Uganda’s Breathtaking Places
Uganda as a country is a member of East African Federation and is one of the countries on the African continent that are also gifted by nature which prompted the British premier to also declare it the pearl of Africa in 1908. Uganda has a network of ten national parks that protect an incredible array of flora and fauna.
It also contains ten national parks that are well set to be encountered on your Uganda safari. Discover Uganda’s national parks, beautiful areas of mountains, savanna grasslands, moorlands, tropical rain forests and wetlands. These areas are protected by the government and are managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). These parks can be visited all year round. Discover the landscape and wildlife on an adventure into the wilderness in one these national parks.
Uganda: The Place for Game Parks and Lakes
Uganda is renowned all over the world for its game parks. They offer some of the best viewing of the game species. If you want to be part of the African jungle experience, there is no better place than Uganda. The Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Bwindi National Park are three famous parks in Uganda. The wildlife is not just restricted to games; it also includes lions, elephants and the giant forest hog. Here find a complete listing of all national parks;
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Uganda’s top attractions, famous for its mountain gorillas. The park is home to approximately 400 gorillas, making it one of the few places in the world where you can have a close encounter with these magnificent creatures. Visitors to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can participate in gorilla trekking, an activity that involves hiking through the dense forest in search of the gorillas. Gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allows you to witness these gentle giants in their natural habitat. To protect the gorillas and their habitat, only a limited number of permits are issued daily, so it’s best to book in advance.
The Impenetrable Forest of Bwindi has been granted world heritage status. It is considered to be the safest place to view habituated gorillas of Africa. Also popular are chimpanzees and many bird species. Some of the activities that you can indulge in include guided gorilla treks. The tropical rainforests are home to thousands of bird and butterfly species.
Lake Mburo national park
Located in Kiruhura District in the western region, Lake Mburo national park is another destination for Uganda wildlife safaris. The national park is known for hosting the largest population of zebras in Uganda plus other wildlife species like hippos, impalas, warthogs, common eland, African buffalo, and others. The park is also a home to various predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, genets, civets, jackals, serval cats and others. During the trip in the park, you will have a clear view of the attractions during the park activities like game drives, nature walks and boat launching on the cool and safe waters of Lake Mburo.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Situated near Karenga in Kaabong District, Kidepo valley national park is another destination suitable for a Uganda wildlife safari. Stretching over an area of approximately 1,442 square kilometers, the park is a home to a large population of zebras that are spotted in its open savannah plains. It also hosts over 86 other mammal species like the spotted hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, giraffes, African buffalos, bat-eared foxes, Rothschild’s giraffes, wild dog, and many others. Kidepo valley national park is also hosts almost 500 species of birds and all these species can be spotted during different park activities like game drives, bird watching, nature walks and others.
Murchison Falls National Park
The park is home to riparian forests, swamps, and broad Savannah. Traveling upstream to witness the falls is one of the best experiences. Some of the common species of animals include the elephant, giraffe, buffalo, and crocodiles. The hartebeest, antelope, and shoebill stork are other species found in large numbers.
Standing as the country’s largest national park, Murchison falls national park is among the best destinations for wildlife safaris. With its unique and variety of vegetation that ranges from riparian forests to broad open savannah, the park provides a wider opportunity of seeing a number of animals including the four of the big five african animals – lions, elephants, African buffalos, waterbucks, hartebeests, giraffes, and many others. Also, you can get a chance to track the white Rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary during your transfer to the national park. While in the park, enjoy a lunch trip on Victoria falls thus expanding your chances of viewing countless animals like Nile crocodiles, antelopes, elephants, and several bird species like the rare shoe bill storks, and many others. For a clear wildlife viewing experience, you will take part in different park activities like nature walks, game drives and boat trips.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Regarded as the medley of wonders, Queen Elizabeth National Park is a park in Uganda stretching in the western region of the country. The diversity of the wildlife and ecosystems is a feast for the eyes. Once in the park, you can indulge in boat trips, game drives, or walks. Alternatively, you simply enjoy the picturesque views. The ecosystems support a wide range of species.
The park is the second largest national park stretch over an area of approximately 1,978 square kilometers. With all that area, Queen Elizabeth national park becomes one of the best destinations for Uganda wildlife safaris with over 95 mammal species including the four of the five big African animals – Lions, elephants, African buffalos, and leopards. Other animals in the park include waterbucks, hyenas, kobs, hippos and others. For the bird lovers, Queen Elizabeth national park is a home to over 600 bird species and among these include the Great and Long tailed cormorants, Open billed stork, saddle bill stork, Black crake, african Jacana and so many others. For an excellent wildlife safari in the park, you will take park in several activities like game drives, boat cruising on Kazinga channel, nature walks and bird watching experience.
Apart from the wildlife safari destinations, Uganda is a home to other beautiful attractions like mountainous destinations such as Mount Elgon national park and Rwenzori mountains national park plus the primate safari destinations like Kibale forest national park which is known for hosting a large population of chimpanzees and other primates. Also, other primate destinations include Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi Impenetrable national park which is a home to almost a -half of the world’s mountain gorillas and other species like black and white colobus monkeys, baboons and many others.
A Safari in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa
The most amazing experience starts with Lake Mburo National park which is the smallest savannah park in Uganda located along Masaka-Mbarara road in the south west of the country well known for its populations of the impala, Zebra and the eland more than any other park. You will proceed to gorilla safari Destination of Bwindi impenetrable park the home of the endangered mountain gorillas well known for gorilla tracking.
A Uganda safari can also take you to queen Elizabeth National park, this is the world biosphere reserve to view the tree climbing lions of the Ishasha, and there is also the famous boat ride of Kasinga channel and the game drive along the Kasenyi track. There will be a proceeding to the north to encounter the 1,509 Mt Ruwenzori famously known as the mountains of the moon suitable for the adventure safaris most especially mountain climbing.
There is the primate capital – Kibale National park which is also well known for its populations of habituated chimpanzees thus a haven for the chimpanzee trekking in Uganda before proceeding to the birding destination-which is semuliki National park and the sempaya hot springs.
The journey in Uganda also continues to Murchison falls National Park- the largest protected area in Uganda for the powerful Murchison falls, the big five, giraffes and the Nile River itself. In the north, there is kidepo National park which is one most remaining wilderness parks in Africa to encounter the endemics like the cheetah, Kayirondo bush baby, and the ostrich among others plus the rewarding landscapes of the Karamoja region that will optimize the Uganda safari. Mount Elgon which is the dormant volcanic mountain suitable for hiking, viewing sipi falls, the caves and the paintings on the mountain side before announcing the end of the Uganda safari.