Best Places for Safaris In Uganda

Wildlife safaris in Uganda!

Uganda is by far a land of contrast. With ten (10) game parks which are well-positioned and uniquely endowed by nature to offer you a memorable African – Uganda safari. Besides the National Parks, Uganda features savannah game reserves and sanctuaries that support a myriad of wildlife including the Pian Upe, katonga, Matheniko and Bokora, Tooro – Semliki, Kigezi wildlife reserve, ziwa rhino sanctuary, Kabwoya among others.

Travelers who visit The Pearl of Africa always explore both fauna and flora during their wildlife safari adventures in our major destinations such as Queen Elizabeth national park, Kidepo valley Murchison falls national park, Lake Mburo national park, national park, Semiliki national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, and Kibale forest national park.

The most highlights of Uganda safari adventure are mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys however, expect to encounter the big five i.e. lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and Rhino during your ultimate journeys and holidays to Uganda.

Best Time to Go Wildlife Safaris In Uganda

Uganda is open for adventure seekers throughout the year however the best time to visit Uganda is during the dry seasons of December to February and June to October. These seasons are also termed as peak seasons in Uganda and Rwanda, registering higher numbers of tourist arrivals. Tourists intending to visit Uganda for wildlife safaris are advised to book their tours at least 2 months in advance in order to secure their gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits since are always highly demanded during those months. Visitors tend to spot plenty of animals during dry seasons than wet season. For the case of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, the trails tend to be drier and less slippery hence making movement easier for trackers.

National Parks in Uganda and their major highlights

With ten (10) national game parks which are well-positioned and uniquely endowed by nature to offer you a memorable African – Uganda safari, you are sure to encounter at least a unique feature by visiting any of them. Here are the major national parks and their major highlights.

Queen Elizabeth national park

Located in western Uganda, Queen Elizabeth national park is among the top safari destinations and highly visited national park in Uganda for wildlife adventure tours. It is shared by districts such as Kasese, Rubirizi among others. It is approximately 370km away from Kampala city and you need approximately 7 hours’ drive from the city center.

Birding experience. The park offers Over 600 bird species
Tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector
The unique Kyambura gorge with activities such as Chimpanzee trekking, birding and guided nature walks.
Kazinga channel the offers an amazing boat trips
Crater lakes that are unique in formation and offer different experiences.

Murchison Falls National Park

Uganda’s largest national park, Murchison falls national park is located in Northwestern part of the country is famous for world’s strongest water falls on the Victoria Nile formed with the action of the large water masses squeezing through the narrow gorge, and falling down over a high cliff of about 45 meters to the bottom of the falls, where it continues to flow gently eastwards to the Albert delta, and finally, it joins with lake Albert.

Major highlighst include but not limited to ;-

Rhino tracking. This is done at Ziwa rhino sanctuary along the way to Murchison falls
Boat cruise on the Victoria Nile to the bottom of the falls
Spetacular hike to the top of the falls
Shoebill tracking at the Nile delta
Budongo forests most offer the chance to visitors to track chimpanzees and birding
Game driving
Hot air ballon

Kibale Forest National Park

The primate capital of the world with over 1400 chimpanzee species, Kibale forest national park is a home to a variety of primates and it is a famous destination for chimpanzee tracking and habituation experiences. Major highlights include but not limited to;

Chimpanzee tracking and habituation
Birding trips with over 370 species recorded
Guide nature walks
Tea plantation tours
Top of the world tour
Crater lake exploration

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a famous travel destination world wide as a home for the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. The park provides habitant to half of the world’s mountain gorilla population with seventeen habituated gorilla families. Guests can track the mountain gorillas from 4 sectors of Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga. The park is also a home to other primates like chimpanzees and different monkey species. Major highlights include;-

Mountain gorilla tracking
Walking safaris through Bwindi. Most famous is from Buhoma to Nkuringo and vice versa via the Kashasha river trail and Ivy river trail. The later being the shorter with approximately 5 hours and the earlier with 7 hours.
Canoe rides a long Lake Mutanda
Community tours with Batwa
Birding adventures

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake mburo national park is the nearest nation park to Kampala city, located in western Uganda along Masaka Mbarara road and it’s a perfect destination for short wildlife safaris and weekend gateway tours in Uganda. However, the park is faced with serious problem of poaching from the surrounding community and encroachment of the park land for farming activities. Major highlights include;-

Guided walking safaris within and outside the park
Game drives
Birding tours
Boat cruise on Lake Mburo where the park got her name
Sport fishing on Lake Mburo

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo valley national park is located in the north eastern region of Uganda with inselbergs in rising up and stands out in the open savannah of the national park, giving spectacular scenic views of total wilderness. It’s a park that has won many accololades among which are being the 3rd Best among Africa’s top 10 best safari parks by CNN, Uganda Top African Destination for 2017 by Rough Guides and lastly but not least the park is One of the top 16 world destinations to visit in 2016 by CNN Travel also Kidepo emerged as the 3^rd Best Exhibitor – Indaba Tourism and Trade Fair 2016 – Durban, South Africa. Major highlights include;-

Game driving
Walking safaris
Karamojong cultural experience
Birding experiences
Outdoor camping

Mountain Elgon National Park

Mountain Elgon is located in the eastern region of the country at the border of Uganda and Kenya. It has the large caldera on the summit of the mountain, covering over 40km. The highest peak of mountain Elgon is waggagai; rising 4321m above the sea level and is the second tallest peak after margherita of Ruwenzori Mountains. Major highlights include;-

Mountain hiking
Sipi falls hike
Guided Walking safaris
Birding experiences

Semliki National Park

Located in Western Uganda on the Albertine rift valley, Semliki national park is a true birders’ haven boosting with over 400 bird species. Major highlights are;-

Birding experience
Sempaya Hotsprings
Guided nature walks
Community encounter with the Batwa pygmies

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga National Park is located at the border that joins three countries; Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the smallest national parks in Uganda covering an area of 33sq.km. The park is also famous for gorilla trekking and it only has one family of mountain gorillas with two silverbacks, an adult female two juveniles and about 3 infants. However, this gorilla family is so mobile and makes trekking it so hard. Major highlights are;-

Mountain Gorilla tracking
Mountain hiking
Golden monkey tracking
Birding experience among the unique species are the Rwenzoir turaco
Cultural encounter with the Batwa

Rwenzori Mountain National Park

Rwenzori national park is located in the south western Uganda on the Rwenzori mountain ranges, the national park is a good option for hiking and mountain climbing. It covers an area of 996sq.km, which is a reasonable size. The tourists that visit Ruwenzori national park love climbing up to the highest peak called margherita peak. Birding is one of the famous park activities in Rwenzori national park; the park is blessed with over 200 bird species plus 70 mammal species including bats and primates such as the golden monkeys and the colobus monkeys of different types among others