through two trails, that is the Central Circuit Trails and Kilembe Trails.

Below are the snowcapped peaks in the Rwenzori ranges in Mountain Rwenzori National Park

Margherita Peak on Mountain Stanley
Vittorio Emanuele Peak on Mountain Speke
Albert Peak on Mountain Stanley
Edward Peak on Mountain Baker
Alexandra Peak on Mountain Stanley
Vegetation Zones In Rwenzori National Park

Unlike other national parks in Uganda, Rwenzori Mountains National Park is more famous for its flora than for its fauna. The mountains have different peculiar vegetation types on almost every level. Among these different types include

Afro-montane forest 1,800-2,500 meters
Bamboo zone 2,500-3,000 meters
Heather zone 3,000-4,000 meters
Alpine Zone 4,000-4,500 meters
Rock and glacier 4,500-5109 meters

Other attractions in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Birds in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The triffids in Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Wild Animals In Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Lakes in Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Bulembe houses in Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Communities around Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Activities In Rwenzori Mountains National Park-h3

The various activities to do at Rwenzori Mountains National Park include;

Mountain hiking In Rwenzori Mountains National Park-h4

Mountain climbing is one of the great activities to do at the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. There are six summits of the mountains to climb and each of them will give you breathtaking scenery below.

The different trails to follow while mountain climbing at the Mountain Rwenzori National Park are the

Central Circuit trail.
Kilembe Trail.
Bukurungu Trail
Bird Watching In Rwenzori Mountains National Park-h4

Birding in this park is another of the most adventurous activities. The park has about 217 bird species with 19 out of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics. This activity is best done in the morning and the evening hours when the birds are active.

Other activities at the Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Nature walks in Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Community and cultural visits around Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Game viewing

Accommodation In Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park has luxury, mid-range, and budget lodges

Luxury Lodges in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Equator Snow Lodge

Midrange Lodges in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Hotel Margherita
Sandton Hotel Kasese

Budget Accommodation in Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Ruboni Community Camp
Rwenzori Trekkers Hostel
Rwenzori International Hotel
Rwenzori Turaco View Campsite
Rwenzori Backpackers
Mihunga Safari Lodge

Why Is Rwenzori Mountains National Park Unique-H3

Rwenzori Mountains National Park holds some of the highest peaks in Africa. These peaks are permanently snowcapped and climbing them is a very fulfilling adventure.

Being famous for its vegetation, Rwenzori Mountains National Park has some of the rear plants, some of which grow on only the highest mountains in the world. Mountain climbers at the Rwenzori Mountains will meet the land of triffids which is a whole new wonder of its own.

The park has some of the endemic plants, animals, and birds that you can not find in any other part of Uganda.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park has 19 out of the 24 Albertine Rift Endemic birds that you can see during a Uganda birding safari.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-h2

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest of all national parks in Uganda, having an area of 33. 7km2 and an altitude between 2227m and 4127m above sea level.

It is home to the transboundary endangered Mountain Gorillas which move through Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC.

This park is particularly home to the habituated Nyakagezi gorilla family and the golden monkeys which are not in any other place in Uganda.

Mgahinga National Park also harbors the Virunga Mountains, which are also an important source of attraction in the park.

The park is a good destination for birding safaris as it has over 180 bird species with 14 Albertine Rift endemics. Furthermore, over 76 mammal species are also in the park providing memorable wildlife tours in Uganda.

For cultural enthusiasts, you may want to meet the indigenous Batwa tribe that once lived inside the forest before they were evicted.

Mgahiga Gorilla National Park also has various accommodation facilities ranging from luxury, midrange, and budget.

History Of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-h3

Mgahinga National Park derives its name from the local word “Gahinga” which means small piles of stones.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was declared a game sanctuary in 1930 and was acknowledged as a National park in 1991.

Location Of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-h3

This park lies along geographic coordinates 1.3641° S, 29.6383° E.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda borders Mgahinga National Park in the South West. On the other hand, Virunga National Park borders it in the West.

Attractions In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-h3

The various attractions in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park include

Mountain Gorillas In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-h4

There is one habituated family that lives permanently in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family.

However, there is another transboundary Gorilla family called the Hirwa Gorilla Family that migrated from Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

These families can be tracked on your Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda.

Golden Monkeys In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-h4

The Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga National Park live only in the Albertine Rift Valley hence in Uganda, you can only see them in this park.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority suggests that they be habituated to promote tourism in Uganda.

Wild Animals In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-h4

Mgahinga National Park has about 79 Mammal species that live in the Montane and Bamboo vegetation. Hence a source for wildlife safaris.

Other attractions In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Virunga Mountains
Birds in Mgahinga National Park
Batwa Pygmies around Mgahinga National Park

Activities In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-h3

There are various activities to do at Mgahinga National Park;

Gorilla Trekking In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-h4

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the four places in the world where you can do Gorilla Trekking. The other three are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Virunga National Park in Rwanda.

In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, you can participate in tracking the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family.

Golden Monkey Trekking-h4

Tracking Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is easier than tracking Gorillas because they do not usually change their nests. Your guide will lead you through the Gahinga trail to trek the monkeys.

Mount Gahinga Hike-h4

Among the three Virunga volcanoes, Mount Gahinga is the easiest to hike because it is the smallest among the three.

Nonetheless, one needs to be fit for this activity which will give you beautiful scenery.

Other things to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The Batwa Trail Experience
Bird Watching
Nature Walks

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Accommodation-h3

Luxury Lodges in Mgahinga Gorilla national Park

Mount Gahinga Safari Lodge
Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge

Midrange Lodges in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mutanda Lake Resort
Lake Chahafi Resort
Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge.
Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge

Budget Lodges in Mgahinga National Park

Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp

What Makes Mgahinga Unique?-h3

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the only two places in Uganda where you will meet the endangered Mountain Gorillas. The other destination is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

This park is the only place in Uganda where you will meet the Golden Monkeys which are endemic to the Albertine Rift. This makes Mgahinga National Park the only place where you find Mountain Gorillas living together with the Golden Monkeys. Hence its theme “Where Silver Meets Gold”.

Additionally, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has 14 out of the 24 Albertine Rift Endemic birds.

The park lies below the Virunga ranges, giving tourists an expansive tour of these mountains as they view parts of Rwanda and Congo.

Kidepo Valley National Park-h2

Kidepo Valley National Park is a savannah National Park that covers an area of 1,442 km2 and stands at an altitude between 914m-2750m above sea level.

CNN Travel ranked Kidepo National Park as one of the best national parks in Africa.

This park hosts over 77 mammal species with four out of the big five animals of Africa. They include Lions, Elephants Buffaloes, and Leopards with Rhinos being absent.

This park is also one of the few places in Uganda to spot Cheetah and wild dogs and it has the highest concentration of Buffaloes than any other national park in Uganda.

Kidepo Valley boasts over 12 antelope species for example the Hartebeest, Eland, Uganda kob, Oribi, and Klipspringer.

There are over 476 bird species in Kidepo National Park with the Ostrich and the Secretary bird being common residents.

This park moreover boasts marvelous scenic views like the Narus valley, Kidepo valley, Mountain Morungule, and various vegetation types.

Kidepo is another ideal place for cultural encounters. You will meet the Masai-like Karamojong and the IK people who are the smallest tribe in Uganda.

Kidepo Valley National Park has various lodging choices ranging from luxury, midrange, and budget. These will all give you the unfathomable African experience that you have been yearning for.

Let us look at this beautiful park deeply

History Of Kidepo National Park-h3

The name Kidepo derives from the Dodoth language “akidep” meaning “to pick-up”.

In 1958 Kidepo National Park was a game reserve and in 1962, it was declared a national park under the presidential reign of Dr. Milton Obote. This, therefore, caused the local people living in the park to be evicted.

Also, the gazetting of the park occurred to prevent the spread of tsetse flies and to control human-animal conflicts.

Ian Ross a British then became the first warden of Kidepo Valley National Park.

Location Of Kidepo Valley National Park-h3

Kidepo National Park is located furthest among all the National Parks in Uganda, which is in the Northeastern corner, in Karamoja District.

South Sudan borders the park in the North and Kenya borders it in the East.

This park lies on the geographic coordinates 3.7274° N, 33.6931° E, and is about 510 km from Kampala.

Attractions In Kidepo National Park-h3

Kidepo Valley National Park has various attractions including;

Animals In Kidepo Valley National Park-h4

Carnivores

Lions
Leopards
Cheetah
Bat-eared fox.
Black-backed jackals
Side-striped jackal
Spotted Hyena
African Wild dogs
Aardwolf
Caracals

Herbivores

Elephants
Buffaloes
Rothschild giraffes
Burchell’s zebras
Bush pigs
Warthogs
Aardvark
Mongoose

Antelope species

Jacksons Hartebeest
Uganda kob
Eland
Oribi
Bushbuck
Waterbuck
Common duiker
Mountain reedbuck
Klipspringer
Greater Kudu
Lesser Kudu
Gunther’s dik dik
Grant’s gazelles
Bohor reedbuck
Beisa Oryx

Primates

Vervet Monkeys
Olive baboons
Patas Monkeys
Red tailed monkeys
Black and white Colobus monkeys
The Senegal Galago

Reptiles

Dwarf crocodile
Monitor lizards
Rock pythons
Geckos
Chameleons
African Cobra
Puff adders
Gabon Vipers
Rock python
Boom slang
Green mambas
Black mambas

Birds in Kidepo

Common Ostrich
Secretary bird
Helmeted Guinea fowl
African Cuckoo
Bearded Woodpecker
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Plain Nightjar
White-rumped Swift
Eurasian Moorhen
Long-crested Eagle
African Hawk-Eagle
Pied Cuckoo
Little Grebe
Hartlaub’s Bustard

The 2 Valleys Of Kidepo National Park-H4

The two valleys that provide amazing scenic views in the Kidepo Valley National Park are the

Narus Valley
Kidepo Valley
People And Culture Around Kidepo National Park-h4

The most common tribes around Kidepo Valley National Park are the

Karamojong, who are similar to the Masai of Kenya.
IK people are the least populated tribe in Uganda.

Other attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park during your safari to Uganda are

Kanangorok hot springs
Mountain Morungule
Namamukweny Valley
Kidepo River
Lomej Hills near Kidepo Valley National Park
Lonyili Mountain near Kidepo National Park

Activities In Kidepo Valley National Park-h3

Common activities at Kidepo Valley National Park are,

Game Drives
Bird Watching
Cultural Tours and Visits
Hiking And Nature Walks

Accommodation In Kidepo Valley National Park-h3

Luxury Accommodation Lodges in Kidepo National Park

Apoka Safari Lodge

Midrange Lodges in Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Savannah Lodge
Adere Safari Lodge
Nga Moru Wilderness Camp

Budget Lodges in Kidepo National Park

Apoka Rest camp
Zebra Safari Lodge
Nagusokopire and Kakine Camp sites

What Makes Kidepo Valley National Park Unique-h3

Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the places where you can do an amazing cultural tour where you can meet the indigenous Karamojong people and the elusive IK people.

The park also has the highest concentration of Buffaloes of any other Uganda national park.

This park also has over twelve Antelope species and over 476 bird species making it a beautiful destination for your wildlife safaris in Uganda.

Mount Elgon National Park-h2

Even though Mount Elgon National Park is among the least visited parks compared to other national parks in Uganda, it is rich in very beautiful attractions and safari activities.

This park was named after the Mountain Elgon which is the second tallest Mountain in Uganda after Mount Stanley.

Mountain Elgon also has the biggest volcanic base in the world and the second biggest caldera in Africa after Ngoro Ngoro crater caldera in Tanzania.

The mountain has 5 major peaks with Wagagai as the highest with a height of 4,321 m above sea level on the Ugandan side. On the other hand, it sits on an area of 1,121 km2.

Mount Elgon was once the tallest mountain in Africa, but due to erosion, the highest peak was reduced to 4,321m, hence now the 4^th high in East Africa.

Tourists are greatly impressed by hiking the mountain that reveals beautiful landscapes dotted with waterfalls, gorges, caves, and cliffs.

Mount Elgon National Park also has over 300 bird species that include endemics and migratory bird species. Some notable ones include

Jackson’s Francolin
Hartlaub’s Turaco
Bearded Vulture
Moorland Francolin

On the other hand, some major animals in the park are the

Forest Elephants
Duikers
Serval Cats
Olive Baboons
Oribis
Forest Hogs

Mount Elgon is the easiest mountain to climb in Uganda compared to other national parks as many unfit climbers have managed to reach its top.

Tourists can also enjoy other safari activities in the park including nature walks.

History Of Mountain Elgon National Park

This park was first established as a forest reserve in 1938 but was upgraded to a national park in 1993.

It was declared a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve in 2005.

Location Of Mountain Elgon National Park

Mountain Elgon National Park is in Eastern Uganda, Mbale District on the Uganda-Kenya border.

Mountain Elgon National Park lies on 1.0404° N, 34.7927° E.

Attractions At Mount Elgon National Park-h3

Below are the attractions at Mount Elgon National Park

The Peaks Of Mountain Elgon-h4

Mountain Elgon National Park has some of the highest peaks in Africa that are shared both between Uganda and Kenya. Hiking them is an activity every tourist to Mount Elgon should partake in.

The different peaks to hike in this mountain include

Wagagai Peak (4,321m)
Sudek Peak (4,302m) is on Uganda/Kenya border
Koitobos (4,222m) is in Ken
Mubiyi Peak (4,211m)
Jackson’s summit (4,161m)

Birds In Mountain Elgon National Park-h4

Mount Elgon National Park is home to over 300 bird species and many of them are afro montane moorland endemics.

Some of the birds to see at Mount Elgon National Park are the

Crested Guinea Fowl
Moorland Francolin
Scaly Francolin
Mountain Yellow-Warbler
Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler
Rock Martin
Bronze Sunbird
Northern Double-Collared Sunbird
Variable Sunbird
Golden-Breasted Bunting
Northern Crombec
Gray-Backed Fiscal
Northern Fiscal
White-Necked Raven

The Caldera At Mountain Elgon-h4

The Mountain Elgon erupted many years, but a large bowl-like caldera was left in the middle.

This is the second largest caldera after Ngoro Ngoro crater caldera in Tanzania.

More so, this caldera has some crater lakes and hot springs to view in your safari.

Other attractions at Mount Elgon National Park

Animals in Mountain Elgon
Vegetation zones in Mountain Elgon
Mountain Elgon caves
Jackson’s Pool and Jackson’s peak
Sipi Falls near Mountain Elgon National Park
People and communities around Mountain Elgon National Park
Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre
Wanale Ridge near Mountain Elgon National Park

Activities At Mount Elgon National Park-h3

Below are the various activities at Mount Elgon National Park,

Hiking Mount Elgon-h4

Mount Elgon National Park is easier to climb than any other mountain in Uganda. This is because some inexperienced climbers have managed to reach the top.

On the hike, you get to use various trails like

The Sasa Trail
Sipi Trail
The Piswa trail
Nature Walks In Mountain Elgon-h4

Nature walks in Mount Elgon National Park will get you closer to both animals and the local people.

On the nature walks, different trails are followed for example the

Khauka Cave Trail and
Bamboo Trail; which leads to the Kapkwai Cave through tropical and bamboo forests.
Birding At Mountain Elgon National Park-H4

There are over 300 bird species in Mount Elgon National Park with some species that are nowhere else in Uganda and an example is the Bearded Vulture.

The bird-watching trail begins at Pakwai Forest Conservation Center which goes through various vegetation including the forest montane from where you can see various monkeys.

Other activities at Mount Elgon National Park

Rock Climbing near Mountain Elgon National Park
Abseiling at Sipi Waterfalls near Mountain Elgon National Park
Community and Cultural tours around Mount Elgon National Park.
Mountain biking around Mountain Elgon National Park
Sport Fishing near Mountain Elgon National Park

Accommodation At Mount Elgon National Park-h3

Mount Elgon National Park has a variety of lodges in luxury, mid-range, and budget.

Luxury Lodges in Mountain Elgon National Park

Sipi River Lodge
Mountain Elgon Hotel and Spa

Standard Lodges in Mountain Elgon National Park

Mbale Resort Hotel
Rafiki Lodge Sipi
Wash and Wills Hotel Mbale
Kayegi Hotel Mbale.

Budget Lodges in Mountain Elgon National Park

Noah’s Ark Hotel
Lacam Lodge
Mountain Elgon View Hotel
Wimpey Hotel
Crow’s Nest Camp
Masha Hotel

What Makes Mountain Elgon National Park Unique-h3

Mount Elgon National Park is a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve that preserves both the different communities and the animals of the park.

This Uganda National Park has Mountain Elgon which has the world’s largest volcanic base and the second-biggest caldera in Africa.

It is also the second tallest mountain in Uganda and the tallest is Mount Stanley of the Rwenzori ranges.

Semuliki National Park-h2

Semuliki is a renowned and peculiar birding destination with over 441 bird species. 66% of these birds are forest birds with many Congo Biome species.

The Semuliki Forest is among Africa’s most ancient and diverse forests that are believed to have survived the last ice age, which is about 12-18,000 years ago.

Semuliki National Park lies on a flat to gently rising land of about 670 to 760 m.

The park stands at an altitude between 670m-760m above sea level on an area of 220km2.

This park also has breathtaking male and female Sempaya hot springs which have attracted visitors from near and far.

Among the various things to see at the Semuliki National Park are over 53 mammal species, 300 butterfly species, and 8 primate species.

Birding is the major tourist activity at Semuliki National Park, but you can also do hiking, and visit the Batwa pygmies.

To make your stay a comfortable one, Semuliki National Park has various lodging places ranging from luxury, midrange, and budget.

History Of Semuliki National Park

From 1932 to 1993, Semuliki National park was managed as a forest reserve and in October 1993, it was established as one of the national parks in Uganda.

Location Of Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is in Western Uganda in Bundibugyo district in the Albertine Rift Valley. It is on Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The park is bordered by the Rwenzori Mountains on the South East and Lake Albert on the North.

Lying on geographic coordinates 0.8334° N, 30.0434° E, Semuliki National Park neighbors the Semuliki and the Lamia Rivers.

Attractions In Semuliki National Park-h3

Below are the attractions at Semuliki National Park.

Birds In Semuliki National Park-h4

Semuliki National Park has over 441 bird species including 35 Guinea-Congo forest biome bird species. Some of the notable ones include,

Spot-Breasted Ibis,
Congo Serpent Eagle
Chestnut
Red Thighed Sparrow Hawk

Twelve rear bird species occur in the park, for example, the Western Bronze Naped Pigeon and the Yellow-Throated Cuckoo.

Wild Animals In Semuliki National Park-h4

Semuliki National Park is rich in various animals that promote wildlife tourism. They include;

African buffalo
Bushpig
Sitatunga
Leopard
Hippopotamus
Mona monkey
Water chevrotain
Bush babies
African civet
African elephant
Crocodiles
Duiker

Sempaya Hot Springs In Semuliki National Park-h4

The Semuliki national park hot springs are among the most popular attractions in Semuliki National Park and you can see these hot springs during a broad nature walk.

Other attractions at Semuliki National Park

Primate
The Bambuti of Bundimasoli around Semuliki National Park
Lake Albert and Shoebills

Activities In Semuliki National Park-h3

Semuliki National Park abounds with many activities which are

Birding In Semuliki National Park-h4

Bird watching is the top activity at Semuliki National Park. The park has over 440 bird species with both Albertine Rift endemics and Congo biome species.

Birding in Semuliki National Park occurs through the following trails

Sempaya trail
Ntandi trail
Red monkey trail
River Semuliki trail
Kirumia River trail

Hiking In Semuliki National Park-h4

Through the hiking activity, you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in Semuliki National Park, as you also view the birds.

These hiking activities occur on the different trails and tracks listed below

Kirumia trail
Red Monkey truck
Sempaya Nature trail
Batwa trail
Nyaburogo gorge trail

Other activities at Semuliki National Park

Batwa Cultural Experience
Looking For Shoebills on Lake Albert

Accommodation At Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park has accommodations ranging from luxury, midrange, and budget

Luxury Lodges in Semuliki National Park

Semuliki Safari Lodge

Midrange Lodges in Semuliki National Park

Mountain of the Moon
Ntoroko Game Lodge
Kluges Guest Farm

Budget Lodges in Semuliki National Park

Rwenzori View Guesthouse.
Kirumia guesthouse
Bamuga Campsite
Semuliki River Camp

What Makes Semuliki National Park Unique From Other National Parks In Uganda?-H3

Semuliki National Park is a birder’s haven as it has some of the rear bird species in Uganda. These include the Shoebill at Lake Albert, several Congo biome species, and some Albertine Rift endemics.

The park hosts the Sempaya hot springs which are also a rear feature to see in Uganda.

The ten national parks in Uganda hold rich biodiversities and ecosystems that are a treasure for tourism. Each park relays a message that points us to the conservation of these protected areas and the gem that they hold. Book your Uganda safari holiday today and get to visit the national park of your choice.

Frequently Asked Questions-h2

What is a National Park?

A national park is a legally protected area by the government to help preserve different wildlife in it.

What is the largest/ biggest national park In Uganda?

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest of all national parks in Uganda with an area of 3,893 km².

How many National Parks are in Uganda?

There are 10 national parks in Uganda. The Uganda National Parks list includes

Queen Elizabeth National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Murchison Falls National Park
Kibale Forest National Park
Lake Mburo National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park
Mgahinga National Park
Semuliki National Park, and
Mount Elgon National Park
What is the best season to visit the National Parks in Uganda?

The dry season is the best time to visit the national parks of Uganda. This includes the months from December to February and from June to August.

During this time, many tracks and trails are dry, animals are active and you are to expect almost no rainfall.

What should you carry while going to a National Park in Uganda?

When going for an adventure to any of the Uganda game parks, carry

A camera for wildlife photography
Pair of binoculars
Sunscreen lotion
Sunglasses
Sturdy shoes, a hat, long-sleeved shirts, and trousers
An insect repellant
A rain jacket
A backpack
What are the important precautions to follow while in any of the Uganda National Parks?
Make sure that you drive on the right track.
While in any park, avoid sounding motor horns because they stress the animals.
Make campfires only in the areas chosen for that purpose. This is to avoid the risk of burning the animals’ habitat.
Keep your litter in your back bag until you can find a safe place to put them.
Avoid bringing other pets inside the park.
Do not drive inside the park between 7:00 pm and 7:00 am. Kindly leave this to only the game drives.
While driving during the day, do not exceed 40km per hour.
Avoid picking flowers or destroying any vegetation while in the park.
Kindly keep with all your official receipts for inspection.