01. Bwindi Forest National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the mountainous area Southwest of Uganda. This is home to many mountain gorillas that feed on roots, leaves and fruits from the park’s many tree and fern species as the biggest tourist activity is gorilla tracking in this area.
The park is enclosed with rain forests with upto 400 known species of flora. Tourists that take on safaris to Bwindi, anticipate so much to view the world’s population of endangered silverback mountain gorillas that total upto 400. The park also acts as home to 120 mammals such as baboons, elephants, antelopes and chimpanzees.
Bwindi was gazetted as a National park in the year 1991 where it was declared a UNESCO natural world heritage site in 1994. The rain forests are spread over a series of steep ridges and valleys that make Bwindi the main source for five major rivers which flow into Lake Edward.
02. Sipi Falls
Known as one of the most popular romantic destinations in Uganda located in Eastern Uganda – Kenya border in the district of Kapchorwa and also lies at the edge of Mount Elgon national park. This destination boasts of three distinct waterfalls named after the red ‘’Sep’’ flower, one that grows on the river banks.
Sipi falls is more adventurous to hikers who use it while on their way to Elgon. In case you’re looking for a romantic area for your loved ones this Valentines, chose Sipi falls as your number one option!
03. Kibale Forest National Park
This National park is popularly known for Chimpanzee tracking as its home to 70 mammal species with 13 species of primate including chimpanzee.
Kibale Forest National park contains more than 375 bird species as it has one of the biggest tracts of tropical rainforests in the whole of Uganda.
Kibale – Fort portal area is one of the best Ugandan rewarding destinations to check out as it lies close to the tranquil Ndali – Kasenda crater area and within half a day’s drive of Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori Mountains and Semuliki National Parks not forgetting the Toro -Semuliki Wildlife reserve.
04. Murchison Falls National Park
Situated in the north-western part of Uganda at the end of the Albertine Rift Valley, mostly known as Murchison falls where the Victoria Nile River surges through a narrow gap over a massive drop. Murchison falls National Park comprises elephants and hippos as well as chimpazees based in the Kaniyo Pabidi mahogany forest.
Its Uganda’s oldest conservation area since 1926 as it serves as refugee home to 76 species of mammals including giraffes, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles and 451 birds. The Lake Albert Delta is home to rare shoebill storks. There are game fish in the cascades of Karuma Falls.
05. Mgahinga National Park
This park’s name was derived from its local name ‘’Gahinga’’ which literally means piles of volcanic stones cleared from farmland at the foot of the volcanoes. It sits high in the clouds at an altitude between 2,227m and 4,127m. The most striking features at Mgahinga include its three conical, extinct volcanoes that are part of the spectacular Virunga Range that lies along the Ugandan border region, Congo and Rwanda as it forms much of a larger Virunga Conservation Area with parks adjacent to these countries.
Mgahinga National Park was declared the area game sanctuary in 1930 by the British administration as it was gazetted a National Park in 1991. This park is home to endangered silverback mountain gorillas.
06. Queen Elizabeth National Park
Located Southwest of Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park’s leopards roam across the Mweya peninsula which lies besides Lake Edward and near Lake Katwe which has huge volcanic explosion crater.
This park is undeniably Uganda’s biggest popular tourist destination as it has diverse eco systems among which include sprawling savannah, shady, humid forests, sparking lakes and fertile wetlands which make it ideal habitat for classic big game, ten primate species comprising Chimpazees and 600 bird species.
Queen Elizabeth National park spans the equator line monuments on either side of the road mark, the exact spot where it crosses latitude 00. Its founding history is traced way back to 1952 by then named Kazinga National Park and renamed two years later in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II visit to Uganda.
Queen Elizabeth spans the equator line; monuments on either side of the road mark the exact spot where it crosses latitude 00.
07. Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is a compact gem, strategically close to the highway that connects to Kampala; it counts for being the smallest of Uganda’s Savannah national parks underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date more than 500 million years ago.
The park covers 370km² yet it has five lakes within. It is situated between the towns of Masaka and Mbarara which takes upto five hours to reach there.
It is home to 350 bird species, Zebra, Impala, Eland, Buffalo, Oribi, Defassa, waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck.
08. Kidepo Valley National Park
Located in the semi – arid valleys of Uganda’s border with Sudan and Kenya, 700 kilometers from Uganda’s Capital Kampala. It’s the most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses.
This national park covers an area of 1,442 square kilometers and is dominated by the 2,750 metres of Mount Morungole and transected by the rivers of Kidepo and Narus.
Kidepo valley national park was gazetted as a National Park in 1962 Kidepo as it currently hosts over 77 mammal species and 475 bird species.
09. Mount Elgon National Park
Situated 140 kilometres northeast of Lake Victoria, Mount Elgon national park is another amazing place to embark on adventures at, the park covers an area of 1,279 square metres and is bisected by Uganda and Kenyan borders. Uganda part covers 1,110 square metres whereas the Kenyan part covers 169 square metres.
The Bamasaba, currently known as Bagisu, consider Mount Elgon to be the embodiment of their founding father Masaba and refer to the mountain by their name though they share the area with the Sabiny people or tribe.
Climbing on Mt. Elgon’s deserted moorlands unveils a magnificent and uncluttered wilderness without the summit – oriented approach, common to many mountains as the ultimate goal on reaching the top of mount Elgon isn’t the final ascent to the 4321m Wagagai Peak, but the descent into the vast 40km² caldera.
This park serves as home to over 300 species of birds including the endangered Lammergeyer.
10. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Conveniently located 176km (100 miles) north of Kampala – Gulu highway towards Murchison Falls as you branch off at Nakitoma Trading Centre, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary is a home of only wild rhinos in Uganda run by the Rhino Fund Uganda and Uganda Wildlife Authority.
This sanctuary is home to 22 southern white Rhinos. Of recent it’s also becoming a popular tourist centre as activities such as; Rhino Trekking, Shoebill Trek and Canoe bill Ride, Bird watching, Night walks, Guided Nature Walks, Camping and Relaxation are available for both local and international tourists.
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