5 Uganda National Parks To Visit This Year
Uganda has a total of ten national parks. But it is most likely that you will not all these national parks unless you are considering a month-long trip. In order the explore the best of what Uganda has to offer in terms of national parks, we have compiled for you a list of the top five national parks in Uganda and some insights on why you should consider visiting these national parks on your next trip to Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Whenever someone mentions Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, all the thoughts run to gorilla trekking, but what if I told you, there is more to explore in this impenetrable forest than merely encountering the endangered mountain gorillas.
Many professionals have taken efforts to compare Mgahinga gorilla national park to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, all in view of gorilla trekking. But these are really miss-matched couples if you are to look beyond gorilla trekking.
Rwanda Gorilla Tours
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is one of the most recommended birding destinations in Uganda. Beyond birding, it is also an exceptional hiking destination offering not just primate views but also amazing waterfall views and community tours.
The park is also famous for its Batwa cultural encounters. Much can be said of the African culture but besides that which is documented; it is also worth taking a shot on a real-life cultural experience with people whose whole life rotates around the Jungle.
It would be an understatement to close without talking about gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Uganda has two gorilla trekking locations, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. Of these two, Bwindi is the most popular of these because of the high number of gorilla safaris.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
One of the most popular items of Uganda safaris is game drives. Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the most recommended destinations for game drives in Uganda. The diversity of wildlife in this park ranging from cape Buffaloes, African Elephants, Leopards, lions among several other wildlife species make it one of the must-visits in Uganda.
Its proximity to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park also gives it an edge over most of the savannah national parks in Uganda. Considering Lake Mburo national park, Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national and Semuliki valley national; Queen Elizabeth national park is the nearest to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.
Besides the boat trips on the Kazinga channel offering stunning views of hippos, the national park is most popular for the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. Tree climbing lions can also be found in Lake Manyara national park in Tanzania.
A trip to Queen Elizabeth national park offers amazing possibilities for visiting Kibale forest national park, Semuliki valley national park, Rwenzori mountains national park, Kibale forest national park, and Fort portal crater lakes.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Regardless of the stunning views and diversity of wildlife that Kidepo valley national park has to offer, it remains among the least visited national parks in Uganda. So what makes it special that you should visit it on your next trip to Uganda?
Kidepo valley national park is the most gifted national park in terms of wildlife among all Uganda’s national parks. It is the only national park that offers Cheetah safaris in Uganda. It is also very popular for ostriches, Buffaloes, African Elephants, Impalas, waterbucks among several other wildlife species.
A visit to Kidepo valley national park comes in handy with cultural encounters that are close to none in Uganda. Karamajong community tours, IK tribe community tours; are some of the must-do activities for anyone who considers a visit to Kidepo valley national park.
The park is located within 410 kilometers from Kampala making it an unlike destination for anyone who has gorilla trekking on your itinerary. However, it is very possible to include Kidepo in your 10 days gorilla safari itinerary
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison falls national park is also a long stretch from Kampala the capital of Uganda, however, unlike Kidepo valley national park, Murchison falls national park ranks second to Queen Elizabeth national park among the most visited savannah national parks in Uganda.
The park is gifted with a diversity of wildlife ranging from Leopards, Lions, cape buffaloes, African Elephants, impalas, waterbucks among several other wildlife species. But regardless of all this amazing diversity, Murchison falls national park is mainly known for the Murchison falls
Murchison falls are the strongest waterfalls in the whole world formed by the great Nile forcing its way through an 8meter wide gorge. A trip to Murchison Falls national park offers hikes to the top of these great waterfalls and a boat trip to the bottom of the falls. The boat trip also offers wildlife views including but not limited to; Nile crocodiles.
Kibale Forest National Park
Chimpanzee tracking is one of the leading primate safaris in Uganda. On any given day, a Google search for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda will likely put Kibale forest national park on the top. Even though there are other chimpanzee tracking locations to consider in Uganda, such as Budongo forest in Murchison Falls national park, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park among other locations; Kibale forest national park still remains unmatched.
Chimpanzee tracking permits in the same park cost US$200 per person. This is about triple what other wilderness chimpanzee locations cost.
