Uganda is a country of great diversity and is home to the endangered mountain gorilla, making it a primate paradise. The country has 10 national parks and wildlife reserves, where visitors can see Africa’s “Big 7”: lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, buffaloes, gorillas, and chimpanzees.
Winston Churchill called Uganda “the Pearl of Africa,” and this may even be an understatement considering its many natural treasures.
Uganda has an equatorial climate, with year-round temperatures averaging 27°C. However, the Rwenzori Mountain range, the highest in Africa, is snow-capped.
Uganda is also the source of the world’s second-longest river, the Nile, which begins at Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria. This lake is dotted with tropical islands and white sandy beaches.
Uganda has a network of 10 national parks that protect its incredible wildlife.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
A must-visit destination, this beautiful rain-forest in the Kigezi Highlands is home to 340 mountain gorillas, which is half of the world’s population.
There are eleven habituated gorilla families in Bwindi, and one more in Mgahinga. Gorilla trekking is possible in four locations: Rushaga (south), Nkuringo (southwest), Ruhija (east), and Buhoma (north).
The rain-forest is also home to chimpanzees, forest elephants, and more than 350 bird species.
Kibale National Park
Kibale Forest has one of the highest densities of primates in Africa, with 13 different species. The highlight is chimpanzee trekking, where visitors can see these primates up close.
The forest is home to over 1,500 chimpanzees, including the habituated Kanyantale group. There are also about 335 bird species, four of which are not found in any other national park.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo is in the far northeast of Uganda and is the most remote national park. It has rugged mountains and Savannah landscapes. Kidepo is traditionally known as the only national park in Uganda where cheetahs can be found.
It is also a great place for bird-watching, with 60 bird species that are not found in any other national park.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo is easy to reach from Kampala and the Kigezi Highlands. It is a lesser-known park but has a lot of wildlife throughout the year.
The park is home to many bird species, including the African finfoot and the shoebill. It is also the only national park in Uganda where visitors can see animals both on foot and on horseback.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s most popular safari destination. It is home to 95 mammal species, 10 primate species, and over 600 bird species.
The park has three main areas: Ishasha, Kyambura Gorge, and Mweya Peninsula.
- Mweya Peninsula – The main tourist area, offering great game viewing by boat or car along the Kazinga Channel.
- Kyambura Gorge – Famous for its habituated chimpanzees that visitors can track.
- Ishasha Plains – Known for tree-climbing lions, making it a natural route between Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most visited safari destination. It has more than 600 bird species and 95 mammal species, including 10 primate species.
Like Murchison Falls, the park is divided into three main areas: Mweya Peninsula, Kyambura Gorge, and Ishasha Plains.
Visitors can take boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel, go chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, and see tree-climbing lions in Ishasha Plains.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Despite being Uganda’s smallest national park (34 square kilometers), Mgahinga is one of the most beautiful. Visitors can see the three extinct volcanoes that form part of the Virunga Mountains.
Although it is a mountain gorilla reserve, Mgahinga offers many other activities, including:
- Hiking to the volcanic peaks.
- Tracking golden monkeys, which are unique to this park.
- Experiencing Batwa cultural activities, which showcase the traditions of former forest dwellers.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The Mountains of the Moon, or Rwenzori, stretch 120 kilometers along Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The highest peak, Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley, is the third highest in Africa.
The Rwenzori Mountains are known for hiking and mountaineering and are considered more scenic than their well-known neighbors.
Although famous for trekking, the park also has a variety of bird and mammal species, especially in the lower forest zones.
Mount Elgon National Park
A trip up Mount Elgon’s slopes leads to the breathtaking Sipi Falls, located in the east near the Kenyan border.
One of the park’s main attractions is the cave elephants, which go deep into caves to lick the nutrient-rich salt deposits.
Semuliki National Park
Located in the Albertine Rift Valley, this park protects one of the last remaining lowland forests in Uganda. It is home to an incredible variety of wildlife.
There are at least 300 species of butterflies and 441 bird species, including 45 species that are found only in Uganda.
