Top 5 famous National Parks in Uganda

The top famous National Parks in Uganda include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park home to some of the only mountain gorillas living in the world, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park.

Most Popular Safaris

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16 day primate game and culture

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5 days gorilla and Nile river source

17 day Uganda birding and wildlife

Uganda is a country endowed by nature and over 10 Uganda National Parks are located in different parts of the country. When you hope to book a Uganda Safari, you need to make a choice of which activities to do per National Park and have enough time to spend on holiday in Uganda.

What are The Five Famous Uganda National Parks

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla safaris being the foremost activities in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park tops the list of the safari destinations in the country. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda an area that was affected by volcanic actions that left behind plateaus and ridges.

Local the word Bwindi means impenetrable and indeed this name fits perfectly with this forest because of the vegetation that have culminated overtime. Bwindi forest is believed to have more than 25000 years and this explains the long list of flora and fauna that the Park has. More than 120 mammals are confirmed residents including the mountain gorillas, 88 months, over 200 tree species, over 350 bird species including Albertine rift endemics and many others.

The size of Bwindi impenetrable National Park is over 327 square kilometers a size that is vast to be managed by a single administration so it was divided into four areas that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo. The major activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park including gorilla trekking where only one hour is allowed with a fully habituated mountain gorilla family and Gorilla Habituation experience where four hours are allowed with a semi-habituated gorilla family.

For every gorilla safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, booking the permit is the first priority as it is the document that tourists present for verification at the ranger station on safari day. Note that gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are reserved according to the four areas under which the park is divided.

At the moment, about 19 gorilla trekking families and 4 gorilla habituation experience families are open to the public.

What Is The Cost Of Gorilla Permits For Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Currently , the cost of the gorilla trekking permits for Uganda is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents, $500 for other Africans and 300000shs for East Africans.

The current cost of gorilla habituation experience permit for Uganda is $1500 for international nonresidents, $1000 for international residents and other Africans and 750000shs for East Africans.

The cost of the gorilla permits for Uganda includes park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, four hours of gorilla habituation experience or one hour of gorilla trekking, security and others.

Other activities to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Birding with Ruhija area are the birding area of the park, Nature walks, primate viewing, Batwa community visit and others.   

How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Several routes can be used to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is at a distance of about 530 kilometers from Kampala the capital city of Uganda. From Kampala to Kabale to Kihihi to Buhoma, From Kampala to Kabale to Ruhija to Buhoma, From Kampala to Kabale to Nkuringo and others.

Charter flight services are available at Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe international Airport. Scheduled domestic flights are available daily to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest Uganda National Park with area of over 3877 square kilometers. this Uganda’s largest conservation area gets its name from the famous Murchison Falls that is part of its most interesting spots.

River Nile which bisects Murchison Falls National Park into the northern and southern part is the lifeblood of the park where several wild animals find it convenient to quench thirst or enjoy a bath from the shores.

Some of the main safari activities of Murchison Falls National Park include

• Game drives

A sunrise game drive through the tracks of Murchison Falls National Park is amazing where you may get the chance to spot animals including lions, herds of elephants, oribi, waterbucks, bushbucks, hartebeests, leopards, Uganda kobs, giraffes, hyenas  and others. By taking the Buligi track, you may get the opportunity to see lions that prey on the Uganda kobs that are common residents of this area in action.

• Launch trip

A launch trip to Murchison Falls in Murchison Falls National Park is an enduring safari activity in this park. As you sail, there are chances of spotting a variety of birds that flock the river banks of this part of River Nile, by pass abundant wildlife and much more, Finally as you draw closer to Murchison Falls, you feel a change in boat turbulence as a foamy appearance starts floating in the river surface.  Finally, the view if vigorous River Nile shows up as it squeezes through the 6 meters wide bend to burst out and produce a thundering sound.

On a clear day a rain bow may appear right before your eyes. A hike to the top of the falls gives you a glimpse of what triggers the River to push through this narrow bend.

• Chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi Forest

Kaniyo Pabidi forest is 8 kilometers from the Kicumbanyombo gate of Murchison Falls National Park. There is a community of chimpanzees in Kaniyo Pabidi forest which you can trekking but reserve a chimpanzee trekking permit first. The forest also hosts other primates including blue monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey and others.

• Birding in Murchison Falls National Park   

Birding in Murchison Falls National Park is exciting because more than 350 birds have been registered as residents of this park. The long list of birds is attributed to the varied habitats where most birds thrive. Some of the birds expected to find in Murchison Falls National Park include black headed gonolek, Blue napped mouse bird, Viteline Masked Weavers, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, shoebill stork and others.

• Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

On the way to and from Murchison Falls National Park, you may take an excursion to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary where Rhinos are under rehabilitation in Uganda after there population was wiped out from the country due to endless civil wars, poaching and cultural beliefs. The work done is so far so good but this is with support from tourists who take time to visit the sanctuary

How To Get To Murchison Falls National Park

From Kampala the distance to Murchison Falls National Park is about 305 kilometers and drive time is about 5 hours.

Daily domestic flights are available from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe International Airport to Bugungu and Pakuba

How Much Is Park Entrance Into Murchison Falls National Park

At the moment, the cost of Park entrance into Murchison Falls National Park is about $45 from the time you enter into the park taking 24 hours.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located on the floor of the Albertine rift valley covering an area of about 2056 square kilometers. This park is a biosphere reserve and rich with fauna and flora. The Rwenzori ranges rise from the floor of the rift valley to about 5100 meters above sea level as this is the highest peak of these ranges which is called Margherita.

Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

• Game drives

By driving on the tracks that are networked in different parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park you may spot a number of animals. When you drive on Kasenyi track, you may get the chance to see lions that normally prowl this area to prey on the Uganda kobs that are common residents of this area. During the game drive you may spot animals including leopards, lions, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks, elephants, buffaloes and many others.  

Driving through the crater lakes area in Queen Elizabeth National Park may give you a chance to several crater lakes both wet and dry.

• Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge

While in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may decide to do  chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge. This 100 meters deep gorge was formed after erosion of River Kyambura as it makes its way to Kazinga channel. The community of chimpanzees in this area have an alpha male who has led them for some time and finding him is exciting. The way to find the chimpanzees may get quite rough in the wet season when the ground gets messy.

You may choose to do the morning or afternoon chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge but having some level of fitness is very helpful.

• Forest Walk In Maramagambo Forest

You can do a forest walk through Maramagambo forest using the trails that have been constructed by regular visitor. Look out for other primates that are residents of Maramagambo forest including olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys and others. Watch out for a number of birds that are common residents of this forest. There is a cave where multitudes of bats roost

The blue copper lake is situated in the northern part of Maramagambo forest

• Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Over 603 bird species have been recorded as residents of Queen Elizabeth National Park. the Kazinga channel is a magnet to a number of birds including foreign migrants that fly as far a Europe especially during the winter season.

Kibale National Park

More than 1500 chimpanzees are residents of this forest with more than 12 chimpanzees communities fully habituated. While in Kibale National Park, two activities happen that is chimpanzee trekking and chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX)

To do chimpanzee safaris in Kibale National Park, booking a chimpanzee permit is first step. For chimpanzee trekking one hour is allowed with the fully habituated chimpanzee troop. During chimpanzee habituation experience (CHEX) tourists visit semi-habituated community of chimpanzees.

Other than chimpanzee safaris, Kibale National Park is home to more than 325 bird species including Albertine Rift endemics. The park hosts other primates including 13 other species some include black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, bush babies, olive baboons and others.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the North Eastern corner of Uganda. A number of animals that are not seen in other parts of the country may be spotted in this park including lions, leopards, waterbucks, zebras, buffaloes, cheetahs, caracals, striped hyenas, aardwolf and others. more than 430 bird species have been spotted as residents of this park.

Scenic viewing in the plains of Kidepo Valley National Park is fantastic as this park experiences semi arid climate . The Narus valley is one of the spots with Narus river and remnant swamps which doesn’t normally dry up during the extreme dry conditions experienced around this area. A number of animals concentrate in this area to enjoy the lush vegetation so game drives around the Apoka area is more rewarding.

Visit the Karamojong community is amazing as these are stuck to there traditional norms even with the influx of modernity. By taking a visit in this community, you may get the chance to participate in there daily activities including milking, traditional dances where they jump and you ask how high. The Karamojongs  live in manyattas where they jointly offer security to their herds of cattle.

Other Uganda National Park

Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is another home of the mountain gorillas in Uganda with so far one gorilla family open to the public called Nyakagezi. Golden monkeys are the other endangered primates that are residents of this park. 

Hiking the three Virunga mountains in Mgahinga National Park is amazing that is mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo.

Rwenzori National Park

The Rwenzori National Park is located on the floor of the Mountain Rwenzori. This is mainly a forested park and on a walk in Rwenzori National Park, you may spot primates including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and others.

Mountain Elgon National Park

This national park is home to some wild animals which you may find when you explore the park.

Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is one of the ancient natural forests in Uganda and home to a number of primates including chimpanzees. The Sempaya hot spring are amazing to watch as the geysers emit hot water where you can even boil a tray of eggs.

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