Uganda is one of the best East African tourist destinations that boosts lush landscape, diverse wildlife, and rich cultural heritage covering over 50 unique and different tribes. This was made known as the Pearl of Africa by Winston Churchill during his visit to Uganda.
The country has 10 gazetted national parks each of which offers a unique experience for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and adventure seekers. From the rolling savannahs of Kidepo Valley National Park to the misty forested mountains of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The top national parks in Uganda include.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This is a famous national park in Uganda due to its large population of endangered mountain gorillas. It is located in southwestern Uganda covering an area of 331 square kilometers covered with the misty forest. The park has 24 habituated gorilla families living together with other wildlife such as unique birds, large mammals, and more in the four sectors (Nkuringo, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Rushaga). While in this park, travelers can engage in different experiences such as gorilla trekking. Here visitors spend an hour in the presence of a gorilla family.
There is also a gorilla habituation experience where tourists spend four hours with face-to-face interactions with the gorilla family visited. Also, visitors can take part in bird watching, nature walks, and exploring the unique culture of the Batwa through community walks. We combine a tour of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with a visit to either Lake Mutanda or Lake Bunyonyi.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
The park is located in the western region spanning 1,978 square kilometers covered with savannahs, Crater lakes, wetlands, forests, and others. The park is famous for homing the tree-climbing lions that can be located in the Ishasha sector.
Kazinga channel in this park is another place you can miss since you can spot animals like buffalos, elephants, warthogs, crocodiles, hippos, and many more. Activities here are chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, boat cruises, game drives, and bird watching since the park boosts both residents and migrants.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls spans 3,840 square kilometers in northwestern Uganda. The park is covered with both savannahs and forested areas separated by the Albert Nile. This park is known to be home to the most powerful waterfalls in the world.
Also, the park houses four of Africa’s big five animals and this means that apart from the rhinos, other animals can be spotted here. Activities in this park are game drives, boat cruises, sport fishing, hot air ballooning, hiking to the top of falls, and chimpanzee tracking in the Budongo forest.
Kibale National Park
Kibale is located in western Uganda and is known for hosting 13 primate species including humans’ close relatives, the chimpanzees. This has made it to be the top tourist destination in the world to track chimps. The park is also home to over 350 bird species making it a birders paradise. Here activities to engage in are chimp tracking, chimpanzee habituation experience, bird watching, nature walks, and more.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo is located in far northeastern Uganda and is the most remote and least visited national park in Uganda however has diverse wildlife and beautiful untouched scenery. It’s comprised of mountains, swamps, and valleys such as Narus and Kidepo. Activities are game drives, bird watching, Karamajong community walks, and nature walks.
Lake Mburo National Park
This is the smallest savannah national park in Uganda located in the western region. It offers stunning landscapes, savannahs, acacia woodlands, rolling hills, and 5 lakes. It’s famous for its large population of zebras and impalas, boat rides, game drives, and horseback riding are the main activities to watch animals like hippos, crocodiles, leopards, warthogs, buffalos, and more.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a world UNESCO heritage site located on the border of DR Congo in western Uganda. It offers hiking experiences to the summit “Margherita Peak” standing at 5,109 meters and is the 3rd highest peak in Africa. The trails used are the central circuit and Kilembe routes. It takes about 7 to 10 days for a complete circuit comprised of culture, plants like the lobelias, primates, waterfalls, valleys, and lakes.
There is more to see as you visit the top Ugandan national parks, all you need to do is to book with us a tour of the Ugandan national parks.
