National Parks in Uganda, Uganda National Parks %

The national parks in Uganda are the country’s top tourist destinations with the most famous tourist attractions to explore on your Uganda safaris. Uganda parks will grant you the chance to explore some of the most incredible safari activities like mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, birding, game drive adventures, and boat cruises, among others.

Uganda has 10 national parks, with many of them located in Western Uganda Districts.

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s first national park created in 1952 and it is also the largest national park in the country with an area of 3,893 square kilometers.

On the other hand, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest park with an area of 33.7 square kilometers.

During safaris to Uganda, you will find forest parks, savannah parks, and mountainous national parks.

Here are the Uganda national parks with their uniqueness to choose from as you safari Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Murchison Falls National Park
Kibale Forest National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park
Lake Mburo National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Semuliki National Park
Mt Elgon National Park

Let us look at these different national parks below.

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The renowned home to the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas holds about 459 Mountain Gorillas out of the last 1063 remaining and surviving in the world. This thus makes Uganda the priority destination to experience these human-like creatures in their natural habitat.

Over 120 mammal species and 350 bird species are recorded in the forest park including 23 out of 24 Albertine Rift Endemics.

The rich biodiversity and ecosystem at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park acclaimed it as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These wildlife species in this park are spread within the 4 outstanding trailheads of Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga.

2. Queen Elizabeth National Park

Formerly known as the Kazinga National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park harbors a rich number of wild animals, that is, more than 95 mammal species and 600 bird species recorded.

The rich biosphere at Queen Elizabeth National Park comprises the savannahs, forests, beautiful crater lakes, rivers, swamps, and lakes.

Get to discover thousands of Hippos at the Kazinga Channel during a boat cruise, hundreds of animals at the Kasenyi plains on a game drive, the tree-climbing Lions of the Ishasha Sector, the primates at the Maragambo Forest, the scenic beauty of the crater lakes and various bird species of the park.

3. Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s first national park to be created in 1952 and the largest with an area of 3,893 km2. It was named after the Murchison Falls, which is the world’s most powerful waterfall and the main tourist attraction of the park.

The Murchison Falls flows from the River Nile, the longest river in the world which flows from the park. From an 8-meter wide gorge, the river gashes out strongly, flowing 42m below to form the breathtaking waterfalls.

Murchison Falls National Park harbors more than 556 bird species and 144 mammal species which forage around the shores of the River Nile, the beautiful savannahs, and the amazing forests.

At the park, get to also meet man’s closest relatives, which are the chimpanzees and other primates in the Budongo Forest.

4. Kibale Forest National Park

Also dubbed the “Primate Capital of the World”, Kibale Forest National Park is famously known as a home to about 13 primate species with the endangered chimpanzees being the most renowned of them all.

Kibale holds the highest number of chimpanzees in Uganda which is about 1500 out of the estimated 5000 spread around the different protected areas in the country. Chimpanzees are proven to be man’s closest relatives with a DNA similarity of 98%.

There are over 120 mammal species and 370 bird species including 23 out of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics, making it a great destination for wildlife enthusiasts.

5. Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is a true African Wilderness, tucked away in the wild open plains of northeastern Uganda. In 2028, CNN ranked the park as one of the top 8 destinations to visit in Africa.

Uganda’s Kidepo Valley National Park is a Man and Biosphere Reserve that is home to both humans and wildlife in its natural habitat. You will meet animals in the scenic golden plains that stretch through the Narus Valley and the Kidepo Valley.

Meet the indigenous Karamojong and the IK tribes of the park and learn their cultural ways of dressing, cooking, singing, dancing, and stories, among others.

Kidepo Valley National Park has over 77 mammal species and more than 476 bird species to explore during your safaris in Uganda.

6. Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park defines a captivating thrill instilling wild adventure packaged in the early morning walks with wild animals, game drives, boat cruises, and birding adventures.

It is the smallest savannah park in the country and the only national park where you can see the Mpala Antelopes. Lake Mburo also protects the highest number of Leopards among all the national parks in Uganda.

A journey to the endless beauty of this destination will give you the chance to come close to more than 68 mammal species and 315 bird species.

7. Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is captivating to many hearts! The mountain range does not just have the 3rd highest peak in Africa, rising to over 5109 meters above sea level. It also has and bears unique plant and animal species, many of which are endemic to the mountain and other regions like the Albertine Rift.

Get to discover over 70 mammal species and 217 bird species in the park including 19 Albertine Rift Endemics.

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park adventures will take you through the beautiful fairy-like zones of the mountains where you will explore the unique vegetation. These are the Savannah Grassland Zone, the Afro Montane Forest Zone, the Bamboo Forest Zone, the Afro Alpine Moorland Zone, and the Glacier Zone.

8. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park famously goes with the theme “where silver meets gold”. This describes its unique habitat that protects both the endangered Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys which are endemic to the Virunga Conservation Area.

Having one habituated Gorilla family, which is the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family makes Mgahinga Park an alternative destination to track the Mountain Gorillas after Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Although ranked as Uganda’s smallest national park, Mgahinga harbors over 76 mammal species and 108 bird species, 14 of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift.

9. Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is famously dubbed a “true birder’s haven” as it is among the best places to visit for birding enthusiasts.

There are 441 bird species recorded in its lowland tropical forests including 23 Albertine Rift endemics and 35 Guinea Congo forest bird species.

The park likewise keeps 120 mammal species including common primates like the Chimpanzees, Baboons, and Monkeys.

Semuliki’s surrounding areas will allow you to meet the Batwa Pygmies who once lived inside the forest before they were evicted when the park was created.

10. Mount Elgon National Park

Found in Eastern Uganda, Mountain Elgon National Park is famous because of Mount Elgon which stands at an altitude of 4,321 meters above sea level.

Mount Elgon National Park has the largest caldera in the world and it is home to more than 300 bird species and 30 mammal species.

The famous safari activity at the park is mountain hiking. However, you can visit and learn about the Bagisu and Sabiny people who dwell deep in the Benet forest, thus making the park a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve.

Conclusion

Visiting the Uganda National Parks brings you close to some of the best safari experiences in the country. Get to experience unique Uganda safari activities like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, birding, game drives, and boat cruises, to mention but a few.

Inquire about the beautiful Uganda national parks and let us organise your memorable safaris today.