National Parks in Uganda  /Uganda National parks

National parks in Uganda / Uganda the pearl of Africa is blessed with remarkable biodiversity regardless of its small size, Uganda hosts some of the remarkable wildlife species including Mountain gorillas the endangered species found in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park, chimpanzees found in Kibale national park, tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth national park among others.

Uganda has is a home to 10 national parks as listed and detailed below

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most popular safari destination in Uganda, the park is recognized because of its huge mountain gorilla population which is regarded as the largest population of gorillas in the world and its overall biodiversity including biologically varied rainforests dating back to more than 25,000 years.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in the western region of Uganda next to Democratic Republic of Congo on the rim of the Rift Valley, the park covers an area of 331 square kilometers.

The major Uganda safari activities in Bwindi impenetrable national park are Gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation, the park is one of the 2 national park were chimpanzees and gorillas can be sighted together and the second place is Virunga national park in Congo.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home to over 600 mountain gorillas living in the 4 sectors of the park that is Buhoma sector, Rushaga sector, Ruhija and Nkuringo. Habituated mountain gorilla families in Bwindi include Nshongi Gorilla Family, Kahungye Gorilla Family, Bweza Gorilla Family, Busingye Gorilla Family,  Mishaya Gorilla group, Mubare Gorilla family, Habinyanja Gorilla Family, Rushegura gorilla family, Nkuringo Gorilla Family, Bitukura Gorilla group and Oruzogo gorilla family among others.

2. Kibale National park

Kibale national park also known is Kibale Forest is a primate capital of Uganda, the forests and the park host the largest population chimpanzees in East Africa and over 13 species of primates including  vervet, red-tailed, L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, endangered red colobus, black-and-white colobus, olive baboon, and chimpanzee.

Kibale National park is located in the western part of Uganda in the south of Fort Portal District and approximately 27 kilometers.

 

Kibale national park hosts over 5000 chimpanzee individuals, apart from primates the park is a home to about 70 mammal species and 375 bird species. Wildlife inhabiting in the forests of Kibale include Uganda kob, L’hoesti monkey, red duiker, blue duiker, bushbuck, sitatunga, and Hippopotamus. Common large animals in Kibale include the giant forest hog, leopard, and golden cat and bird species include 4 native species such as Nahan’s francolin, Cassin’s spinetail, blue-headed bee-eater, and masked Apalis. Other bird species include Little greenbul ,Yellow rumpled tinker bird ,Blue-breasted kingfisher ,Black-capped apalis ,Abyssinian ground thrush ,Green-breasted pitta ,Yellow spotted nicator ,Black bee-eater among others.

Safari activities to do in Kibale national park include chimpanzee tracking /chimpanzee trekking, chimpanzee habitaution experience, bird watching night forest walks and nature walks.

3. Kidepo Valley national park

Kidepo valley national park is a rugged and isolated wilderness located in the North-Eastern corner of Uganda and lies between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo valley national park is one of Uganda’s hidden gems with landscape and vegetation similar to Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya and Serengeti national park in Tanzania and it  was described as one of the best nationals in Africa. Because of the remote location, Kidepo Valley national park is a least visited national park in Uganda, the park hosts over 77 species of mammals and more than 475 species of birds.

 

Kidepo Valley national park is one of the best national parks in Uganda for game viewing experiences providing opportunities to spot lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, elephants and ostriches among others.

4. Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo national park is the smallest savannah park in Uganda located on a Kampala – Kisoro highway connecting Kampala to Bwindi impenetrable national park, this park is the only national park in the western Uganda with Burchell Zebra and Nubian (Rothschild and the large Eland antelopes). Lake Mburo national park is also the only place where one can go horseback riding as a way of watching wildlife, the park is a perfect stopover for tourists on safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale Forest national park among others. The park is the closest national park to Kampala the capital city of Uganda.

Lake Mburo national park is a perfect destination to do Uganda safari activities such as sport fishing, boat cruise along Lake Mburo, bird watching and game viewing for animals such as leopards, impalas among others.

5. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla national park is the second home of mountain gorillas in Uganda and one of the only 4 parks in the world where you can find the gorillas, the park is located on the South-Western corner of Uganda near the border between Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.

Mgahinga Gorilla national park is the smallest national park in Uganda and is found in the Virunga Conservation Area, the park consists of 3 inactive volcanoes that are Gahinga, Sabyinyo and Muhabura which are part of the Virunga Volcanoes chain.

 Mgahinga Gorilla national park is a home to only one habituated gorilla group in the names of Nyakagezi gorilla family with 9 members that is 4 silverbacks, 2 female adults, 1 juvenile and 2 infants. The park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys living in the forests of the park.

Mgahinga Gorilla national park is a perfect destination to do mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, volcano hiking and visiting the local batwa pygmies.

6. Mount Elgon National Park

Mount Elgon national park is a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve lying at the border between Kenya and Uganda and most part of the park is found on the Uganda side of the border. The park stretches around the foothills of Mount Elgon the 8^th highest mountain in Africa and is the most extensive volcanic base globally at 4,000 square kilometers. It is also the oldest abd largest solitary volcanic mountain in East Africa. The Mountain area of Mount Elgon receives good rains throughout the year and has fertile soils supporting the growth of vegetation and forests providing food to wildlife in the park that is primates, buffaloes and elephants among others.

Mount Elgon national park is a perfect destination for nature walks on which you experience the beautiful scenery, encounter wildlife and various plant life, you can also explore the caves and visit Sipi waterfalls. Other activities include cultural tours offering a visit to the Bagisu in their coffee farms and witness ancient circumcision ceremonies, sport fishing, cycling, camping and bird watching.

7. Murchison falls National Park

Murchison Falls national park is one of the most popular national parks in Uganda and Africa as well for wildlife safaris, the park is also the largest park in Uganda and is found in the North-Western part of Uganda. Murchison Falls national park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley and its plains are crossed by River Nile that bisects the park and forms Murchison Falls the most powerful waterfall in the world – as it tumbles down 45 meters.

Murchison Falls national park hosts 76 species of mammals including Nubian (Rothschild – Baringo-uganda) giraffes, four of the big Five “elephants, lions, leopards and cape buffaloes”. Other animals in Murchison Falls national park include Rothschild giraffes, monkeys, Jackson hartebeests among others.  For tourists who wish to see full big Five, they can include Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary a home to rhinos.

Murchison Falls national park is a great destination for game viewing safaris, bird watching, chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest, hot air balloon  and boat cruise.

8. Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth national park is the most popular and visited savannah national park in Uganda famous for its outstanding diverse landscape and wildlife, the park amazing features include crater lakes, Lake George, salt lakes, Kalinzu forest, Kyambura Gorge, Kazinga Channel, Kasenyi plains, Mweya Pennisular, The Kyambura Gorge and Ishasha sector.

Queen Elizabeth national park is found in the western part of Uganda lying between Lake Gorge and Edward with Kazinga channel crossing through the park’s 700 square mile land area. The park gets its name from Queen Elizabeth of England following her her 1954 visit in Uganda.

 

Queen Elizabeth national park is a home to 95 mammal species including the tree climbing lions, elephants, cape buffaloes, leopards, hippos, antelopes, Uganda Kobs, Nile Crocodiles among others. The Park also hosts 618 bird species which is the 6^th highest diversity in the world and the highest in Africa.

Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the best Uganda safari destination for game viewing, chimpanzee tracking, lion tracking, bird watching and boat cruise.

9. Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National park is a UNESCO WORLD Heritage Site and a home to one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, the park is located in the Rwenzori Mountains covering an area of about 1000 kilometers square. The park is also situated close to Queen Elizabeth national park, Semuliki national park and Kibale Forest national park.

Rwenzori Mountains National park boasts breath taking waterfalls, high glaciers, valley of nine lakes, a variety of flora and fauna including many endangered species and captivating scenery. The park gets its name from the towering mountain rage with snow-capped Mountain Stanely, Rwenzori Mountains is referred to Mountains of the Moon because of its snowcapped peaks.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a home to several primates and mammals such as Colobus monkeys, buffaloes, chimpanzees, forest elephants, leopards among others and over 216 species of birds and reptiles such as the three- horned chameleon.

10. Semuliki National Park

Semuliki national park is a stunning national park located in the western region of Uganda along the border of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, Semuliki hosts the only remaining lowland rainforest in East Africa and the forest is an extension of Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo thus creating conditions typically seen in the Central Africa.

The forests in Semuliki national park attracts a huge population of birdlife which makes it the best destination for bird watching, some of the bird species in the park include Black-wattled Hornbill, Congo Serpent Eagle, Long-tailed Hawk, Lyre-tailed Honey guide and Nkulengu Rail among others. There are also over 60 species of mammals including bay duiker, Beecroft’s Anomalure, flying squirrels, bush babies, bush pigs, civets, Dwarf Antelope, elephants, fruit bats, Fire-footed Rope squirrel, forest buffalos, pygmy hippos, leopards, Little collard fruit Bat among others.

Another attraction in Semuliki national park is the two fascinating hot springs that are the The Sempaya Hot Springs.