Uganda Parks You Can Enter Free Of Charge

Every time we speak about travel, something comes to the table; the entrance fees, the meal, accommodation, and transport fees, which also sometimes include car rental fees in case you intend to rent a car with a driver or for a self drive trip in a destination like Uganda. To most of the people that visit Uganda, gorilla trekking is usually the main reason of their visit. Unfortunately, as fascinating as gorilla trekking may be, the cost of the activity is some time unbearable for most of the travelers. In fact some wish to know whether there are some places they can visit without necessarily worrying about entrance fees.

Though this article is about the Uganda national parks that have the option of entering free of charge, there are some places that are worth an honorable mention. There are community waterfalls in Bulambuli that have not yet been designated as tourism sites. You could check out more details about these waterfalls by checking out our article about a cheaper alternative to Sipi falls.

Here are the Uganda parks that have an option of free entrance under certain circumstances:

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most popular destination in Uganda for encountering the tree climbing lions. On top of the tree climbing lions, it is a popular destination for the Elephants, Buffaloes, as well as a boat trip on Kazinga channel. It is the most popular national park in Uganda when it comes to free entrances.

Ishasha wilderness camp

How the Queen Elizabeth Free Park Entrance Works

There is a high way that goes through Queen Elizabeth national park. Anyone that intends to simply drive through the national park is not charged a penny because they will simply be using the road. However if you get off the main road to do a get drive, there are usually patrols asking for receipts to prove that you paid for the park entrances (though not very common). This leaves room for anyone who wishes to just drive through the this national park.

There are a number of animals that you will commonly see as you drive through Queen Elizabeth national park. Among these are the elephants that you will likely encounter crossing the road as you drive to Ishasha. There are also several antelopes that you will spot while on the main road. However you will have to maintain you speed and just drive through the national park. That is all your free Queen Elizabeth drive can get you.

If you intend to do a boat trip at Kazinga channel, then you will be required to pay park entrances because that is a tourism activity. If you intend to sleep in one of the lodges within the national park, then you will be required to pay park entrances too.

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale National park is the second national park you can drive through in Uganda without paying park entrances. You will find baboons as you drive through this park. It is not common to spot other wild animals that are found in this national park however driving through the forest will give you that special tarmac in the forest experience.

Similar to Queen Elizabeth National park, if you intend to do a nature walk in this national park, you will be required to first pay for park entrance fees. If you also intend to sleep at one of the lodges with in Kibale Forest National park, you will still be required to first pay for the park entrance. However if you simply drive through this national park, then you will not have to pay a single coin in park entrance.

These national parks are like software packages that offer you the trial version with the option of the premium version if you pay a certain fee.

Other Parks

Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park fall under the category of primate parks. In primate parks, people do not pay park entrance fees unless they are going to a nature walk or any other park activity. However this is so because most of the people who visit these national parks often go there with gorilla trekking permit which also cover the park entrance fee.

Murchison falls national park also once in a while offers free drive through options whenever Karuma bridge closes. However, it is important to note that this national park under normal circumstances will charge you whether you are a transit client or a tourist.