Uganda National Parks Guide for Self-Drive Tours
Uganda National Parks all have their distinct attractions and diverse experiences for tourists to enjoy. There are 10 National Parks exist in Uganda and offers unmatched wilderness experiences.
These inhabit different animal species including African elephants, lions, leopards, zebras, hippos, cape buffaloes, chimpanzees, golden monkeys and mountain gorillas. In each of these parks, there are myriad of experiences to enjoy including savanna game viewing, primate trekking, bird watching and others.
The Parks to Visit in Uganda:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park –BINP
Set in the far Southwestern Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was created in 1991 and spans 331sq.km. The park is situated in the steep ridges and valleys in the Albertine area protecting over 120 species of mammals.
These include more than 459 mountain gorillas, African elephants, L’hoest monkeys, Chimpanzees, Olive baboons, 350 species of birds, 27 frogs, 220 colorful butterflies, and more.
The enjoyable safari activities to do while in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include gorilla trekking, nature or forest walks, birding, gorilla habituation experience, cycling and more.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
In the western side of Uganda is Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the most famous parks and also ideal location to find the tree climbing lions. Its boundaries stretch covering the districts of Kasese, Rukuringi, Rubirizi, and Kamwenge.
The park was gazetted in 1952 and surface area extends up to 1978sq.km, offering refuge to diversity of wildlife including the spotted hyenas, Uganda Kobs, African buffaloes, elephants, chimpanzees, leopards, giant forest hogs, Nile crocodiles, and lions plus more than 620 species of birds.
Murchison Falls National Park
This park is lying in the Northwestern part of Uganda, and was created in 1952, extending over 3840sq.km.
Murchison Falls Park surface area coverage encompasses districts of Nwoya, Masindi, Buliisa and Kiryandongo. Within the Murchison Falls NP, there over 76 mammal species freely roaming in the various habitats.
The different wild animals to look out for while in Murchison Falls NP include Nile crocodiles, hippos, Rothschild giraffes, lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, elephants, chimpanzees, and these share the same habitat with more than 451 bird species, 51 reptiles, and several amphibians.
Lake Mburo National Park
In the western part of Uganda spans a spectacular Lake Mburo National Park. This park is only 240 km away from Kampala and created in 1983.
Lake Mburo NP is found in Nyabushozi County, Kiruhura District. It protects different wildlife including hyenas, impalas, elands, warthogs, hippos, zebras, buffaloes, hyenas, jackals, Rothschild giraffes and over 350 species of birds.
Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park is a tropical rainforest dominated park, lying in the western side part of the country. This park was established in 1993 and spans 795sq.km, inhabiting over 375 species of birds, 13 primates with over 1500 chimpanzees and floral species.
Kibale NP animal species include the common warthogs, African buffaloes, sitatungas, blue duikers, red duikers, bush bucks, leopards, mongoose, African golden cats, and forest elephants.
The other primates to encounter on Kibale National Park include olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, galagos, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and more. At Kibale NP, the must enjoy experiences include chimpanzee trekking, chimpanzee habituation, birding, forest walks and bush walks for children.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
At Kisoro, at an altitude of 2227m and 4127m is a scenic Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) another most important place in Africa to see mountain gorillas. The park was established in 1991 with the aim of sheltering the endangered mountain gorillas.
It is part of the Virunga Conservation Area where inactive volcanoes such as Gahinga, Sabyinyo and Muhabura are encompassed.
The different species of animals to find on Uganda safari in Mgahinga National Park include the rare mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, black-fronted hogs, buffaloes, colobus monkeys and bush pigs.
The park hosts different endemic Albertine rift birds including the collared apalis, red-throated alethe, handsome spur fowl, Rwenzori batis, Kivu ground thrush, Dusky crimson wing, strange weavers, red-faced woodland warblers, archer’s ground robin, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, and others.
Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park is a birder’s haven and spectacular primate park set in Bundibugyo District, Western Uganda. This park was created in 1993 after upgrading from being a reserve in 1932. A total of 441 species of birds, 53 mammal species live in this park roaming freely within its only tract of true lowland tropical forest.
Faunal species to see while in Semuliki NP include the African buffaloes, hippos, Mona monkeys, bush babies, African elephants, pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel, Sassi’s olive greenbul, and chimpanzees. It is most popular for its unique Sempaya Hot Springs, known for its powerful boiling rate of up to 100 degrees celsius.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park (Kasese District)
Set in the western border of Uganda and Congo, the Rwenzori Mountains National Park is climbers’ dream preferred destination.
The park extends over 995sq.km, a UNESCO Heritage site featuring the Rwenzori Mountain ranges. Mt. Rwenzori is at elevation of 5109m and contains 6 mountain ranges including Stanley, Speke, Gessi, Mt. Luigi di Savoia, Emin, and Baker.
Some of the animals to find in the Rwenzori Mountains NP include 15 butterfly species, Rwenzori duikers, L’hoest monkeys, forest elephants, hyrax, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, etc.
Mount Elgon National Park
Located Northeast of Lake Victoria, Mt Elgon National Park 140km away and spans over 1110sq.km. It is found between Kenya border and that of Uganda.
At the slopes, you can find the montane forest, giant lobelia, open moorland, groundsel, heather plants, and faunal species such as the buffaloes, elephants, duikers, forest monkey species like red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, plus colobus monkeys in their large numbers.
The unique birds to identify include the endangered lammergeyer, Jackson’s spur fowl, hartlaub’s turacos, Eastern bronze and more.
Kidepo Valley NP
Located in Kaabong District, Northeastern Uganda, Kidepo NP is accessible 10-12 hours’ drive away from Kampala or Entebbe.
It was created in 1962 and supports more than 77 mammal species, 475 species of bird and others.
Kidepo Valley National Park protects several animal species including elands, Rothschild giraffes, oribis, side-backed jackals, hartebeest, bush pigs, zebras, elephants, leopards, spotted hyenas, lions, buffaloes and more.