Uganda safaris, the Pearl of Africa

1Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most biologically diverse reserve in Africa owing to its antiquity with an altitude range between 1,160m – 2,607m above sea level. The Bwindi impenetrable rainforest is at the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley a “must stop” center for Uganda Gorilla safaris and is home to the highest number of mountain gorillas in the whole world.

Besides gorillas, the protected area is home to 120 mammal species including forest elephants, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, golden cats, large-eared free tailed bat and black fronted duiker; 10 primate species of Bwindi including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, Spectacled lesser and Thoma’s galagos

2Murchison Falls National Park

The Murchison Falls National Park is the best all-rounder of Uganda parks, with teeming wildlife and the surging Murchison Falls easily accessible by boat. Sir Samuel Baker named the Murchison Falls in honor of a president of the Royal Geographical Society, and this Uganda’s largest park was named after the falls. With 3,840 sq km, the Murchison Falls National Park is the largest protected area in Uganda and lies at the core of the greater Murchison Falls Conservation Area, which also embraces the Bugungu and Karuma Wildlife Reserves and the Budongo Forest. The Victoria Nile, flowing in the westerly direction between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert, bisects the park into two equal halves.

Wildlife found in the park include Defassa waterbuck, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, Roschild’s giraffe, oribi, warthog, side-striped jackal, leopards, spotted-hyena, localized pattas monkeys, among others. The Rabongo Forest harbors black-and-white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and a variety of other forest primates. The birding experience in this park is enhanced greatly by the abundant wildlife and scenic landscape, not least the spectacular falls for which the park is named. Over 460 confirmed species with the shoebill, most common along the stretch of the river and the estuary into Lake Albert.

A launch cruise on the Nile is one of the highlights of Murchison Falls National Park safari. This launch cruise takes off from Paraa to the foot of Murchison Falls. The banks of River Nile offer excellent game and bird viewing,

3Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth national park is located in western Uganda near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The park is popularly known for its amazing game drive and boat cruise experiences. The boat cruise takes place along Kazinga Channel which connects Lake Edward to Lake George through the park. A variety of animal species are seen along this cruise including hippos, crocs, elephants, buffaloes as well as a variety of bird species. Other popular species within the park include the famous tree-climbing lions that are found in the Ishasha sector within the park. Others include leopards, antelopes, warthogs, primates and a variety of bird species.

4Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is highly alluring to nature lovers for its excellent Chimpanzee and-watching. The park has the greatest variety and concentration of primates of any forest in East Africa. So far 13 primate species, the highest total of any Ugandan national park have been recorded in Kibale Forest National Park. The nine (9) diurnal primates found in Kibale forest include vervet, red-tailed, Lhoist’s, blue monkeys, red colobus, olive baboon, black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked-mangabeys and chimpanzees. The most famous inhabitants of this forest are the chimpanzees with over 1,450 individuals habituated roaming the forests.

The park is home to some large mammals such as buffaloes, elephants, hippos, warthog, giant forest hog, bush pig, bushbuck, Peter’s red and blue duikers, and sitatunga exist in Kibale forest though not so easy to see at ease. Over 320 bird species have been recorded including the yellow-ramped tinkerbird, yellow-spotted nicator, little greenbul, the African Pitta, green-breasted pitta, the black bee-eater and the crowned eagle among others.

5Lake Mburo National Park

The park covers an area of 260km sq and lies at an altitude of 1220m-1828m above sea level having low rainfall falling at 800m only. But also contradicting is that 20% of the park’s surface area consists of wetland habitants including the lake Mburo itself. There are four lakes in the park namely Kachera, Kijanebalola and Nakivali with Mburo being the largest of them all. The park features open grasslands, savanna and acacia woodland.

The most distinct feature is the impalas which are not easily spotted elsewhere in Uganda, Burchell’s zebra, Topi, bushbuck, common duiker, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, bush pig, hippos, roan antelope, eland, warthog, diurnal primates like vervet monkeys, olive baboons. There are about 315 bird species that include mosque swallow, black bellied bustard, bare-footed go away bird, Rupell’s long-tailed starling and the southern ground hornbill.

Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s smallest Savannah Park. The combination of game viewing, horseback riding, boat cruising, bird watching and cultural tours make Lake Mburo, a popular park for visitors to Uganda.

6Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo National Park lies in the rugged, semi-arid valleys of Karamoja province on the extreme northern border with Sudan, and is, therefore, Uganda’s most remote national park worth visiting on a Uganda safari. The park terai is characterized by semi-desert scrub, open thorn-bush, long and short-grass open tree savannas, riparian woodland including Borassus and Kigelia woodland, thick, “miombo- like” woodland, montane forest, and granite outcrops.

The spectacular beauty of this pristine wilderness impresses all that visit Kidepo Valley. Over 80 species including 28 that are peculiar to only and only kidepo have been registered. These include fascinating African animals such as Bat-eared Fox, Cercal, Cheetah and Klipspringer. Striped Hyena, Lesser Kudu, Grant’s gazelle, and Beisa Oryx are becoming locally extinct. Other large mammals have shown a considerable recovery and there is now a healthy population of Buffalo, Elephant, Common Zebra, and Kongoni. Predators are common including Spotted Hyena, Leopard, and Lion. Oribis roam the Narus Valley, whilst the dry thorn thickets in the north accommodate Guenther’s Dik-Dik. Senegal Galago, Side-striped Jackal and White-tailed Mongoose can easily be spotted on a night drive.

7Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

The park is located in the far South Western part of Uganda. Gazzeted in 1991 to primarily preserve the critically endangered Mountain gorilla, the major attraction that draws visitors to Mgahinga National Park. Interestingly within the park there are three volcanic mountains namely Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo. These dormant volcanoes are part of the 8 Volcanoes that make up the Virunga Mountains, the rest being found in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. Mgahinga and Muhabura are at the Uganda/Rwanda border whereas Sabyinyo is at the tripoint on the Uganda/Rwanda/Democratic Republic of Congo borders. All together these Parks have made the region to be well known worldwide because of gorilla tourism related activities like gorilla trekking and tracking.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the second habitat of the mountain gorillas in Uganda after Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park though only one habituated gorilla family, the Nyakagezi group can be found in the park compared to the 12 gorilla families at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Away from mountain gorillas, one can trek golden monkeys.

8Semliki National Park

Located in Bwamba County, Bundibugyo District in western Uganda on the western side of Rwenzori mountains, the park is dominated by an extension of the great Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin. Semliki National is surrounded by four distinct tribes living on the outskirts of the reserve, these tribe include Bwamba farmers at the base of Rwenzori Mountains, the Bakonjo cultivators on mountain slopes, Batuku cattle keepers and Batwa pygmies from the Ituri forest. Semliki valley is a perfect location for culture walks as it has thatched huts shaded by African oil palms.

The park is famous for being home to the largest population of Uganda kobs and birds. The park is a rich wildlife destination with a variety of tourist attractions. The reserve hosts several mammals approximately 53 species that include antelopes, buffaloes, Uganda knobs, waterbuck, leopards, lions and forest elephants, primates such as black and white colobus monkey, olive baboons, red tailed monkey, and vervet monkey. A perfect destination for birding as it hosts a variety of over 420 bird species.