Destinations

Murchison Falls

Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro escarpment tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savanna. First gazetted as a game reserve in 1926, it is Uganda’s largest and oldest conservation area, hosting 76 species of mammals and 451 birds.

The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the centerpiece of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. The mighty cascade drains the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad, placid stream that flows quietly across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. The park’s diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds.

Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalo and elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kob.

As well as its outstanding wildlife attractions, Queen Elizabeth National Park has a fascinating cultural history.

Kidepo Valley national park

Isolated from the Ugandan mainstream by the harsh plains to the north of Mount Elgon, Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda’s second biggest National Park (1440 km2), and Apoka Lodge is the only lodge in the entire area. Kidepo is one of Africa’s last great wilderness areas, a tract of rugged savannah dominated by Mount Morungole (2750 m) and transected by the Kidepo and Narus rivers.

Perennial running water in the Narus River makes Kidepo an oasis in the semi desert. The mountainous terrain is divided in the Narus Valley in the southwest and the Kidepo Valley in the northeast. You will find wooded savannah areas, forests, large fields of borassus palms and rocky koppies.

Kidepo is home to 86 mammal species with 28 found nowhere else in the country. Birders can enjoy its 463 recorded species of birds with 60 species being endemic to the park. Predators include lions, cheetah, jackals, leopards, spotted hyena, smaller cats and mongoose.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is located between Kampala and Bwindi National Park, making it a great location for a stop over on your way to the gorilla trek.

It extends over 260 km2 and its altitude ranges from 1220 to 1800 meters above sea level. There are several large lakes in the park which are fed by the Rwizi River with Lake Mburo being the largest of them. The park mainly consists of open savannah and acacia woodland while papyrus swamps line the verges of the lakes.

The park offers a harbor for some of the rarer species of Uganda such as impalas and zebras. Furthermore, there are several antelope species, hyenas, buffalos, leopards, jackals, wild pigs, hippos and around 300 species of birds to be seen in the park. Especially bird viewing opportunities are excellent – for birders, this is one of the best places to find African fin foot, papyrus bush shrike.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

The National Parkis in south-western Uganda. The park is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and is situated along the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the Albertine Rift. Composed of 331 square kilometers (128 sq mi)

Mgahinga National Park

Found in the south west, bordering Rwanda and Congo. Mgahinga comprises of 3 extinct Volcanoes and 3 extensive swamps. Along with gorillas, the park also supports Golden monkey, elephant,Leopard and Forest hog.Bird life includes 12 endemic species.

Kibale Forest National Park

The Kibale-Fort Portal area is one of Uganda’s most rewarding destinations to explore The park is home to some 13 species of primates including the red colobus, chimpanzee and L’Hoest’s monkeys as well as 70 mammal species. This park has one of the greatest primate densities in the world.

Botanists and butterfly lovers will also enjoy the network of shaded forest trails and with no less than 375 different recorded bird species it is a bird lover’s paradise. For those who are extremely fortunate you may get to see the elusive forest elephant. The park is also home to other forest dwellers including buffalo, giant forest hog and antelope.

Rwenzori mountains

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 100,000 ha in western Uganda and comprises the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which includes Africa’s third highest peak (Mount Margherita: 5,109 m). The region’s glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa’s most beautiful alpine areas. The park has many natural habitats of endangered species and a rich and unusual flora comprising, among other species, the giant heather.