Location of Uganda’s Parks on the Map
Uganda’s 10 National Parks – see the place you can visit in Uganda and their Location with Description of each Park Below.
Murchison Falls National Park: 6 hours from Kampala – home of the endangered Rothschild Giraffe, large Buffalo and Elephant herds, one of the largest concentration of the largest freshwater crocodile – the Nile Crocodile (up to 6 meters in length), various antelopes, Shoebill Stork and many water, forest and savannah birds, and according to Lonely Planet – the most powerful waterfall in the world – Murchison Falls. Budongo Forest is a part of the park and you can do some of the best birding along the Golden Mile, and also go chimpanzee tracking and during the off-season you can do a full day of chimpanzee habituation.
Kidepo Valley National Park: One of the most remote parks in all of Africa – an amazing – tranquil place – filled with a variety of wildlife in what one could call the Wild North East of Uganda – the beauty is that there are not many people who come here due to effort one needs to put into just the transportation factor in reaching the park – you can fly in, but there is the extra cost of flying, or you can drive in, but there it takes two days to reach here, all well worth it but most people are discouraged when they hear what is involved in just reaching here. Rothschild Giraffes, Elephants, Zebras, Antelopes, Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Ostriches, just to name a few – those who come here, have no regrets – but are glad that they made the extra effort.
Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda: The summit is on the Uganda side of the Kenya – Uganda border – It is a hike – climb that takes about 3 to 4 days depending on which route you take – you need to have camping equipment or rent it locally – porters, also guides and military escort to be safe – there was an incident with a Danish tourist a few years back – there is also constant encroachment by the surrounding population on the lower portions of the park – beautiful is an understatement – Afro-Montane Vegetation with Lobelias which flower in June – Giant Heather, Bamboo Forest on the way up and views to live for.
Jinja – The Adventure Capital of East Africa: Home of the Lake Victoria Source of the Nile, White Water Rafting from mild to wild, Kayaking, Bungee Diving over River Nile, Horseback Riding Safaris from a few hours to an overnight trip, ATV Quad Bike Safaris along the River Nile, Family Float Trips, Jet Boating, Rapids Water Skiing, Sunset Cruises with Dinner, just to name a few. There are the Bujagali Falls, the town of Jinja with its Indian and Colonial architecture – mixed in with African style housing – it is simply a fabulous place to spend a day or two – and enjoy the adventure capital of Uganda.
Lake Mburo National Park: This is the closest wildlife-game park to Kampala – if you have only have a day – this is the perfect park for you to visit – it is also is a great two day overnight safari – especially if you can stay at the ultimate Tented Camp in Uganda – Mihingo Lodge. At Lake Mburo National Park you can find Zebras, the giant Eland Antelopes, even the small semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope, Buffaloes, Crocodiles, Hippos, a leopard here or there, 3 kinds of Otters in the Lake, Shoebill Stork, and fabulous scenery with the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon in the distance – it is also a great park to break the drive between Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Kampala.
Kibale Forest: Kibale Rainforest Jungle – one of two true jungles in Uganda – there is none other as this rainforest in all of East Africa – home of 13 species of primates – including 1500 chimpanzees –you can visit them and track the chimpanzee for an hour or partake in the habituation experience which lasts all day long at Kibale Forest – not only is Kibale Forest home to primates but home to Forest Elephants, and other mammals- hundreds of butterflies and countless of birds. You can also take a walk in the nearby Bigodi Wetlands which supports the local community.
Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon: You can take an 8 day trek through and up the mountains which is most rewarding, but if you cannot do that – you do not have to miss out, but spend a day and night in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains and stay with the keepers of the mountains – the Bakonzo people. Take various hikes, at different levels of difficulty and get an opportunity to see the Mountains up close. You can also do a village walk, take drumming and dancing lessons, watch the community perform their dances in the evening – simply a most enjoyable time.
Semiliki National Park: Some call it Semuliki – it is the same place – at one time it was a place with more lions – they had the longest mane anywhere and even British Royalty came here – the English living in Fort Portal always made trips to Semliki National Park – it is one of the best places for birders in Uganda and well worth the trip here – sought after birds such as Congo Serpent Eagle, Long-tailed Hawk, Nkulengu Rail, Black-wattled Hornbill and Lyre-tailed Honey guide – besides coming down the escarpment of the Albertine Rift gives you some of the most fabulous views in the area.
Queen Elizabeth National Park: One of the most visited parks in Uganda – the Rwenzori Mountains in the Distance- Kyambura Gorge with its chimpanzees, Crater Lakes, Kazinga Channel with more hippos than anywhere else in Africa, Crocodiles, Buffaloes, Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Monitor Lizards, over 600 species of birds including Pelicans and Flamingoes, and that is just in the Mweya Region of the park – in the Ishasha Region which is the unvisited portion of the park – you will find tree climbing lions, it is the best place in Africa for tree climbing lions, also the shoebill stork, leopards, elephant, buffaloes and if you can afford it you can stay at the fabulous Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: This ancient forest is not only home to half of the mountain gorillas but is a World Heritage Site – there are four places from which you can visit your Mountain Gorilla Groups for which you have permits – there are mountain gorilla groups at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – meaning that there are 72 permits available a day with habituated Mountain Gorilla Groups – This ancient forest is a fabulous in its own right and you can create a Gorilla adventure by tracking in the Buhoma area and then hike the next day 7 hours to the fabulous Nkuringo – on the third day track another group – amazing adventure –unparalleled.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: A small Park – many Activities – in 2010 it received – Mgahinga Gorilla Park was declared the winner of the Lonely Planet "Greatest Wildlife Encounter" Award in 2010. Here you can track one Gorilla Group, Climb 3 Volcanoes on day hikes, take an interactive hike with original people of the forest – the Batwa Pygmy People – go birding – Cave explorations – Golden Monkey tracking and more. It is one of my favorite places in Uganda.
There area many other places to visit in Uganda such as the magical Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mutanda, Lake Victoria and the Ssese Islands, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary – just to name a few – Uganda is a most fabulous place – it is the pearl of Africa – from Kampala….jon
“If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.” John Hemingway – African Journeys
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