Top 5 Must-Visit National Parks in Uganda

Uganda has a total of ten national parks. These include; primate national parks, Savannah national parks, and mountainous national parks.  Your safari to Uganda can never be complete without you visiting these top five national parks in Uganda.

Each of these national parks has something unique to enrich your pearl of Africa safari experience in an exceptional way. Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, mountain hikes and game drives garnished with cultural experiences are often the highlight of Uganda safaris.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi is the main gorilla trekking hub in Uganda but beyond gorilla trekking; nature walks in this national park are some of the things that have been underrated. It is often recommended to spend at least 3 days in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

In these three days; you are guaranteed to spot the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, visit the Batwa tribe who were the former inhabitants of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, go forest bathing as well encountering wildlife species such as the forest elephants and forest Buffaloes.

Gorilla trekking is the main icon of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, unfortunately; getting caught up in only trekking the gorillas will rob you of the experience of a lifetime; an in-depth exploration of the impenetrable forest wildlife as well as the evolution of life in this locality.

The park is located close to 490km from Uganda’s capital Kampala. It is very common to spend a whole day simply transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. But with Queen Elizabeth national park on your itinerary; you can easily break down the transfer by filling it up with a few activities.

Murchison Falls National Park

Anyone that safaris with children will often enjoy a few trivia questions about Uganda parks. One of those questions that are likely to always feature is; “What is the biggest national park in Uganda?” It should be basic safari knowledge to know that Murchison Falls national park is the biggest national park in Uganda. But what does this park have to offer?

Murchison falls National Park is a savannah national park. Therefore the main highlight in this national park should about game drives. Unfortunately; that’s not true. However much this is one of the most recommended national parks for game drives in Uganda; such off-road excursions only come second to visiting Murchison falls.

Murchison falls are the strongest waterfalls in the whole world. Though it is not in the league of Victoria Falls; Murchison falls are exceptional because of the long sail to the bottom of the falls that rewards you with amazing wildlife sceneries even before you are charm stung by the spectacular views of the strongest waterfall in the whole world.

It is strategically located near Ziwa Rhino sanctuary in Nakasongola making it the only national park to complete your African big five encounters in the pearl of Africa. That is the lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, Elephants, and Rhinos.

The park is located around 310km from Kampala making it a merely 5 hours drive or less on most of the days. However, it should be noted; sometimes the traffic is thick extending your transfer to 6 hours.

Kidepo Valley National Park

“A true African wilderness with an abundance of wildlife” This is the best game drive destination in Uganda. Kidepo might not be as big as Murchison falls or Queen Elizabeth national park but it is better than the two combined when it comes to game drives.

Whether you are a lone traveler or a family trip or simply a couple interested in spending some precious time together; Kidepo would be the most recommended national park in Uganda.

Its location makes it undesirable for detours. This implies that those who visit Kidepo valley national park do not simply visit for the sake of visiting rather they visit because they know the hidden treasure of this savannah national park.

Talk of cheetahs, lions, elephants, ostriches, buffaloes among several other wildlife that will always mark the Kidepo game drive experience.  The park is located close to 600km from Uganda’s capital Kampala making it a close to 10 hours transfer from Kampala.

It should be noted that accommodation in this national park is quite limited therefore it is wise at times to consider a backup of rooftop tent camping just in case you didn’t book accommodation in advance.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

It is unfortunate that whenever people are talking about mountaineering in Africa, the Kilimanjaro mountains in Tanzania seem to make the Rwenzori Mountains nonexistent. The mountains of the moon are Uganda’s hidden treasure that is yet to be unveiled to the whole world.

Talking about snow at the Equator; the Rwenzori Mountains is the place to be. Garnished with its unique vegetation at the different summits; climbing Rwenzoris is the best way to relax and recharge while exploring the wildlife Treasure Mountains of East Africa.

However much the chimpanzees in these mountains have not yet been habituated, on a lucky day, you can spot a number of wildlife species endemic to the Rwenzori Mountains on your way to the Margherita summit.

The park is located in Kasese around 300km from Kampala. Its strategic location makes it possible to track chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park, track the tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth national park as well as trek with the gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park on your mountaineering and gorilla safari in Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park

After relinquishing its number one popularity slot in Uganda to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park due to gorilla trekking; Queen Elizabeth National park still stands out with the Ishasha sector tree-climbing lions, craters, and the Kazinga channel boat trip. With the new entry of service providers such as MV Kazinga; Queen Elizabeth national park is a wilderness force to reckon with.

It has a diversity of accommodations. It is also the only national park in Uganda with towns within the national park. Though it is not as eco striking as Kidepo valley national park; the tree climbing lions along with its western circuit location make it edge all the other savannah national parks.

Commonly, most tourists bundle Queen Elizabeth national park with either Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for gorilla trekking or Mgahinga gorilla national park for the golden monkey and gorilla trekking.

The park is located close to 400 kilometers from Kampala and Entebbe. It is also very possible to spend a night in Uganda’s tourism capital fort portal and still visit Queen Elizabeth national park. Therefore; whether you wish to maximize nightlife or simply going forest bathing in the Kyambura gorge; Queen Elizabeth national park is highly recommended.